Bavaro's Pizza Napoletana is an italian pizza restaurant in Downtown Tampa, Tampa.
Bavaro's downtown is Florida's first traditional Neapolitan pizzeria since 2009, with hand-crafted wood-fired ovens and a 100-year Ferrara family yeast.
Must order: Margherita pizza out of the wood-fired oven plus a glass of Chianti.
Tip: Walk-ins only at the bar; the dining room books out by 7pm on weekends.
Address: 514 N Franklin St #101, Tampa, FL 33602
Ichicoro Ramen in Seminole Heights opened in 2015 in a converted Florida Avenue bungalow and pulls Tampa's benchmark tonkotsu broth and pork bao buns.
Order: Tonkotsu Ichicoro ramen with slow-cooked chashu and a bao bun.
Tip: No reservations are taken at this counter; the patio handles overflow when the dining room fills up at peak times.
Psomi on North Howard Avenue in Tampa holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand for Chef Christina Theofilos' Greek daytime kitchen and bakery. The patio fills first.
Order: Octopus ceviche, house-made dolmades and a Greek coffee.
Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday; breakfast and lunch Wednesday to Friday, brunch on weekends.
Streetlight Taco on Henderson Boulevard is Chef Michael Brannock's Bib Gourmand taqueria, nixtamalizing heirloom corn in house for every tortilla.
Order: Three tacos on house-nixtamalized tortillas and a side of esquites.
Tip: Counter service with a small bar; arrive before 7pm to avoid the queue.
Gorkhali Kitchen in New Tampa holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand for Himalayan and Nepalese cooking, with steamed buff momos and thali platters built tableside.
Order: Buff momos with chili sauce and the chicken thali platter.
Tip: Strip-mall room with no frills; bring a group and order across the thali, momo and biryani sections.
Rooster and the Till in Seminole Heights holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand for Chef Ferrell Alvarez's modern American small plates with Asian and Italian accents.
Order: Pork belly steam buns and the night's hand-cut pasta.
Tip: Intimate dining room; book through Resy and ask for the chef's counter if available.
Datz in South Tampa is Tampa's bacon-hoarding comfort-food gastropub since 2009, with the city's biggest brunch and a 100-tap craft beer wall.
Order: Biscuits and Crazy at brunch or the Cheesy Todd burger at dinner.
Tip: Brunch Saturday and Sunday from 8:30am to 3pm; the patio fills first.
