Little Italy Brings Authentic Italian To Nearby Lutz

By Gary Nager

Since everyone who receives this publication in their mailboxes lives in Wesley Chapel, you’re no more than 10-15 minutes (in normal traffic; even closer if you live near I-75 & S.R. 56, like I do) from Little Italy’s Family Restaurant & Catering, a virtually unknown little gem located less than two miles west of the new Tampa Premium Outlets mall.

Well, I think that “unknown” thing is about to change because owners Jessica and Carl Meyers (and yours truly) invite you to “Taste the Romance of Little Italy” and sample “authentic, homemade Italian food like mama used to make” (if your mama was Italian and you grew up in the Canarsie section of Brooklyn, like Jessica did). And oh my, can this lady make a nice-a red sauce!

Little Italy isn’t fancy at all, but it also isn’t a pizzeria, even though Jessica does make true Sicilian-style square pizza that she promises is authentic. It’s just great, casual Italian fare — and I’m already addicted to her amazing homemade meatball parmigiana “grindas” (subs with best real Italian bread in this area) and her chicken parmigiana (or those same huge meatballs) over spaghetti.

Here at our office, we also can vouch for almost half of Little Italy’s menu. And, Jessica’s filled-tableside cannolis are so good, they take me back to the Sapienza Bakery in Elmont, Long Island, NY (near where I grew up in Woodmere, L.I.).

Look for a full-length review of Little Italy (24436 S.R. 54, Lutz, in the same area (but not the same plaza) as another favorite of mine, Stage Left Bar & Kitchen, in a future issue, but in the meantime, go and try  the place, call 909-2122, visit LittleItalyFamilyRestaurant.com. Or, see the ad on page 36. And please tell Jessica and Carl we sent you!