From snacks to the main course, Greater Tampa Bay’s growing food scene is getting steamy.
Any adventurous foodie has tried barbecue in Texas…seafood in New England…checked off deep-dish pizza in Chicago and maybe some Creole in Louisiana. Whether making that trip to take pictures or eat, a passionate foodie is always looking for the next premier location. Welcome home —Greater Tampa Bay is that delicious destination.
A rich mix of cultures and tastes will take even the snobbiest of foodies’ palates to new heights. With restaurants listed as some of the top in the country and the world, local holes-in-the-wall serving up surprisingly good eats and a unique and undeniably Florida feel, food in Tampa Bay will not just check off one box — it will finish the list.
Classics
Even those who know nothing else about the restaurant scene in GTB have surely heard of Bern’s Steakhouse. Established in 1956 and family-owned ever since, Bern’s is famous for the largest collection of wine in the world, impeccably fresh ingredients and its entire floor designated for dessert in the Harry Waugh Dessert Room.
Do not be fooled by Bern’s white, windowless façade on the exterior. Inside this restaurant is room after unique room of fine dining, elegant décor and tantalizing smells. Playing host to celebrities, athletes and even a few presidents, Bern’s is the quintessential Tampa eatery. It is one classic restaurant whose quality and experience cannot be found in many other places.
The Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City is the pride and joy of historic Tampa Bay. Established in 1905 by Cuban immigrants, The Columbia also holds the distinction of being the oldest restaurant in Florida.
For more than 115 years, five generations of the Hernandez and Gonzmart family have introduced and treated the area to classic Cuban food, including its famous Cuban sandwich, the crisp and flavorful 1905 salad and its refreshing tableside sangria. The Columbia does one better and provides dinner and a show, with flamenco dances in the evenings at the historical Ybor location. With several locations including in Clearwater and Sarasota, The Columbia is more than a nod or an homage to Tampa’s Cuban roots, but a cornerstone in the foundation of the city.
For more than 30 years, Bella’s Italian Café has brought a taste of the Mediterranean to GTB. Its authentic menu exudes a wonderful homemade quality, and its quaint household setting is just as warm and inviting. Come for classic favorites such as pollo parmgiana or pasta il mare and come back for new dishes such as pera sachet, with pear, robiola and ricotta, or salmon al forno, served on a cedar plank. Of course, do not forget the tiramisu. Recipient of TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence, as well as the No. 1 spot on Creative Loafing’s Best Italian Restaurants in Tampa, Bella’s Italian Café has extended its invitation.
Within the famed Pink Palace, the Don CeSar in St. Pete Beach, is Maritana, an award-winning staple of fine dining with a seafood-inspired menu. The hotel itself is a landmark of the area — a palatial structure teeming with history and culture since 1928. With produce and ingredients sourced from local farms and fishermen, it does not get more exclusive than this. Maritana has been listed in USA Today’s 10 Best Restaurants, and a date night here might help reveal the reason.
If visiting St. Pete but hoping for a more casual stop, look no further than Casita Taqueria, an instant classic. House-made corn tortillas, fresh pescado tacos and a colorful and exciting atmosphere are all to be expected at any one of the three St. Petersburg locations. Creative Loafing rated it Best of the Bay four years in a row. Casita Taqueria brings authentic Mexican food to the palate as well as a thriving classic. It is sure to leave a lasting impression on both.
Baklava. Souvlaki. Spanakopita. Visiting Hellas Bakery and Restaurant in Tarpon Springs, visitors might think they have crash-landed on Mykonos, and they might as well have. Hellas has been a longstanding source of all things Greek cooking and baking in the area since its founding in 1970.
Striking in its blue and white striped walls, the eatery has represented the Greek influence that Tarpon Springs is world famous for. With a full restaurant menu featuring any savory Greek classic imaginable, as well as a fresh, made-daily bakery in-house, Hellas is a classic stop that cannot be missed.
When it comes to classics, few foods outrank the mighty grouper along the Gulf Coast — and Frenchy’s takes on the savory fish is hard to beat. This homegrown chain has five locations scattered throughout Clearwater and beyond, each offering a slightly different taste and atmosphere. With a signature Frenchy’s cocktail in one hand and a fish sandwich in the other, enjoy the sunset over the gulf any time of year.
Mise en place is French for, “everything in its place.” The Tampa area restaurant named for this phrase could not serve as a better example. With confident and experienced Chef Marty Blitz at the helm, Mise en Place offers a painstakingly curated and well-thought-out rotating, New American style menu.
Situated across from the University of Tampa since 1986, Mise en Place is a classic upscale bistro that greatly contributes to GTB’s culinary excellence. Wondering just who might enjoy a meal here? Take a hint from the restaurant’s website itself: For the adventurous in palate and spirit.
Motorists going through downtown Dunedin’s Main Street might spot a large brick wall with a postcard on it. The postcard, featuring a woman surrounded by exotic birds and holding a basket of fruit, stands next to the pronouncement: Visit Mexico. This is a sure sign travelers have arrived at Casa Tina. Founded by couple Javier and Tina Marie Avila, this authentic Mexican restaurant features a full menu of fresh and healthy cultural classics, including a nutty mole, fresh fish tacos and bright, flavorful, house-made guacamole.
Rivergate Tower, colloquially known as the Beer Can Building, is a classic Tampa landmark that holds within it another classic: Malio’s Prime Steakhouse. This restaurant, opened originally in 1969 by Malio Lavarone, is known to be a favorite of athletes and politicians, including the late New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.
With an outside, cigar-friendly patio and an upper tier offering beautiful views, Malio’s provides just the right amount of ambiance to accompany a meal. Set beside the Hillsborough River and near the Tampa Museum of Art and Curtis Hixon Park, Malio’s is in the heart of downtown Tampa, as well as the hearts of residents.
Must-Try
At Oxford Exchange, brunch is the most important meal of the day. The restaurant, bookstore, retail shop, afternoon tea spot and champagne bar specializes in creating great food and memorable experiences. Its two-floor indoor space hosts lounge, bar and table seating, while its outdoor, sunlit conservatory provides a beautiful breath of fresh air. Its Sunday brunch offers delicious favorites such as French toast, omelets and pancakes, as well as healthy alternatives including smoked salmon and fresh salads. A popular spot for social media tags, Oxford Exchange is an abolute Tampa must-try.
Il Ritorno, ”the Return” in Italian, exemplifies this name in more than one way. Originally named for the homecoming of Owner and Executive Chef David Benstock, this St. Petersburg-based modern Italian restaurant is also big on giving back to the community. Partnering with organizations such as Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and Best Buddies, Il Ritorno provides St. Petersburg with more than just delicious meals.
Established in 2014, Il Ritorno was listed in the Tampa Bay Times’ Top 10 Restaurants in Tampa Bay in 2019. Its rustic charm, combined with an elegant menu of traditional Italian fare, will have patrons returning to this restaurant at every opportunity.
For a truly unique and culturally enriching experience in Greater Tampa Bay, check out Wat Mongkolratanaram. Sometimes referred to as the Thai Temple, this impressive landmark serves as both a casual, pop-up restaurant and a functioning Buddhist temple. Authentic Thai food such as pad Thai, curries, coconut pancakes called kanom krok and mango sticky rice is served daily, with open pavilions to select dishes from. Wat Mongkolratanaram is unlike anything in GTB. Patrons will be sure to leave with happy hearts, a full stomach and excellent recommendations.
For a fresh, artisan and eclectic feel, check out On Swann on the corner of, well, Swann Avenue in Tampa’s Hyde Park area. Patrons to this contemporary American-style restaurant will enjoy its comfortable atmosphere and timeless design. Brunch, lunch and dinner are served with a focus on thoughtfully sourced ingredients that come to life through passion and innovation.
“We are a community-based restaurant with a foundation of hospitality and what that word truly means — how you make someone feel,” said Joshua Brown, service manager at On Swann. “We are one team with one dream, and that dream is to bring exceptional hospitality to our community.”
With an extensive wine and cocktail list and espresso coffee selections on top of that, On Swann covers all the bases from starter to dessert. This must-try eatery, established in 2016, is sure to become a Tampa staple, as more and more will fall in love On Swann.
One taste that almost everyone can agree on is the warm, feel-good, homegrown flavors of classic comfort food. Datz is a connoisseur of this universal taste. For more than 10 years in St. Pete and Tampa, Datz has been creating and carrying well-known favorites with a twist, such as its unique take on eggs benedict — fried chicken replacing the Canadian bacon and Belgian waffles replacing the English muffin. Other tantalizing combinations include shrimp and grits with Indian spices, a BLT served on a challah bun and the rye, espresso liqueur and powdered donut cocktail.
With many more of these original creations to be discovered, Datz distinguishes themselves by combining the old with the new, the treasured classic with the adventurous. A must-try if there ever was one, Datz is comfort food home away from home.
Some secrets are better shared. The Chattaway might just be the best kept one of all, flying under the radar in St. Pete since 1951. This quirky restaurant has a spacious outdoor sitting area, award-winning food and high tea with Lady Chattaway. Finger sandwiches, petit fours and tea galore are offered in this one-of-a-kind English experience.
The atmosphere of this eatery is all-encompassing — 1930-style English décor graces the inside, bringing to life the genuine high tea experience. The Chattaway’s outdoor area is lush and tropical and highly reminiscent of Old-Town St. Petersburg. Whether seeking a unique new place or simply a cup of Earl Grey, do not keep The Chattaway under wraps.
Cassis is a high-end, French inspired restaurant located off Beach Drive in St. Petersburg. With an impressive menu ranging from brunch options to dinner to cocktails and desserts, this brasserie-style eatery is a mini European food tour. Combing intriguing dishes such as the croque monsieur and the bouillabaisse with traditional American fare with the cassis burger and its take on a turkey BLT, Cassis is fusion done right.
This blend also extends to its bakery. With sweet treats ranging from gelato to pastries to cakes and more, the Cassis Bakery is the cherry on top, or perhaps the pièce de resistance.
The Native history of Florida is rich and worthy of celebration, and Ulele, located on Tampa’s Riverwalk, does just that. This restaurant, pronounced you-lay-lee, is named for a Native American princess of legend and features a statue of the royal in the plaza out front. Ulele cooks many signature dishes on a 10-foot long barbacoa grill and primarily uses ingredients native to and cultivated in Florida. Seafood such as grouper, shrimp, scallops and oysters are menu staples, providing guests a fresh taste of the Gulf Coast. Between the history, flavor and location, Ulele is certain to be a legendary experience.
What is in a name? With Al’s Finger Licking Good Bar-B-Que, the answer is — everything. Without any further need of explanation, this restaurant in Ybor City serves fall-off-the-bone, Tennessee-style ribs, chicken, pork and beef. With each meat smoked for as many hours as it takes to maximize its flavor and with an abundance of choice sides and desserts, Al’s Finger Licking Good Bar-B-Que will all but guarantee the food lives up to its name.
No need to mark the calendar. July 22 is National Hot Dog Day, and at Mel’s Hot Dogs on Busch Boulevard, they will be celebrating all year. A staple of Tampa since 1973, Mel’s was founded by a Chicago native in desperate search of a Chicago-style hot dog. Finding none, he decided to make his own. Today, Mel’s serves more than a dozen different hot dog varieties, including Polish sausage, a bacon cheddar dog and a veggie option as well.
Hottest New Restaurants
Greater Tampa Bay is a growing community, adapting and changing all the time to stay fresh and exciting. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Sparkman Wharf, located in downtown Tampa near Channelside. This grand setting, which opened officially in late 2018, hosts a number of new restaurants, biergartens and recreational spaces all in one enclosed, interconnected area. Visitors should come with an appetite. Some of Tampa’s most well-known and celebrated chefs have opened new eateries here that no guest can afford to miss.
The Corners Pizza introduces Detroit-style square pies for personalized takeout. Between a buffalo wing pizza, Caesar salad pie or egg, bacon and cheese, try some truly unique and delicious creations.
Flock & Stock offers classic roadside American favorites such as the Hugh Heifer Swiss cheese, bacon and mushroom burger, and the Dixie chick maple bacon, pickles and buttermilk fried chicken sandwich.
BT-in-a-Box serves up portable Vietnamese/French fusion snacks, such as banh mi sandwiches and crispy spring rolls.
Boat Run Oyster Co., which also appears at Oxford Exchange on weekends, specializes in Floridian hand-raised oyster selections. Raw, chargrilled or on a roll, Boat Run delivers fresh takes on fresh oysters. Mise en Place operates Montados, a tapas and wine offering with a sampling of the greater eatery behind it.
That is not all to Sparkman Wharf, which hosts pop-up stands and new vendors all the time, truly serving as a testament to the spirit of continuous evolution of GTB.
Historic Ybor City has seen its fair share of change over the years. However, the secret of its charm is the heritage it retains throughout all of this progress. Flor Fina, new to Ybor in 2020, embraces the old while introducing the new.
Located within the Hotel Haya, Flor Fina is a Nuevo Latino-style restaurant that harkens back to an old Havana feel. Noted for its various ceviche options, as well as meat cooked on a live-fire grill, Flor Fina also offers a unique delicacy — its porchetta suckling pig. This three-course feast is stuffed with pistachios, rosemary, salsa verde and various veggies. Extravagant, elegant, cultural and inventive, Flor Fina fits into Ybor City with a fresh new style.
Armature Works, yet another top-notch Tampa Bay attraction, features a slew of restaurants, stores and bars located within a restored Tampa Heights building. This space, opened originally in 1912, is the home to Muchachas, a restaurant that opened in late 2020. Its street-style Mexican food is straightforward and easy, with classics executed to perfection.
Muchachas’ quesatacos feature cilantro, beef and Monterey Jack cheese among other fragrant ingredients, and it is a top option among guests. Other familiar favorites are street tacos and “Big Ole Burritos,” made to order. An old classic with a mind for new concepts, Muchachas knows what it does, and does it right.
Noticed the theme yet? Pickford’s Counter, which opened late summer of 2020, has a goal in mind — “pay homage to a piece of Tampa history.” Longtime locals might have heard this name before. Pickford’s Sundries was once a soda shop in the Wellswood neighborhood. Revamped and reimagined, its bright pink façade now graces Tampa once more, serving breakfast favorites and milkshakes. Take a look behind the veil of time and check out this new classic restaurant, as it is sure to be a local legend yet again.
At the very end of the newly built St. Pete Pier is a very interestingly shaped building. Within it on the fourth floor is Teak, a seafood-focused restaurant with a nautical influence.
Elegant, elevated casual dining awaits inside, with 360-degree waterfront and skyline views. Oysters, shrimp, scallops and grouper are on the menu in various forms of delicious preparation, while beer, wine and a wide-ranging assortment of mixed drinks are offered to complement them.
The Florida feel is alive and well in St. Petersburg, and Teak, much like the tropical hardwood it is named for, is an excellent reminder.
Capital Tacos is a restaurant on a mission. Actually, make that many missions. For one, their simple quest is to “find unique and authentic Mexican ingredients and make great tasting food.” This has been achieved with great success. Just ask Business Insider, which ranked Capital Tacos as the No. 3 Taco Place in the country, or Yelp reviews, which saw Capital Tacos voted No. 2 in the Top 100 Restaurants in Tampa Bay.
Under the slogan #doneright, Capital Tacos believes in fresh, made-from-scratch ingredients, delivering a fun, satisfying and authentic experience and support for charitable organizations such as the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. With locations in Brandon, Land O’Lakes, New Port Richey and Wesley Chapel, Capital Tacos has branched from their Austin, Texas inspiration and rooted themselves firmly here.
For delicious food and great vibes, look no further than Luv Child, a Cuban-Mexican restaurant with a ’70s theme. With health-oriented interpretations of classic Cuban food, this restaurant, which opened in October 2019, aims to make diners feel good in more than one respect. Featuring a cocktail lounge, a coffee bar and a self-described hang-all-day patio, Luv Child defies traditions while inventing new ones. It is a place anyone could Luv.
Psomi means “bread” in Greek, while philoxenia means “stranger to friend.” At Psomi, a new Greek restaurant and bakery, these are not just words, but philosophies.
Opening in Tampa in late 2019, Psomi became an instant hit, introducing traditional Greek favorites to residents outside of Tarpon Springs. Whether it is sweet baklava, an herbaceous gyro or creamy tzatziki, Psomi is an expert at it all. With wide windows illuminating a bright, white interior, Psomi elicits scenery on a Greek isle during a hot afternoon. As the attitude dictates, guests be oikogéneia — or family — whenever they visit.
Food can be like music — everyone’s tastes differ. However, the building blocks of each will always be the same. Fly Bar + Restaurant in Tampa promotes a back-to-basics ideology when it comes to what they serve, and the results sing quite a song.
Toting jazz-inspired cocktails such as the swordfishtrombone, made with gin and scotch rinse, and the mood indigo, with Lillet Blanc and plum bitters, Fly Bar + Restaurant constructs depths of flavor like harmonizing notes. Serving high-end American style food in a fun, laid-back setting, this restaurant is sure to be a top hit.
Stuck beside deciding between Italian or Creole, American food or Thai? Visit Rome & Fig in Tampa and experience it all. Featuring a theme of world cuisine, this new eatery compiles dishes and flavors from some of the world’s most recognizable food havens. Lebanese lentil soup could start, Korean St. Louis ribs will be sharable, and Scottish salmon delights as an entrée at Rome & Fig.
A recently opened restaurant with more than 20 years of experience at the helm, Rome & Fig is a ticket to an around-the-world food tour without having to even jump on the highway.
Gulf-side seafood restaurant Sam’s Beach Bar has been a staple in Hudson since 1981. Postcard-worthy views and picture-worthy cocktails complement Sam’s impressive selection of the gulf’s most delicious treats. Clams, crabs, mussels or all three are served in family-style buckets, while famous Sam-whiches feature — among others — a choice of mahi-mahi or grouper.
Owned by the same family since its creation, Sam’s is in touch with the historic sponging town of Hudson. Featuring local musicians playing live nightly, catering options and a gift shop, Sam’s Beach Bar stands out as a testament to the history, community and flavor of GTB.
By Ryan Walsh
