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Rustic-industrial dinner spot with regular & tasting menus of contemporary Italian fare.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 449 Central Ave #101st, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Phone: (727) 387-3850
Website: http://www.ilritornodowntown.com/
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Order and Reservations
Reservations: opentable.com
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Reviews
Dan P
Everything we ordered was perfectly cooked, with exceptional service. The only negative would be some portion sizes.
We eat mussels all over and this was tied for 1st place, we also loved the portion size of this dish. It’s a tie because the mussels are so unique, hearty and amazing, vs a more traditional white wine sauce.
My wife had the roasted octopus which had a great char and was delicious, just a bit less of it than she had hoped, but absolutely cooked to perfection.
The risotto came out in a cake type format and was a drier preparation than most other restaurants. It was very good, we just wanted more and prefer the texture of a traditional risotto.
I ordered the Wagyu ribeye and it was the most tender steak I’ve ever had. I would rank it top 5 for flavor(I’ve eaten a lot of steak). It was cooked perfectly and the little tarts were great.
We had mojitis since we use those to gauge bartenders and they were all very well made and we have no complaints at all.
Service was absolutely top tier.
… moreWe eat mussels all over and this was tied for 1st place, we also loved the portion size of this dish. It’s a tie because the mussels are so unique, hearty and amazing, vs a more traditional white wine sauce.
My wife had the roasted octopus which had a great char and was delicious, just a bit less of it than she had hoped, but absolutely cooked to perfection.
The risotto came out in a cake type format and was a drier preparation than most other restaurants. It was very good, we just wanted more and prefer the texture of a traditional risotto.
I ordered the Wagyu ribeye and it was the most tender steak I’ve ever had. I would rank it top 5 for flavor(I’ve eaten a lot of steak). It was cooked perfectly and the little tarts were great.
We had mojitis since we use those to gauge bartenders and they were all very well made and we have no complaints at all.
Service was absolutely top tier.
Michele Von Behren
Our family celebrated our daughter’s 30th birthday at Il Ritorno. What a meal! We ordered a couple selections from each course and ate family style. The dishes were so fresh and flavorful. Well worth the splurge as it will be a memorable family event we will talk about for years to come. The service was excellent. Our server was very attentive and friendly. I’d recommend for special occasions as it is quite pricey.
… moresomeone
They offer both à la carte and tasting menu, and I’d recommend making a reservation
They start with a complimentary olive rosemary focaccia
Bone Marrow
Served with pickled veggies on the side
Pork Campanelle
It leans savory, slightly spicy, salty, and tangy. The crunchy pig ears add great texture
Crispy Truffle Risotto
Risotto with mushroom cream, truffle, and chicharron. The chicharron crunch with the mushroom and truffle combo actually works really well. Comforting but not overwhelming
Both of these seriously exceeded expectations and ended up being highlights of the meal
Wagyu Ribeye Cap
A tender cut of wagyu beef, cooked nicely and very soft. Clean flavors, well-balanced sides
Will be back
… moreThey start with a complimentary olive rosemary focaccia
Bone Marrow
Served with pickled veggies on the side
Pork Campanelle
It leans savory, slightly spicy, salty, and tangy. The crunchy pig ears add great texture
Crispy Truffle Risotto
Risotto with mushroom cream, truffle, and chicharron. The chicharron crunch with the mushroom and truffle combo actually works really well. Comforting but not overwhelming
Both of these seriously exceeded expectations and ended up being highlights of the meal
Wagyu Ribeye Cap
A tender cut of wagyu beef, cooked nicely and very soft. Clean flavors, well-balanced sides
Will be back
Amy Tcimpidis
The most delicious tasting menu we have ever experienced. The quality of the food, preparation and presentation were flawless. Chef David and his staff were incredible, efficient and organized, things ran like clockwork, very very impressive! The service was impeccable! We highly recommend this restaurant!
… moreLindsay V
We had an absolutely incredible experience at Il Ritorno for our anniversary! Not only was the food impeccable, but so was the experience, the staff, the ambiance, it was overall a top dining experience. We did the tasting menu, and the team was so nice to accommodate making mine gluten free (we did call in advance to make sure the kitchen was able to do this for us that evening). Dan was our main server and truly made sure that we were enjoying our time and made sure we felt celebrated as well. We will be sure to be back!
… moreAlyssa Stoltz
We visited here for our anniversary in October 2025, and while the overall experience was OK, we both agreed we would not take the time to go back.
The Pros: We went on a Monday night, so the restaurant was quiet and the service staff was very attentive. We were waited on right away and were even given a free glass of champagne each to celebrate our anniversary! The highlights of our meal included some fantastic bread, pasta, beautiful plating, and a great wine selection!
The Cons: The rest of our meal, however, we would say was quite underwhelming. The salad was a bit bitter, and the octopus (while cooked absolutely perfectly) had a bit of a fishy flavor. But the real disappointment for us was the meatballs. We did not realize these came fried, and when they were served to us, we each had one bite and decided we did not particularly care for them. We kindly let our waitress know, and even though we left the entire remaining dish untouched, she did not offer any apologies or to take it off our bill.
All in all, it is a nice meal. But for people like us who go to Michelin Guide restaurants all the time, we felt this missed the mark.
… moreThe Pros: We went on a Monday night, so the restaurant was quiet and the service staff was very attentive. We were waited on right away and were even given a free glass of champagne each to celebrate our anniversary! The highlights of our meal included some fantastic bread, pasta, beautiful plating, and a great wine selection!
The Cons: The rest of our meal, however, we would say was quite underwhelming. The salad was a bit bitter, and the octopus (while cooked absolutely perfectly) had a bit of a fishy flavor. But the real disappointment for us was the meatballs. We did not realize these came fried, and when they were served to us, we each had one bite and decided we did not particularly care for them. We kindly let our waitress know, and even though we left the entire remaining dish untouched, she did not offer any apologies or to take it off our bill.
All in all, it is a nice meal. But for people like us who go to Michelin Guide restaurants all the time, we felt this missed the mark.
C C
The food at Il Ritorno was truly incredible — every dish was beautifully prepared and full of flavor. Unfortunately, the service did not match the quality of the cuisine. After being seated for our 8:30 reservation, it took about 10 minutes before anyone greeted our table, and another 15–20 minutes before we received drinks or even bread.
Throughout the rest of the evening, we noticed a consistent pattern of slow service, especially when it came to getting drink refills or placing additional orders. For the price point and reputation of this establishment, we expected a much more attentive and timely dining experience.
Amazing food, but the service was subpar and disappointing for what you pay.
… moreThroughout the rest of the evening, we noticed a consistent pattern of slow service, especially when it came to getting drink refills or placing additional orders. For the price point and reputation of this establishment, we expected a much more attentive and timely dining experience.
Amazing food, but the service was subpar and disappointing for what you pay.
Kris Hempel
We came here for our 30th anniversary. The food was amazing. The service was to notch. It was definitely pricey, but well with it for a special occasion.
… moreCynthia Brylinsky
One of the BEST meals we’ve ever had! Celebrated our anniversary with the Tasting Menu (and wine pairing). Everything was beautifully presented, ingredients were relayed by the service staff and the taste was out of this world! I can’t say enough good things about the food and service. Kudos to the entire team!
… moreHaley DeLeon
This is a great Italian restaurant in St Pete. Our server, Jessica, was very attentive, and the pasta dishes we ordered were delicious. I also love that the portion sizes were not too big. We also enjoyed NA cocktails.
… more