Cheezy's Bistro and Speakeasy

Real, fresh Italian food in Ybor City. Chef Jamie cooks like an Italian with a lifetime spent in the kitchen, which is exactly what he is. There's so few places to get "real" Italian (i.e. not boxed pasta, low-simmered sauces, Pecorino cheese) in Tampa, but this is one of them. And in a fun location!

Pros: If you don't see it, they'll make it. Also a walk-up soup and salad bar.

Cons: I can't go for lunch every day or I'd weigh 350 pounds.

Best speakeasy bar in Tampa. Love getting drinks and listening to the old timely music.

I was very excited about trying a new local business in Ybor, but unfortunately this is not a place to be excited about. We were the only table when we sat down on a Saturday night at 8, not a good sign. Our party of 6 orders a bottle of nice wine, a few beers, and a mixed drink. The bottle of red wine comes out already opened and completely cold. Not chilled, but stored in a refrigerator, which is not what you expect when you buy a $50 bottle of pinot noir. The mixed drink was not made well at all, it tasted like sweet syrup and cheap vodka. The canned beers took 10+ minutes to be brought to the table. Nevertheless, we proceeded to order appetizers; the Italian sausage and vegetables were tasty, but the formaggio cheese dip looked like it was straight out of a can, and the cheesy-bread looked like a frozen pizza heated in a microwave. Half of our table received their entrees in a timely manner, while the other half waited 10 minutes with no indication. I understand timing is not always perfect in a restaurant, but our fellow diner's food got cold while we were wondering if our dishes would ever come out. The pasta dishes were okay, I got the Penne Alla Vodka, which was go