It was a hard decision but after a lot of thought, I had to rank Donatello as the second best Italian restaurant that I have ever eaten in over 50 years of fine dining.\r
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The best you ask? Well that would have to be Marcello Gavi's little place in Portofino, Italia. \r
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But if you can't afford the air fare and the time to get there and back, I'd recommend Donatello in Tampa, Florida. \r
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Where to begin? From the time that the host greets you at the door until he kisses your wife and hands her a rose when you leave you are treated like a king. The service is prima! Next, try a Negroni with a slice of orange while you peruse the menu. The food is fantastic . . . my favorites being a Tagiatelle Kathy, followed by a hearts of palm salad and then one of the Vitello dishes (you can't go wrong but my pick is the Puncinella). This should be accompanied by a selection from their outstanding listing of wines . . . my favorite for this meal would be the Nardi Brunello di Malticado. \r
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Finally, a little dolce . . . the profitaroles are the last word in decadence. Then coffee and grappa. Basta! That's enough! That's Donatello!! It's wonderful!!!
Pros: Fantastic food, first-class service, lovely ambience
Cons: Tough to get in on weekends especially after Bucs games.
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