Reviews & Press
Pelagia Trattoria has been raved about since its grand unveiling in 2004. This Tampa, FL fine dining restaurant offers its guests a taste of the Mediterranean with delicious dishes that will shock and delight the palate.
Serving in the Renaissance Tampa Hotel International Plaza, Pelagia Trattoria has earned itself praise amongst the Tampa, FL fine dining critics.
05.01.12
Healthy Tampa Bay Living
“It’s clear Pelagia has grown out of its ‘hidden gem’ status and made a name for itself on the Tampa restaurant scene…
HTBL was invited to experience their fresh new happy hour concept called “R Life Live,” taking place every Wednesday from 5-7 p.m. With seasonal appetizers and wines at $5, coupled with al fresco live music, this is a celebration of all things Tampa Bay.
Hands down, one of the very best meals I’ve had in Tampa. The cuisine could not be any more fresh and flavorful; the atmosphere is the perfect combination of upscale and ‘chill.’”
DUPONT REGISTRY
04.12
Culinary Masters – Spring with Chefs in Tampa Bay
Featured executive chef Andrew Basch’s recipe for Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes with Candied Tomatoes and Tarragon Aioli
03.06.12
Pelagia Trattoria – A 13th Step Adventure
“Hats off to Pelagia Trattoria for a truly amazing evening! The inaugural 13th Step Dinner in a local Tampa Bay restaurant was an experience to remember!
Chef Andrew and Chef Brett crafted 8 exquisite courses that made your taste buds feel as though they had come a bit closer to Heaven. Each course consisted of locally sourced produce & proteins and when placed in front of you can only be described beautiful pieces of art.”
02.14.12
Healthy Tampa Bay Living
“Part of the HTBL lifestyle is dining out… frequently. We love checking out restaurants all over Tampa Bay and sampling new menus. If you’re going to dine out, why not try a Tampa Bay restaurant that offers sustainable, organic and local food? You’ll be trying some of the most beautifully presented, creative menu items one can find in our area – and you’ll certainly notice a difference in the taste.
Pelagia Trattoria: A modern Italian restaurant that features seasonal ingredients in most of their dishes ranging from handcrafted pasta… to bianca pizza…to pan-seared sea scallops. Since its opening, Pelagia has been somewhat of a hidden gem tucked in the middle of International Mall, however, word about their innovative menu is spreading quickly. HTBL recently attended a Yelp event here and were thoroughly impressed with everything we sampled.”
02.08.12
Food bloggers agree: Tampa’s Pelagia Trattoria makes a meal of discovery
“Andrew Basch, executive chef, Brett Gardiner, sous chef, and Jim Bartholomay, hotel manager, of Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel, provided chatty commentary while guests bantered in approval. Continuous pours from Jim Bodkin, of Casa Vinicola Zonin, lubricated the conversation as he showcased wonderful wines and talked about each Italian families and vineyard nuances.
The menu was result of two-week collaboration between Andrew and Brett.
“It took so long because we started with about 18 courses,’’ says Andrew. They spent days executing each to narrow choices to eight. They researched locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients and put in about 100 hours to prepare the resulting dishes…”
12.27.11
Pelagia Trattoria – The most creative restaurant at International Plaza
“The new chef at the helm is Andrew Basch, a well pedigreed local chef who has sharpened his knife at excellent local restaurants… Chef Basch very kindly obliged my annoying foodie request to ‘try as many things as possible” and an onslaught of awesomeness quickly followed.’
TAMPA TRIBUNE
11.23.11
“We asked a group of gourmet chefs in the Tampa Bay area to take Turkey Day leftovers and invent new ways to enjoy their flavors. Andrew Basch, the new executive chef at Pelagia Trattoria in the Renaissance Tampa Hotel at International Plaza, plans to serve this dish at the restaurant the day after Thanksgiving. With butternut squash and sage, it’s a belly-filling dish full of seasonal flavors.”
TASTE: Dining and Travel Magazine
05.01.11
“Traditional Italian food with a modern twist is their mantra here. Watching all the cooking and presentation preparations we couldn’t help wonder at how seamless, calm and quiet all the composing was, under Chef Daniel’s attentive eye for detail. Very impressive.”
CREATIVE LOAFING
02.24.11
“Start with one of my favorite dishes here, the caesar fondue. Long stalks of romaine are lightly grilled, leaving stripes of black across the leaves and a smoky burst in your mouth. A creamy dressing redolent of anchovy sits on the side for dipping — a hands-only dish — with a seasoned crouton for crunch. Still simple, still fantastic…”
METROMIX
06.10.10
“A beautiful dining area, diverse and approachable menu, and knowledgeable staff make Pelagia a lesser-known Tampa gem. Though connected to the Renaissance Tampa Hotel at International Plaza and enjoyed by overnight guests, locals and other area visitors should not overlook this spot. It claims and maintains it’s independent space and offers some delicious and affordable choices for every meal of the day.”
Bay Magazine Feature
QUEENS CHRONICLE
“Tampa’s most famous restaurant is the touristy and overpriced Bern’s Steakhouse, but a far better fine dining bet is Pelagia Trattoria, located in Tampa’s premier shopping center, the International Plaza Mall.” Feb. 4, 2010
Read More
duPont REGISTRY Feature
ST. PETERSBURG TIMES
BEST PLACE TO PUT THE FAB BACK INTO MEDITERRANEAN, STARTING WITH FRIED OLIVES
01.12.06
“The decor is eye-popping, the service is smooth and the cooking is a fabulous rendition of Greek, Italian and Provencal we’ve barely tasted. Those tastes can be big—say, mussels with lamb sausage or exquisite squid ink risotto. Small details stun, too: flash-fried carrot garnish on roast chicken or stuzzichini of minted calamari or risotto croquettes.”
– Chris Sherman
TAMPA TRIBUNE
“This new restaurant, at Renaissance Tampa Hotel in the International Plaza, pampers without pretense.”
