Best of Tampa Bay Dining Guide
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
Cuban/Spanish
Most famously, Tampa is known for being home to Columbia, the world’s largest Spanish restaurant. The award winning restaurant opened in historic Ybor City back in 1905. Today, it has expanded to include multiple locations across Florida.
Columbia: Famous Florida Spanish chain with numerous Tampa Bay locations. The Sand Key restaurant features a gorgeous patio overlooking the water. The service, ambiance, and authentic food are all hard to beat. All entrees come with the most delicious Cuban bread and butter. Best place for a date or celebratory occasion.
What to try: Black Bean cakes, Black bean soup, Vegetarian Paella, Chicken and Yellow Rice, Chicken Salteado
Mr. Empanada: Low-key local gem serving the best empanadas in the area. Also known for their Cuban sandwich and dessert empanadas (Apple pie, guava & cream cheese). Eight convenient locations so you are always within easy reach no matter where your day’s activities take you.
What to try: Spinach, artichoke, & cheese empanada, Black bean soup, Chicken, broccoli, & cheese empanada
Barracuda Deli Café: Caribbean Mexican fusion café located in Seminole. The friendly no frills vibe makes it a great post-beach dining choice. Voted one of the best places for a Cuban sandwich. Great variety of Mexican entrees, pressed sandwiches, and fresh salads.
What to try: Barracuda bowl (choice of meat or veggies, plus lettuce, rice, black or red beans, tomato, cheese, and cilantro), Turkey and Pepper Jack pressed sandwich
European/International
Mr. Dunderbaks: Known for their authentic German fare and large beer menu. Lots of great apps. Great place to catch a game. Menu features a diverse selection of entrees, sandwiches, and even a vegetarian section.
What to try: Cheese Spätzle, potato and cheese perogies, fried pickles, potato pancakes
The Living Room on Main: New American bar and restaurant featuring locally sourced fare. Menu features a range of dishes inspired by global cuisine. Features colorful eclectic décor inside, as well as a nice patio for the cooler season.
What to try: Truffled ricotta gnocchi, Green Goddess salad
Pierogi Grill: Charming authentic Polish café in Clearwater. The menu is quite large with something for everyone. Offers a range of pierogi including meat and veggie options, plus decadent dessert pierogis. Pricing is a bit on the high side, however, the food and décor are both fantastic. Bonus – a great little European market is located on site.
What to try: Potato Pancakes, Pierogi Platter (includes a mix of 12 meat and/or veggie)
Irish 31: Casual Irish pub with numerous Florida locations. Great food, live entertainment, a full bar with all the sports stations, and fun events (trivia nights). Menu includes a mix of traditional Irish fare and Southern specialties, plus a few vegetarian options. Produce is sourced locally.
What to try: Legendary Boxty (reg, loaded, or Shepherds Pie), Fish and Chips, Veggie Hummus wrap
Fresh Seafood
There are no shortage of restaurants which serve fresh seafood along the Gulf coast. In addition to the two favorites featured below, consider the following highly regarded restaurants: Eddie V’s, Oystercatchers, Shells, Ocean Prime
Guppy’s: Indian Rocks Beach favorite known for their Grouper sandwich. Serves the best lobster mac and cheese! Super close to the beach. Nice covered patio.
What to try: Truffled lobster mac and cheese, Key Lime Pie
Seabreeze Island Grill: Relaxed seafood favorite with a scenic waterside patio. Great local choice for seafood lovers after visiting Redington Beach. Fantastic early bird options.
What to try: Early dining meal (11-5 daily, includes a side, pineapple coconut bread, and cheesecake for $13). Options include crab stuffed baked flounder, shrimp, Island coconut shrimp fish tacos, and smothered Key West chicken
American/Pub Fare
In the mood for a great place to grab some good grub, kick back a few drinks, and watch the game? Here are a few great casual pubs to consider. Fortunately, the pubs featured below offer a number of “healthier” game day choices.
Mad Beach Craft Brewing: Great place to relax with a few drinks and appetizers after a beach day. Menu features seafood, southern specialties, and even a few vegetarian and GF options. Known for their house brewed beers. Bonus – pool and pinball on site.
What to try: Falafel Dinner (served with vegetable roast), Black beans and rice, crispy pickle spears, T’Willy’s Turkey burger
Clear Sky Draught Haus: The best place to eat in Dunedin. There is something on this menu for everyone in your party. The chef driven pub menu includes everything from burgers and ribs, sandwiches and pizza, burritos, and high end craft beers. Brunch menu is awesome with various burritos, bennies, French Toast, omelets, hashes, & more.
What to try: Burrito Grande (scrambled eggs, black beans, cheddar, veggies, topped with salsa, ranchero sauce, and sour cream).
Local Bakeries Worth Splurging On
What’s better than waking up on a weekend morning to a hot cup of coffee, along with a freshly baked pastry? Here are a few great bakeries to start your morning off on a high note.
Le Segunda: Cuban bakery known for their homemade bread and pastry teats. There are 2 locations, one in Ybor City (opened in 1915) and another in South Tampa. The South Tampa location features a large, always bustling seating area. The coffee is a bit on the bitter side, however, the Cuban toast and pastries make it worth a stop while in the vicinity.
What to try: Cuban toast with butter, Guava turnover
Café de Paris: Popular family-owned French bakery/coffeeshop located in a strip mall near Indian Rocks Beach. Come for the delicious coffee and treat yourself to a delicious quiche, crepe (over a dozen sweet or savory buckwheat options are available) or pastry while you are here.
What to try: House coffee, Spinach parmesan & garlic quiche
La Casa del Pane: Authentic Italian bakery just minutes from St. Pete beach. Fresh bread and pastries baked daily. Also serving great coffee and espresso, pizza, sandwiches, and salad. Nice patio to enjoy during the winter season. On a disappointing note, they only serve drinks in paper cups.
What to try: Americano, Sfogliatella, Blueberry muffin
Sweet treats/Dessert
Plenty of refreshing treats all around the Bay. However, you do not necessarily need to splurge on something unhealthy. Here are a few “healthier” sweet treats to consider.
Raining Berries: Best place in the Bay for acai bowls. All bowls (pick amongst 5 options) are made fresh in house using fresh fruit. The interior is hip and modern. Their coffee is also terrific and they offer a number of smoothies, kombucha, and specialty drinks including seasonal favorites like the Pumpkin Spice Latte and a Honey Lavender Latte.
What to try: House coffee, Prickly Pear tea, Acai berry bowl (acai, granola, coconut flakes, chocolate chips, peanut butter, strawberries, banana, blueberries)
Menchie’s: Best place for a frozen yogurt fix. Self service with a rotating selection of flavors including one 100% plant based yogurt made using almond milk. Lots of fun toppings. Yogurt is made using rBST free milk.
What to try: Vegan Salted Caramel, Dole Soft serve pineapple, Double chocolate, original tart vanilla, red velvet
Nekter Juice Bar: Healthy modern juice bar serving fresh squeezed juice drinks, acai bowls, and smoothies. Great place for a healthy mid afternoon snack. Cool down from the heat with an antioxidant packed fruit and/or veggie loaded treat! Plenty of dairy-free options.
What to try: Elderberry smoothie (elderberry, blueberry, strawberry, acerola cherry, housemade cashew milk, and agave. Great choice during the winter to keep your immunity up as it is packed with zinc and vitamin C!
Vegan/vegetarian
Today, it is pretty easy to find quality vegetarian/vegan fare in almost any major city thanks to the popularity of the plant-based diet. Here are a few of your best bets in Tampa. Note: The restaurants in the healthy section also offer a number of veggie friendly entrees.
Harvest Bowl: Fast service health restaurant located inside a natural market. Features build-your-own healthy grain and veggie bowls (choose toppings, base, veggies, and sauce). Lots of vegan choices including falafel and tofu as protein choices.
Green Table: Farm to table vegan restaurant in Palm Harbor. Everything is made from scratch in house using mostly organic ingredients. Menu ranges from impossible burgers, to seitan Philly cheesesteaks, to stir fry. The highlight here is the decadent selection of milkshakes which include butterbeer, banana oatmeal, and Reese’s peanut butter cup.
What to try: Hummus Roll up (whole wheat wrap stuffed with homemade hummus, lettuce, tomato, carrots, and cucumbers, Wowper (Impossible on sesame seed bun with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle), Reese’s shake
Ohana Cafe: This wonderful health cafe in Palm Harbor recently merged with Ohana Fresh, its’ sister restaurant. I love the tropical design, the beautiful patio, the friendly staff, and most importantly, the delicious healthy breakfast and lunch offerings. The place to go if you need gluten or dairy free breakfast choices.
What to try: Pancake Breakfast, Very Veggie Omelette, Hula Berry Banana Smoothie
Gluten-free dining
The restaurants below all feature an abundance of gluten-free menu items. In addition to the picks below, many Bay area restaurants now offer at least a few GF choices.
Ozona Pizza: The best place in Tampa Bay for gluten-free Italian food. They offer an extensive selection of GF choices including pizza, calzones, garlic knots, pasta and appetizers. Don’t leave without trying the garlic knots! The food here is amazing. This place is hidden away in Palm Harbor’s small downtown region, and thus, it remains attractively quiet.
What to try: Eggplant Parmesan appetizer (vegan and GF), garlic knots (vegan and GF avail), build your own pizza (deep dish or thin crust, red or white sauce, vegan cheese available, GF crust available).
Gourmet Pizza Company: Excellent local pizza shop in Hyde Park which offers a gluten-free crust and vegan cheese. Lots of interesting specialty pizza available or build your own. They even offer a GF brownie and Reese’s peanut butter cup pie for dessert!
What to try: Cheeseless vegan (pizza sauce topped with sundried tomatoes, spinach, caramelized red onions, Portobello mushrooms, red cabbage and garlic)
Buttermilk Provisions: Local coffeeshop in Wesley Chapel which serves GF pastries. First off, their coffee is delicious. Second, they serve GF poptarts, quiche, and doughnuts.
What to try: Quiche, Pumpkin chai donut, Blueberry lemon poptart, Americano, house coffee
Mickey’s Cafe: Organic health restaurant in downtown St. Petersburg. Full juice bar and espresso menu available. Large selection of fresh salads, smoothies, and wraps using GF tortillas.
What to try: Just Green salad (romaine and spinach with cucumber, avocado, celery, sprouts, and green peppers), Hummus wrap (homemade hummus, sprouts and tabbouleh, romaine, shredded carrots and cabbage
Vertoris: Pizza house in Bradenton known for their large gluten-free menu. Choices include pizza, mozzarella sticks, Eggplant parmesan, toasted ravioli, bruschetta, garlic bread, lasagna, and hoagies. Best selection of GF appetizers near Tampa.
What to try: Eggplant Parmesan, Foccacia Bread, Potato skins, Create your own pasta (choose from marinara, alfredo, tomato, or creamy scampi sauce, plus meat, seafood, and/or veggie toppings
2025 Update: Sadly, a number of restaurants and cafes have closed following 2020. I recently deleted several fantastic businesses from my list including:
- Sips: Once Tampa’s best coffeeshop. Deserved to close after new owners transformed it from homey to generic.
- Greek Village: Decent Greek in Seminole, although the Bay still offers plenty of better choices.
- Pascal’s Artisan Bistro: Too bad, I loved the Shakshuka here!
- Capital Tacos: Creative tacos, although the space was a tad dirty and underdecorated.
- Ella’s Folk Art Cafe: Great place with a unique design. Loved the pizza! Sad to see it go!
- Farmacy Vegan: Great 100% vegan place downtown. Loved the mac & cheese. Sad to see it go!
- Rawk Star Cafe: Another loss to the vegan scene. Seems to be a common theme these days?
