Benedetto's Italiano

I have been to Benedetto's several times and on each occassion I've had a wonderful time. The food is very good, but portion could be larger or smaller depending on what you order. On my anniversary, we were provided rose petals on the table and on our birthdays we were given thank you happy birthday cards with a photo. The entertainment is Rat Pack Music (Dean Martin, Frankie ""Old Blue Eyes"" ) and creates a nice ambiance. I really ienjoy hearing the music. It is great to see small non- franchised restaurants like this one and this is why we keep supporting the restaurant. My only wish is that the restaurant be a little bigger. Each time we have dined, and there have been several occassions, Chef Ben has come out and nicely greeted us. P.S. The roasted garlic cloves are so tasty. I've been to very high end restaurants and Benedetto's comes close. more

Had dinner here last night while we were in the area. The service and atmosphere were great. The food was tasteless. The ceasar salad was boring and too much dressing. The meat stuffed ravioli was completly tasteless. The alfredo sauce that they charge extra for instead of red sauce was thin and more like soup than a sauce, again it was without much flavor. The lasagna was also a big disappointment, lacking any real flavors. The lasagna is better at Stouffers. (put some oregano in it man!) The only thing we did like was the bread. The roasted garlic cloves that they serve with the bread were obviously whole cloves out of a jar and not fresh as there was not much flavor left in them. We will never return to this place. more

We went with a large group on recommendation of a local. We had age ranges from 6 to 87. Everyone was happy with their meals. The service was great, the food was delicious. We will definitely return when we are back in the area. more

We had made reservation for Valentine's Day for a nice romantic dinner. We arrived slightly before our reservation and were promptly seated; only problem we were seated next to a crying infant. We asked our waiter if we could move to a different table as we would not be able to enjoy our meal due to the crying. Waiter was very nice and said he would see what he could do. Manager came and said that restaurant was fully booked and asked if we would mind dining at the bar. We agreed and sat at the bar and ordered drinks. Owner comes out and asks bartender if is true that customers left because of kids. We informed him that it was us that did not want to sit with crying infants and he proceeded to insult us. We informed him that we would now be leaving and he proceeded to yell at us calling us ""Horrible Mean People that Hate Kids”. ""Tell these people you don't want to eat here because you hate kids"" We will never go back and if you do don't complain or you to could be ""Horrible mean people” who were glad to eat else ware. Pros: Don't know. tossed out before getting drinks. Cons: Owner unreasonable. more

We ventured there last night. The hostess was very nice and greeted us immediately, she offered us a small table in the middle of the room we declined so We sat at the bar and had cocktails while waiting for a Larger roomier table to open up. The Hostess was very accommodating and sweet. Mike was our server and he was very helpful and had a vast knowledge of the menu it's ingredients and so fourth. My date had a rib eye that was cooked perfectly and I ordered the Veal Marsala, I was not happy with the overwhelming lemon flavor(yes I realize marsala has lemon in it), this was just over the top, the sauce was not thick enough(it looked like someone had placed runny soup on my plate),the 5,000 cappers didn't accent the flavor, also I felt the veal wasn't very tender. I asked Mike to take my dish back and he accommodated me. The manager Pat came and asked me why I sent the dish back and I explained that I didn't care for it, however I would pay for it no problem. He acted very accusing like I was trying to get a free meal , which I already explained I didn't want the dish and I would pay for, he continued by offering me a free dessert, I don't understand how entree and dessert correlate to each other? Then he took my dish that I DID NOT WANT and had Mike wrap it up in a to go box. I asked Mike why he had brought me the dish back? He explained that is what Pat has requested him to do, I asked Mike why Pat would assume I wouldwant this dish to go since I didn't want it in the restaurant? I had the dish sent back to Pat. I have never felt so embarrassed or insulted, it seemed like Pat was dicking with me. Anyways everything else was fine had it not been for Pat I would have enjoyed the rest of my evening. Pat has no business being a restaurant manager or even in the business with a lack of tack and taste like his. On my way out Pat came out the door with a friend not knowing because of the rain I was standing under the awning waiting for my date to pick me up He was screaming profanities into his cell phone and laughed at me and said ""oops you didn't hear that"" and chuckled Like a drunken sailor.\r \r I was really looking forward to this restaurant since I am new to the area and I work for a resort in town some of my customers suggested this place to me and said it was known for having great food,since I am in the business I presume they have not met Pat. I wasn't aware of any other fine dinning establishments in the lol area and I think Had it not been for Pat I would go Back because my dates food was delicious and so was the service.\r Pros: Service Cons: Pat the Night Manager, Cramped more

Although it is a little cramped in there, this is a great restaurant. I love the roasted garlic they give you with the bread. Everything we have eaten at Benedetto's has been absolutely fantastic. We've had many of the dishes. The piano player takes requests and he does a good job. We recently took some family there on the last day of their visit to Florida and they said they wished we had taken them there on day one so they could have eaten there more than once. The only thing I would recommend is to ask how much their specials cost, because they usually seem much higher than most of the menu prices. Pros: the food, the piano player Cons: cramped and very busy more

Tucked off of Hwy 54 in Pasco, you probably wouldn't think this place had such awesome food.\r \r Make sure and listen to the daily specials, as they typically have a few awesome selections not placed on the menu. more

Dear Mrs. Stay At Home Mom,\r I am from Odessa originally, and now my whole family and I live in Land O' Lakes;I have been an enthusiastic, happy customer for the last five years. I am a huge authentic Italian food fan and have tasted some of the best native Italian food in the United States and in ITALY, the home of Italian cuisine. Benedetto?s shocked the hell out of my family, friends and myself with how unbelievably similarly yet unique and original to what I have seen in all of the top Italian restaurants and old school dinner club houses. The prices of the food are also definitely worth what you get; the normal Italian is top notch, the steaks are better than Burns, Charlie?s or anywhere for that matter. They are also not an ala-carte restaurant where you would spend well over Benedetto?s prices for the same amount of food that Benedetto?s includes with all their meals! This is getting lengthy Mrs. Stay at Home Mom and friends, but one last thing, the service and comrade ire which you experience at Benedetto?s is welcoming and classy at the same time(very much like a true ?ristorante?. You would be hard pressed to find any decent restaurant that doesn?t charge a share charge/split charge for sharing a meal that is not ala-carte, also the share charge is less than $5.00, they split the food for you on two plates, give you both sides and salads. Lastly to those who have claimed to have a meal not up to par with the prices or who have compared them to any Italian chain restaurants?etc: You must not know what quality of authentic Italian/Fine cuisine(New York; Jersey; Little Italy; Syracuse, Italy; Sicily, Italy) should taste like. \r I Love Benedetto?s, their food, their staff?s personality and ambiance. I understand everyone perspective, if anyone has any doubts or is interested, the restaurant is only 15 20 minutes from New Tampa, South Tampa, Citrus Park, Odessa, New Port Richy?etc, come experience for your self!!!!\r Sincerely Benedetto?s biggest Fan! more

Went there with a group from church. Looked at prices on line to make sure it would be affordable. Had some reasonable on-line, but when we got there prices were different than on-line. Not drastic amounts but different. I figure before hand that if prices were too high for some we could just share. When we got there we found out there was a charge to split the meal. I did that figuring maybe we might save a little. When we went to order waiter said that what we ordering didn't split well and we would not get very much, so order something else. We suggested something else and he said the same was with that. Finally we asked him about manicotti and he said that was better. We got 1 1/2 small shells a piece. Was definately not worth the money. We were there with about 6-7 other ladies and no one was very impressed. Will never visit this restaurant again. Did have nice atmosphere!! Pros: Ambience Cons: Price more

I thought this restaurant was wonderful. We had a party of 4, sat outside, service was ecellent, there was live music from a very talented singer. The food was excellent. The portions were large, it was hot and delicious. Pros: Live music (Friday and Saturday), Great food, outdoor seating Cons: Tables were very close to the others more

I've always had a positive experience here -- the food is great and the prices vary so you don't have to pay a lot for a meal if you don't want to. The service is attentive but not smothering. They have a live piano player and scatter rose pedals on the tables on certain nights which can make for a romantic evening. The only negative part is their martinis -- honestly, they are very blase and not worth the price. Still, I will keep going back. If you decide go, try the almond-crusted Chilean sea bass -- it is excellent. Pros: Ambience, Food, Service Cons: Martinis more

Food was fair at best. My wife's veal was tough. My grouper was ok, but nothing special. Service was slow. Decor is very Pasco county...lots of plastic stuff. And, prices are high. Paid $32 for my very average grouper. Our party had a very disappointing, but expensive, dinner. Cons: High prices, below average food, slow service more

Good food and good place to try to impress someone but prices seemed a bit high to me. Romantic, good atmosphere, good service. If your a working guy save up your $$$. You can wear a coat and tie and not feel weird. Pros: UPSCALE Cons: $$$ more

From all the reviews, from various sources, I expected an excellent restaurant. I found the food to be unenjoyable. I always judge an italian restaurant by their tomato sauce or gravy. I think I would have rather opened a jar of ragu at home. (and that would never ever happen) more