Kat Page
This is always my go to spot! Love the original, but the veranda is where its at! Music, good food and dog friendly, couldn’t ask for more than that away from the noise of downtown St. Pete. I love the ever changing specials. I always like to try something new. The chickpea and spinach soup was a knockout and perfect for a chilly night. I usually get the fresh made pasta with the pesto verde and shrimp, which I did again, it never disappoints. I didn’t have a reservation which I highly recommend. This place is always busy and for good reason! Tourists and locals love this place in fact, Im taking a friend there next week! Thanks for the service, hospitality and all of the staff!
… moreJoseph Isaacs
Food was delicious and the atmosphere was fantastic. A bit pricey especially when they charge for bread with mussels. Make a reservation for sure or dine on patio with live music.
… moreSioux Johnstone
This is a regular dinner spot for us, when we are visiting the St Pete area. Pia’s Veranda is a more casual, no reservation required patio spot with great Italian food. It’s the exact same food served at the trattoria, just with better breezes and a great beachy vibe. Red checked table clothes, sunshades, and palm trees make for a great atmosphere. Servers are incredibly helpful, knowledgeable about the food, and are ready to help you make choices that fit many dietary requirements. Specials are always good – my last visit included the fig, walnut and goat cheese spinach salad, followed by swordfish with risotto, accompanied by 1/2 carafe of house Pinot Grigio. Enjoy an espresso martini while you peruse the menu, it’s delicious! This food is not inexpensive, but it is worth it.
… morePaola Lenis
This place is a gem! Nestled in Gulfport amongst all the little shops and other local restaurants, this restaurant really stands out with the beautiful outdoor and indoor restaurant areas. They have live music on the patio…the trees and flowers make it a very romantic experience. All the tables are spaced appropriately and allow for a comfortable kind of private/cozy experience.
The menu is incredible…I’ve been here a few times and I’ve tried different dishes each time and I must say they’ve all been amazing! The staff are super friendly and make for a great experience. This place is the complete package. I highly recommend visiting and dining at Pia’s. Whether you’re visiting or you live locally, Pia’s is sure to be a memorable culinary experience.
… moreDan P
We heard about Pia’s from connections online. The Trattoria and Veranda have the same menu but are physically separated, so I’m assuming they have different kitchens as well. This review is about Veranda.
This review and scoring are relative to other Italian restaurants.
We arrived and were told 30-45 minutes wait. We waited about 30 ft from the host stand and at 45 minutes my daughter checked in. They had removed us(claiming they texted, which was inaccurate) and then had seats for us. Our service was very slow and ordered items were forgotten(a salad, a round of drinks, etc). I believe our server might have been alone, so her only fault was not writing down orders because she looked overwhelmed.
There is no bread or group starter. So we ordered the calamari. It is seared and that was a good appetizer(7/10).
My daughter had pasta and liked it a lot – 9/10
I had the Mahi, which was fully cooked but the sauce tasted like a bottle of wine and was not very good. The risotto was my least favorite of any restaurant I’ve reviewed. The asparagus was good, but I got 4 tiny spears. My wife got less asparagus and ordered chicken marsala. Her sauce also tasted only like wine. She said it was the worst marsala she’s had.
On a good note, the drinks we ordered were perfectly made – 10/10. The food was plated nicely. The pasta seemed to be really good, so i think I’d prefer that if I went back.
Unfortunately, I have several Italian options that are much more appealing in the future.
… moreCam Bowman
Love to hang out here on their porch, listen to some music and get some decent Italian food. I have found I enjoy just about every dish. I am bummed they no longer make house iced teas as I enjoyed a crafted non alcoholic option. The desserts, pasta dishes, fish. It’s all delightful. I prefer the air conditioned spot next door during the summer months but as it can be hard to get a reservation there in short notice this is a great new option. I recommend getting there early if you want a seat.
… moreJ R
Excellent service by Kennedy. A bit disappointed in food, veal marsala had very little sauce, hardly any mushrooms and not much pasta, a bit bland. Antipasto platter was a bit skimpy for $22. Literally 4 pieces of meat, a tiny bit of cheese, nice pickled vegetables, the tomatoes for the bruschetta and tomato mozzarella were so under ripe they were crunchy and flavorless. Bread which costs extra is very good as was the tiramisu.
… moreLogan Donnelly
Amazing food. The seafood dishes we ordered were not fishy and not overcooked. The environment was very peaceful and relaxing especially with the garden like wall. Overall the service from our waitress Laura would make us come back. She was very attentive engaging and educated of the dishes. Definitely the best service of our trip.
… moreMichael Cleary
This place was recommended by a friend and I’m glad it was! I sat inside near the bar. Only about 5 tables inside but outside has plenty of seating and tonight they had live misic. A cool and casual atmosphere. I had Katie as my server, she was sweet, pleasant, and made sure I had everything I needed. The meal was really very good. I had the caprese salad and veal parm. Both were delicious. The veal came with homemade pasta and was also really very good. I will definitely return.
… moreHeather
So very happy we stopped in for dinner. The outside seating is beautiful. This location is walk in only. Pia’s Trattoria is by reservation only.
It was a beautiful evening to sit outside and enjoy this amazing dinner. Our server was great and the food was delish!
Hubby and I enjoyed the fresh baked ciabatta bread , pesto Verde with chicken and the gnocchi gorgonzola
It was all amazing and delish. We look forward to coming back. Plus, Gulfport is such a sweet and cozy little town with so much character.
… more