Best Restaurants in Tampa, Florida

Do you think of delicious food when you think of Tampa, Florida? If you don’t yet, taking a look at its best restaurants should be enough to convince you.

▬Contents of this video▬
00:00 – Intro
0:23 – Ulele
0:44 – The Columbia
1:24 – Bern’s Steakhouse
2:20 – Council Oaks Steaks and Seafood
2:40 – Oystercatchers
3:26 – The Deviled Pig
3:43 – Rome + Fig
4:02 – Spinners Rooftop Grill
4:24 – Goody Goody Burgers
4:40 – The Oxford Exchange
5:03 – Zukku Sushi
5:34 – Noble Crust
5:52 – Gigglewaters Social Club and Screening Room
6:10 – On Swann
6:26 – CW’s Gin Joint
6:46 – Terra Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse
7:08 – Waterview Grille
7:29 – Bulla Gastrobar
7:50 – The Rusty Pelican
8:06 – Malio’s Prime Steakhouse
8:21 – Haven
8:35 – Ciro’s
8:59 – Cena
9:12 – DeVito’s Italian Specialties
9:31 – Bob Heilman’s Beachcomber
10:19 – Cafe Ponte
10:58 – Casa Tina
11:22 – The Chattaway
12:05 – Donatello
12:43 – El Cap
13:18 – Frenchy’s Original Cafe
13:52 – Harvey’s 4th Street Grille
14:30 – Jerk Hut
15:26 – La Teresita
15:54 – Lorene’s Fish House
16:23 – Lunch on Limoges
17:02 – Mise en Place
17:49 – Munch’s
18:26 – Mykonos
18:56 – Pia’s Trattoria
19:27 – Red Mesa
19:53 – Salt Rock Grill
20:40 – Ted Peter’s Famous Smoked Fish
21:11 – Mat Mongkolratanam Thai Temple
21:39 – West Tampa Sandwich Shop
22:11 – Yummy House
22:49 – Outro

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If you’re looking for upscale dining, try the ever-changing menu at Mis en Place or make a reservation at Cafe Ponte. Pia’s Trattoria is also a perfect place to take a date thanks to its romantic atmosphere.
Many of the best restaurants in Tampa are unassuming and small. The West Tampa Sandwich Shop has some of the best Cubans in the area. La Teresita evolved from a grocery store to a wonderful restaurant. You may not notice Lunch on Limoges because it sits inside a clothing store.

Eating its Harvey’s 4th Street Grille is one of the most unique experiences you can have in Tampa with its cobbled-together decor. You shouldn’t miss a chance to watch a movie with your meal at Gigglewater’s Social Club and Screening Room, either.
Tampa’s residents come from almost every culture, and its restaurants reflect that.

Try the Chinese food at Yummy House, go to Zukku SUshi., or feel transported at the Mat
Mongkolratanam Thai Temple. Mykonos feels as Greek as can be, and Donatello has plenty of authentic Italian food. Eating at the Oxford Exchange is like taking a trip to England, and Rome + Fig has a multicultural menu.

Tampa is right next to the water and full of delicious seafood. Try Ted Peter’s Famous Smoked Fish, Lorene’s Fish House, or Frenchy’s Original Cafe to get some of the best.

The award-winning Bern’s Steakhouse is one of the best if you’re more interested in turf. You can also try Council Oaks, Malio’s Prime Steakhouse, or Tara Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse.

Like and subscribe to ViewCation, your global food guide. Watch our video to learn about the best restaurants in Tampa, Florida.

Best Restaurants in Tampa, Florida

Tampa is best known for its beaches, sports teams,  and tourist attractions. Foodies who’ve traveled   there will realize that it also deserves  attention for its impressive restaurants. Most of them are near other popular  attractions, but it’s also worth going   to Tampa just for the food. You’ll find  dishes inspired by the cuisines of Jamaica,  

Italy, Greece, and more. The city  is close enough to the water to   ensure that all its seafood is fresh and  delicious, and it also has meaty steaks. Like and subscribe to ViewCation  for more on finding the area’s best   eateries. Watch our video to learn about  the best restaurants in Tampa, Florida. 

Ulele This award-winning restaurant along   the Tampa Riverwalk fuses Native American and  Florida cuisine. It uses a barbacoa grill to cook   almost everything on its delicious lunch and  dinner menu. If you want a true taste of local   food, try the alligator hush puppies filled with  alligator meat, country ham, corns, and jalapenos. 

The Columbia This is the oldest   restaurant in Florida and was established  in 1905 to feed cigar workers in Ybor City.   Today, it’s one of the largest  Spanish restaurants in the world.   It also got the runner-up spot for Tampa  Magazine’s Best Uniquely Tampa Restaurant award. 

The Columbia is known for its sangria pitchers  and its 1905 salad made from iceberg lettuce, ham,   Swiss and Romano cheese, olives, tomatoes,  Worcestershire sauce, and a garlic dressing.   It also offers traditional Spanish fare such  as paella and tapas. The menu’s been the same  

For years. You can even enjoy a flamenco  show every night of the week except Sunday.  Bern’s Steakhouse Bern Laxer opened this steakhouse in 1956.   It’s since won Tampa Magazine’s award for Best  Uniquely Tampa Restaurant. It also has the   largest wine collection of any restaurant. Senior  sommelier Brad Dixon or wine director Eric Renaud  

Can give you a tour of the wine cellar. Start your meal with an appetizer. Enjoy   the free crackers or order house-made potato  chips with black truffle creme fraiche. Dinner   options include French onion soup, Caesar salad,  and steak tartar with quail eggs and rye toast. 

As the name suggests, this restaurant  offers a wide range of steaks   aged in a temperature-controlled meat locker.  Try a Chateaubriand with bearnaise sauce,   a filet mingnon with sauce au poivre, or  a strip sirloin with truffled herb butter. 

There’s even an off-the-menu steak sandwich if you  want a taste of something secret. If you have room   for dessert, go up to the Harry Waugh Dessert  Room for a scoop of macadamia nut ice cream.  Council Oaks Steaks and Seafood This restaurant is part of the  

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tampa.  Its steaks are dry-aged on-site in rooms with   walls covered in pink Himalayan salt. You’ll even receive table-side caviar   service. Make sure to get a reservation  and prepare to empty your wallet.  Oystercatchers This is another hotel  

Restaurant found inside the Grand Hyatt Tampa  Bay hotel. The atmosphere is one of its best   qualities. It has perfect lighting and an outdoor  patio that lets you enjoy your food seaside.  The raw bar is the best place  to start your meal. Next,  

Choose from their large collection of surf and  turf cooked by chef de cuisine Adrihel Rosario.  If you want oysters, get them raw on  the half-shell with lemon, horseradish,   and mignonette or chargrilled with spicy  chilly or shrimp butter and puffed quinoa.  

You can also try crab served with sriracha  aioli and charred lemons or pan-roasted gruber   on a bed of goat cheese risotto with  spinach and oven-roasted tomatoes.  Come for Sunday brunch for charcuterie  boards, a caviar bar, and bottomless mimosas.  The Deviled Pig You won’t believe how many ways  

You can order BBQ at this restaurant. One of the  most popular is the Pittmaster Queban, a sandwich   topped with brisket, pulled pork, and house-made  bologna with mustard, Swiss cheese, and pickles.  Rome + Fig  This multi-cultural restaurant puts its twist  on global dishes. One of its most popular is  

The Italian Caprese salad which uses fried green  tomatoes instead of traditional red tomatoes.   Its menu changes seasonally and is full of  other favorites like scallops and filet mignon.  Spinners Rooftop Grill You’ll find this 12th-floor   restaurant on St. Pete Beach. It has 360-degree  ocean views and floor-to-ceiling windows.  

If that’s not enough to wow you, the food  will be. One of the best offerings is the   French ceviche. It has fresh fish and lemons,  jalapenos, Leche de Tigre, and plantains.  Goody Goody Burgers This local Hyde Park Village  

Diner has everything from delicious breakfasts  to classic burgers. One of the best is the Pox,   a simple but delicious option made with a  hamburger, pickles, onions, and a secret sauce.  The Oxford Exchange This English-inspired place is more  

Than a restaurant; it’s also a shop and bookstore.  Come for the Sunday brunch to be treated to tea,   sandwiches, scones, and desserts. Breakfast is  served all day every weekday, which gives you a   chance to taste their cinnamon rolls covered in  cream cheese and strawberries whenever you want. 

Zukku Sushi A streetcar warehouse built in 1910 was   turned into a multi-use restaurant space. You’ll  find plenty of other restaurants around Zukku,   but sushi fans should make sure not to pass it  by. It has a casual atmosphere and delicious food. 

One of its best rolls is the lobster volcano roll  that combines tuna, asparagus, crab, and avocado   with a whole tempura-fried lobster tail. You can  even create your own poke bowl or sushi burrito.  Noble Crust This chain has 3 locations in Tampa  

And St. Pete and offers a combination of southern  and Italian dining. Its seasonal menu includes   fried green tomatoes topped with pimento cheese,  ricotta gnocchi, wood-fired pizzas, and more.  Gigglewaters Social Club and Screening Room This prohibition-themed restaurant has a secret  

Theater in the back where you can watch a  movie while you eat or enjoy a cocktail.   You can’t go wrong with anything on their menu,  from their burgers to their loaded mac and cheese.  On Swann This modern   restaurant offers classy takes on traditional  American cuisine. It also has charcuterie boards  

To share and a range of wines, craft beers,  and cocktails if you’re looking for a drink.  CW’s Gin Joint  This retro joint specializes in gin but also  offers a range of hand-crafted cocktails and   quality liquor. Try one of their entrees like  the Moroccan lamb tagine If you walked in hungry,  

Whatever you order, you’ll be treated  to live jazz music while you enjoy it.  Terra Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse This is one of the best restaurants in Tampa   if you want an all-you-can-eat experience inspired  by traditional Brazillian rodizio-style dining.   You’ll get endless grilled meat  and seafood for only $48.95. It’s  

An affordable way to fill your stomach  in a place with a classy atmosphere.  Waterview Grille This is the place to go for seaside dining.   It sits right along the Channelside Walk Way with  a beautiful view of the Amalie Arena. Its lunch  

And dinner menus both feature delicious seafood  such as grouper sandwiches and macadamia-crusted   mahi-mahi filets. Bulla Gastrobar  You can get a multi-course Spanish-inspired  meal here for either breakfast, lunch,   or dinner. Their charcuterie boards are a great  way to start. Churrasco and paella are two of  

Their best lunch options, and the Cuban sandwich  is a Tampa classic you shouldn’t miss for dinner.  The Rusty Pelican This is often considered one   of the best waterfront restaurants in Tampa and  the world. It sits on Rocky Point next to Ben T.  

Davis Beach and provides gorgeous views.  Don’t miss out on their weekend brunch.  Malio’s Prime Steakhouse This restaurant sits on the   lobby level of the Rivergate Tower.  It has a lunch and dinner menu full   of dishes like the Australian rack of  lamb and burgers made from Prime filet.  Haven Don’t let  

The subtle appearance keep you away from this  contemporary yet rustic restaurant. Everything   is crafted with care from its charcuterie boards  to its impressive collection of wine and whisky.  Ciro’s This is one of the best restaurants  

In Tampa if you’re looking for a cocktail bar  that also has delicious food. Try one of its many   standout dishes such as the pocket burger trio  with duck fat fries, the pan-seared crab cakes,   or the pretzel monkey bread fondue. Come during  happy hour Monday-Friday 5-7 p.m to save money.  Cena 

This standout restaurant serves some of Tampa’s  best Italian food. There are 3 different kinds   of risotto to choose from, including wagyu  braised short ribs and truffle mushroom.  DeVito’s Italian Specialties This is another great option   for Italian food enthusiasts.  Everything feels authentic,   from their lobster ravioli to their  Linguine Fra Diavolo. You should save  

Room for dessert because you won’t want to  miss their tiramisu or New York cheesecake.  Bob Heilman’s Beachcomber Visitors to the Clearwater Beach area   have loved this restaurant since Robert Heilman  Sr. and Eva Nelle Heilman opened it in 1948. 

There are several areas to eat in here, but you’ll  get the most out of its retro atmosphere at the   main dining room. It’s the perfect place to sample  delicious drinks such as the Beachcomber Classic   martini. It’s partially served in a miniature  carafe with the rest in a tiny glass globe. 

Start your meal with a relish tray that combines  applesauce, cottage cheese, and corn relish.   It seems odd but your tastebuds will thank you.  Other highlights include Harvey Wallbanger and   Clams Casino. All their dinner options include  salad and a side. A few of the best are their   steaks, and seafood pasta primavera. Cafe Ponte 

This restaurant’s bar is packed every  night with visitors clamoring for its   Italian espresso martinis. Its early bird  prix-fixe menu costs $36 but is worth the   price. The dinner menu features a seasonal  selection of New American/European dishes.  Try the mushroom soup with truffle cream  and chives. Entrees include a double-cut  

Pork chop over apple and bacon cheddar  polenta with hazelnut butter or half a   chicken with roasted garlic mashed potatoes. The dessert menu is also pitch-perfect. One of   the best options is the burnt orange creme brulee  with cardamom and honey and an almond tuile. 

Casa Tina Javier and Tina Avila started hosting Dia de lost   Muertos celebrations in 1992. Decor from these  celebrations such as incense and sugar skulls are   now displayed in their restaurant all year round. You’ll find a range of traditional Mexican dishes   here, including Pescado a la Veracruzana,  chile rellenos, and chiles en nogada. 

The Chattaway This is one of the best   restaurants in Tampa for all Anglophiles. You can  enjoy a high tea and a proper English back dining   room. You may even forget where you are until  you go out to the shaded patio and see its green  

Picnic tables surrounded by tropical plants. One of the best options on the menu is the   famous Chattaway Cheesburger and onion rings.  You can also get fish and chips made with   local fish or a serving of Cajun shrimp. Like and subscribe to ViewCation for more  

Ways to decide where to eat on your next trip.  Keep watching to learn about more of the best   restaurants in Tampa, including Asian eateries,  authentic Italian and Greek spots, and more.  Donatello  This family-owned business has been running  for 35 years. The charming Italian atmosphere  

May be the first thing you notice. It has  soft pink lighting, a club-like dining room,   red roses on every table, and Italian-American  crooners coming out of every speaker.  The menu includes almost every classic  Italian dish you can think of, including  

Brushetta and Caesar salads. You can even tell  the chef how you want your pasta’s prepared   or ask for 2 versions of the same dish. The wine list is also extensive. It’s   not the most affordable, but its quality  ingredients make your visit worth the price.  El Cap This spot has been in business  

Since 1964. It has a comfortable atmosphere  with retro decors such as newspaper clippings,   horse racing photos, and more. El Cap created a reputation as one   of the best restaurants in Tampa because of its  famous World Champ burger. It has a huge patty,   mayonnaise-covered buns, melted cheese,  tomato slices, onions, lettuce, and pickles. 

You can also enjoy sides such  as onion rings, tater tots,   and corn dog bites. Come in for specials such  as the chicken salad sandwich on Mondays.  Frenchy’s Original Cafe Michael “Frenchy” Preston opened this   restaurant in 1981. It now has 4 other locations,  including the Saltwater Cafe, Rockaway Grill,  

South Beach Safe, and Outpost Bar and Grill. Today, no one can agree which location   has the best grouper sandwich. They’re all made  with filets placed on an onion roll with cheese,   lettuce, tomatoes, and tartar sauce. The original location also has plenty of  

Other delicious dishes. Try the crab soup, fried  grouper cheeks on a stick, or stone crab claws.  Harvey’s 4th Street Grille This is one of the best   restaurants in Tampa because it offers  a feast for the eyes before your food  

Even comes out. The decor is odd but captivating. You’ll see a mounted bass with a golf ball in his   mouth, red hot chili pepper lanterns, a boar using  a badminton racket, and a moose wearing suspenders   and mardi-gras beads. Owner Dan Harvey Jr. created  it from bric-a-brac he gathered from local hotels. 

Harvey’s advertises itself as West Coast  Florida-style. Get a grouper sandwich or   choose broiled, fried, or sauteed scallops. The  drinks are unique and affordable, starting at $6.  Jerk Hut Jamaican-born chef   Andrew Ashmeade decided to bring his country’s  signature dish, jerk chicken, to Tampa Bay in  

1991. He opened his first official location in  1993 and now has a successful, multi-location   business that attracts plenty of diners. Jerk chicken has a smokey, spicy, fruity flavor.   There are several places to get it, but Jerk Hut  sets itself apart thanks to its sweet red sauce. 

You can also try a weekend buffet full of  Caribbean and West Indian dishes. They include   yellow curry goat with cabbage, rice, and peas,  brown stew chicken and oxtail with brown sauce,   sweet plantains, spicy beef patties, and more. The drinks are also special here. Try Red Stripes  

Or a rum punch. If you want something  non-alcoholic, try the Kola Champagne,   Trinidadian Sol Banana, or a range of tropical  juice and sorrel made from dried hibiscus leaves.  La Teresita The Capdevilla family   opened a grocery store in 1972, and it evolved  into this complex with a 14,000-square-foot pink  

2-story building. You can go to the sit-down  restaurant, banquet hall, or casual cafeteria.  The dishes here are delicious but affordable. You  can sample a range of Cuban and Spanish cuisine   including ropa vieja, tostones,  frijoles negros, and arroz con leche.  Lorene’s Fish House Local chef Lorene Office  

Became famous for her barbecue truck but  eventually opened this restaurant in 1994.   She often struggled to keep it open, but it’s  managed to remain a Tampa mainstay for 25 years.  A few of the best dishes here are garlic  chicken wings, the Big Boy hamburger,  

Mussel and shrimp boils, fried pork chops, and  fried grouper sandwiches. Lorene’s personal   favorite is the cornmeal-battered tilapia. Lunch on Limoges  It’s easy to miss this place because it’s situated  inside a clothing store and novelty gift shop.   It’s been there since 1908 but  officially became a restaurant in 1981. 

This is one of the best restaurants in Tampa  if you want a small but classic and reliable   menu. It only has about 15 dishes written  on a chalkboard easel. They rotate often but   expect offerings like the California chopped  salad, poached salmon low country shrimp,  

Medittearian eggplant, and pork schnitzel. Every meal starts with a basket of   mini muffins. Most diners choose  raspberry iced tea over wine or beer.  Mise en Place This upscale restaurant has   been in business for 33 years. Maryann Ferenc  and Marty Blitz opened it in 1986 and moved to  

Their current location in 1993. They’re the stars  behind its menu that evolves with shifting tastes.  A few popular dishes such as chicken liver  mousse pate and rack of lamb have stayed for   years. What makes this restaurant special is  its ability to make any dish spectacular like  

When it adds citrus zest, fennel, and  Calabrian chiles to a bowl of olives.  Other great options on the menu  include the Pat LaFrieda burger   covered in bacon shallot marmalade and truffle  tomato aioli. There’s also a shopping lounge  

At the entrance if you want to look for spices  and cooking tools while you wait for a seat.  Munch’s Dean and Clarice Munch opened this   spot as a sundries store and post office in 1952  but sold sandwiches out of the back. Today, you’ll  

Feel transported back in time here as soon as  you see its sign advertising hotcakes and coffee   for $2.75 on Wednesday, sit on its swivel stools,  or get called sweetie by one of its employees,   most of whom have worked here for decades. Come on Mondays for an unbelievable deal;  

French toast and coffee for only $2.75.  Tuesdays and Saturdays are the best time   for its legendary fried chicken, and  the milkshakes are great anytime.  Mykonos You couldn’t get   a more authentic Greek experience in Tampa than  going to a restaurant where the staff shouts opa  

Every time someone orders the saganaki. Trying  the delicious concoction of fried kefalograviera   cheese and a dash of Ozu is worth the trip. Mykonos also has taramasalata dip   made from fish roe, tzatziki, gyro  platters, beef and eggplant moussaka,   lamb shanks in tomato sauce, and more.  They’re all reliably delicious and authentic. 

Pia’s Trattoria This is one of the best restaurants   in Tampa for creating a romantic atmosphere.  Candelabras and chandeliers hang from the walls,   pendant lights hang from the outdoor dining  room rafters, and vines creep up the walls.  The menu isn’t large but features plenty of  delicious classic dishes such as capellini  

Pomodoro, shrimp scampi, parmigiana di  melanzane, and fried scallops with blue crab   ravioli. It also has vegan and gluten-free  dishes if that’s what your partner’s into.  Red MEsa This restaurant   has been in business since 1995. It has an  impressive selection of sangria, including red,  

White, margarita, and blueberry pomegranate. The food is a mix of Mexican, Central American,   and Southwestern dishes. Try cedar-planked  salmon with chili aioli and cilantro rice,   dunk enchiladas with raspberry chipotle cream  sauce, or fried plantains and yucca fries.  Salt Rock Grill Seeing an exposed grill  

When you walk into this restaurant and a tower  of seafood on ice lets you know what to expect   here. They have fishing boats running every day to  ensure their ingredients are as fresh as possible.  Pay $16 and arrive by 5:30 pm to become  part of the early bird Supper Club. You’ll  

Get a secret menu including sourdough  bread with herb dipping oil, a salad,   a choice of several entrees, and a dessert. You’ll be happy even if you don’t join the   club thanks to Salt Rock Grill’s variety of  seafood, aged prime steaks, and delicious  

Sides. Alaskan king crabs aren’t local but  they’re so delicious that they’re a best-seller.   You can even add a lobster tail or king crab  legs with hollandaise sauce to almost any dish.  Ted Peter’s Famous Smoked Fish This restaurant has been serving  

Smoked fish by the water on Pasadena Avenu for  almost 70 years. It’s been family-owned for 5   generations and became a popular tourist spot. You can get almost any kind of smoked fish here,   including mahi-mahi, salmon, mackerel, and mullet.  They’ll even smoke your latest catch for you if  

You ask. Their menu also includes German potato  salad and some of the area’s best cheeseburgers.  Mat Mongkolratanam Thai Temple  The beauty of this temple with its gold and  green dragons and nearby garden is enough to  

Draw you in, but the food will make you want  to stay. Come on Sundays from 8:30 am to 1 pm   for a market full of vendors sitting below  a covered deck. They offer Thai staples   such as spring rolls, papaya salad, chargrilled  pork, chicken satay, pad Thai, and more. 

West Tampa Sandwich Shop This small shop on American Avenue   may not seem like one of the best restaurants  in Tampa. It’s unassuming and has simple decor.   You have to try the food to  understand what makes it special.  Come for breakfast and get Cuban toast and  cafe con Leche. Lunch options include masa  

De Puerco and ropa vieja, each of which comes  with 2 sides such as plantains, fried tostones,   or golden yucca spears. Don’t leave without having  a Cuban sandwich; it may be the best in Tampa.  Yummy House This is part   of a restaurant group founded by  John Zhao and Tommy Tang in 2008.  

It has several locations, but the one in  Tampa is worth visiting if you’re in the area.  Lunchtime features a dim sum service. It’s full of  small bits of deliciousness including pork buns,   turnip cakes with shrimp, rice porridge,  Cheung Fun rice rolls, sugar eggs tarts,  

And sesame balls with sweet red bean paste. Weekend lunches here are so popular that you’ll   need a reservation. This is because the regular  menu has plenty of delicious Chinese specialties   including braised eggplant, creamy honey  walnut shrimp, and Peking roasted duck. 

Do you think of delicious food when you think of  Tampa, Florida? Let us know in the comments below.   Like and subscribe to ViewCation  for more restaurant recommendations.