The following article was written by Bre Jones Mulock in the November 2004 issue of NEW TAMPA STYLE MAGAZINE       An oversized, glossy photo of Bucs Coach Jon Gruden hangs proudly at the end of the dimly lit bar. His signature, quickly scrawled in black marker, lies at the picture’s bottom where he thanks a special Italian family for a secret, subdued hife-a-way when he’s not shouting from the sidelines.       Gruden, along with fellow sports giants both local and abroad, often shoots the breeze, chats with his dad and indulges in authentic Italian food at Iavarone’s – a hip, glowing and artsy restaurant tucked away from Tampa bustle on the corner of Humphrey Street and Himes Avenue in North Tampa.       Shaking every hand at the bar before he sits down, Gruden knows an Italian gem when he finds one.       Step inside the spacious Iavarone’s and immediately inhale rich scents of veal picatta or juicy sirloin sizzling on the grill. Miniature lights drop from the ceiling above every table casting a soft, romantic glow. Colorful paintings boast bold red, blue and purple hues of people dancing, laughing and playing instruments. A soft jazz mood fills the room where couples lean close across meaty lasagnas and professionals sip martini’s around the long bar.       Serving Tampa since 1948, the Iavarone family seems to have perfected the art of running Italian restaurants. Malio’s Restaurant and Lounge on South Dale Mabry and Carmine’s on Seventh Avenue in Ybor City, along with 12-year-old Iavarone’s, all belong to the same friendly family.       The three kitchens churning out hearty family recipes sizzled to life when an immigrant tailor from Naples, Italy married a first-generation American beauty in 1935 whose parents journeyed from Sicily. Carmine and Frances Loria Iavarone opened a small grocery store, which later turned into Carmine’s. They watched their Italian roots anchor deep into Tampa soil as their children and grandchildren embraced the passion for running restaurants.       If you haven’t been to Iavarone’s, it is well worth the visit. Aside from the relaxing atmosphere, it offers a selection of mouth-watering dishes.       For starters, share an appetizer of calamari or bruschetta – toasted caibatta bread topped with fresh tomato, onions, garlic, basil and olive oil. Oak grilled or served with mango salsa or Pan Asian sauce, the sea scallops are plump, tender and melt-in-your delicious.       With your stomach growling for a hearty meal, don’t pass up the house salad. Iavarone’s chefs drizzle a fantastic homemade dressing across crisp, leafy greens.       Flaming as a house specialty, steaks and prime rib are tender and generous in portions. From Center Cut Sirloin to Filet Mignon, you can add a tasty gorgonzola or béarnaise sauce or Oscar to any meat dish.       Cooked over an oak-burning grill, the fish choices range from Atlantic Salmon to Chilean Seabass. All are served with a house salad, soup and choice of a side item ranging from spaghetti with marinara to garlic mashed potatoes.       Iavarone’s of course offers those feel-good Italian classics, too. Savor bites of the Chicken Milano – fire roasted chicken breast stuffed with Fontinella cheese, Capicola ham and topped with a lemon mushroom basil sauce. Tender and juicy, the Veal Sauce is sautéed and prepared with parmesean, or topped with picatta or marsala sauce.       The spaghetti – with meatballs or Italian sausage – Rigatoni with Pork and Lasagna all create visions of tiny Italian cafes scattered across Sicily. The portions are hearty and the sauces perfectly blended with Italian spices.       Pizzas range from Margarita – tomato sauce, roma tomatoes, basil and mozzarella to Spinach-White Pizza – an alfredo sauce-based white pizza topped with mozzarella, fresh spinach and fresh garlic.       When the September heat melts away into crisp fall days, visit Iavarone’s outdoor, upstairs patio where palm trees sway and live Italian music flows with the wine.