19 editor picks in Tampa.
19 restaurants in Tampa, editor-picked for restaurants open monday. Open on monday, the day most kitchens go dark. All restaurants in Tampa.
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.
OrderThe pork belly steam buns and whatever pasta is on the chalkboard that night.
TipCo-owner Chef Ferrell Alvarez is a 2017 James Beard Foundation Best Chef South semifinalist; the room is intimate, book through Resy.
The Columbia Restaurant on East Seventh Avenue has plated 1905 Salad and Cuban sandwiches in Ybor City since 1905 and is Florida's oldest restaurant.
Order1905 Salad tableside, Cuban sandwich with the house Cuban bread, and the Spanish bean soup.
TipBook the flamenco performance nights Monday through Saturday; the restaurant spans an entire city block with 15 dining rooms.
La Teresita on Columbus Drive in West Tampa has run a Cuban counter and dining room since 1972, owned by the Capdevila family across two generations.
OrderPalomilla steak with yellow rice and black beans, a side of yuca fries, and a cafe con leche at the counter.
TipThe counter (west door) runs 6am to midnight Friday and Saturday; the dining room next door takes reservations.
Oxford Exchange on Kennedy Boulevard in Tampa runs a bookstore, restaurant, coffee bar and TeBella tea bar, with a sunlit conservatory and Buddy Brew Coffee.
OrderButtermilk pancakes with the maple butter.
TipToast named Oxford Exchange among the top 20 brunch spots in America; arrive before 9am on weekends or expect a 90-minute wait.
Ulele on the Tampa Riverwalk in Tampa Heights cooks native-inspired Floridian fish, alligator and pompano over a 10-foot open barbacoa grill.
OrderCharbroiled oysters with paprika butter, pompano off the barbacoa.
TipThe 1903 water-works building sits on the Riverwalk; ask for a riverside table and walk to Armature Works after dinner.
Boulon Brasserie at Water Street in Tampa serves modern French classics, a working in-house bakery and a brunch menu that lands among the city's best.
OrderSteak frites medium rare, the onion soup gratinee and a fresh croissant from Boulon Bakery counter on the way.
TipPastry chef Summer Bailey runs the bakery counter from 7am for grab-and-go croissants, kouign-amann and pain au chocolat.
Streetlight Taco on Henderson Boulevard in South Tampa is Chef Michael Brannock's Bib Gourmand taqueria, nixtamalizing heirloom corn in house for its tacos.
OrderThree tacos on house-nixtamalized corn tortillas plus a side of esquites and the chile de arbol salsa.
TipBrannock travels through Mexico annually for menu R&D; the open kitchen runs counter service plus a small bar for walk-ins.
Gorkhali Kitchen in New Tampa holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand for Himalayan and Nepalese cooking, with steamed momos and big-bowl thalis the table builds.
OrderA plate of steamed buff momos with chili sauce and the chicken thali platter for two.
TipThe strip-mall room is unassuming; bring a group and order across the thali, momo and biryani sections to taste range.
Wright's Gourmet House on Dale Mabry Highway has run a Tampa sandwich and bakery counter since 1963, famous for Cuban sandwiches and the legendary rum cake.
OrderThe Cuban sandwich pressed crisp and a slice of the famous rum cake to take home.
TipThe Casper family bought Wright's from the founders in 2024 to keep the recipes in Tampa hands; cash and card both work.
Fat Beet Farm holds the 2026 Michelin Green Star for sustainable cooking, sourcing produce from its own working west Tampa farm and regional partners.
OrderA garden bowl built from the day's farm pick plus a slice of seasonal sourdough.
TipThe kitchen runs daytime hours plus a weekend farm market; the Michelin Green Star is Florida's headline 2026 award.
Petra on Kennedy Boulevard in Tampa has served halal-certified Jordanian and Palestinian dishes since 2004, with mansaf and shawarma as the table builders.
OrderMansaf lamb shank with yogurt sauce, the chicken shawarma wrap and the knafeh for dessert.
TipHalal-certified; gluten-free menu available except the pita; lunch special runs until 3pm.
The Pearl on Water Street in Tampa is Cameron Mitchell's downtown gastropub, an oyster room and tavern with a pie-only dessert menu by an in-house pastry.
OrderHalf-dozen seasonal oysters, the dry-aged burger and whatever pie is on the rotating dessert menu.
TipSaturday and Sunday brunch from 10am; the bar takes walk-ins when the dining room is fully booked.
Bavaro's in downtown Tampa opened in 2009 as Florida's first traditional Neapolitan pizzeria, with wood-fired ovens and pastas from a Ferrara family recipe.
OrderMargherita pizza out of the wood-fired oven, the carbonara, and a Negroni at the bar before the wait clears.
TipThe corner room at Franklin and Twiggs takes walk-ins; the bar seats are first-come for solo diners.
Jotoro at Sparkman Wharf is Michelin-starred Chef Joe Isidori's modern Mexican kitchen, with tableside guacamole, birria tacos and a deep mezcal list.
OrderTableside guacamole, the birria taco trio, and a mezcal flight from the Oaxacan section.
TipSame kitchen team also runs Jodog Craft Hot Dogs across the wharf for a casual second stop.
Forbici in Hyde Park Village runs modern Italian from a Roman-pizza-cut-with-scissors angle, with handmade pasta and a bistecca alla fiorentina.
OrderRoman-style pizza al taglio, the cacio e pepe and the bistecca alla fiorentina for two.
TipHyde Park Village location with a patio facing Village Circle; weekday happy hour 4 to 6pm.
Union New American in Westshore runs a modern American chophouse menu with dry-aged steaks, big seasonal salads and a serious bourbon list. Open.
OrderBone-marrow starter, dry-aged ribeye and the heirloom tomato salad when in season.
TipPatio seating overlooks the Westshore corridor; the bar runs a deep bourbon and whiskey program.
Donatello on Dale Mabry has run formal Italian service in Tampa since 1984, with tableside Caesar prep, osso buco and a captain-led wine program.
OrderTableside Caesar followed by veal saltimbocca with a glass of Brunello.
TipJacket-preferred dining room; reservations a week ahead and book the captain section for the full tableside service.
Datz in South Tampa is the city's bacon-hoarding comfort-food gastropub, open since 2009 for big-plate brunch and gut-busting comfort dinners.
OrderBiscuits and Crazy at brunch with buttermilk biscuits, sausage gravy, two eggs.
TipBrunch on Saturday and Sunday from 8:30am until 3pm fills the patio; Sunday dinner runs late.
Naked Farmer on Water Street in Tampa runs a fast-casual farm-to-table kitchen with locally sourced bowls, salads and Florida grouper sandwiches.
OrderThe Farmer bowl with grilled chicken and the citrus farro salad; pick the seasonal vegetable side.
TipLunch-only at the downtown location; the chef rotates produce sourcing from Florida growers each week.
