Casa Ludovico Italian Rstrnt

We just had a wonderful dinner at Casa Ludovico. Our waiter was excellent. The timing of our food was fantastic. The food from salad, soup to entree and then dessert was wonderful. The valet was friendly and courteous. The only negative was that the owner went to select tables and ignored many of us who may have been new to the restaurant. We feel as an owner you should take a minute to greet all customers. When we left the restaurant, the owner was standing outside and never looked up when we walked by; the valet asked us how our meal was-now that was strange...... In the future, we feel the owner should make it his policy to greet all new as well as old customers. We will return because the food was excellent. more

I don't blame the waiter, he did his best. Unfortunately the management booked a party in the upstairs room and it was more than the kitchen could handle on a busy Saturday night. The delay between soup and entree was an hour. Others who came later were served their mains before us. Obviously the party took preference in the kitchen. Tut Tut bad management! To add insult to injury this so-called quality restaurant served (on the side) bulk bottled GOOP as caesar dressing which was impossible to toss in a flat small plate. The remainder of the food was very good and the waiter tried hard to make amends. more

My new favorite restaurant, the food was excellent and our server clelia is the best, more

Pay no attention to a bad review of this restaurant. We made a reservation for Friday night. Valet service was prompt, we were greeted with a smile and instant seating. Friday night diners are treated to a free glass of wine. The beef carpaccio appetizer was oustanding. Veal Saltimbocca and Seafood Pescatore was fabulous. The owner stopped by our table to say hello. Our waiter was friendly and service was great. We can't wait to go back for another try. Pros: Food, Service Top Notch more

Worst eating experience in the Tampa area. It started with the waiter not knowing the menu and continued with ""I don't drink wine I drink beer so I can't answer any of your questions."" Then when our food finally arrived the the waiter had ordered the wrong dinners. My dinner came back a second time and was again wrong. By this time I just ate the damn thing. Food was just OK. The manager was less than accomodating. Basically I'll never go back. more

The food and atmosphere here is amazing. We just moved to Alt 19 and this is by far our favorite spot. I am Italian from New York as is my family, and this place rivals my favorite Italian restaurant in New York. In reading other reviews most were spot on with how good this place is and for the one who compared it to chain Italian restaurants must just not like real Italian food. One of the most extensive wine lists with fantasic service and staff. Great job to Carmine and the staff. Amazing! Pros: Everything Cons: Nothing more

You know the minute you see this building from the outside, the interior is just as charming and tastefully decorated. It was my husband's birthday yesterday and after very little convincing on my part we headed for our first time 6:30 PM reservation. We were greeted in a friendly welcoming manner and we were seated promptly by one of the owners. The atmosphere was joyous, everyone talking, laughing having a good time without being loud. Our waiter was very courteous, and informative regarding the cuisine and the bar area. Not missing a beat, in telling us they have a full bar now !!! My Martini was too die for - the olives that accompanied the drink were stuffed with blue cheese !!! How cool is that ! Our waiter also assisted us in choosing our bottle of red wine. Can't go wrong with the house red wine from Naples, especially after having a test taste. Our dinner was superbly cooked. Mine was the bone-in Chicken Cacciatore that fell off the bone -that's how tender it was and tasty - accompanied with a side order of al dente pasta. My husband's dish was the Baccala' Livornese and I did a taste test of that . I've been told I make a mean Cacciatore and a mean Baccala' - I'll have to relinquish my temporary crown- because this place ROCKS!! The chef knows what he or she is doing, the service was efficient and courteous without being intrusive nor pesky, in other words we weren't rushed in any way. Yes, we would come back in a heartbeat after all we live in Palm Harbor !! Our next visit will certainly be with our friends. Now, you ask what price does one put on all of this ? All reasonably priced !!!! \r Oh !! We have forgotten one thing, the chocolate mousse was sinfully and heavenly delicious. \r A thank you to Carmine and a thank you to Mark. Pros: Valet Parking, Great Ambience, Delicious Food, Restroom well tended, Staff neatly attired. Cons: None !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! more

This evening was the second time I've been to this restaurant and it was, again, amazing. I had the grouper special the first time which was a spectacular portion and the dish was over flowing with fresh sea scallops (which the Carraba's lady would definitely NOT appreciate) and home-made linguine w/ a fresh red sauce. This evening my wife and I were treated to a very romantic evening. We began with the sauteed mussels as an appetizer, which were unrivaled! They were perfectly cooked, all open, and very very clean. Bread also came with hand-picked fresh olives and roasted garlic in olive oil for an traditional starter. The wine came in excellent crystal glasses and the portion of my red was voluminous! I enjoyed the fettuccine bolognese which was an amazingly hearty treat that was packed with pork and beef in a deep red sauce. My wife had the most wonderful dish I think I have tasted since the last time I came to Ludovico's! I was a fresh fettuccine w/ shitake mushrooms sliced long, peas, a very light white sauce and topped with the most WONDERFUL glistening pieces of prosciutto! I have read the other reviews who say that it is pricey and I say, no, you get more than you pay for here. Comparing this place to Carraba's would be the same as comparing a fine vintage to 2008 Berringer. The service and atmosphere alone is worth an hour long drive. My server was able to explain not only what was in a dish, but what tastes I would be experiencing and why.... not to mention his wine choice for my meal was excellent! If you want my honest opinion... you can not have a perfect weekend without a sample of the cuisine from this fine, authentic, and very romantic establishment. * Pros: Taste for the $, ambiance, FOOD, wine, service, speed, free valet paking, I LOVE THIS PLACE! Cons: people who can not get enough Carrabas also eat here infrequently :( more

I'm not sure what the negative reviews here are for--I've eaten here four or five times, and every time have been astounded at the quality of the food. From the olives that come with the bread to the arugula and parmesan salad, to every entree I've had (try the squid ink pasta), it's all been perfectly prepared and absolutely delicious. Quality of the ingredients is of the utmost, and the tomato sauce is fresh and actually tastes of tomatoes, not something I've seen in any other restaurant in the area (and certainly not at Carrabas). One of my favorite restaurants, and I intend to continue frequenting it. Pros: Excellent, amazing food. Generous portions. Cons: Not cheap. more

We brought our friends all the way up here from St. Pete to try this restaurant as it was rated the Best Northern Italian cuisine in Tampa Bay by the St. Pete Times and the Tampa Trib. My friend loves Northern Italian! What a disappointment! The other reviewer on this site must work there or own the place! Warning, there is not a full bar and they serve nothing but cheap, domestic beer. Selection of wine was decent. The mussels were fishy and definitely not as good as Carrabbas. The soup was lentil spinach and it tasted like gruel! My husband and his friend had the Beef Wellington and the meat tasted like roast, not tenderloin! My pasta had italian sausage in it and someone must have forgotten to drain the grease. Two hours of our lives wasted. The kids wouldn't even eat the leftovers! We all said we would have been much better off going to a chain restaraunt like Carrabas! My husband called the manager to let her know how we felt about our meal and she was not even apologetic. Pros: Romantic Cons: Food not good, no full bar or imported beer more

Casa Ludovico offers authentic northern Italian cuisine in the heart of Palm Harbor. Every dish on the menu is fantastic, from the antipasto salad, to the fresh pasta dishes (every one is a winner), to the osso buco. The service is always excellent ? be sure to make a reservation. Dinner can be a little pricey, but worth every penny. Pros: Service, fresh pasta dishes, tasty specials Cons: Without a reservation, expect a wait, groups of 10 of more can be tough more