Returned For More Bada Bing!
St. Petersburg, Florida USA
Cuisine Style: Italian
Average Price: $$$
Overall Rating: 5/5
Dined in May 2017
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
Executive Chef:
Anthony Magnifico
Restaurant owners::
Domenic D'Angelo and Chef Anthony Mangiafico
My wife and I have been coming to Gratzzi Italian Grille more times than we can count over the years, meeting with friends, drinking, socializing, and sometimes having a full meal. The first review from November 2016 was such a sit-down. This time we had a large party of friends sitting down to a meal. Drinks around the table were of the assorted variety from Espresso and Nolet martini’s to King Estate pinot noir bottles out of Willamette. According to the winemaker, the palate offers an elegant blend of dark cherries, rhubarb, and blackberry, evolving into complex flavors of cranberry, walnut, and cassis.
Menu:
- Early dinner menu
- Antipasti
- Zuppe & Insalate
- Fresh Pasta
- Chef’s Selections
- Other Favorites
- Gratzzi Grille
- Personal Gourmet Pizza
- Desserts
Focuses for this meal setting were the tuna tartar over a bed of arugula lettuce strands, topped with seaweed, and pickled ginger. The taste was a bit spicy and strong acid accent from the lemon, but beautiful in texture, presentation, and taste. The dish came with a double layered style sauce combination of a sweet chili and topped with a garnish of wasabi cream.
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| Tuna tartar |
Some other friends at the table enjoyed the carpaccio di Manzo with four assorted types of meat, and three kinds of cheese, one of which was a delightful Padana parmesan which honestly can compete with Parmigiano-Reggiano any day of the week. Include some black olives, Dijon sauce, capers, sweet onions, arugula, with a mixture and drizzle of infused oil and you had a plate fit for a king or queen, which boasted well with the King Estate pinot noir.
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| Padana parmesan |
The veal parmigiana one of three on the menu, with the other two being chicken or vegetarian eggplant was breaded with a Romano cheese mixture and panko, topped with a light and semi-sweet Pomodoro sauce, sprinkled shavings of mozzarella cheese and sat on a bed of spaghettini. Veal is all that needs to be said, because who could ask for anything better unless it is a wagyu or an authentic Japanese Kobe of course.
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| Veal parmigiana |
The last meal event my wife and I had included the cavatelli bada bing dish, which we did recommend, and another person at the table ordered. This dish is prepared table-side and is a fantastic show from start to finish. The only way it could be better is if Pavarotti himself was singing behind him while the action station is presented. A handmade ricotta cavatelli is flambéed inside a large wheel of the Padana parmesan, with San Daniele prosciutto, tomatoes, basil, and vodka. A massive and amazing wow. Great flavors and the smell is heavenly. You literally are missing all taste and sensory feelings if you don’t enjoy this dish.
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| Bada bing! |
YouTube bada bing:
Dessert:
The Limoncello cake had a slight flavor of the alcohol from the cello making process, and the yellow cake mixture was soft and delicate. The taste was light with little sugar as the lemon would be the overpowering flavor profile from the dish. Next came the chocolate cake, thick, dark, and a big bursting surprise of taste that would wake an Egyptian mummy and have him beg for more.
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| Limoncello cake |
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Wine regulatory’s for the tastings in this article:
United States:
Oregon:
Other Noteworthy Italian Articles & Restaurants:
Alioto’s Restaurant Historic restaurant serving Sicilian-infused seafood in San Francisco, California
BiCE Restaurant, Dubai Marina Acclaimed upmarket classic & innovative Italian in Dubai, UAE
BRIO Tuscan Grille Relaxed Tuscan-inspired Italian chain eatery, reviewed in Sarasota, Florida
FarmTable Kitchen Casual Cal-Italian cuisine and chef tables in St. Petersburg, Florida
Feola’s Italian Ristorante relaxed eatery for pizza and pasta in Treasure Island, Florida
Gino’s East Pizzeria Chain serving Chicago-style deep dish pizza & other Italian eats in Chicago, Illinois
Gino’s Restaurant & Bar Old-school & modern genial Italian eatery in Tampa, Florida
Greystone Restaurant Italian CIA school restaurant in Calistoga, California (Now Gatehouse Restaurant)
La Petite Maison Relaxed French-Italian Restaurant at the DFIC in Dubai, UAE
Locale Seasonal Northern Italian at the De Bortoli Winery in the Yarra Valley, Australia
Noble Crust Modern contemporary Italian and Southern dishes in St Petersburg, Florida
Pia’s Trattoria Tuscan-themed old-school Italian restaurant In Gulfport, Florida
Pizza Republica Trendy Italian trattoria and pizza restaurant in Centennial, Colorado
Ponte Vecchio Fine dining Italian classics in the Fallsview Hotel, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Prato Rustic Italian bistro with modern takes on classic dishes in Winter Park, Florida
Roberto’s Ristorante A walk into the Piemonte with a contemporary twist at the DIFC, Dubai, UAE
Sea-Guini Chic restaurant with seafood & Italian-inspired cuisine in Clearwater Beach, Florida
The Garlic old world style Italian with Mediterranean classics in New Smyrna Beach, Florida
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other St Petersburg restaurants and articles on Wine, Dine, and Play:
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Laid-back dockside spot for global eats
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
|
Colonial Portuguese Fusion with tapas
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
|
Lively Bar and Grill
At the Hollander Hotel
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
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A Few Florida Favorites:
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Italian-inspired seafood at the Opal Sands Resort
Clearwater / Beach, Florida USA
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Third Floor terrace Seafood Centric New American dining
Bradenton Beach, Florida, USA
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Multi-day festival and tasting
Key West, Florida, USA
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See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary by country”
Final notes, review basics, observations and more pictures:
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about. My ratings are by the stars I award (from 0 to 5). The rating is calculated on a point accumulation of six separate factors based on individual experience. They include wine and other beverage selections, plate presentation, customer service, restaurant or café ambiance, food quality, and wow factor. To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
What are you waiting for, book your reservations!
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings
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Max Points Possible:
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Total Points Awarded:
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Total Points deducted:
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Ambiance
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10
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9
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1
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Food quality
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10
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8
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2
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Plate presentation
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8
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8
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0
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Customer service
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9
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8
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1
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Alcohol and other beverages
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10
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9
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1
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Total regular points awarded
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47
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42
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5
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Total percentage Before Bonus
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0.893617021276596
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“Wow” factor BONUS
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5
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4
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0
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Total bonus percentage
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0.0851063829787234
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Total percentage with a bonus for the final star rating
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0.978723404255319
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Stars Awarded (see chart below)
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0 - 5
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5
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**A full break down and explanation of the observations and point disbursement is available in the linked article above. To receive a detailed copy of your score, feel free to contact me at any time and I will provide it to you.**
***
Overall Star Rating:
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5 of 5 Stars:
98% Rating with a 4 point “wow” bonus
An Extraordinary Dining Experience
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Corkage fee’s:
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This Restaurant does not list any corkage fee’s however, most American restaurants charge
$25.00 per bottle
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Restaurant style:
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Casual dining
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Cuisine style:
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Italian, Tuscan, Milanese
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Farm to Fork, Gluten Free, Local, Organic, Pescatarian, Sustainable, Vegan, and Vegetarian Options
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Reservations:
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Not Required, But Recommended
Walk-Ins:
Accepted, but not guaranteed
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Dress code:
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Casual attire
It’s Florida, everybody wears flip-flops!
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Child policy:
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The Restaurants reviewed on this site may have a kids menu or cater to them; however, for full enjoyment of food and wine, it is recommended that kids not to be in attendance, unless they have been trained in proper etiquette.
If not then:
Hire a Babysitter!
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Experiences:
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Place for foodies, Modern, Trendy, Romantic, Hotspot, Great bar, Good for special occasions, Intimate, and a Neighborhood Gem.
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Payments:
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Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
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Parking:
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Street meter parking
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Wifi
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The restaurants reviewed on this site may have Wi-Fi, but do not require you to go online, because the excitement of the food and wine alone will keep you too entertained instead of checking your social media and emails.
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Noise level:
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Medium
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Smoking:
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Nonsmoking restaurant, and nonsmoking patio
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Patio or terrace:
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Yes
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Food Prices
(excludes, alcohol, taxes & 20% gratuity’s)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricy)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
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Price
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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££
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Canadian Dollar (CAN)
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$$$
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Chinese Yuan (CNY)
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¥¥¥¥¥
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European Union (EUR)
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€€
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Alcohol prices:
$95.00 USD
Gratzzi Italian Grille:
211 2nd Street South
St. Petersburg
Florida, 33701
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
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Maître d or host:
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+1 727 623 9037
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Online reservations
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Email Contact:
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Serving hours:
Eastern Standard Time (GMT - 5:00)
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Lunch: Mon-Sun
11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Dinner: Mon-Sun
4:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Happy Hour: Daily
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
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Social Media
&
Accolades:
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****
The worlds best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
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An innovative and eclectic tasting menu
Ripponlea, Australia
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Innovative East Meets West Menu
Cape Town, South Africa
|
Haute French Restaurant
Paris, France
(Now L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon)
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Other Pictures:
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| Bada bing! |
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
