Sweet Secrets Enoteca

This is what an authentic Italian restaurant should be. As soon as I entered it was as if I stepped into Italy. The couple who owns this place were fantastic. The husband takes care the front of the house while his wife manages the kitchen. I came in with a group of friends. We had different types of wine, almost their entire menu of entrée and all of their dessert. Everything was amazing. I have to go here again before they close permanently.

One of our favorite places in Carrollwood. Can’t say enough about the owners. They are absolutely charming, authentic and welcoming to say the least.

Food is made from scratch, yum. I had the gnocchi and it was delicious. Casale Del Giglio Shiraz was excellent as well. Make sure you make a reservation though.

Excellent service. We had a bottle of wine and some cannoli. Both were excellent, and my wife being from Sicily, we are picky. The owner is interesting, entertaining and charming. His wife, who only speaks Italian, cooks all the food. It’s a real Italian restaurant, like from Italy. If you want carrabba’s, this isn’t the place for you. If you want real Italian food, here ya go.
An excellent experience overall, and we will be back.

I visited this establishment about 2 weeks ago and purposely waited to write my review, until I could devote my full attention to this hidden gem. It is located almost beside the Empress Tea Room, behind Chili’s off N. Dale Mabry and S. Village Drive. This establishment only has 2 rooms and 6 tables. FORGET all the gastro pubs and microbreweries (even though they have some fine beers on the menu), now we have an exclusive Italian WINE pub, no we can’t call it a pub, it would not do it justice. Let’s call it an Italian wine effiicianad (or willing to be) café’, with a reference of Italian homemade cooking. Of course along with the gourmet dishes that are not the same every night, but vary with the seasons, availability of local products and the talented cooking wives urges. are a broad assortment of amazing appetizers, meats, cheeses, paninis, snacks, dips, munchies, and lets not forget desserts.
I have never seen this on a restaurant menu and this speaks volumes to the establishment being all about the wine. Enoteca has a BYOF policy you can chose to participate in, but
Okay we have established it is a wine café first, foremost and always and there is food available. It is an establishment ALL about Italian wine, that I must mention, most cannot be found in local stores. The food is an added bonus! Talk about authentic, Enoteca is full of Italian charm and hospitality!
This establishment is impeccably clean and when you are seated a fresh place-​mat and utensils are placed before you. The knowledge of the owners on the wines and pairings is incredible. You wish you had hours to just discuss wine and food with this happy, ever so willing to please, knowledgeable couple. Once you place your order you are presented with a silver bell. You are to ring the bell if you need additional service, before you are checked on. This is difficult to do, as the owner always has ½ an eye waiting to see if you could possibly want or need anything more.
This particular evening I had left a book club meeting and have to admit I had not finished the book. I wanted to sit back, enjoy a glass or 2 of wine and enjoy my reading. I was so amazed at this hidden gem and wonderful LOCAL merchants, blazing a new trail here in Tampa, I just wanted to talk about the business and they were kind enough to indulge my intense curiosity and growing love for their establishment. I was amazed, no SHOCKED to find that they had been in business about a year and a half and I missed them!
After feeding my curiosity, I settled back with the robust wine I had chosen, very soft comforting music in the background and proceeded to read my book. Well you know how that goes, you get a bit hungry and just want something to nibble on something. I ordered the hot spinach and artichoke dip, we have all had many of these, but this was different, creamy, in a thick luscious way, not too spicy, but very flavorful. I am sure this is one of the least interesting things they serve, but it was what I was in the mood fora and very good.
I am amazed we got this gem in Carrollwood and not in Ybor or South Tampa!!! We need to work to keep this establishment in this area of town. The owner wants the establishment to be accessible to all wine lovers, for all reasons. Come for dinner, a snack, to read a book, watchTV or have a small meeting, book club, game night, party, whatever you can imagine (within reason, of course) the owner will be happy to work with you and help you plan your event or just make Your evening special, weather you are reading a book or proposing marriage. Yes, this establishment is that intimate and memorable.
I predict and fervently hope that in 6 months you must have a reservation or know the owner to gain access to one of the precious few tables. You notice I haven’t mentioned the owners name, as I hope to be on that short list that will be able to always gain access!
This is truly a business to be cherished and nurtured by anyone that loves wine or thinks they might like it, because they will leave loving wine. If you explain the flavors you are in the mood for that evening the owner and suggest several wines that will meet with what you desire and I guarantee you will not be disappointed.
Do yourself a favor and give this hidden gem a try, you will not regret it. When you visit take the time to introduce yourself to the owners, relax, enjoy yourself and feel like you are visiting family, this is just another of their Sweet Secrets.
The food items actually surprised me by how inexpensive they were. I discussed the prices with the owner and he stated that many people had mentioned his prices were low for the Tampa Bay area and he replied that his dream was to make his establishment accessible to ALL. What a great sentiment and believe me once you visit you will understand the logic, love and passion behind all that this establishment is, has to offer and why it should be destined for a great future, here in North Tampa.

Recently discovered this fine Italian wine bar and met the adorable husband and wife that run it, along with a few friendly regulars and I’m sold. They have great wine at various price points. With the hospitality and décor of a cute Italian couple I felt as if I were a guest in their home. The first to admit and stress that they are not a restaurant, the owner showed me a menu, and while there was amazing looking bites, dinners, and desserts on it, he stressed it was all about the wine. I’m dying to go back and see them, and hopefully all the friends we made the short time we were there. This is a secret must-​try for locals who THINK they have done it all. This is just the beginning for this tiny, cannoli-​sweet secret!

This place really is a sweet secret. We were crawling thru the plaza parking lot when we saw the sign, which read «Italian wine and food.» Curious as always, we walked in and were promptly greeted by the owner and his adorable wife. He explained that this «enoteca» (pronounced enoteche) carries only Italian wines not commonly found in the U.S. and that he personally knows many of the bottlers «back home in Italy.» He also explained that while they do have food, it’s a wine bar first. The food is all made from scratch by the owner’s wife, so I’m dying to try it. We weren’t hungry, so we didn’t sample any. We did however order two very delicious glasses of wine. Chard for me and red for her. Because of the close quarters in the back room, we quickly made some new friends at the table next to us. One of which is a woman who has been coming once a week for 9 months. We explained that we were celebrating one year of being together by bar hoping and trying new places. The owners caught wind and brought us two cannolis on the house; really nice couple!
Imagine you know an Italian couple who have a large wine reserve and like to cook up some food for you while you hang out in their dining room. That is what the atmosphere here is like. Very warm, friendly and unique.

I’ve been passing by this place for the past few months and been intrigued by the name of the place alone. Last night I decided to finally give this place a try with my girlfriend at about 10pm. The place advertises Italian wine and food.
First things first the wine. They have a purely Italian selection with bottles ranging from $ 15-​$ 150+. You can also buy wine by the glass ranging from $ 7-​$ 25. You can’t find 99% of these wines in your local supermarket. If you don’t like wine, but your friend does, they also have beer selections ranging from $ 2 a bottle to $ 8 a bottle.
You can buy a bottle of wine from them and go back home, but you would be missing out on an experience that I have never had in Tampa before. The owner works there exclusively with his wife and daughter. He makes you feel like you’re a good friend welcomed in his home. There are only four tables in the back of the restaurant, which facilitates an intimate gathering between loved ones or friends.
With so much emphasis on wine, you’d wonder if the food was any good. We ordered a parmesan plate which came out with an assortment of bread and crackers. For $ 5 the value was great. We also ordered the farfalle in a tomato sauce and the portion size was enough for a meal. The entrees are very affordable and range from $ 7-​$ 12. If want more variety for food but still want their wine, some restaurants in the plaza will deliver anything on their menu for no charge.
To top off our experience, the owner’s wife even brought us a complimentary piece of Tiramisu after we were done with dinner and drinks.
This entire experience felt homey and authentic. It is a great place for good wine and conversation. We will certainly be back for more.