Just down the main drag from JC Penney and Barnes and Noble at the Shops at Wiregrass in North Tampa, hides an Italian restaurant pair dishing out affordable fare on the concourse, and arguably the best Italian cuisine in the area.
900 Degrees Woodfired Pizza sits across from its sister restaurant, 345 Caffe Italiano, separated by a beautiful outdoor dining area. Lights strung from the rooftops flicker like lightning bugs and hover over welcoming outdoor cafe tables that make you feel like you hopped across the pond and landed on a Naples street corner. Whether it's an authentic pizza, pasta, crepes, or gelato that you're in the mood for, the simple flavors and fresh ingredients will satisfy your cravings and leave you dreaming about your next visit.
900 Degrees Woodfired Pizza features pizza by the slice or whole pie. They prepare their fresh pizzas with flour and tomatoes imported directly from Naples, then bake them over a woodfire oven.
900 Degrees is a member of the prestigious Verace Pizza Napoletano Association, an international group imposing exacting standards of authenticity and food quality on its members. They use only the sweetest San Marzana tomatoes, real handmade mozzarella cheese, and fresh meats and vegetables on all their pies.
The true stand-out element is the pizza crust: the imported Italian flour and the wood burning oven create a crust foundation that is slightly yeasty near the top but becomes a crackling brown on the bottom. Chain pizzeria crust with its oily texture, infused with liquified butter and loaded with salt, doesn't hold a candle to this crisp, almost bland (but perfectly so) Neapolitan flour crust.
This taste of Italy doesn't end with pizza either. Antipasti dishes abound, including your choice of buffalo mozzarella, prosciutto, salami, olives and roasted red peppers, drizzled with olive oil and served how you like it, over mixed greens or alongside a crusty baked focaccia.
For dessert, espresso, or even a second course if you can handle it, meander over to 345 Caffe Italiano, a gelateria serving sweet and savory crepes, sandwiches, pastries, and its main attraction, nearly two dozen flavors of thick and milky gelato.
Although there is no dispute that the gelato is its chief draw, the sandwiches are also flavorful and satisfying in their simplicity and freshness. Most are served cold and feature some combination of buffalo mozzarella, prosciutto, and fresh basil drizzled with extra virgin olive oil, all heaped generously across coarse, yeasty bread.
Served in a cono (cone) or coppa (cup) the true treat is the gelato with robust flavors such as coffee, pistachio, dark chocolate, mango, pineapple, and more. Exquisitely rich and cold, the 345 Caffe Italiano's homemade gelato simply cannot be beat. If it’s chilly out, get cozy with a cappuccino and biscotti, or a warm crepe with fruit and caramel, topped with real whipped cream.
These two eateries make for a savory evening worth the visit again and again. Your family and friends will love sitting back and relaxing on a cool evening with a large pie or an espresso. Totally kid-friendly and conveniently located, 345 Caffe Italiano and 900 Degrees Woodfired Pizza make for a winning combination that won't disappoint.
