Restaurants in Tampa Bay
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A
Columbia Restaurant
See that enormous building covered in hand-painted tiles? That's the famous Columbia, serving Spanish and Cuban specialties since 1920. Reservations and $6 gets you seating for flamenco performances.
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Restaurant BT
Tampa’s hottest restaurant is worth the hype. Serving gourmet French-Vietnamese fare in ultrachic environs, everything on the menu is fresh, delicious and authentic. If you like hot, you can’t go wrong ordering hot pepper squid with chili paste and jasmine rice. Reservations are recommended – it’s not unheard of for Floridians to drive five hours north from Miami just to try Chef Trina Nyugan-Batley’s innovative creations.
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B
Mise en Place
A longtime chef-owned SoHo bistro, Mise en Place is arguably Tampa’s brightest culinary shooting star. The creative and seasonal menu, with Floribbean (blend of Caribbean and Floridian cuisines) twists, is decidedly eclectic and always a treat. Put on some trendy black and saunter over for mustard-and-pecan-crusted rack of lamb with a bourbon shallot demi-glace.
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Cephas
This little eatery, a slice of Jamaica right in Ybor City, is run by Cephas Gilbert, who showed up in the US in 1982 with $37 in his pocket. Since then he’s parlayed his small stake into a customer-friendly joint. Head here for huge plates of jerk chicken wings, curry goat or chicken and brown stew.
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D
Wine Exchange
When you care as much about pairing wine and food as you do enjoying them separately, this crowded Tampa Bay spot delivers the goods. Each component is heightened by the other. Order a sophisticated nightly specialty like encrusted salmon to take advantage. They also have good sandwiches and pizzas.
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E
Side Bern's
The Bern's Steak House spin-off is nothing like its parent. You'll find contemporary fusion cuisine here, which utilises spices from around the world to enliven the mostly seafood dishes. Ostrich or lamb devotees need not worry, though: you'll find these on the menu, too. Reservations suggested.
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F
Big City Tavern
The Ybor City setting, complete with a spirited bar scene, couldn’t be more dramatic: Big City Tavern is ensconced within an old ballroom with wrought-iron balconies and huge windows. As for the food, the high-falutin’ creative cuisine is executed with just enough panache to get by.
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G
Bean There Traveler's Coffee House
When you're heading between St Petersburg and Tampa, this local almost-SoHo coffee shop serves breakfast (all day on weekends), sandwiches and strong coffee. Take Bayshore Blvd from downtown to Bay-to-Bay Blvd and turn right; it's on the right side of the road, past MacDill Ave.
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H
dish
This wildly popular Ybor City eatery is different from others in that it consists of grilling 'stations.' Bring your plate to a chef's station, tell them what you want and they'll whip it up for you. Return to the stations as often as you like for the same price.
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City's Gourmet Deli
This downtown deli is a good choice for homemade everything - from salads and soups to wraps and sandwiches heaped with good stuff. It's not your average deli; for instance, they roast their own meats and use French chocolate in their brownies.
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Four Green Fields
This classic downtown restaurant looks like a traditional Irish cottage, and sure enough, it features traditional Irish cooking, thick brogues, Irish music, 30-weight Guinness, pints that pack a punch and friendly folk.
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Kojak’s House of Ribs
One block west of Bayshore Blvd, this longtime South Tampa neighborhood favorite has outdoor porches and finger-lickin’ ribs with all the sides. You’d never know you were in the city.
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Bern's Steakhouse
Start with one of 20 kinds of caviar then move on to steak prepared to the most exacting tastes and specifications at this over-the-top homage to indulgence.
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Samurai Blue
With cool architecture, Ybor City’s Samurai Blue boasts a remarkable 30ft sushi bar, an unusual sake bar and an Asian fusion menu for the less adventurous.
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La Teresita
Skip the restaurant and head for the cafeteria counters to eat your fill of plantains, yellow rice, black beans, Cuban bread and coffee.
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Nicko's Fine Foods
The lure of cheap eats in a classic diner atmosphere has kept people coming here for decades, including Elvis back in 1956.
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