Forbici Modern Italian (St. Pete)

“This is exactly the type of restaurant that the Sundial plaza needed. Both indoor and patio seating are well utilized, coupled with the live music, make for an upbeat and festive atmosphere. And that is what Forbici seems to be. It isn’t hard hitting, high end Italian, but rather a menu that is easily approachable, with flavors for all. This is about enjoying your meal- and seeing things like half sized portions scattered throughout the menu is such a refreshing change of pace. Service was spot on, although being able to swipe your credit card at the table is a much better method than having it walk off, hopefully they will bring that around soon. We had a reservation on the patio, and we’re an early promptly and the service was great from there on out. Wife started with a half Tricolore sala and then the eggplant lasagna and thoroughly enjoyed both. I opted for the half size wedge and half sized chicken Marsala and both were delicious. The tiramisu at the end was a solid, not spectacular option. The growth of restaurants not on Beach drive continues, and this is a welcome addition at a reasonable price point and solid food.”

“Had dinner at Forbici St. Pete last night, and it was such a great experience! We sat out on the balcony, and the setup with the view with the AC blowing made the whole evening even better. The cocktails were delicious, and every single thing we ordered was absolutely amazing. We’ve been to the Tampa location before, so we were really looking forward to checking this one out. I'm happy to say it definitely lived up to the hype! The food was fresh, flavorful, and honestly exceeded our expectations. TJ took great care of us all night. He was friendly, attentive, and made us feel genuinely welcomed without ever being overbearing. The restaurant itself is gorgeous too—the interior has such a cool aesthetic and the overall vibe is perfect. Working in the service industry myself, I tend to notice the little things, and I was really impressed. Everything ran so smoothly, which is even more impressive considering they've only been open for a week. Huge kudos to the entire team for putting together such an exceptional experience. We'll definitely be back!”

“My wife and I had the chance to try the new Forbici Modern Italian at the Sundial in St. Pete. We’ve been to the Hyde Park location several times and have always enjoyed it, so we were excited to check this one out. First off, the restaurant is absolutely beautiful. High ceilings, lots of glass and mirrors, a huge bar, and an incredible wraparound outdoor terrace with plenty of comfortable seating. It was a little warm, so we grabbed seats inside at the bar. We arrived during happy hour, and my advice is to get there early. The bar was already packed at 4:45 on a Tuesday. We were immediately greeted by our bartender and server, Kallie, and she was fantastic from start to finish. She was friendly, attentive, and helpful without ever being pushy. Even with a full bar, she made us feel like we were her top priority. Outstanding service. Since the restaurant had only been open a few days, I wondered if they might still be working out the kinks. Not at all. They hit the ground running. The food was excellent. We tried the happy hour pizza by the slice, and it was outstanding. The thick square crust was light and airy with a great crunch. I had the pepperoni, and those little cup pepperonis were perfect. We also ordered the calamari, which was delicious. My cocktail was excellent, and my wife really enjoyed her glass of wine. The atmosphere was relaxed and inviting. Around 6:00 they started live music on the stage, and it was the perfect volume to add to the experience without overpowering conversations. Before we left, one of the managers, Romao, stopped by to make sure everything was going well, which was a nice touch. Overall, Forbici knocked it out of the park. We can’t wait to come back, especially when the weather cools down so we can enjoy the outdoor terrace. Best of luck to the team. You’re off to a fantastic start.”

“We were not impressed. The server brought us 2 day old limes with our sparking water. The tricolore salad was good but the romaine lettuce was not fresh. It looked dry and possibly out of a bag. The pasta bolognese was really salty but otherwise tasty. We were not offered fresh cracked pepper or fresh grated cheese. These are all things I get at home and expect when I spend $100 on dinner for two. You will do much better eating at Bella Brava where the food is always good and the service is amazing.”

“As a huge fan of Forbici/Tampa. Since I live in St Petersburg I was thrilled to check out the new location during opening week. The ambiance was beautifully designed and the live music allows for great potential. Unfortunately the food did not hit the same standard we’ve come to love from the brand. I ordered my favorite Cacio di Pepe and while it was cooked perfectly al dente. It lacked the peppery, cheesy and creamy light sauce that Forbici Tampa has perfected. That said I’ll give the kitchen a few months to find its rhythm. The staff was attentive and incredible and the live music was amazing. I know the culinary team can deliver the high quality of food I’ve experienced at the other location ,so I’ll give them a second chance soon.”