Scarpa's Italian Restaurant

Scarpa’s may be small, but boy is it mighty! One of Lakeland’s best restaurants for many years, hands down. If you are at all a fan of Italian food, you have to come here. Since it is a small restaurant, you usually want to get a reservation ahead of time because it fills up quick. But it makes for a more intimate dining experience that’s really enjoyable. Dress a little nicer and expect the prices to be a little higher- but it’s really quality food so it doesn’t feel as bad to pay more. Everything I have tried here in multiple visits has been outstanding. I am especially a fan of their creme brûlée dessert, they have other options too but I can’t turn that down. You’ll want to also listen closely to the specials they have, they change every so often and are always delicious and unique appetizers & entrees. Seriously, love this place. It’s fantastic for special occasions or just an extra delicious dinner here and there. Couldn’t recommend more.

What a wonderful experience eating here. Finally found a REAL Italian Restaurant!! Menu choices were ample, excellent service ( Frankie was our waiter) and the atmosphere was intimate, pleasant, and white table cloth clean. They only serve beer and wine but the wine selection was ample. We had the prosciutto wrapped shrimp for an appetizer which was the perfect amount to start our meal off. My husband got the Grouper Casino Special w Calabrian chili aioli and I got the Chicken Francese. Both portions were perfectly sized and both were cooked to perfection. They also make all their pasta (yummm) Finished off the evening w a cappuccino and an espresso. Excellent evening out. We happened to get lucky ( a Wednesday night) but they say to definitely make a reservation next time.

We were from out of town and our birthday girl had chosen this place of the good ratings. Our server recommended the 2 appz and it was good but our 3 different pastas with white sauce had way too much wine in them. The veal was too salty with the pasta but the lasagna was good. Choose wisely. The dining room noice level was low so it was pleasant to have conversations. This is a first that we did not order even a glass of wine at any Italian restaurant, the prices were much higher than the wines listed on their menu and we are seasoned travelers in and outside the states.

Very professional staff. From the hostess to the server we had. It was our 5th anniversary. Never been there before but will definitely be back!! Love this little place but amazing food and atmosphere. We got a corner table and it was perfect for our 5 year anniversary. The manager came over and checked on us. He was professional and great!! Keep up the great work and we will see you soon.

This place is GREAT for a date night. We were looking for a nice, quiet place to eat as we just moved to Lakeland. Scarpa’s did not disappoint. Actually, it exceeded our expectations. We ordered the Sausage and peppers, and Fig Brie to start, and they were both amazing. I had some of the best Pasta Fagioli I’ve ever had (I’m Italian and have ate many different recipes). For entrees, I got the Veal Saltimbocca and she got the Tuscan Chicken. Both dishes were cooked and plated perfectly. The Tuscan Chicken was very unique with blackberries and was to die for. When I tell you that we were FULL, we were very full because it was so good that we almost couldn’t stop eating. I have been a fine dining server for a while, and can see things that are done right, and things that are not done right when I go out to eat. Everything here from the ambiance, service, to the food was done to what I’d call perfection. Our server for the evening was Cody. He did a great job, was very welcoming, and was very knowledgeable about specials and normal menu items. Also, please excuse the pictures that are not the best, they were much better in person, but I did not want to use the flash while dining. I will definitely be back.

I needed to find a restaurant half way between Tampa and Orlando, Lakeland was the best location. I narrowed it down to a seafood restaurant, a steakhouse and an Italian. I chose Scarpa’s based on the posted menu, photos and reviews. It was a 75 minute drive. I made reservations for six people at 6:30; I strongly urge you to make reservations. It was a Wednesday night and Scarpa’s was packed. The dining room is cozy without feeling cramped. You could hold a conversation without yelling. The service was exceptional and attentive without being intrusive. The menu had the typical fare as well as some interesting dishes. All the meals were delicious and of decent size. Every ingredient was fresh. The pasta dishes were properly drained of water and the bread was first rate. Expect a per person charge for an adult beverage, meal, dessert, tax and tip to be about $50. I’ll be back

Scarpa's is a smaller local Italian restaurant that is privately owned. They provide few houses made pasta and sauces and are one of the best Italian restaurants I've been to. The atmosphere is very good and private. This place is very popular so get a reservation. They have a lot of creative specials every night and everything is great from starters through deserts. Also I must add that thier wine list is good and the prices are very reasonable.

We had a wonderful dining experience at this charming restaurant, and the service truly deserves a five-star rating. For our entrees, we chose the grouper paired with pasta, which was nothing short of fantastic; the fish was perfectly cooked and the pasta complemented it beautifully. Additionally, the ribeye steak was rendered to perfection—juicy, flavorful, and expertly seasoned, it was definitely a highlight of the meal. However, I must mention that the appetizer we selected—a raspberry brie cheese—was somewhat disappointing. It lacked the expected flavor profile and resembled plain brie more than anything else. In hindsight, it might have been better to stick with a classic plain brie, which would likely have been more satisfying. For dessert, we opted for the orange cheesecake, but it fell short as well. The cheesecake lacked a pronounced orange flavor unless you managed to get a bite of the orange slices placed on top. This made it feel somewhat basic, and I believe a more robust flavor or an alternative dessert might have elevated the dining experience. Overall, it was a good meal, albeit on the pricier side, especially with our bottle of wine bringing the total to around $200. If the appetizer and dessert had been crafted with more attention to flavor, it would have made the entire experience truly worth the price tag.