Domani Italian Bistro Opens to Praises From Diners

The long wait for a new Italian restaurant in Seminole Heights is over as opened its doors this weekend.

Debuting its full menu for the first time and unveiling an impressive array of cocktails, Domani's first few days of business were a major success. Diners came from around the Tampa Bay area looking for something new, which is exactly what they got.

"This neighborhood needed something like this to go with everything it already has," downtown resident Jason Stroppel said. "It's kind of upscale but it's very affordable. You can still order anything on the menu and not spend a fortune and whatever you get is unbelievable."

If traditional Italian dining is what you're looking for, Domani may stun more than please as few items contain pasta or a traditional sauce. But with an open mind and a pallate to match, this modern Italian menu offers a little bit of something for everyone, from gourmet flatbread to some stunningly original appetizers.

"It was amazing," Ybor resident Niely Cornacchia said. "There was not one thing I didn't like and this is coming from a straight up Italian girl. I'll definitely be back."

Sometimes little things make a big difference. Whether it's daily fresh baked bread, a refreshing cucumber instead of lemon in your water or the "grapes", a play on peanut butter and jelly using a grape wrapped in brie cheese and dipped in pistachio and topped with red wine vinagerette, Domani packs a surprise that will delight the diner and their taste buds.

Hit items on the young menu include the tenderloin flatbread, a flavor packed pizza with a marriage toppings that include blue cheese, carmelized onions, dates and beef tenderloin. But perhaps the best part about this meal is its $14 price tag rather the combination of flavors, a price well worth paying given the quality of the food.

Local excitement over the opening is on high as Seminole Heights residents poured through the doors this weekend to get their first taste of a project they've watched being constructed for the last three months at 6419 North Florida Avenue.

"I live two blocks away, I'm going to be here all the time," Todd Perkins, a resident of Old Seminole Heights said. "The food here is excellent and the staff is very friendly. It's certainly a welcome addition to the neighborhood."