Best place in Tampa for upmarket Italian cuisine
Thursday, June 26, 2008
I ate at Armani's last night and it was the best meal I had in a long time. The food was superb and full of surprises. I ordered the seabass and the server poured the sauce at the table (nice touch) Everything we consumed was of the highest quality and it sure rectifies the prices charged. My wife had the lamb and again, this dish has also a surprise element build in. (The sauce comes in a french press and is pressed at your table!) I have been living here in Tampa over 8 years and this restaurant used to have a boring and overwelming menu. Now it is exciting, tasty and of the highest quality ingredients. I was most impressed by their new bread and olive oil presentation. You start your meal with stunning olive oil and aged balsamic vingar. They also hand out small chunks of real parmesano reggiano! To die for, I could have just had this all night. Leave yourself some room for dessert though, because the blueberry goat cheese strudel is stellar. If the service wouldn't be so stuffy, I would go more often.
Pros: Menu, view and food quality
Cons: service too old fashioned