The 25 best restaurants in Tampa Bay right now, according to Yelp

1. Bern’s Steak House 4.5 out 5 stars, 2351 reviews 1208 S Howard Ave, Tampa “Amazing service. Beautiful atmosphere, very romantic. I got the snapper dish and it was very good, the white buerre blanc sauce makes the whole dish. The French onion soup and salad prior to the meal was also very tasty. We did the kitchen tour and also went to the dessert room. At the dessert room I had the espresso brownie it was delicious, I just wish the brownie was warm. A pricey place but worth it for special occasions!” – Shivani A. Photo by Todd Bates

2. Lolis Mexican Cravings 4.5 out 5 stars, 1184 reviews 8005 Benjamin Rd, Town N Country, Tampa “Wow what can I say about this place! I had the shrimp taco and the shrimp sopa. First off when you first pull up there’s a huge sign that says “tacos” outside of a large pink looking house. I knew this was going to be an authentic experience! The menu is super simple and al a carte. The shrimp tacos were filing and came with grilled onion and a spicy sauce that was delicious. Next was the sopa! Yessss! This was a deep fried shell topped with shrimp, lettuce, white cheese, avocado and sour cream! Pair this with the hot sauce and grilled onion! Can you say yum! I can’t wait to go back. This may be the best tacos I’ve had on the east coast! This place is a must if you’re visiting Tampa for a quick lunch! It’s an in and out type of restaurant. Just plain good food!” – Aisha M. Photo by Lolis Mexican Cravings/Facebook

Datz bloody mary 2616 S MacDill Ave, Tampa, (813) 831-7000 Datz’s classic bacon bloody mary Photo via Datz

4. Ulele 4 out 5 stars, 2262 reviews 1810 N Highland Ave, Tampa “WOW, everything I have had has been amazing! Ulele has the best charbroiled oysters I have ever had and definitely by far the best in South Tampa. Some appetizers and sides I really enjoy are the okra fries, captains shrimp, jalapeño grit cakes, and carrot ribbons. The carrot ribbons are lightly breaded then fried and are just delicious! I’m a big sauce person and they have a variety of different sauces and aioli’s that are amazing and made in house! I love the ahi tuna salad and the Ulele salad. My favorite entrees consist of the seafood risotto and shrimp and grits. The seafood risotto is absolutely amazing, with a whole lobster claw, crab, scallops, and shrimp. I 100% recommend Ulele to those in the area and most definitely those visiting Tampa. You will definitely have a great experience, atmosphere, and amazing food. ” -Charsley G. Photo by Ulele/Facebook

5. Oxford Exchange 4 out 5 stars, 1411 reviews 420 W Kennedy Blvd, Hyde Park, Tampa “The decor is picture worthy and very retro sheik giving it that TrueType hipster vibe. The fancy coffee drinks were also picture worthy and definitely something most millennials can’t wait to add to their Instagram story. We ordered the kale and feta scramble, the breakfast flat bread and the French toast for all of us to taste and share. The food was beautifully presented and so delicious I didn’t get a picture!! Well worth the price and drive! We browsed around the gift shop and book store after brunch and this is the only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars, the gift store is exuberantly priced. A Peter Rabbit book was $80, for example. Skip the gift shop and go to a thrift store, but definitely stop here for brunch!” – Megan T. Photo by Oxford Exchange/Facebook

6. Columbia Restaurant 4 out 5 stars, 2197 reviews 2117 E 7th Ave, Ybor City, Tampa “I’ve been to the Columbia before while in Tampa a few times for dinner. This time for a causal holiday lunch. Enjoyable and predictable.. not bad thing though. I wanted something known – a taste of home after a long day playing tourist . We ordered the Columbia traditional 1905 Salad as a side to our entrees- Boliche Asado and Milanese Steak. Both are abundant servings. Delicious and rich in flavor. On the Milanese which is more than a generous serving – the breading was not overwhelming and loved that the rice and beans in with the boliche had chopped raw white onions on top. I could not resist the Flan dessert. Just like my grandmother’s” – Lorraine M. Photo by Columbia Restaurant/Facebook

7. Yah Mon 5 out 5 stars ,496 reviews 301 W Platt St, Hyde Park, Tampa “This was definitely THE BEST Jamaican (Island) food I’ve had! I am Jamaican, so it’s only natural for us to be a bit skeptical but they certainly surpassed my expectation! This restaurant has an upscale look and is modernly designed, perfect for date night! My husband and I decided to eat here for our anniversary and the music and ambiance made it super special for us! I am big on customer service and here it was impeccable. Shot out to the owners, you’ve done an amazing job! I would highly recommend visiting Yah Mon, we will certainly be back each and every time we visit Tampa.” – Nikki C. Photo by Yah Mon/Instagram

8. On Swann 4.5 out 5 stars ,784 reviews 1501 W Swann Ave, Hyde Park, Tampa “I was a little cautious because sometimes there’s all this hype about a restaurant and when you go, you end up paying for over-priced food that’s not so good. This was not the case here… the hype is legit! It’s nice and clean inside and I love the open kitchen concept to show how tidy they are. I came here with friends and ordered the whipped ricotta-corn dip with a warm Parmesan zeppole which is a doughnut type pastry. The dip was amazing, I highly recommend this for an appetizer. For my main course, I got the Short Rib Ragu. It came with a generous amount of meat and the sauce was flavorful without being too heavy. The portion was so large I was able to make 2 more meals out of it” – Rachel L. Photo by On Swann/Facebook

10. Saigon Deli Saigon Deli 4.5 out 5 stars, 610 views 3858 W Waters Ave, Town N Country, Tampa “Viet cuisine proliferates the land. Provincials as we are, coming to larger urban areas always offers up splendid Viet diversity. That’s right, kiddos – it’s not all about Pho and Bahn Mis! Saigon Deli wins in that it provides a down-home “greasy spoon” feel with a more-than-adequate deli case with the hard-to-get good stuff! Looking for banana-leaf wrapped sweet/sticky rice? Check. Pickled chicken’s feet? Oh yeah. Take a walk “on the wild side” and forgo your standard Pho / Bahn Mi / Bo Kho / Bun Bo Hue orders and explore the other stuff. ” – Daniel P. Photo by Saigon Deli/Facebook

11. Ichicoro 4 out 5 stars, 1165 reviews 5229 N Florida Ave, Seminole Heights, Tampa “THE BEST RAMEN, ever. Ichicoro is my comfort food, I happen to live up the street so probably dine here more than the average Tampa resident. Doesn’t matter how hot it is outside, I need my ramen at least once a month. I’ve eaten here many times, but I feel compelled to write a review for the newbies. First, the food is delicious – everything taste amazing. No, they do not take reservations. Ichicoro is a small, but well oiled machine. ” – Missy M. Photo by Ichicoro/Facebook

12. Wright’s Gourmet House 4.5 out 5 stars, 524 reviews 1200 S Dale Mabry Hwy, Palma Ceia, Tampa “I’ve been coming here for years off and on whenever I could get a chance. I love this deli so much! My favorite sandwich from here is there a club sandwich which contains turkey, ham, good quality bacon, Jarlsberg cheese, lettuce, fresh ripe tomatoes, etc. The few other sandwiches and salads I’ve had here have never disappointed. Whatever they put in their sandwiches makes me feel like I’m eating from God’s lunch box. Lol! ” – Shuné D. Photo by Wright’s Gourmet House/Facebook

13. Armature Works 4.5 out 5 stars, 766 reviews 1910 N Ola Ave, Tampa “Tons of variety. BBQ, sushi, ramen, Italian, you name it! I went with a group so we each opted to try different places and then ended up sharing lots of things. Personally, I got the BBQ spot. I ordered brisket nachos. The brisket melted in my mouth. Also tried the watermelon feta salad. Which was such a refreshing side with all the heavy food! Also tried a Cuban sandwich from the Cuban spot and elote. Both delicious! Tres leches cake from the Cuban spot was just heavenly. The live music is also awesome, very lively environment. The reason it’s getting 4 and not 5 is because finding a table was such an unpleasant experience” – Christine S. Photo by Armature Works/Facebook

14. Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant 4 out 5 stars, 922 reviews 4110 W Boy Scout Blvd, Tampa “Bottom line: The perfect impress-a-date or seal-a-deal restaurant. Bring a hunger for superb food, a thirst for truly exceptional (and snob-less) wines and a very high credit limit. I really wanted to hate Cooper’s Hawk. I loathe wine snobs slightly less than I detest wine-snobby restaurants. Food is always and afterthought, and tends to be flavored so strongly that you can’t taste the actual protein. Sadly, this place is superb. If their prices were remotely reasonable, they would be a regular dining choice for us. The food and service are simply that good. ” – Kevin W. Photo by Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant/Facebook

15. Bartaco 4 out 5 stars, 1028 reviews 1601 W Snow Ave, Hyde Park, Tampa “As I formerly lived in both Arizona & S. California I am uniquely qualified to review Mexican Food. That said, I am tired of all the faux imposters in the area. I started with the bartender recommended corn fritters which were pure comfort food. Delicious! I also ordered 3 tacos which 2 were great (shrimp & pork) while the fish taco was ok but still needs a little tweaking. I was also totally impressed with my hand-made ginger ice tea with mint. Awesome creation & ample portion. In summation, really tasty food at quite reasonable prices. Wished I lived in the area as I wove a regular guest. I’ll be back soon.” – Manda R. Photo by Bartaco/Facebook

16. Green Lemon 4 out 5 stars, 884 reviews 915 S Howard Ave, SoHo, Tampa “Visiting Tampa with friends and we went here on a Saturday night before going out. I must say I was extremely impressed. It was a busy Saturday night but the service was great. The staff is very polite and they got our order out fast. I ordered a margaritas , three tacos , and a side of plantain. The margarita was $8 and it was huge. One drink was definitely enough for me. I got shrimp, tuna, and chicken taco and all three were delicious! They were all so flavorful and fresh. My only negative I can say is that you definitely need a reservation. It was hard trying to find seating because all of the tables were reserved. ” – Martina H. Photo by Green Lemon/Facebook

17. Besito Mexican Restaurant 4.5 out 5 stars, 814 reviews 205 Westshore Plz, Westshore, Tampa “We started with the guacamole, which is a must! It’s prepared table-side so you can see exactly how it’s made. The servers have probably done it a hundred times though, so they do it pretty quickly. Still cool nonetheless. We were also served complimentary chips and salsa that were quite tasty. For entrees, I personally got the Mixta Enchiladas. It was HUGE and it was amazing. There was so much in it, I could only eat half! It had a combination of skirt steak, grilled chicken, AND chorizo and then was loaded with cream salsa, plantains, and queso fresco all topped with a rich mole-like sauce.” – Samantha B. Photo by Besito Mexican Restaurant/Facebook

18. Rooster & the Till 4.5 out 5 stars, 492 reviews 6500 N Florida Ave, Seminole Heights, Tampa “I ate here on a busy Friday night. The food was unique and well thought out. The chef certainly tries to incorporate unique flavors and blend different culinary traditions. At first I was skeptical about the options for vegetarians like myself but turns out the menu rotated frequently and it wasn’t at all a disappointment. I had the paratha which was basically an Indian style paratha grilled and with topping of raita. What made it interesting were the dates and fried plantains on top. It was a great starter dish. I think it could have been made better with addition of a bit of heat- but then again I love the mix of spicy and sweet foods! The wine list is the other reason to come here. It’s long and affordable with excellent wines” – Ruchi D. Photo by Rooster & the Till/Facebook

19.Sulphur Springs Sandwich Shop 5 out 5 stars, 249 reviews 9000 N Florida Ave, Tampa “I quickly skimmed yelp reviews and found rave reviews for the bird street sandwich… It is served with sandwich bread, lettuce, tomato, and cilantro aoli, and turkey. It looks innocuous but the amount of meat that was in the sandwich was ginormous. Also, the taste literally felt that they just roasted a turkey in the oven, carved it, and gave you some on a sandwich. Meat is usually minimal on the chain sandwich places so bravo to them…I would not bring an entourage if you’re a rapper though. It can get cramped very easily. Trendy South Tampa white girls may not appreciate the retro look either.” – James I. Photo by Sulphur Springs Sandwich Shop/Facebook

20. Ella’s Americana Folk Art Cafe 4 out 5 stars, 782 reviews 5119 N Nebraska Ave, Seminole Heights, Tampa “Love at first sight…and bite…The parking situation is a little hectic but we survived. We walked up to the entrance and I noticed the flower bed was lined with old bowling balls. We entered and I felt an instant connection with the decor and the people. Kooky, eclectic, artsy-fartsy, hippie nonsense is my jam. $54.57 got us three entrees, two alcoholic beverages, and a dessert. I had the $12 “good burger” which is a veggie burger they make there on a bun with curry mayo, onion rings, and avocado. It came with one side and I chose the sweet potato fries which were the crinkle kind and hot and crispy!” -Rachel F . Photo by Ella’s Americana Folk Art Cafe/Facebook

21. Thinh An Kitchen & Tofu 4.5 out 5 stars, 513 reviews 8104 W Waters Ave, Town N Country, Tampa “The fried tofu is seriously the best. I heard they make their own tofu and if this isn’t true then I’m part of the problem since I’ve been telling everyone that. I also tried their bean curd stuffed with tofu which was superb…After stuffing our faces, we were seated and proceeded to stuff our faces some more. We tried the chicken wings, Vietnamese lotus salad with just shrimp, Vietnamese pancakes with just shrimp, and pho. Everything was delicious. I went with someone who is Vietnamese and he said the food is legit. If you don’t like fish sauce, you don’t want to eat here, because everything was doused in fish sauce. I loved it. ” – Christina G . Thinh An Kitchen & Tofu/Facebook

22. Daily Eats 4 out 5 stars, 908 reviews 901 S Howard Ave, SoHo, Tampa “This is the type of place that you use in calculus to move closer to so you can go there as often as possible. Food was fantastic. The service friendly and quick. We went during a weekday lunch rush and got seated and served quickly. The Cuban quesadilla was an interesting interpretation that lost none of the core ingredients to Cubanos. Nice job.” – Calabrio V. Photo by Daily Eats/Facebook

23. Eddie V’s Prime Seafood and Steaks 4.5 out 5 stars, 562 reviews 4400 W Boy Scout Blvd, Westshore, Tampa “What a beautiful restaurant. Expect to drop a pretty penny here. But it’s a great spot for a special occasion. They opened early for mother’s day, so we took advantage with lunch at Eddie V’s. We started with the shrimp cocktail. I was hesitant to order such a simple appetizer and wanted to try something fancier, but it was AMAZING! I will likely order it again in the future. The shrimp was so tender and sweet. For my entree, I ordered the jumbo gulf shrimp with lump crab. It was tasty but a little dry. I think it could have used some sort of light sauce to bring it all together. I will try something different next time. ” – Stephanie L. Photo by Eddie V’s/Facebook

24. Tampa Bay Brewing Company 4 out 5 stars, 935 reviews 1600 E 9th Ave, Ybor City, Tampa “Heard about this place before even moving to FL from someone I worked with MD who raved about it! I ordered the “Bomb” burger, which is a burger with hickory bacon, cheddar cheese, and tobacco onion strings and wrapped in a pizza dough. I was a little skeptical about the pizza dough and the texture with the burger but it was great! The fries were also good! It was too much to eat in one sitting so I took half home and leftovers! Heated up nicely! Great outdoor and indoor seating” -Aubrey F. Photo by Tampa Bay Brewing Company/Facebook

25. Fresh Kitchen 4.5 out 5 stars, 550 reviews 1350 S Howard Ave, SoHo, Tampa “What are you waiting for?? This is a solid 4 stars! This place is excellent. Essentially this is a “make your own” experience. This allows the customer to choose between different size bowls and then pick the items that go inside… My base was spicy rice and I also got mashed potatoes/cauliflower, and I added roasted mushrooms. On accident, a few sweet potatoes made their way into my bowl (lucky me). For protein, I added their Chia seed tofu and I got a jalepeño based sauce. My wife got something similar but got sweet potatoes and a Thai sauce. We were very impressed. The food is very fresh, nothing is over done and nothing is oily or greasy. For as healthy as the options are here, they are also very very tasty. ” -Nehal G. Photo by Fresh Kitchen/Facebook