Vela Italian Tavern

This place is delicious!!! We weren’t sure what to expect but the restaurant is a 3 minute walk from our place so we had to try it. I’m glad I looked at the menu before going in so I wasn’t anticipating a typical Italian menu because this menu is anything but typical. Vela has a menu made up of Italian, Greek/Mediterranean and Spanish flavors and it’s SO good in the most surprising of ways. The caramelized onion butter that came with the perfectly crisp focaccia was so good my boyfriend said he could just eat a side of that as a whole meal! The Bianca pizza, suggested by our helpful waitress, was a savory mix of high quality cheese and just the right amount of truffle. They whipped up mock-tails for us based on our flavor profile preferences and they were crisp and refreshing without being overly sweet. And my shrimp kebabs were cooked to perfection. Everything came out even better than I imagined when reading the menu description — usually with an unexpected yet highly welcome twist such as the slight spice in the tzatziki — yummmmm. Try this place — and keep an open mind to the whole menu. We moved from Vegas a few months ago and it’s been a journey trying to find quality restaurants in Tampa. This is going near the top of our list ✔️ Pictured: Shrimp Kebab entree, za’atar cauliflower starter, Bianca pizza, focaccia bread with caramelized onion butter.

As every dish came out we were more and more impressed. The argument at the end of the night which was the best part? Still undecided, need to try entire menu. Ordered 3 Appetizers (Hummus couldn't wait for photo), Split a Pizza (Not pictured) and 2 desserts the Chocolate tart and Mango Sorbet. Everything tasted amazing and the texture was on point, but if I had to pick one thing to tell friends about, it was probably the Mango Sorbet, it really hit different. UPDATE: Went back, the Steak Frites was one of the best in the bay, I opted for both options of Béarnaise and Chimichurri on the side and it paid off, kept going back and forth. Came back with a larger party of 5 this time and everyone said they were for sure coming back. Keep up the great work, we need more spots like this in the bay.

I loved the food. The hummus was amazing. I got the lasagna served on weekends only and it was so good! The portion was big, big enough for two people to share. I loveeee the atmosphere. It’s very aesthetic and luxurious.

Been here twice already and impressed both times. It’s a little restaurant tucked away in a new apartment complex. Parking is located in the rear. The ambiance is nice, very aesthetically pleasing to the eye. They have a nice selection of wines and the food is delicious. We had a very tasty lobster pasta the first time we came, the second time the item was not longer on the menu but they had a nice little happy hour menu to choose from. And let me just say, do not pass up on their clams, it had a little kick to it but the broth/sauce is amazing. A nice place for a a date or catching up with a friend. I do need to come back in the morning time as they do have a coffee/ cafe in the front.

Took my almost 7 year old daughter here for a dinner date, food and service was great! Really enjoyed my cucumber mojito and my daughter loved her kid’s cheesy pasta. I ordered the prosciutto + hot honey pizza which only disappointed a little because the honey wasn’t so hot, but a quick dusting of chili flakes fixed that. Got my daughter to try the crème brûlée - which she loved (and I did too)! Small and efficient menu, decent happy hour deals, and good ambiance. 10/10 - will be back again to try out brunch sometime!

My wife read about Cru Cellars in the food section of the paper and a wise husband knows when to take a hint. It's cozy and cute with modern motif, located in the Westshore Marina area. Like some places, it was a little cacauphonic for my taste but certainly not unpleasant and as summer turns to fall we'll probably opt to eat outside. Whether it's a restaurant with good wine or a nice wine bar with good food, I can't say but both were delicious. We started with Tuna Tartare and Kathy ordered the Steak Fritte with Bernaise while I had the Langostino Gimelli - a lobster macaroni & cheese - it was incredible! Service was fabulous...we were seated immediately and Emma, our host, was pleasant and always there to answer a question or take our order. Add to that our friend Julian is one of the sommeliers and available to help us explore the wine. (I'm comfortable with my reds but eager to find my way with whites). I can't say it was cheap but it wasn't unreasonable and it was very good. Besides, we were there to explore and enjoy. My thanks for the great service!

Our third time at Cru Cellars and another outstanding time. We went for a wine tasting event and the 6 selections covered white, rose and red from multiple countries. We ordered some food to go with the wines and had the Tuna Tartare and a Margherita Pizza. Both were delicious and sadly, my wife dug into the tuna before I could get a picture. Our server Aries was delightful and took wonderful care of us. The wine tasting was outside and it was a little warm and the sunset is pretty late in June. The only thing that would have made the evening any better is if the canopies had been up like they were for our first event there. Can't wait for another trip to Cru Cellars!

David Prado

Everything was perfect! The food, the service, the location! Vela has every detail down to the volume of the music and their wine selection down to a fine T! What can I say but exceptional! Thank you so much to Ashley our server, she was phenomenal and paced our dinner perfectly, while managing a full bar of guests. Kudos to her for making one of the best tasting Espresso Martinis in Tampa! Food has Rocca shook and drinks have Luv Child BEAT. For an added bonus come on hospitality night. To the owner … you ate this up! Bravo’

Zamarea Vigilance

I went on Valentine’s Night with my friends for the first time and I LOVE it here! The music was great, it wasn’t too loud but it was just right. Everyone who worked there was literally so nice and amazing. Our server was Jess, she was so great. She gave us great recommendations with it being our first time dining there. The drinks were a 10/10. The hummus dip was also a 10/10, honestly everything was a 10/10 lol. But my favorite was the shrimp, if you go you should definitely get the shrimp! We’re planning on coming back for brunch one of these days

Carolina Angulo

Love it! Amazing atmosphere! Friendly and fast service. Love the kindness and attentiveness of the staff. The food was great. We ordered the salmon piccata, fillet mignon, the meatballs and the chicken parmesan. It was delicious! Definitely recommend! They have plenty of free parking making a great place for celebrating special occasions and gatherings. We compliment the general manager, Rachel, for making my husband birthday even more special!

Adam O.

Jess took care of us for my father's birthday. Her attitude and ability to connect to my rather poignant family was exceptional. She was very clearly enjoying her day. That kind of service is exceptional and reason alone to return. The food was amazing, we had the margherita pizza (suggested by Jess), spicy meat lovers pizza, two salmon piccattas, and spaghetti (the one with a white wine sauce, not meatballs, though that's on the menu as well). All the dishes were great and prepared well, and presented beautifully. I had the margherita pizza, and it tasted very smooth. Everything, including the dough, is clearly made fresh in-house, and the salmon on top of the couscous was perfect. House white wine was on the slight dry side (perfect for myself, but not as sweet as some may prefer), and the sangria was a little dry, though they can add simple syrup to sweeten it on request. The atmosphere is beautiful, a comfy modern little place with a cozy vibe. The large round table in the corner booth we were at was a bit wobbly, though not impossible to deal with and not a major deal unless you needed the table sturdy for a vlog camera or something. All in all, it was a great place to visit in the evening and we were sat (with a reservation for 5:30) immediately on a Friday, though it seemed like it was easy to walk in that early as well and be seated quickly. There is a bar if you'd prefer to enjoy that as well. There is also a wine-cellar storage behind a glass wall visible to the entire little place. Parking seemed like it could be difficult later on during dinner service, though we were able to find a parallel spot across the street in front of the new apartment complex. There is other parking nearby but potentially a block or so away depending on how busy the area is. It's a small restaurant, but there are other businesses in the little plaza it is in. I'll definitely be returning to try more of their menu, weather on a date, or with family. I enjoyed the food and the service, and it isn't overly expensive. Our bill (for three of us of the 5 in our party, including appetizer and dessert) was about $150, though with some of the dishes (like a filet mignon for $42) it may increase.

Jeff Houck

What a lovely, relaxing, delicious place to enjoy a meal. We were a party of five. When we outgrew a corner booth, manager Rachel pushed a couple tables together to make us more comfortable. We didn’t tell them we were celebrating a birthday, but they overheard a not only brought a tiramisu with a candle, they brought a card with a card offering a free starter during the next visit. Server Skye was a gem, the parking behind the restaurant was easy and the food was outstanding. We ordered the shakshuka pizza off the Sunday brunch menu. It was served piping hot, as was a funghi pizza and two chicken kebab entrees. A calamari app was crispy and the olive medley made the table happy. Don’t miss the truffle fries or the Bloody Mary, served spicy or regular. Vela means sail in Italian. Set sail for Vela as soon as possible.

Cesar Santamaria

The food was delicious, especially the drinks. I enjoyed the hummus platter with meat. The place was cozy and the service was impeccable; our waiter was attentive. Overall we had a great date night here!

Jessica M

My parents and I had a wonderful dinner here! Our server was the nicest! She has a beautiful, unique name and I can't remember it to give her a shout out :( The salmon was heavenly though. I will go back to eat that over and over. The steak sandwich was also delicious! Overall great food, the drinks were nice, and the service and ambiance were great as well. I'll definitely be bringing my family back here :)

Tiffany Humphrey

I’m so glad I added Vela’s to my list of new restaurants to try. The staff was very friendly and made sure I had a nice experience. I had the plantain crusted snapper and OMG I could’ve kissed the cook. The flavors were bursting through in every bite. It was well seasoned and very presentable. I have to come back and get that same meal! I was torn between the La Brezza, and Almondfi-Coast so I asked my server her recommendations… I love sweet cocktails so she recommended the Almondfi-Coast. IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT:). I will definitely be back and recommend this spot to others.

Jean Roberson

Love this new place. very elegant atmosphere.Food is great, nice Wine selections and the specials are awesome. Italian focused menu. We have been twice. The Shrimp Scampi Special was lovely, Calamari also. Loved the mixed olives with the bread. Update 8/26/24: The Spaghetti & Meatballs were fantastic ty ic! Meatballs were the most tender we've ever had, & great flavor! I had the Prosciuto & Burrata Panuozza, which is a "pizza sandwich". This one was cold, & it was wonderful! Along with LOTS of prosciutto & burrata cheese, there was romaine & balsamic drizzle, inside a huge pita pocket. Enough for 2.

Marina Machado

My friend and I visited this little gem a few weeks back. It was my second time at Vela's. I have to say that service is consistently good as well as the food/cocktails. I was not really impressed with my red sangria as I personally enjoy those on a sweeter side, however, Jess K. did mention that if I wanted a sweeter option, I should probably go with their white sangria. My personal preference is red, however. The SHRIMP KABOB as well as GRILLED CHICKEN KABOB with a side of GRILLED PITA, HUMMUS, GREEK SALAD, TZATZIKI, FETA were outstanding. TIRAMISU did not disappoint either and was quite a generous portion in comparison to majority of the restaurants serving it. We liked it so much we ordered 3 desserts to - go. Vela Italian Tavern is located in the middle of the newly developed apartments on Bridge Street and Marina Way off of West Gandy Blvd. Easy to find free parking as there are plenty of parking spots just to the left of the restaurant. This spot is perfect for a quiet dinner as it is intimate and serene. At least it was when we dined there. I will be back and would recommend to try it for sure!

Juliana Whitney

This place is delicious!!! We weren’t sure what to expect but the restaurant is a 3 minute walk from our place so we had to try it. I’m glad I looked at the menu before going in so I wasn’t anticipating a typical Italian menu because this menu is anything but typical. Vela has a menu made up of Italian, Greek/Mediterranean and Spanish flavors and it’s SO good in the most surprising of ways. The caramelized onion butter that came with the perfectly crisp focaccia was so good my boyfriend said he could just eat a side of that as a whole meal! The Bianca pizza, suggested by our helpful waitress, was a savory mix of high quality cheese and just the right amount of truffle. They whipped up mock-tails for us based on our flavor profile preferences and they were crisp and refreshing without being overly sweet. And my shrimp kebabs were cooked to perfection. Everything came out even better than I imagined when reading the menu description — usually with an unexpected yet highly welcome twist such as the slight spice in the tzatziki — yummmmm. Try this place — and keep an open mind to the whole menu. We moved from Vegas a few months ago and it’s been a journey trying to find quality restaurants in Tampa. This is going near the top of our list ✔️ Pictured: Shrimp Kebab entree, za’atar cauliflower starter, Bianca pizza, focaccia bread with caramelized onion butter.

Marty Sullens

As every dish came out we were more and more impressed. The argument at the end of the night which was the best part? Still undecided, need to try entire menu. Ordered 3 Appetizers (Hummus couldn't wait for photo), Split a Pizza (Not pictured) and 2 desserts the Chocolate tart and Mango Sorbet. Everything tasted amazing and the texture was on point, but if I had to pick one thing to tell friends about, it was probably the Mango Sorbet, it really hit different. UPDATE: Went back, the Steak Frites was one of the best in the bay, I opted for both options of Béarnaise and Chimichurri on the side and it paid off, kept going back and forth. Came back with a larger party of 5 this time and everyone said they were for sure coming back. Keep up the great work, we need more spots like this in the bay.

Layla Ali

I loved the food. The hummus was amazing. I got the lasagna served on weekends only and it was so good! The portion was big, big enough for two people to share. I loveeee the atmosphere. It’s very aesthetic and luxurious.

maryroselol

Been here twice already and impressed both times. It’s a little restaurant tucked away in a new apartment complex. Parking is located in the rear. The ambiance is nice, very aesthetically pleasing to the eye. They have a nice selection of wines and the food is delicious. We had a very tasty lobster pasta the first time we came, the second time the item was not longer on the menu but they had a nice little happy hour menu to choose from. And let me just say, do not pass up on their clams, it had a little kick to it but the broth/sauce is amazing. A nice place for a a date or catching up with a friend. I do need to come back in the morning time as they do have a coffee/ cafe in the front.

Megan Fitzpatrick

Delicious food, contemporary atmosphere. The shrimp with garlic cream sauce appetizer was amazing! Go for brunch on a Sunday and walk the Farmers Market afterward.

Nami Kushman

Took my almost 7 year old daughter here for a dinner date, food and service was great! Really enjoyed my cucumber mojito and my daughter loved her kid’s cheesy pasta. I ordered the prosciutto + hot honey pizza which only disappointed a little because the honey wasn’t so hot, but a quick dusting of chili flakes fixed that. Got my daughter to try the crème brûlée - which she loved (and I did too)! Small and efficient menu, decent happy hour deals, and good ambiance. 10/10 - will be back again to try out brunch sometime!

Hunter Hamrick

My wife read about Cru Cellars in the food section of the paper and a wise husband knows when to take a hint. It's cozy and cute with modern motif, located in the Westshore Marina area. Like some places, it was a little cacauphonic for my taste but certainly not unpleasant and as summer turns to fall we'll probably opt to eat outside. Whether it's a restaurant with good wine or a nice wine bar with good food, I can't say but both were delicious. We started with Tuna Tartare and Kathy ordered the Steak Fritte with Bernaise while I had the Langostino Gimelli - a lobster macaroni & cheese - it was incredible! Service was fabulous...we were seated immediately and Emma, our host, was pleasant and always there to answer a question or take our order. Add to that our friend Julian is one of the sommeliers and available to help us explore the wine. (I'm comfortable with my reds but eager to find my way with whites). I can't say it was cheap but it wasn't unreasonable and it was very good. Besides, we were there to explore and enjoy. My thanks for the great service!

The location at Westshore Marina is very nice, in a quiet corner in this brand new development. The service was friendly and professional. The wine selection is vast and there menu, although simple, is refined. The Duck was tender but slightly dry. I would still order it again though. The Truffle Fries are really good and there pizza looked delicious.

Pros: Friendly service. Taste, temperature & quality of food. Modern & airy interior. Nice water set up - nice glass & bottle of water to refill glass. Cons: Slow service. Dirty table next to me not taken care of. I do not agree with restaurants with suede/faux suede seating. It gets dirty, which was evident in the booth next to me. Price. The chicken parmesan with pasta entree was excellent. With a decent tip and nothing else (water only, no salad, no appetizer, no dessert) the total was $33 for lunch. It was good, but not $33 good - especially given the slow service.

We've been here twice and all the food was delicious. Do not miss the spiced beef hummus. Tonight we got the Rigatoni Cacio E Pepe. While delicious, $19 for basically a cup of pasta was already a stretch and tonight our waitress asked us if we wanted to add protein. She knew my wife and I were splitting the dish. We said yes and chose chicken. The chicken was tender and delicious but an $11 upcharge for AT MOST a half of a breast of chicken is absurd. Pic included. Great food, great service but the value on some dishes is just not there.

Joshua Rivera

The location at Westshore Marina is very nice, in a quiet corner in this brand new development. The service was friendly and professional. The wine selection is vast and there menu, although simple, is refined. The Duck was tender but slightly dry. I would still order it again though. The Truffle Fries are really good and there pizza looked delicious.

A C

Pros: Friendly service. Taste, temperature & quality of food. Modern & airy interior. Nice water set up - nice glass & bottle of water to refill glass. Cons: Slow service. Dirty table next to me not taken care of. I do not agree with restaurants with suede/faux suede seating. It gets dirty, which was evident in the booth next to me. Price. The chicken parmesan with pasta entree was excellent. With a decent tip and nothing else (water only, no salad, no appetizer, no dessert) the total was $33 for lunch. It was good, but not $33 good - especially given the slow service.

J Agnew

We've been here twice and all the food was delicious. Do not miss the spiced beef hummus. Tonight we got the Rigatoni Cacio E Pepe. While delicious, $19 for basically a cup of pasta was already a stretch and tonight our waitress asked us if we wanted to add protein. She knew my wife and I were splitting the dish. We said yes and chose chicken. The chicken was tender and delicious but an $11 upcharge for AT MOST a half of a breast of chicken is absurd. Pic included. Great food, great service but the value on some dishes is just not there.