Osteria Natalina

Food? Excellent!!!
Service? Excellent!!!
Ambiance? Excellent!!!
We have been searching for good Italian food since moving from NY. Well, you won't get good food here. You will get amazing good here!
We will be back!!

You're an Italian joint and want 5 stars from this Southern boy, you betta bring the goods and Osteria Natalina does.

First of all, why didn't I think of the name Natalina for my baby girl instead of Gidget? That would have been so much better, oh well her problem now not mine, back to the review.

I'm in T-Town looking for some supper and as always I open up my YELP app for some local guidance. Feeling like Italian and Natalia shows highly rated. I head that way around 9pm, damn near missed the joint since it sits in a common looking strip mall, simple sign and that's cool cuz I'm a simple man.

Walk in and am greeted by a lovely hostess Deann, who also happens to be my waitress. She was sweeter than stolen honey this pretty thang. The place is like a small rectangular room with maybe 12 tables. Quaint, moody vibe. I like it already. I order a cold beverage and peruse the menu, which to be honest seemed 70-30 leaning to Italian seafood dishes. I ask about specials and sweet D tells me they've got some sleepers, names 'em, then get this...tells me "but our chef will make you anything you want". Say again? I felt so at home I expected if I peeked in the kitchen I might see my momma Cookin' up corn bread and frogs legs. Have you EVER had a restaurant cater to your culinary desires to cook you whatever you want? So I test her....how about some aglio olio or Cacio 'e Pepe'? Sweet D just nods and says no problem! My boy goes for the latter and on the first bite he looked like he'd been dipped in shit and rolled in cracker crumbs. I opted for the creamy rigs with filet and mushroom...melt in yo damn mouth. Just amazing. If you gonna slap me around a bit like that just go on and finish your business, they did....Tiramisu and some lemon chantilly cake. Wow, just amazing, I was as happy as a tick on a fat dog.

Summed up, you need a romantic spot, not too noisy, with top shelf service and food that'll knock your Buster Browns clean off, Osteria Natalina is your place.

This. Place. Is. A. Must.

My husband found out about Osteria from a friend and decided to bring me here for a surprise birthday dinner. It. Was. AMAZING.

We brought our own bottle of wine and paid a $25 corkage fee. This was worth it because I had a special bottle for the occasion. But they do have wine and beer for purchase (no liquor that I saw).

The restaurant is that of a small Italian cucina, very quaint and romantic. Only about a dozen tables or so and first come first serve, no reservations. We waited about 40 min for our table (party of 2) but was able to open our wine and be served while waiting.

The service was EXQUISITE! Wow, what an experience from the time we arrived to when we left. Everyone was so knowledgeable and nice!

The menu has a variety of Italian dishes. We started with the special meatball appetizer and mussels. The BEST! The meatballs were perfection!

My husband had one of the specials with included the most TENDER filet I've ever had along with a decadent truffle pasta

I couldn't decide on a dish (they all sounded so good!). Our server helped me and I decided on chicken parmigiana. Keep in mind, they will make (and your server will tell you this) ANY TRADITIONAL ITALIAN DISH. The service is just amazing.

To top it off, one of the server overheard my husband tell another customer it was my birthday (while we had been waiting for a table). So at the end, it was a surprise to us both when we were brought two mini cannolis. Of course they were PERFECTION.

So, with all that said and in case I didn't use enough capital words...YOU MUST EXPERIENCE THIS RESTAURANT AND ALL THEY HAVE TO OFFER. Come with an appetite and your own bottle of wine if you wish. Our experience here was exquisite and I hope to go back one day soon!

P.S. they also have a pretty busy to-go service, so if you don't have the time to enjoy the ambiance, at least try the food to go!

The food was ok. My pasta needed a bit of salt. Service was amazing. However, be careful and read the check, they charge 20% tip.

I'll probably tip the 20% anyway, but is not necessary to charge you before paying. I don't know if I'll be back

When I tell you this is the best Italian I've ever had. I don't exaggerate that. I actively gate keep this spot from my friends because it's so good. I have 0 Italian in my genetics but I feel like I just went to Italy for a meal. The atmosphere is great and the service is even better. The chef will make anything on or off the menu but no matter what you get, you'll love. I'd put money up for anyone that doesn't like this hole in the wall Italian.

It just occurred to me that I never got any Italian food (aside from sandwiches) since moving to Tampa, and I was glad Osteria Natalina got to be my first!

One thing I will say right off the bat, me and my partner got so scared by the reviews saying that the restaurant only has like two chairs inside and people have to wait forever even when they come right at opening time, so we ended up coming 30 minutes early. This was definitely unnecessary, maybe it just happened to be a very boring Saturday evening but yeah.

I got the linguine with crab/lobster and my partner got the linguine with sausage ragu. The linguine was a generous amount with an even bigger portion of fresh, delicious seafood. I loved that the sauce was creamy, but light-tasting. We also got a slice of Tiramisu and cup of Stracciatella gelato. The gelato was good, but the Tiramisu was incredible-- probably the best we've ever had. Super moist and fluffy, but wonderfully and perfectly sweet! My partner also got this sparkling red wine, and as someone who hates anything to do with alcohol, it was amazing. Whoever picked this wine for the restaurant, thank you for convincing me that wine can in fact taste good.

My only quip is that the complimentary bread was very meh. Since we ended up being one of the first people to come in for dinner, I was so ready for some hot, crunchy bread only to find it lukewarm and just ... eh. I will say the olive/olive oil dip it came with was absolutely delicious, I just wish the bread was half as amazing as everything else we experienced here.

The service all around was lovely, the waitresses that came by explained in great detail all the specials and were just so friendly when it came to any of our questions or needs. I'll be back soon to try everything else they have to offer here (maybe I'll even be a bit bold and ask if they can make me fettuccine alfredo)!

So, listen up! The moment you step foot into this joint, your taste buds will do a happy dance. Sure, it's a cozy little place with no reservations, just a good old first-come, first-serve policy, but trust me, the anticipation is worth it. This Italian gem is decked out in charming decor, making it the perfect spot for a romantic date night!

Now, let's talk libations. While they boast an impressive selection of wines, I decided to go the Italian beer route, and boy, was I pleasantly surprised! But let me tell you, it's the food that steals the spotlight here--it's downright phenomenal!

To kick things off, we dived into the Pasta e Fagioli soup and some mouthwatering meatballs, accompanied by their delectable house bread. The meatballs came smothered in a rich marinara sauce, while the soup hit all the right spots.

For the main event, we opted for the legendary Lasagna and the Flounder, a special of the day. The Lasagna was a true masterpiece--generous portions of delicate, creamy layers of heaven. We ordered it with the pink sauce, but I guarantee we'll be back to try it with the classic marinara. Trust me, it was that good! As for the Flounder, it was a fish lover's dream. Picture this: tender flounder adorned with succulent scallops and mussels, all simmering in a delightful marinara sauce. And as if that weren't enough, it was accompanied by perfectly cooked pasta in a pink sauce, with a side of vibrant spinach and asparagus. I kid you not, this dish had us completely mesmerized.

The dining experience was elevated to the next level by the velvety voice of Frank Sinatra serenading us in the background, creating an ambiance of pure nostalgia. And let's not forget the exceptional service that completed the picture-perfect evening!

To cap off our visit, we indulged in not one, but two desserts--a heavenly lemon cream cake and an amaretto-infused delight reminiscent of tiramisu. It was the sweet finale that left our taste buds singing in joy.

So, my friends, if you're seeking an authentic Italian experience that will transport you straight to the streets of Rome, make your way to this delightful eatery. With its delectable cuisine, charming atmosphere, and service that goes above and beyond, you'll find yourself savoring every moment. Buon appetito!

I am conflicted when it comes to restaurants that don't take reservations. On one hand, it has to be a great feeling as a restaurateur to have such a popular & successful joint (see:The Garlic in NSB). On the other, as a diner, it sucks out loud to be thwarted by an excessive wait time for a table.

Henceforth, my previous attempts to dine at Osteria proved futile. With so few tables, it was nearly impossible to secure one on a Friday or Saturday night. However, after my son finished performing in a theater production up the road...we thought we'd give it another try.

HOLY MOTHER OF GOD am I glad we did. We waited about 5 minutes for a table for 4. Service was impeccable and attentive. Food was unbelievably delicious. Pasta pillows, gnocchi, bruschetta, snapper special, lasagna of the day...it was all just perfect.

Absolutely love the 20% service charge to be distributed to all FOH and BOH employees. Tipped on top of that because the service was that good. Will definitely return!

I don't live in Tampa so I don't know if I can call this a hole in the wall place, by judging from the modest surroundings in a strip mall it's definitely not a setting you'd expect to find such a great dining experience in. It's definitely not under the radar, from how packed this place was when were there.

In a sea of Italian options I appreciate the less ubiquitous take on seafood-forward Italian dishes. The waiter made sure to reassure us that "we can make any traditional Italian American dish as well", but with tired options like that everywhere, we were definitely eager to embrace the bounty of the sea.

Mulled over many delicious options before settling on Risotto Al Nero Di Seppia and linguine Alla aragosta e granchio. I'm a sucker for squid ink anything and this risotto had all the sweet, salty and umami notes one could hope for. The linguine had such generous cuts of seafood mixed into the sweet and tangy sauce. We found both to be great value, especially for the portions!

Friendly staff and a down to earth vibe make this a comfortably laid-back eatery. Would love to come back next time I'm in Tampa!

This place rocks. The food is incredible, the service is great, and the wines are phenomenal. I highly recommend this if you're looking for a great Italian meal.

It is pretty small, and they don't do reservations, so get there earlyish if you're going on a weekend. If you have a wait, it's a really great excuse to drink good wine:)