By Peter Roos
If you have not eaten at Verducci’s Pizzeria & Trattoria lately, you are missing out. With 3,000 square feet of beautiful, air-conditioned space and a great outdoor dining area, a big brick oven for pizzas, a full liquor bar, a private dining room for parties up to 30 people and an amazing commercial kitchen, this location has the best infrastructure of any independent Italian restaurant on the beach. The restaurant desperately needed friendlier management, community involvement and better food. It got all three. Cincinnati natives Matt & Sidney Sora became the hard-working, hands-on owners of Verducci’s restaurant in St. Pete Beach as summer hit. They care deeply about making Verducci’s a community staple and are committed to continuing the legacy of great Italian food service in St. Petersburg.
The new menu is comprehensive, prices are competitive with the better Italian restaurants in the area, portions are generous, and the food quality is amazing once again. All dishes are made in-house, prepared fresh daily, just like at your Italian grandmother’s home. An early-bird menu Is offered from 4-5:30pm daily, including a smaller entrée, salad and desert at reduced prices. Verducci’s has had a long successful history on the beach, and some of the best original items are still offered.
The full liquor bar, including unique and fun, Italian-themed cocktails, unavailable at most Italian restaurants on the beach, is still expanding. If your favorite is not yet in house, ask for it and Matt says he will try to get it in time for your next reservation. The curated wine list features some incredible, imported Italian wines that naturally complement the cuisine. Mention you read about Verducci in Paradise News, and your first drink with dinner is complimentary.
During happy hours 4-6pm daily, all beverages are half price, including beers, wines by the glass, and your favorite specialty cocktail. Bar seats are available for locals to stop in just for a drink or to eat at the bar in front of a large television. Local performers have already been welcomed by the new Verducci, including local favorite Fiona French, who returns from a trip to Paris this month.
Verducci’s offers a cozy and inviting atmosphere, perfect for romantic date nights or creating lasting memories with friends and family! Whether you’re a local that lives right up the road or a tourist that is half across the country visiting it is the perfect spot. If you are planning a private dinner party you can order from Verducci or consider using their party room.
If the primary parking lots are full on both sides of the restaurant, overflow parking is available just south in the Helm parking lot after 4pm. Delivery is available primarily through their website, www.verduccistpetebeach.com, but they also work with DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub for added convenience. Give Verducci’s Pizzeria & Trattoria a try again soon. Call 727-363-7900 from 4-10pm daily with any questions.