New Tampa Bay Restaurants To Check Out For National Pasta Day

TAMPA BAY, FL — Skip the keto diet Thursday. This is National Pasta Day and there are some great new restaurants in Tampa Bay with carb-rich pasta dishes you have to try.

Forbici Modern Italian

Forbici Modern Italian is one of Hyde Park's newest hot spots. Since opening in mid-June, the restaurant at 1633 W. Snow Ave., Tampa, has been packed with pasta-loving patrons.

A product of Gigante Hospitality, Executive Chef Jason Saldutti serves up Roman-style pies with house-made ingredients and single-batch doughs, pasta dishes, antipasta, Italian tapas and grain bowls.

To celebrate Pasta Day, try the Risotto with farro, Parmesan and wild mushroom brodo; Cavatelli with white white, porcini and tomato or pomodoro and basil; or Roy & Betty's Linguine Alle Vongole with Cedar Key little neck clams.

Rocca

Headed by Executive Chef Bryce Bonsack, Rocca in Tampa Heights, 323 W. Palm Ave., near Armature Works debuted on Oct. 8, specializing in handmade pasta using seasonal ingredients.

A Tampa Catholic High School graduate, Bonsack graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in New York where he interned under Chef Paul Liebrandt at Corton, a two-star Michelin-rated restaurant in New York City. After graduating, he worked as sous chef at Blanca in Brooklyn under Chef Carlo Mirarchi, also a two-star Michelin-rated restaurant.

But he truly fell in love with Italian cooking while visiting Italy in 2017 where he was introduced to Leonardo Rocca, owner of the century old Da Felicin restaurant in Monforte d' Alba, Piemonte. Rocca and his family taught Bonsack the secrets to great pasta dishes. Before returning home, he asked if he could name his restaurant after them.

Among the must-try pasta dishes are Spaghetti al Limone with king crab, sea asparagus and lemon butter; Tagliolini al Ragu with beef ragu, garlic, basil and 24-month Parmigiano; and Rigatoni alla Carbonara guanciale with egg yolk, black pepper and pecorino romano.

Osteria Bar & Kitchen

Osteria Italian Bar & Kitchen’s 4,700-square-foot space with a 1,500-square-foot outdoor patio at 903 N. Franklin St., Tampa, embodies a rustic Italian market, a sophisticated restaurant and an upscale, late-night bar.

Created through a partnership between Tampa Bay restaurateurs and celebrity Top Chef Fabio Viviani, named “one of the most talented chefs in the world” by Forbes, Osteria's chef-driven menu includes more than a dozen fresh homemade pastas.

Top pasta picks include Vegetarian Puttanesca with roasted eggplant, capers, olives, tomato sugo and basil; Sacchetti al Tarfufo, four cheese-filled purses with truffle butter; and Tagliolini Frutti di Mare with clam, shrimp, calamari, bay scallops and lobster tomato sauce.

Sophia's Cucina & Enoteca

Sophia's Cucina & Enoteca at 2349 Central Ave., St. Petersburg arrived in the St. Pete foodie scene in May, offering an extensive menu of classic Italian dishes with a modern twist.

Led by the culinary team of Chef Alex Rodriguez and Chef Karlo Prada, Sophia's offers pasta favorites like Ravioli with ricotta, corn, leek porcini mushroom ravioli, roasted garlic pesto and radicchio apple slaw with vinaigrette; Clams Vongole with clams, parsley, pepper flakes, garlic lemon white wine sauce, buccatini and percorino gremolata; and Rigatoni Vesuvio with chicken, Italian sausage, sun-dried tomatoes, truffle oil and pesto cream sauce.

Alto Mare Fish Bar

Restaurateurs Kurt and Mary Cuccaro debuted Alto Mare Fish Bar in late January at 300 Beach Drive N.E. in St. Petersburg, offering Italian-inspired seafood dishes.

Menu items are prepared under the watchful eye of Executive Chef Joshua Breen, a Johnson & Wales graduate and former chef for Mazzaro's and Annata Restaurant & Wine Bar.

And there's no better way to serve pasta than with fresh seafood. Pasta lovers can order Lobster Bucatini with Maine lobster prepared fra diavlo style, bucatini pasta and chili oil, Vongole with clams, herbs, garlic, bacon lardons, white wine and spaghetti; and Squid Ink Pasta with littleneck clams, squid, shrimp, fennel, chilies, baby tomatoes and sea beans.