The Story
At Scarpino’s, you’re going to want to play with your food — just as much as your server already has.
Trust us. It’s all part of the experience, and one you’ll want at your table.
Scarpino’s, which opened in April in the former home of Nabruzzi Trattoria, offers an interactive experience of sorts — more of a tableside show that its servers are happy to put on.
As the restaurant puts it, “Restaurants are more than places to eat. They are gathering places where families and friends come together to share meals, celebrate life and enjoy time with one another. Food is at the center of culture, tradition and connection.”
That focus on food and connection is why Scarpino’s draws inspiration from Piedmont, the northern Italian region at the foot of the Alps known for handmade pasta, slow-cooked meals, rich sauces, artisan cheeses, seasonal vegetables and world-renowned wines. It’s also why the restaurant hired chef Jorge Luis Rodriguez, who hails from Piedmont, to bring the region’s authentic flavors and cooking styles to the menu.
That tradition extends to how the food reaches the table. Nearly everything is made by hand, but some dishes arrive on full display, prepared tableside, most likely to applause. From drinks to appetizers to full meals for the whole table, the dishes can be finished at your seat, and the flourish is all part of the experience.
Let’s get saucy
Scarpino’s serves plenty of traditional Italian dishes, along with its own takes on the classics. The Chicken Alla Vodka, a twist on chicken parmesan, comes with a fiery tableside presentation that’s as fun to watch as it is to eat.
Prefer something more subdued? That’s fine, too. Plenty of options — pasta, pizza and even seafood — require no tableside prep. Familiar standbys such as lasagna, lobster ravioli, Tuscan salmon, and spaghetti and meatballs round out the menu.
Let’s get included
Scarpino’s proudest signature is its Cacio e Pepe, a fettuccine dish finished tableside in an aged cheese wheel. Billed as serving two, it comes with a salad.
Pro Tip
Order any and every tableside experience. Why wouldn’t you? The servers don’t skimp on the show, and it’s always worth it. Get a drink served with smoke under a glass dome, have the Cacio e Pepe finished at your table or try the sausage and provolone antipasto. Nonni would approve.
Final Verdict
Scarpino’s might just be one of the most fun meals around. It’s classic Italian, but the tableside service is what draws you in — think of the 1905 Salad tossed at your table at the Columbia. That alone is worth the trip for Italian that feels anything but routine yet still delivers everything you’d expect. And if you’d rather keep it simple, there’s always the wood-fired pizza oven to fall back on. So what do you have to lose, other than a doggy bag full of leftover pasta?
Scarpino’s Classic Italian is at 6062 Van Dyke Road in Lutz and is open daily at 11 a.m. For more information or to see the menu, visit scarpinosclassicitalian.com.