The Best Romantic Restaurants in Tampa, FL
Tampa is known for its beautiful weather, attractions, and beautiful places to shop. The city is also home to several quality restaurants. If you’re traveling to the Tampa area with your significant other, the two of you may want to enjoy a romantic meal during your trip. Whether you want comfort food, fast food with a twist, or meals that are made for sharing, you’ll find what you’re looking for at the romantic restaurants Tampa has to offer.
Bern’s Steak House
1208 S. Howard Ave., Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 251-2421
Bern’s Steak House is one of the nicest romantic restaurants Tampa offers; you’ll love the relaxed and refined atmosphere and the food is just as visually appealing as it is delicious. The filet mignon is served with crispy onion strings, green beans, and shredded carrots. You’ll also love the white truffle mac and cheese topped with chives or the lump crab cake served with a light gravy and fresh lemon. There are also several entrees that you and your date can share, like the Maine lobster cocktail or tuna tartare. Bern’s also offers delicious soups and caviar so you’ll feel especially fancy during dinner. You can finish your dinner with a decadent dessert like baked Alaska, strawberry key lime tart, or the table-side bananas foster made for two.
Ciro’s
2109 Bayshore Blvd., Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 251-0022
Ciro’s has a speakeasy-type atmosphere that you and your date will enjoy if you’re looking for something interesting to do in the city. Start your meal with the cheese plate served with fresh fruit or sample the edamame potstickers. The deviled egg appetizer is a favorite and it’s perfect for sharing. If you’re in the mood for a salad, try the white asparagus salad with frisée and marinated baby heirloom tomatoes. The pretzel monkey bread is a hit as well; it’s served with Gruyere cheese porter mustard and herbed butter.
Oystercatchers
2900 Bayport Dr., Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 207-6815
Oystercatchers has some of the best seafood in Tampa, and you can dine outside to get a view of the water or a beautiful sunset while you enjoy your dinner. Popular dishes include appetizers like the golden calamari fries served with spicy ketchup and the braised octopus with spinach and fennel. There are several soups and salads to choose from as well, like the corn veloute that you can enjoy with the tropical salad, made with spring greens and hearts of palm. You can also order delicious entrees such as the black grouper served with rice, asparagus, and shrimp, or the wood-grilled rib eye with crispy shallots and cream spinach.
Rusty Pelican
2425 Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 281-1943
Rusty Pelican is a great date night destination, and it’s an ideal Tampa eatery to visit when you want to celebrate a special occasion with the one you love. You can enjoy popular dishes like Crab-Stuffed Gulf Grouper with garlic beurre blanc, or sink your teeth into the lobster and shrimp risotto. The lobster and mango salad is a favorite as well, especially if you want a flavorful and light seafood meal. Other favorites include the miso-marinated Chilean sea bass with forbidden black Thai rice.
Mise en Place
442 W. Kennedy Blvd., Ste. 110, Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 254-5373
Mise en Place has a friendly and welcoming atmosphere and is conveniently located near Tampa attractions and shopping so you can explore the city before or after your meal. If you’re a fan of seafood, you’ll love the salmon entree, which is grilled to perfection and served with fresh vegetables. You can also enjoy the sous vide venison loin with blanched broccoli rabe or the beef oxtail poutine. The fried green tomato salad with house-made croutons is a favorite as well. Mise en Place also has an impressive wine list to make your meal experience complete.
Vino e Pasta
3603 W. Gandy Blvd., Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 902-8466
If you and your significant other love pasta, you’ll have a wonderful date night at Vino e Pasta. Before you get into the main course, try the antipasto or mushroom soup. The carpacho is one of the best dishes at this Tampa restaurant, and the risotto with fresh herbs is a favorite as well. You can also opt for the classic spaghetti with bolognese, fresh side salad, and a glass of white wine. Other favorites include the penne ala vodka and the pasta with calamari and cozze is pretty impressive as well.
Pane Rustica Bakery and Cafe
3225 S. Macdill Ave., Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 902-8828
This Zagat-rated restaurant and bakery offers delicious food that will make your time in Tampa especially memorable. Share the hummus and olive oil bread dipper or taste the watermelon and arugula salad to prepare your palette for your main course. The Cajun chicken flatbread is a favorite, and you may also enjoy the Rustica salad with salmon.
End your meal with a tasty dessert from the bakery like a black and white cookie, macaroon, brownie, or cupcake.
Featured Blog Posts
The Best Black Owned Restaurants in Tampa, FL
Black-owned restaurants in Tampa have somewhat of a cult following when it comes to regulars–the Sunday brunch crowd is well-versed in where to get the best shrimp and grits, red velvet waffles or perfect baked macaroni and cheese. Visit some of Tampa’s best black-owned restaurants for a taste experience you won’t soon forget.
Can’t Miss Wine Bars in Tampa, FL
Enjoying a glass of wine with friends is our guilty pleasure, and when we are craving a night out in Tampa we love to find a relaxing wine bar. Check out this article with some of our favorite spots that offer wine tastings, flights and even some delicious snacks to round out an already fantastic outing.
9 Healthy (But Delicious!) Restaurants in Tampa
Eating healthy isn’t always about salads and vegetables. Tampa has become quite the foodie scene, and healthy restaurants are filled with flavor and finesse. We’ve found some exciting options regardless of whether you want low-calorie entrees, vegan and vegetarian dishes, or something else with a healthy spin. Check out this article with some of our favorite spots to grab a healthy and delicious meal in Tampa.
7 Restaurants Worth the Splurge in Tampa, FL
When we are craving a fantastic meal that is sure to make a dent in the budget, we want to go somewhere that will be worth every penny. The spectacular views that many Tampa restaurants offer can make even the most budget-friendly dinner feel fancy, but this southern Florida city has no shortage of gorgeous high-end restaurants that are totally worth the splurge. When we are searching for a restaurant that checks all of the boxes, we make a reservation at one of these Tampa restaurants that are in fact worth the splurge.