My Favorite Restaurants in Tampa Bay & Beyond
As you can imagine, I love dining out; and have hundreds of favorites which will be passed on to you in the months and years ahead. Please know that I am not trying to be a restaurant critic here, for I will only be posting “positive” comments from places that I actually visit. If I don’t like the food or experience, I won’t even mention the restaurant. You see, everyone gets enough crap thrown at them on a daily basis – life is tough enough, so if a restaurant is not serving good food or providing quality service, the marketplace will decide if they will close or not.
That said, I have one very important standard – a restaurant must be busy. I’m not talking about busy at the moment. I’m talking about consistently busy, for if busy, it can then be somewhat assumed that food is not sitting around the kitchen getting old.
We have all seen the restaurant with no customers at noon or 7pm on a Friday. While my heart goes out to them, it is probably not a place which will be visited by me. For food must be fresh. I like fresh. I can taste fresh immediately. It is ok if a cook or chef does not prepare something to my liking, but old? – no way I’m eating there…but you won’t hear about those restaurants from me. Please let me know which places you like in Tampa Bay and beyond – and why.
RECENTLY VISITED
November 15, 2018
Dr. BBQ Opens In St. PeteMy friends Suzanne and Roger Perry, along with Ray Lampe (aka Dr. BBQ) opened an innovative and really good BBQ restaurant on 1st Avenue in St. Pete right across from Tropicana Field. And let me tell you…it is the BEST brisket I’ve ever had anywhere. You guys know that I don’t recommend something unless I mean it –
and I can wholeheartedly tell you to run, don’t walk – to Dr. BBQ for their moist, succulent, flavorful brisket.
And don’t forget the humongous peanut butter pie.
Dr. BBQ
1101 – 1st Avenue South
St. Petersburg, Florida 33705
(727) 256-9350
www.drbbqs.com
Mexican
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Red Mesa
4912 4th Street North
St. Petersburg, FL 33703
(727) 527-8782 -
Miguel’s
3035 West Kennedy Blvd
Tampa, FL 33629
(813) 876-2587 -
Miguelitos Taqueria y Tequilas
2702 West Kennedy Blvd
Tampa, FL 33609
(813) 872-5600
Spanish / Latin
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Columbia
2117 East 7th Ave
Tampa, FL 33605
(813) 248-4961 -
Arco Iris
3328 West Columbus
Tampa, FL 33607
(813) 879-1357 -
Cacciatore & Sons
3614 North Armenia Ave
Tampa, FL 33607
(813) 872-7255 -
La Segunda Central Bakery
2512 North 15th Street
Tampa, FL 33605
(813) 248-1531
Cuban Sandwich
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Wright’s Gourmet
(4 time winner of Tampa Tribune’s Cuban Sandwich Award)1200 South Dale Mabry
Tampa, FL 33629
(813) 253-3838 -
Faedo
5150 North Florida 33606
Tampa, FL 33603
(813) 237-2377 -
West Tampa Sandwich Shop
3904 North Armenia
Tampa, 33607
(813) 873-7106
Steak
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Bern’s Steak House
1208 South Howard Avenue
Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 251-2421 -
Ruth’s Chris
1700 North Westshore Boulevard
Tampa, FL 33607
(813) 282-1118 -
The Capital Grille
2223 North Westshore – International Plaza
Tampa, FL 33607
(813) 830-9433 -
Council Oak
5223 Orient Road – Hard Rock Hotel
Tampa, FL 33610
(813) 627-7600 -
Brazilian Steak House
Texas de Brazil
4119 West Boy Scout Boulevard
Tampa, FL 33607
(813) 871-1400
Italian
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Trattoria Pasquale
4334 South Manhattan Avenue
Tampa, FL 33611
(813) 831-9572 -
Iavarones
3617 West Humprey Street
Tampa, FL 33614
(813) 932-521 -
Bella’s
1413 South Howard
Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 254-3355 -
Ravioli Company
3413 South Manhattan
Tampa, FL 33629
(813) 254-2051 -
Mazzaro’s Italian Cafe
2909 22nd Avenue North
St. Petersburg, FL 33713
(727) 321-2400 -
Ava
718 South Howard Ave
Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 512-3030
American
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Pane Rustica
3225 West MacDill Avenue
Tampa, FL 33629
(813) 902-8828 -
Mise En Place
442 West Kennedy Boulevard
Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 254-5373 -
Wright’s Gourmet
1200 South Dale Mabry Hwy
Tampa, FL 33629
(813) 253-3838 -
Datz
2616 South MacDill Avenue
Tampa, FL 33629
(813) 831-7000 -
Café Ponte
13505 Icot Boulevard
Clearwater, FL 33760
(727) 538-5768 -
Oxford Exchange
420 West Kennedy
Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 253-0222 -
Edison Food + Drink Lab
902 West Kennedy
Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 254-7111 -
The Refinery
5137 North Florida
Tampa, FL 33603
(813) 237-2000 -
717 South
717 South Howard
Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 250-1661 -
Elevage @ Epicurean Hotel
1207 South Howard Avenue
Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 999-8700 -
Indigenous
239 South Links
Sarasota, FL
(941) 706-4740 -
Mel’s Hot Dogs
4136 East Busch Boulevard
Tampa, FL 33617
(813) 985-8000 -
Buddy Brew
2020 West Kennedy
Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 258-2739 -
Chocolate Pi
1205 South Howard (Epicurean Hotel)
Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 237-3838 -
Doormet
1155 South Dale Mabry
Tampa, FL 33629
(813) 287-3667 -
Xtreme Juice Smoothies
619 South Dale Mabry
Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 879-6033 -
The Vine restaurant & Wine Bar American with Italian Influences
17667 Dale Mabry Hwy
Lutz, Fl 33548
(813) 964-8463 -
Ulele
1819 North Highland Avenue
Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 999-4952 -
Roux
4205 South MacDill Avenue
Tampa, FL 33611
(813) 443-5255 -
Carmel
Carrollwood
14306 North Dale Mabry Highway
Carrollwood, FL 33618
(813) 265-1415South Tampa
3601 West Swann Avenue
Tampa, FL 33609
(813) 964-6889
Greek / Mediteranean
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Little Greek
1155 South Dale Mabry Hwy
Tampa, FL 33629
(813) 443-4594 -
Byblos
2832 South MacDill
Tampa, FL 33629
(813) 805-7977
Sunday Food Market
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Wat Mongkolratanaram – Thai Temple
Warning – Arrive by 9am to get a parking space5306 Palm River Road
Tampa, FL 33619
(813) 621-1668
Barbeque
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Hungry Harry’s
2006 South Parsons
Seffner, FL
(813) 643-0063 -
Holy Hog on Armenia
3501 North Armenia
Tampa, FL 33607
(813) 879-4647 -
Kojaks
2808 West Gandy
Tampa, FL 33611
(813) 837-3774 -
4 Rivers Smokehouse
Carrollwood
14330 North Dale Mabry Highway
Tampa, FL 33618
1-844-4RIVERS (1-844-474-8377)South Tampa
623 South MacDill Avenue
Tampa, FL 33609
1-844-4RIVERS (1-844-474-8377)
Indian
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Bombay Masala
4023 West Waters
Tampa, FL 33614
(813) 880-7511 -
India's Grill
3437 West Kennedy Boulevard
Tampa, Florida 33609
(813) 872-8222
Asian
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Sa Ri One
(between Dale Mabry and Lois near I-275)3940 West Cypress Street
Tampa, FL 33607
Phone: (813) 874-2911 -
Restaurant BT
2507 South MacDill
Tampa, FL 33629
(813) 258-1916 -
THAI ISLAND
210 East Davis Boulevard
Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 251-9111 -
Yummy House
2202 West Waters (original)
Tampa, FL 33610
(813) 915-28282620 East Hillsborough Avenue
Tampa, FL 33610
(813) 237-3838
One Bite Favorites
The following are restaurants I will go to just to have these single items
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Favorite Samosa’s – Roy’s
4342 Boy Scout Boulevard
Tampa, FL
(813) 873-7697 -
Favorite Lobster Taco – Eddie V’s
4400 Boy Scout Boulevard
Tampa, FL
(813) 877-7290 -
Favorite Hushpuppies – Jimbo’s
4103 West Kennedy
Tampa, FL
(813) 289-9724 -
Favorite Deal – Flemmings
$25 Prime Rib Dinner, Sunday Nights
4322 Boy Scout Blvd, Tampa, FL
(813) 874-9463