Neighborhood Italian restaurant is a success!

A neighborhood success in North Tampa, Marchello’s is a treat

It is only fitting that Marchello’s Pizzeria and Restaurant, at the corner of North Dale Mabry and Van Dyke Road, is in the same strip center as the gym to which Joan and I had belonged and had visited nearly every day before I fell and fractured my kneecap.. Our first visit to this restaurant was just after they had opened; we were resigned to an establishment leaning its way and an inexperienced wait staff. What we found was a professional operation and already gaining popularity in the neighborhood.

We ordered and devoured a “special” pizza, loaded with pepperoni, meatballs, sausage, onions, green pepper, ham, all in a rich tomato and cheese base. The 16″ pie, at $17.95, was more than enough for two meals for the two of us. While we expected a pizza restaurant, we were amazed at the scope of the menu and the loaded plates that kept coming out of the kitchen to a quite full dining room. The serving dishes are an attractive square shape and, as noted, loaded; no skimpy portions here.

Although the brand new restaurant’s 15 tables were nearly full and there was a steady stream of people coming in for take-out orders, the energetic and cheerful wait staff moved everything along efficiently.

The menu is extensive, with pasta entrees galore, as well as veal, chicken and shrimp in a variety of treatments, Parmigiana, Marsala, piccata and francese and so forth. Prices of the entrees run in the teens.

I immediately made mental plans to return as soon as possible to sample the many choices along with saltimbocca and some interesting appetizers.

On our next visit to Marchello’s, I ordered the saltimbocca a la Romano, substantial chicken medallions, topped with spinach, prosciutto, eggplant and mozzarella cheese, sautéed in a brown sauce. I chose a cup of Wedding Soup, a tasty pasta-meatball treat, and a side of penne pasta. At $13.95, the portion was a bargain. Joan chose the Eggplant Rollatini with a side of linguine ($13.95) and she was as pleased with her selection as I was with mine. Just as with the pizza we had enjoyed previously, we took enough left-overs for another meal! One reason for the extras was that we enjoyed, too much, the hot loaf of garlic bread that was served with a dish of red sauce.

On a more recent visit Joan chose the chicken Marsala which she reported was excellent, with flavorful and rich Marsala gravy. I went back to a favorite of mine, baked ziti, crunchy on the top, oozing with cheese and delicious red sauce.

Prices are reasonable, portions large enough to serve as a second meal the next day and the pizza is distinguished and meets the New York-New Jersey standards which are high indeed. Marchello’s is a success as far as we are concerned! It is already a favorite of the neighborhood. Although our most recent visit was on a Thursday evening, during an all day rain, the restaurant had a number of families happy to have discovered a fine new neighborhood restaurant.

Tags: Carrollwood, Italian restaurant, Marchello's Italian restaurant, North Tampa, pizza, Tampa Bay