TAMPA — The waiters wore tuxedos. A dessert table covered in Italian confections greeted guests as they entered a dimly-lit dining room. Pink lighting lent the space an unmistakable air of romance, and, as diners left for the evening, ladies received the restaurant’s signature kiss goodbye — a long-stemmed red rose.
Forty years after the iconic Tampa eatery opened its doors, not much has changed at Donatello Italian Restaurant.
In a city and dining landscape evolving at warp speed, a night at Donatello feels like taking a giant step back in time — unapologetically old-fashioned, but undeniably classic…