A Homemade Italian Tradition Since 1986
Two families from Ripi, Italy opened these doors in 1986 with one rule: make everything by hand, just like back home. Nearly four decades later, that promise is kept at every table.
Piccola Italia Restaurant | Our Story
From Ripi to Zephyrhills
In 1973, the Pullo and D'Eramo families emigrated from Ripi, Italy, carrying recipes passed down through generations. Thirteen years later, they opened Piccola Italia's doors on State Road 54 — and Zephyrhills has never been the same.
Nothing From a Jar, Ever
Every sauce is slow-cooked, every pasta rolled by hand, the pizza dough made fresh, and even the cheesecake is homemade — exactly the way it was done back in Ripi.
A Promise to Keep It Going
When the founders were ready to retire in 2018, Victoria and John Bedford found Piccola Italia after returning to Florida — and immediately recognized something rare. They took ownership with one clear mission: protect what made it special, not change it.
The Dining Room Tells the Story
Walk in any evening and you'll find generations of regulars alongside first-timers already planning their next visit. That kind of room takes nearly forty years of getting it right.
