Bella Brava adds Tuscan verve to St. Petersburg
For years, BellaBrava owners Dyce Craig and Michael Venturo have enjoyed traveling the hills of Tuscany with their families, and dining on traditional Tuscan fare – flavorful cheeses, authentic pastas, fresh herbs, meats and seafood, and pizzas with thin, cracker-like crusts. At the BellaBrava New World Trattoria, Craig and Venturo have given this same traditional cuisine new life in their hometown of St. Petersburg.
BellaBrava blends warm, comfortable colors with a modern and lively attitude. Rich earth tones and amber Murano lighting throughout set a sophisticated mood at shining, stainless steel tables. St. Petersburg’s weather makes the second floor balcony a fun and scenic outdoor dining option. BellaBrava also features two full bars – one upstairs and one down – complete with High Definition televisions for those special events.
Chef Mario Luigi Maggi brings more than 35 years of culinary excellence to BellaBrava. Bay area diners can choose from a wide range of Italian flavors unique to the area and born of his Northern Italian background. His signature dishes include homemade gnocchi with a gorgonzola and walnut sauce; fresh ravioli stuffed with Florida lobster in a truffled Muscato cream sauce with fresh baby spinach; sliced New York Strip steak with extra virgin olive oil, rosemary and black peppercorn presented on a sizzling hot iron grill; Chicken Milanese; and freshly grilled panini sandwiches served at lunch.
A traditional Pizzaiolo tends to the Woodstone oven, serving up more than nine selections of hot, crispy pizzas with fresh flavors ranging from the traditional Margherita to the Salsiccia Con Funghi, with spicy Tuscan sausage oven dried cherry tomatoes, roasted wild mushrooms and ricotta salata.
A 1,000 bottle wine room in the dining area houses a selection of Italian wines and several selections from other regions. An extensive and creative cocktail list ranging from the signature cocktail, the Roma Brava, and the Espressotini to the Cosmo Brava and the Pomtini are also offered.
Amici della Casa The Amici della Casa or “Friends of the House” program rewards frequent guests with complimentary lunch (valued up to $10), free bottles of house red or white wine (value up to $30), and gift cards ranging from $50 to $100. Customers that sign up as a BellaBrava “friend” will receive a card that they can present to their server upon each visit to the restaurant. Points will accumulate on the card and complimentary items can be redeemed on future visits. Amici della Casa members will also receive BellaBrava newsletters and special offers.
Each day features a specialty cocktail, plus half-priced antipasti specials. Happy Hour is from 4-7 p.m. A Sunset Menu features a prix fixé menu of three courses for one low price between 4 and 6 p.m. that has beeen designed for early diners and those with smaller appetites.
Address: BellaBrava New World Trattoria, 515 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, FL 33701; Call (727) 895-5515 or visit www.BellaBrava.net (Reservations can be made online)
Chitra Mogul
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