Get- Togethers!!
Let’s Talk “Casa Santos Stefano”
Location: This restaurant is located in the Historic District of Ybor City, Tampa, FL. It’s in the same vicinity as its sister restaurant Colombia. A shared parking lot for Casa Santos Stefano and Colombia restaurants is adjacent to and across the street from the restaurant.
Service: this blog will be a double-take. It started with a get-together with coworkers I hadn’t seen all year. So one of them said, hey, let’s try Casa Santos Stefano for lunch. We were the first guest and were seated right away. Our server Denise was quite the friendliest and bubbly server I’ve encountered in a minute. Then took my husband for Father’s Day and got Jacoby, the same type of service that is 100% friendly. On the two occasions, both of them came and checked in with us throughout the dining experience. Outstanding service all around! Oh, I forgot that they know this historic restaurant’s menu and history.
Food: Getting together and celebrating Father’s Day at the same place in the same week. Wow! Well, brunch with the girls made me say, “This will be a great Father’s Day experience for hubby. So, I’ll give you what the ladies and the family ordered. The girls’ food order: We both ordered Lasagna (Baked layers of fresh pasta, garlic ricotta, mozzarella, and Grana Padano cheese, a mix of Italian sausage and Bolognese meat, with tomato sauce). It was delicious 😋. The one friend ordered LINGUINE WITH SHRIMP “AGLIANO.” (Gulf of Mexico shrimp sautéed and simmered in white wine, fresh grape tomato sauce, shallots, garlic, spicy crushed red pepper); she raved about the food as it was enough to feed three people. For dessert, she ordered Tiramisu (Coffee-dipped ladyfingers, rum and mascarpone cream, dark cocoa dust). She was disappointed as she felt there was too much cocoa powder on the top and stuck to the roof of her mouth, almost like peanut butter without drinking water. So on to the family’s orders; as an appetizer, we ordered the meatballs Della Nana (Blend of pork, beef, and veal meatballs gently braised in house tomato sauce, Grana Padano). I was super excited to take hubby here and was a bit disappointed with the food. They had a special going on for Fathers; hubby ordered Tomahawk Pork Chop special with wedge potatoes. I ordered the Scaloppine Di Pollo Al Marsala (Boneless chicken breast scaloppine sautéed in Marsala wine, garlic, and cremini mushrooms with pecorino potatoes), I substituted the potatoes for spagethi. The kid’s meal was just grilled chicken with potato wedges. Overall, the food was great one day and the next, but not what I had hoped. If I return, I will do the lasagna again as that meal did not disappoint.
Ambience: The ambiance and decor were like I was visiting another country. True Italian style. I love all the family pictures. This restaurant has a history of the first immigrants who migrated from Italy and Cuba. Just a blend of cultures. According to what I read at the restaurant, most of the decor is original from Italy. It’s so beautiful and authentic on the inside. You have to go and check this place out. The restaurant offers rooftop seating. I haven’t made up there yet. Overall, will go back again for sure, even if it’s just for drinks and lasagna.
Price: $$
