Tampa Restaurant Brings Rome Pizza Style to Dale Mabry Location

Piccolo Buco opened in Tampa on Nov. 23. The restaurant brings pizza-making techniques from a Rome pizzeria near the Trevi Fountain. Located at 14904 North Dale Mabry Highway, it welcomes guests starting at 11 a.m. each day.

Luca Issa owns the original location in Rome. Cooper's Hawk Founder Tim McEnery visited the Italian spot and worked with Issa to bring the concept stateside.

"Piccolo Buco, that means 'hole in the wall,' the original Piccolo Buco in Rome is a very tiny pizzeria," Issa said, according to Fox 13 News.

The Tampa spot uses hand-crafted dough to make crust that is airy and light. Pies come in different varieties. Menu options include Margherita, charred pepperoni, vegan, and wild mushroom pizzas.

"We are focused on high quality ingredients: the best olive oil, the best sauce, the best mozzarella, the flour also is very important," Issa said. "No thin crust, very airy inside ... I think we're going to change the pizza game in the US with this new concept of pizza."

Vice President Kevin Okuszka said the kitchen makes all items from scratch, which sets this place apart from competitors. The menu includes pasta dishes made with house-made recipes that honor traditional Italian cooking methods passed down through generations.

"Everything in house is made from scratch, full of bold flavors, really from end to end from a pasta standpoint," Okuszka said. "Everything we do is built with a ton of flavor and a full experience in mind. There's not an item or a recipe that doesn't play their part on our menu."

The restaurant offers wine pairing suggestions with its menu items. Guests can view the full menu and pairings online at the Cooper's Hawk website.