Where to Eat in Tampa: The Best Restaurants and Bars

April 14, 2018 Rebbecca Marino

Tampa is a laid-back city with a vibrant arts scene and plenty of opportunities for adventure. Busch Gardens offers thrills for families and risk-averse adrenaline junkies, as does the domed IMAX theater of the Museum of Science and Industry. Spend a day touring Tampa’s many art museums, then cheer on your favorite Tampa Bay team at a home game. Get up close and personal with the majestic lions, tigers, and leopards of the Big Cat Rescue animal sanctuary.
Things to do in Tampa

1. Wright's Gourmet House

1200 S Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL 33629-5009 Delivery, Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible American, Delicatessen, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch SGD 26 +1 813-253-3838
Excellent
77%
Good
18%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 888 reviews

Wright's Gourmet House

Reviewed By Melanie L

Great sandwich and fresh salad! I ordered the beef martini Sandwich and it was stuffed with meat and yummy goodness- I also had their mango iced tea which was perfectly sweetened not too much- just right. I had a side order of GREEK potato salad and Wow was it delicious!! For dessert I took a piece of yellow cake with chocolate frosting home (alpine) and it was FABULOUS!!!

2. Al's Finger Licking Good Bar-B-Que

1609 Angel Oliva Senior St, Tampa, FL 33605-5133 Takeout, Seating, Waitstaff, Parking Available, Street Parking, Free Off-Street Parking, Television, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Wine and Beer, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Accepts Discover, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Accepts Credit Cards American, Barbecue, Vegetarian Friendly, Gluten Free Options Lunch, Dinner SGD 9 - SGD 16 +1 813-956-0675
Excellent
82%
Good
13%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 214 reviews

Al's Finger Licking Good Bar-B-Que

Named Best BBQ in Florida! - Located in a bungalow off of 7th Ave in historic Ybor City, Al's Finger Licking Good Bar-B-Que is dedicated to serving you the most delicious barbecue food while demonstrating true Southern hospitality.

Reviewed By Joel S - Scarsdale, New York

Classic BBQ. Lovely staff. Just the way it's supposed to be. Everything was perfect. The ribs were excellent. The BBQ chicken was a top 5 experience. The sides were awesome. Had excellent Mac and cheese, available only on Friday's. Spicy collard greens were awesome. The rice with chicken was delicious. I still wonder why barbecue is always served with two slices of white bread. Very satisfyingly food. Fun, authentic experience. Not to be missed if you're in the area.

3. La Terrazza Restaurant

1727 E 7th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605-3805 Outdoor Seating, Takeout, Reservations, Seating, Waitstaff, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Wine and Beer, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Accepts Discover Italian, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options Lunch, Dinner, Late Night SGD 28 - SGD 39 +1 813-248-1326
Excellent
78%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 488 reviews

La Terrazza Restaurant

Reviewed By lmbeebs - Tampa, Florida

This is a locally owned restaurant so you are getting something a little different than your typical Italian fare. The menu offered some unique options and some slightly different takes on standards. The food was good. Not great, but good. The caprese salad was the only item we had that I felt was really overpriced. Tasty, but not worth the $ in my opinion. We went in the late evening and the Ybor crowd passing by the windows offered a little bonus entertainment. Overall, I think it’s a nice place for a date night before hitting a few places for drinks afterwards or after seeing a movie. Definitely a great location for an evening out.

4. Fresh Kitchen

1350 S Howard Ave, Tampa, FL 33606-3125 Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Wheelchair Accessible American, Fast Food, Healthy, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options Lunch, Dinner +1 813-280-0515
Excellent
68%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 142 reviews

Fresh Kitchen

Build your own bowl with hormone and antibiotic free grilled meats and roasted vegetables. house made cold-pressed juices and gluten free treats. From our chef inspired kitchen to your bowl as fast as you can point. Our menu changes with the seasons and is 100% gluten free.

Reviewed By lexus873 - Tampa, Florida

I wanted a paleo style menu and heard about FK from a friend. Nice, simple selections to choose from however the servings aren’t large. For the size of my order it was over priced by a couple dollars. FK reminded me of Chipolte only witha...MoreThank you for your review and your feedback. We're so sorry your experience wasn't excellent. Please see our personal message, as we would like to learn more about your visit. Thank you!

5. Eddie V's Prime Seafood

4400 W Boy Scout Blvd, Tampa, FL 33607-5718 Reservations, Private Dining, Seating, Waitstaff, Parking Available, Valet Parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar Seafood, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options Lunch, Dinner, Late Night +1 813-877-7290
Excellent
75%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 688 reviews

Eddie V's Prime Seafood

Reviewed By RyanColSolare - Tampa, Florida

There's no doubt that my wife and I are huge fans of Eddie V's; they consistently offer impeccable service, delicious food, and one of the best dining atmospheres in Tampa. Thus it was an easy decision to choose EV to celebrate our friends' birthdays. First, EV is great with communication; we made the reservation 2 weeks ahead of time, asking for a specific table so we could all enjoy Off the Cuff - the tremendous Friday night house band. EV's honored that request and treated our friends very well. Off the Cuff even sang (their version) Happy Birthday and a song of their request. Robert made us a custom drink, too! Apps were perfect: our friends were blown away by the freshness of the oysters and yellowtail sashimi. They both said that their entrees (seared ahi and scallops) were the best they have ever had. Of course, our entrees were perfect and delicious, as well. We shared the not-to-be-missed Bananas Foster cake. All in all, it was the perfect evening. GM Steve Hickey stopped by to say hello - which made our friends feel even more welcome and special. Thanks, Eddie V's!

6. Wat Mongkolratanaram Thai Temple

5306 Palm River Rd, Tampa, FL 33619-3746 Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Wheelchair Accessible Asian, Thai, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options Lunch, Brunch +1 813-621-1669
Excellent
69%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 199 reviews

Wat Mongkolratanaram Thai Temple

Reviewed By h0mefree2 - Tampa, Florida

We have visited several times over two years and continue to enjoy great, authentic Thai food at great prices. We especially like the pumpkin chicken curry. Inexpensive and delicious. It’s also fun to sit outside on the picnic benches and enjoy the river view. Get there early, though, around 11 AM it’s already getting crowded.

7. On Swann

1501 West Swann Ave., Tampa, FL, Tampa, FL 33606-2553 Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Waitstaff, Valet Parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar American, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options Lunch, Dinner, Brunch +1 813-251-0110
Excellent
69%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 174 reviews

On Swann

Reviewed By Margaret B - Winter Park, Colorado

We had a celebration meal last night at this new restaurant in the rejuvenated Hyde Park shopping area of Tampa and really enjoyed it. There is outdoor and indoor seating, bar seating, individual tables and a community table. The menu was interesting, with so many delicious choices that we truly could decide where to start. There are "bites," starters, small plates, shared boards, and entrees--all so enticing, we just wanted to order one of everything. We ultimately picked a rice ball appetizer, cauliflower appetizer, kale salad, and foie gras that we shared among four people before our entrees. The portions were perfect for sharing. We loved them all, the cauliflower most and the foie gras the least. For our dinners, each couple had the short rib entree and shared it. After all the appetizers, sharing was exactly the right amount of food. The short rib pasta was so delicious and tender. There were other wonderful choices on the entree menu that we wanted to try, but just couldn't try them all. The scallops looked fabulous. The service was superb, with plenty of wait staff clearing away plates and replacing knives and forks after we used them. Our waitress was a wonderful young woman with a genuine smile. She was enthusiastic, attentive and helpful with our selections. The wine selection was adequate, but we would have liked a few more California cabs and zins. We had heard it was expensive, but it really was no more expensive than other restaurants of its kind in the Tampa area. We highly recommend it.

8. Happy Fish

4046 N Armenia Ave, Fiesta Plaza, Tampa, FL 33607-1002 Takeout, Reservations, Seating, Waitstaff, Parking Available, Free Off-Street Parking, Television, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Wine and Beer, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Discover, Accepts Credit Cards Peruvian, Latin, Seafood, South American, Vegetarian Friendly, Gluten Free Options Lunch, Dinner SGD 10 - SGD 20 +1 813-871-6953
Excellent
74%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 448 reviews

Happy Fish

Authentic Peruvian Fusion Cuisine

Reviewed By Charlton W

Despite my wife’s misgivings when we rolled into the parking lot, this place is awesome. There is not a single criticism I would make.

Fantastic restaurant. Great food and friendly staff. Prices are quite reasonable. Portions are very large. (We couldn’t finish ours.) We went on a Sunday night and it was crowded so call ahead. We will definitely return on a Friday night when there is live music.

9. Brocato's Sandwich Shop

5021 E Columbus Dr, Tampa, FL 33619-2401 Delivery, Takeout, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Wheelchair Accessible American, Spanish, Soups, Cuban, Delicatessen, Vegetarian Friendly Breakfast, Lunch +1 813-248-9977
Excellent
69%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 665 reviews

Brocato's Sandwich Shop

In 1948, Brocato’s opened its doors for business. From grocery store to meat market, to sandwich shop, Brocato’s has always strived to provide the best sandwich in Tampa, combined with friendly service. These valuse, coupled with the hard work and dedication of the Brocato’s family, have attracted and maintained loyal customers through the years. Fast forward 63 years later to 2012, and while countless restaurants, diners and sandwich shops have come and gone, Brocato’s is still making the best sandwich with the best service in Tampa. Everyone at Brocato’s is committed to giving you, our customers, the best sandwich and the best service possible. We thank you for making Brocato’s one of Tampa Bay’s long standing traditions.

Reviewed By Larry K - Hallandale Beach, Florida

We took a day trip with friends to Tampa. Time came for lunch they said they had a terrific Cuban Sandwich place. Well since I like Cuban food it was ok with me. They drove us to Brocato"s. There was a line out the door and people eating in and outside seating. We were on line inside and ordering. It was like a huge assembly line of ordering and waiting on line for our order. The staff was friendly and helpful. I'm originally from New York so I am used to this kind of atmosphere. It was loud as they called out names of completed orders. My wife went in search of a table for us. Well the shocker was soon to come. My sandwich was piled high. The biggest Cuban Sandwich I have ever had. So big I couldn't take a bite and get my mouth open far enough. But boy was it good. The Papa Rellena was the size of a softball. We had to take it with us. Next time I'm in Tampa and hungry I will return.

10. Bern's Steak House

1208 S Howard Ave, Tampa, FL 33606-3197 Reservations, Private Dining, Seating, Waitstaff, Parking Available, Valet Parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar French, American, Steakhouse, Vegetarian Friendly, Gluten Free Options Dinner, Late Night +1 813-251-2421
Excellent
71%
Good
15%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
3%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 3 reviews

Bern's Steak House

A unique culinary experience. Perfectly aged steaks. One of the largest wine collections in the world. An internationally famous dessert room. Wine cellar and kitchen tours available for all guests. These elements have combined since 1956 to provide our guests with a unique culinary experience. Our prime steaks are cut to order, vegetables are grown locally on the Bern's farm and sourced from the finest purveyors, and our menu includes 21 choices of caviar. Each visit to Bern's Steak House takes you on a gastronomic adventure that defines Bern's not as a meal but as an experience. We invite you to join us and experience Bern's.

Reviewed By Flyfisher1234 - Altoona, Pennsylvania

Berns is cool place, old school steakhouse with KILLER wine list. Very cool inside, old world feel, dining areas divided by wine regions and we were in the Rhone region. To be honest, steaks we cooked perfectly, but its old school, minimal flavoring of steaks. Im a new school guy of steaks that maximize spices etc onto the steak. I had to add salt and pepper to mine. French onion soup was great. Creamed corn with truffle was outstanding. We had amazing wines, then did a kitchen and wine cellar tour. The wine cellar...Impressive. Biggest collection in US. The upstairs separate dessert room is different and we had a great time inside our private pod! Over 1000 dessert wines and we tried dessert wines from all over the World. So, in the end, steaks for me very average, but best wines in the world. I feels its a place everyone needs to try at least once!

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