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If you are visiting Tampa for the first time, chances are your vacation itinerary will include a day of sightseeing in Ybor City, the historic cigar-making district established by Vicente Martinez Ybor in 1886. In the very heart of the district you'll find the Columbia Restaurant , founded in 1905 by Casimiro Hernandez and owned and operated by the fifth generation of the founding family. Latin traditions run deep in both the Spanish and Cuban cuisine created from family recipes, and in the excitement generated by flamenco dancers. Sample tapas classics such as black bean cakes, empanadas or chicken croquettes, then try a robust seafood, pork and chicken paella entrée or Casimiro Hernandez's red snapper casserole. This 52,000-square-foot restaurant with 15 dining rooms and patios sprawled over an entire city block is the flagship of a fleet of seven other restaurants in Florida.
Brick walls, tiled floors, dark wood tables and chairs, and vintage pendant lights present the perfect backdrop for casual dining at Carmine’s on 7th Avenue in Ybor City, which offers many things to do after dinner. Spanish, Cuban and Italian fare are the specialties of the house at this spacious eatery that’s been family-run since 1948. Besides expected but still satisfying menu items like Cuban sandwiches, mojo-marinated roast pork, eggplant parmigiana and an array of pasta dishes, you’ll want to try the deviled crab, a local favorite, as well as crab meat pasta, which is available only on Friday and Saturday. Top off your savory meal with something sweet; the caramel flan is a perfect accompaniment.
With its upscale décor and Mediterranean-influenced new American cuisine, downtown's Mise en Place caters to diners who tend to be adventurous in palate and spirit. Fresh local ingredients are the foundation for lunch and dinner originals that include sous vide lobster with spicy edamame dumplings, seared foie gras with pickled plums and Kobe New York strip with duck fat roasted fingerling potatoes. The “Get Blitzed” tasting menu pairs selected samples of Chef Marty Blitz's weekly specials with complementary wines.
Nestled in Old Hyde Village—Tampa's oldest planned neighborhood—since 1956, Bern's Steak House has built its reputation on the premise that preparing steak is an art form. Their menu—more like a book—features detailed descriptions of USDA Prime steak cuts ranging from filet mignon to delmonico to chateaubriand, plus all you need to know about rare, medium and well done cooking instructions. In addition to steak, the menu consists of nearly 95 other appetizer, soup, salad and entrée options. Because fresh ingredients are paramount, Bern's even grows most of its own vegetables. Every meal is a masterpiece, but the pièce de résistance here has to be the second-floor, after-dinner dessert retreat where guests can enjoy sweets and sip champagne, Cognac, coffee and dessert wines in cozy little spaces where you choose your own background music.
Locals also go to Kojak's House of Ribs, just west of Bayshore Boulevard, for barbecue. Everything from tender pork spareribs to pit-smoked chicken and beef to hot smoked sausage links is cooked Oklahoma-style and served in a relaxed, country-kitchen atmosphere. Seating is available on the front porch shaded by stately old oak trees.
In west Tampa, Charley's Steakhouse specializes in aged USDA Prime and Choice beef cooked to perfection over aromatic hardwood flames. But if you're in the mood for something from the sea, try a succulent two-pound lobster with your steak.
Compared to nearby restaurants, Old Tampa Bay provides a tranquil backdrop for lunch, dinner or Sunday brunch at Oystercatchers Restaurant , an upscale casual eatery. Signature dishes such as tandoori shrimp and Kentucky bourbon barbecued scallops highlight the restaurant's flair for contemporary cuisine. Fish selections include yellowfin tuna, mahi mahi, Chilean sea bass, Gulf Coast grouper, Alaska king crab and striped bass that you can have sautéed, grilled, poached, broiled or blackened. Oystercatchers is tucked behind the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay .
Meanwhile, in the trendsetting SoHo district (aka South Howard Avenue), you'll find a variety of restaurants. Art Deco paintings surround you at the upscale 717 South , where New American seafood, salads and steak will please your palate; try the seafood cioppino, lollipop pork chop with bacon truffle macaroni and cheese, or kale salad with roasted fennel and thyme vinaigrette.
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