The places I want to go

So many great restaurants in Tampa Bay, so little time! Here is my "bucket list" of restaurants I want to try in the Tampa Bay area.

400 Beach Seafood Tap House
Burrito Boarder
Cafe Alma
Carmelita's Mexican
Capital Grill
Cassis American Brasserie
Chateau France
Ceviche
Gigi's
The Hangar Restaurant and Flight Lounge
J Alexander's
The Lobster Pot
Maggiano's
Munch's Sundries and Restaurant
Parkshore Grill
Red Mesa Cantina
Ruth's Chris Steak House
Square One Burgers
St. Pete Brasserie
The Wine Cellar
Wright's Gourmet House

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The Refinery

I recently went to The Refinery in Tampa. I had never heard of it before, but was pleasantly surprised! At 9pm on a Friday, the place was packed. It's a small 2 story place, with a dining room downstairs and rooftop seating available (first come, first serve). The menu changes weekly, on Thursdays and consists of "small plates" and "more than a small plate." In addition, there is "Craig's List" for the less adventurous, which features a burger and hangar steak. There are 2 desserts also. I am not a beer drinker, but they had a very large selection of beer and wine available. In regards to their new American cuisine, they say it best themselves: Our menus change every Thursday night and are composed of what is fresh and beautiful now. We buy as much as we can from local farmers and when we cannot, we buy from people who do it right, ethically and sustainable right. All items are made in house, from the sausage to the salad dressings…as it should be.




We dined on the wedgeless salad, crispy pork belly, cherry bombs, roasted chicken, and hangar steak. There were a few additional small plates passed around, but unfortunately I was slacking and did not take any pictures or write down the names. Our server was friendly and did his best to accomodate our group of 9.


Overall, I look forward to going back to The Refinery soon! The ingredients are fresh, the menu is creative, and the flavors are dynamite. And I promise, next time there will be pictures!


PS: I was thrilled to find out after further research that The Refinery was a semifinalist for a James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant. Bravo!!

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Bern's Steak House

Bern Laxer traveled the world collecting art and wine. He left behind a legacy of perfection for us to enjoy – the best steaks, the best wine, and the best restaurant in Tampa Bay. I love learning about Bern’s Steak House (I even read a book about it) and I love eating there even more.

Bern's is filled with beautiful artwork from around the world

The location of Bern’s was once a mall. Each of the themed dining rooms was once a store in the mall. As the stores closed up, Bern bought the space and added to what we now know as the restaurant. Artwork lines the tall walls of the lobby, and the whole restaurant has an old French feel to it with deep reds and golds. I once asked if they do tours for all of the art in the building, but was sadly told that they do not. If they do start offering this, I would love to learn about where (and how) Bern gathered such great art!

A glimpse of the lobby - adorned with portraits and  chandeliers

Servers at Bern’s must go through extensive training before they ever make it on to the floor solo. Ask your waiter how long he or she has worked at Bern’s and you’ll find out some have been there as long as 20 years. A 12% service fee is automatically added on to your bill at the end of the evening, as the wage for your server. Even while waiting in the lounge area, you will find an attentive member of the wait staff ready to assist at any moment.

Porterhouse - Cut and cooked to order

8oz Filet with crispy fried onions and seasonal vegetables

Steak is the masterpiece at Bern’s. Any and every size of steak you could want is available, as you can see in your thorough menu. I order the 8oz Filet mignon medium, which is so tender it tastes like butter. Unlike your typical chain steakhouse, your side items are not served a la carte. A steak at Bern’s includes: soup, house salad, baked potato prepared tableside, crispy fried onions, and seasonal vegetables.

Delicious French Onion Soup au Gratin

French onion soup au gratin is the default soup with your meal, but Maine Lobster Bisque and Vichyssoise are available for an additional charge. The lobster bisque is good, but of course very rich and heavy. The French onion soup is topped with a thick layer of broiled cheese. I’ve never been a fan of onions, but between the French onion soup and fried onions, Bern’s makes me a believer. The soup is served with garlic and spelt toasts.

Server preparing the table-side Caesar salad

Completed Caesar salad

House salad with Thousand Island dressing

My absolute favorite part of the meal (if one can choose such a thing at Bern’s) is the house salad. The house salad features a homemade dressing (thousand island for me) and different types of organically grown vegetables, including: avocado, onion, red pepper, carrots, spouts, and black olives. I wish there was a way I could eat one of their salads every day. Alternatively, you can order a Caesar salad prepared tableside for $10.95. This process takes at least 10 minutes, but it is worth it to have a real traditional Caesar salad, instead of the pre-packaged kind you find at airports.

Baked potato with butter, sour cream, chives, and bacon

Your baked potato is also prepared tableside. You can choose from any combination of butter, sour cream, chives, and bacon for your potato. I go with ‘all of the above’ for a delicious side. You’ve all had a steak before, but unless you’ve had one of Bern’s aged steaks, you are missing out.

One of the many dining rooms at Bern's

After dinner, be sure to take the wine cellar and kitchen tour. I’ve taken it twice now, and have learned a lot both times. It’s truly amazing to think that Bern’s has over 1 million bottles of wine in their inventory – including a double magnum of 1947 Chateau Latour valued at $30,000. Most recently, we learned that Bern’s makes all of their own steel and paper products.

Love wine? Bern's has got a bottle just for you.

I could go on all day about my love of Bern’s Steak House. It is truly the best steak (and restaurant) in Tampa Bay – possibly even in the state of Florida. It is often rated one of the top steakhouses in the country. There is no doubt that Bern’s son, David Laxer, is doing an excellent job at running the restaurant and keeping the legacy running. I’m sure that Bern is very proud!

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Taco Bus at St. Pete

I finally made it down to the Taco Bus today! Located on Central Avenue, you will know you’ve arrived when you see the big line of people in front of the big yellow bus. Yes, it truly is a bus where your food is prepared. A waitress comes around to each person in line to take your order. She hands you a copy of the written order and you give it to the cashier once you finally make it to the front of the line. Your food is then made to order. Servers bring your food to you. Both inside and outside seating are available, as well as take out.

I ordered the Meal Deal: 2 tacos with rice and beans for $8.00. ($7.50 for lunch, $8.00 dinner or all day Saturday and Sunday.) I asked for one pollo and one fish, but unfortunately they were out of fish. We also ordered a carne asada burrito ($5.99). Both come with tomatoes, red onions, cilantro, and shredded cabbage. The burrito comes with cheese, but it costs $0.30 to add cheese to a taco.

Meal Deal with 2 tacos, rice, and beans $8.00

The tacos were great, but next time I will get flour tortillas instead of soft corn. The burrito was filled to maximum capacity with equal parts meat and veggies. The refried beans were the best I’ve ever had. Smooth and flavorful with cheese on top. I ordered a side of crema (sour cream) for $0.30. It was served in a Daisy packet which was a little disappointing. The only thing that would make the food better would be if the sour cream was added directly to the burrito before it was rolled, so it could mix with the other flavors.

My only other complaint was that the drinks (Pepsi products) are served in 20 ounce bottles instead of fountain drinks. Nothing is better with Mexican food than a delicious fountain soda! Except maybe a margarita, which were available for $4.00 from the small bar on the side. Dos Equis was available on draft, and a few other beers in bottles.

View from our seats

I look forward to going back to Taco Bus. Next time, I want to try the Fish Taco from Guaymas (fish fried in beer batter with white cream sauce and Chile de Arbol sauce on the side) and the guacamole.

The Taco Bus is quickly becoming a St. Petersburg legend. It’s worth all of the hype, and the long wait in line. Just grab a beer from the side bar before you wait in line and enjoy the great music playing from the bus. Before you know it, you’ll be sitting down and enjoying some delicious Mexican cuisine!

The full menu is available on Taco Bus' website: www.tampatacobus.com

2324 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, FL 33712

727-322-5000

11am-9pm daily

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The Melting Pot, Tampa Bay

$5 red and white sangria -- proceeds donated to breast cancer research

Many great restaurant franchises have started in Tampa Bay, including The Melting Pot. The Melting Pot is a unique dining experience – a four course fondue meal in a relaxed environment. A full meal takes about 2-3 hours and allows you to savor every bite.

For the full Melting Pot experience, you will want to order the “Big Night Out” selection. This includes cheese fondue, salad, main entrée (fondue), and chocolate fondue dessert. With a changing theme every quarter or so, there is likely to be a new theme on each visit. Most recently we had the French themed meal. Starting November 5th, the Big Night Out theme will change to a Central America theme. 

Salad Nicose, featured salad (Yum!)

The French cheese “Fondue a la France” exploded with flavor. A hearty blend of brie, fontina, gruyere, and raclette danced in my mouth. The flavors blended nicely and were accented with a hint of bacon and truffle. The cheese was then topped with fresh chives. A variety of breads and vegetables are served alongside for dipping. The Salad Nicose was superb! I was very impressed with the fresh Shallot Vinagerette. A little zesty, it popped served with black olives, and haricots verts in the salad. I am sad that this salad won’t be available on my next visit to The Melting Pot. We chose classic Court Bouillon for our cooking style and were not disappointed with the peppercorn crusted New York Strip, roasted garlic shrimp, and chicken provencal. Not big fans of white chocolate, we elected to stick with the always delicious Cookies and Cream chocolate fondue. Overall, the French themed big night out is one of my favorites, to date.

Our Tampa Bay Melting Pot restaurants host a monthly “Ladies Night Out.” Ladies can take advantage of a great evening of delicious fondue for just $35. October’s Ladies Night was hosted by Estee Lauder. For $45, diners got a four course fondue meal and a gift bag full of goodies from Estee Lauder. $10 from each diner’s bill went directly to breast cancer research. (Tax and tip were also included in the $45!) 

Variety of items for dessert - to be dipped in chocolate fondue

Check out www.meltingpot.com to sign up for their Club Fondue – members receive e-mails with special offers and info about events, such as Ladies Night Out.

2221 4th Street North - St. Petersburg,

13164 N Dale Mabry, Tampa

3689 Tampa Road, Oldsmar

(For a complete listing of locations, in Tampa and throughout the US, visit meltingpot.com)

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Toby's Original Little Italy Pizza

I once worked with a lady who would drive 25 minutes (each way) on her lunch break to pick up a Cheesesteak from Toby’s Little Italy. Seeing her dedication to Toby’s made me curious. Was it really worth the 25 minute drive at lunchtime? Once I saw that Toby’s had been open for more than 37 years, I knew it had to be good!

My favorite thing at Toby’s is their garlic knots. The knots are drenched in a buttery basil sauce and served with marinara sauce. Those garlic knots ($3.58 for 6) are worth every penny. They are also very addicting. The pizza is good as well. A “small” 16-inch pizza starts at $10.99 (plain). Cheese slices are served for $2.04. I enjoy 2 slices of cheese pizza, an order of garlic knots, and a Coke. A heavenly combination of Italian goodness!

Little Italy also has a variety of salads, cold submarine sandwiches and Italian classics. The Stromboli and meatballs are also great. Overall, the menu might be small compared to some places – but is high in quality!

Oh, and that cheesesteak? It’s good, but not worth the 25 minute drive. The garlic knots, however, are worth every minute!

Toby’s Original Little Italy Pizza
3523 49th Street N
St Petersburg, FL 33710

Congratulations to Toby's who recently celebrated their 38th anniversary!

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Tsunami Japanese Steakhouse

Tsunami Japanese Steakhouse opened in 2009 to compete against Tampa Bay’s growing and ever successful sushi and hibachi market. I was a little hesitant about trying Tsunami after Arigato’s left a bad taste in my mouth (over-priced, dirty, bad service, etc).  Tsunami is everything Arigatos is not. Their décor is clean and modern. The service is good (although not great). The food is a little pricey but fresh, and well worth it. Tsunami offers a full sushi bar ($4.75-$9.95 and $9.75-$10.75 for specialties). The chefs of the teppanyaki are much more skilled than the chefs at competing Japanese steakhouses. Not just anyone can throw an egg into the air and crack it straight down the middle with a spatula! Teppanyaki dinners range from $15 to $34, with an option for Kobe beef at $99 and Kobe, lobster, and shrimp for $120. Portions of the teppanyaki are large and will provide for leftovers the next day. They also throw in 2 shrimp as an appetizer for everyone at the table before the rest of the food begins cooking. Both rice and noodles accompany your meal, along with fresh veggies. Chefs do not speed through the cooking process, so you do not feel rushed.

If you visit Tsunami, be sure to save room for dessert. Their tempura fried ice cream is delicious! “Vanilla ice cream wrapped in pound cake and a tempura butter served with chocolate, blackberry, and raspberry sauces.” Yum!

They also have a full Japanese menu available if you’re not interested in teppanyaki – separate dining area available.

The best part? They have coupons! Watch your mail for special coupons, including $10 off $50 or more, and early bird prices. 

2176 Tyrone Blvd

St. Petersburg, FL 33710

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