Bella's Italian Cafe
Since 1988, Bella's Italian Café has served guests authentic Italian meals that include appetizers, salads, soups, desserts, homemade pastas and wood-fired pizzas. The lunch menu offers dishes like Penne Roma (pasta topped with a basil tomato sauce mixed with chicken, bacon, garlic, onion, olives and red wine) and Genoa Pizza (with pesto and mozzarella, ricotta and romano cheeses). The dinner menu features entrées such as Pasta Il Mare (shrimp and scallops sautéed with roasted mushrooms and leeks in a roasted cream sauce) and Bella Luna (Bella's original recipe of half-moon pasta filled with asparagus, ham, fontina and ricotta cheeses, and sun-dried tomatoes). Outdoor dining is available. Dinner entrée prices (in 2009) range from $8.25 to $26.99; lunch prices range from $6.25 to $10.99. Bella's opens at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday and at 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
1413 S. Howard Avenue
Tampa, Florida 33606
(813) 254-3355
bellasitaliancafe.com
Ceviche Tapas Bar & Restaurant
The first Ceviche Tapas Bar & Restaurant opened in 1997. The menu embraces paellas, cazuelas, and more than 100 hot and cold tapas such as Codorniz de Grilladore (marinated and grilled quail over sautéed spinach) or Solomillo a la Parilla (grilled prime fillet with wild mushrooms and brandy cream sauce). The Sunday brunch menu includes such dishes as Ceviche de la Casa (shrimp, scallops, squid and fish marinated in lime juice) and Stuffed French Toast (fruit bread stuffed with strawberries and bananas in a cinnamon egg batter). Outdoor dining is available. The flamenco bar, open at five p.m., presents live Spanish-style entertainment. In 2009, dinner entrée prices range from $6.95 to $24.95 and brunch prices from $5.50 to $12.95. Ceviche is open 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for Sunday brunch. Dinner hours begin at 5 p.m. Sunday through Saturday.
1502 S. Howard Avenue
Tampa, Florida 33606
(813) 250-0203
ceviche.com/1653
The Wine Exchange Bistro and Wine Bar has been located in Old Hyde Park Village since 1990. The menu features pizzas, pastas, sandwiches, salads, quiches and meat/seafood/chicken entrées. More than 40 domestic and international wines are served. The lunch menu offers dishes like Salmon Dijon (Dijon and bread-crumb baked salmon topped with lemon crème fraîche) and Chili Rubbed Flank Steak topped with poblano pepper sauce. Dinner includes entrées such as Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi served with a coconut-wasabi aioli and Blackened Fillet Mignon topped with gorgonzola cream sauce. Entrée prices (in 2009) range from $7.95 to $14.95 for lunch and $8.00 to $24.95 for dinner. Outdoor dining is available. The Wine Exchange is open at 11:30 a.m. Sunday through Saturday.
1609 W. Snow Avenue
Tampa, Florida
(813) 254-9463
wineexchangetampa.com
Article Written By Rohana Chomick
Rohana Chomick has more than 20 years writing experience in a variety of avenues: newspaper, television, advertising, online. Currently, she is at work on her first novel. Chomick has a B.A. in English and a B.A. in mass communications, both from the University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla.
