If you'll be on the Tampa side and like steak, go to the world famous Bern's Steak House. Bern's is a one of a kind, VERY expensive place. You order steak by the pound. They also have lamb, veal, fish & chicken -- but to go there and not eat steak is a crime. They also have a world famous wine list -- thousands of bottles. If you want desert you make reservations for the desert room, which is located upstairs.
For Italian, try Donatello's. Also expensive. Specialties include linguine with lobster. The duck is also excellent. They have a salmon stromboli that is made with asparagus, shrimp, in a white wine sauce. Hmmm.
Oystercatchers off the Courtney Campbell Causeway is great for seafood -- but also very expensive.
The "in" nightspot is Ybor (pronounced EE-bore) City. They used to make cigars here, and it is now a hopping place of night life. Lots of little restaurants. The king of them all is the Columbia. A Cuban restaurant dating back to the turn of the century. Hand painted ties, wrought iron chandeliers, etc. They make a terrific red snapper baked in a casserole with onions & peppers, eggplant and shrimp. Also good is the filet is wrapped in bacon with mushrooms, ham, onions, peppers in a tomato and burgundy sauce. You'll also find traditional chicken & yellow rice (standard Cuban stuff). 3 types of paellas. Prices are moderate to high, depending on what you get.
If you are in Tampa you'll find lots of places around Rocky Point (on the Courtney Campbell Causeway), on South Dale Mabry Highway (the main road in town), or some nice small places in South Tampa -- pretty much any where.
If you are going to be on the other side of the Bay (St. Pete / Clearwater) you can find cruises that will take you out on the bay and feed you dinner. If you go up to Tarpon Springs you'll find casino boats that even let you gamble, too.
Have a good time!
Sandr
Lori L. wrote in message ...
|Will be visiting Tampa, FL for the first time in September. Would
|appreciate restaurant suggestions, especially seafood & sushi, but all
|cuisines welcome.
|
|Tampa, FL