Italian Dining in SOG City

We attended a Tampa Bay Rays game against the Damn Yankees on Sunday and afterward we were too drained to come home and cook dinner. The alternative to cooking was to call Pizza Hut or go out to eat. I've become a pretty good pizza maker consequently Pizza Hut isn't getting as much of our business as they did in the past, so we went out to eat. One of our favorite "go to" places is Luigi's Italian Restaurant, 3324 West Gandy Boulevard, in the space formerly occupied by Indochine. For us, Luigi's is a neighborhood restaurant and since it sits on the south side of Gandy I consider it to be a SOG City restaurant. So there!

The interior is spacious, clean, and modern with tables in the center and booths around the perimeter. Luigi's has outdoor seating and this is the perfect weather for dining au naturel. Hmmm, maybe I should say al fresco? Well, either way there is just too much pollen this year to sit outside. So, sit inside and enjoy an appetizer of succulent crab cakes, mussels Montalcino, or the Italian antipasto salad. We have enjoyed all three, though not at the same time. The servings are large enough to share between two people.

For the entrees, my lovely bride swears by the stuffed shells topped with meatballs, pomodoro sauce, and mozzarella. Again, a huge serving that usually requires a take-home container. My favorite entree is the linguine pescatore with shrimp, mussels, and scallops covered with a spicy marinara. Last night I chose the 12 ounce rib eye with a side of pasta splashed with marinara sauce. The steak was tender, flavorful, and juicy. Luigi's has a small but adequate wine list and features a happy hour from 5 to 7 with house wines at half price for the second glass.

As of today, Luigi's is still working on their web site, but you can pull up their take out menu which is very similar to the in-house menu.

Buon appetito, y'all.