Some nights call for casual dining, where you come as you are and pop in at the last minute. On the flip side, there are other nights where dressing up for dinner is de rigueur. For those evenings, you need something special, s whether you're looking for exceptional tasting menus or a buzzy scene, we've pulled together a list of some of our favorites in Tampa. These hot spots are just right for date night, celebrating with friends, or making the everyday exceptional.
Bern's Steak House
For decades, this stately steakhouse has been a local favorite for special occasions of all stripes, and its popularity shows no signs of shrinking. Diners dress to impress amid the vintage opulence, which is matched by a slickly ceremonious suit-clad service team and colossal wine collection.
A meal might start with oysters, or one of the many caviar options, but savvy diners save ample space for a curated selection of prime steaks, many dry-aged extensively in house before getting a char treatment on the kitchen’s massive grill. Don’t fill up on the assorted sides—at the end of the meal, guests are whisked to the posh upstairs dessert room, where bananas Foster or baked Alaska can be enjoyed with house-roasted coffee and live piano music.
Fisk
For a glimpse into the excellence that awaits at Ebbe, snag a seat at this relaxed, handsome bar concept which shares the same front door and kitchen. Seafood with Swedish and global touches forms the heart of a menu that offers both a concise tasting as well as easy à la carte ordering. You might consider making a meal out of lighter bites, starting with Alaskan smoked salmon prepared as an éclair or, perhaps, crab salad with pink grapefruit and grilled avocado. Meatballs and schnitzel are tempting entrees, but do not miss the fish soup. Made with excellent stock, fennel, and just a touch of cream, it is a comforting masterclass in balance and finesse. Those who really love rum will find a friend in the boozy baba au rhum.
Koya
One MICHELIN Star
There is a watchful eye over the experience at this intimate counter, where a multicourse contemporary tasting menu shares a singular interpretation of Japanese cuisine. The dishes are often unexpected yet always thoughtful. Spectacular seafood is a given: staple luxuries like bluefin tuna and uni are flown in weekly from Toyosu Market. Instead of the typical parade of nigiri, dishes offer unique combinations of Eastern and Western culinary sensibilities, as in the A5 olive wagyu with fried capers and aged parmesan or Spanish turbot set in a tomato and miso emulsion. An impressive list of premium sakes and wines available by the glass further enhances a meal that is leisurely paced and overseen by a friendly team that happily engages its guests.
Lilac
One MICHELIN Star
This concept from John Fraser occupies its own corner of the sleek and stylish Edition hotel. An open kitchen with glossy emerald-green tile overlooks the small dining room and delivers a contemporary prix-fixe with broad Mediterranean influences. Dinner begins with a series of bites like almond croissant with chicken liver mousse or Maine lobster feuillantine. Diver scallops arrive dramatically under a cloche filled with rosemary smoke, while braised rabbit pasta halo comes with an airy parmesan-potato cloud. Entrée highlights include Ora King salmon, Colorado lamb chop, and a particularly sumptuous Dover sole bathed in brown butter and serve with glazed vegetables. A lengthy list of cocktails and rather pricey wines are available as well.
The Pearl
Located in the Channelside district of downtown Tampa, The Pearl rests within a mixed-use building with plenty of outdoor seating for warm days and nights. Inside, the space is contemporary with maritime and nostalgic touches throughout. The large American menu with shareable options aplenty sports a seafood focus, but don't sleep on dessert, as the in-house pastry chef oversees the pie-only menu. Come with friends for a fun time and to snack on treats such as fried pickles with a creamy dipping sauce or raw, baked or fried oysters. Go for broke with a seafood tower or enjoy a humbler entree, like the fish and chips. Their brown sugar pie with oatmeal cookie crust is a house classic that you'll definitely want.
Predalina
The large menu is a nod to the Mediterranean, beginning with a wide variety of mezzes (the blistered cauliflower surrounded by whipped tahini is a winner). Lunch offers a nice mix of sandwiches and salads, while dinner is squarely focused on entrées and pastas. The tomato calamarata looks every bit the calamari it's named for, and dressed with a chunky, herb-laced tomato sauce and delicious kefalograviera, or Greek sheep's milk cheese, it's a satisfying dish. Located in the Channelside District of downtown Tampa, siblings Blake Casper and Allison Casper Adams founded Predalina as an homage to their great-grandmother's coastal heritage (she was born in Brazil, raised in Portugal and finally settled in Rhode Island).
Rooster & The Till
Bib Gourmand
It's a low-key spot with a contemporary feel. The bar is central and wraps around an open kitchen, so grab a seat at the counter for the best view. Between the lively tunes and buzzy staff, the aura is anything but stuffy. The plates follow suit—freewheeling, frequently changing and shareable with elements from SE Asia, Latin America and the Levant. Yet, nothing seems out of place, as in sumac-flecked cauliflower with whipped goat's milk feta and falafel-spiced dukkah. Fried cobia collar with nuoc cham boasts a cultish following. Such seductive textures and explosive flavors continue in full force in a dessert of black sesame ice cream with pineapple-cashew jam and Thai tea caramel.
The tasting menu, though pricier, is a worthy splurge.
Hero image: Motion Minds / Predalina
