Underrated Tampa Restaurants That Deserve a Michelin Star
While Tampa only has a handful of Michelin-starred restaurants, this city has more than its fair share of eateries that deserve this coveted award! You don’t have to go full Michelin to have a Michelin experience. Check out this list of eight Tampa restaurants that we believe deserve a Michelin Star.
Olivia
3601 West Swann Avenue, Tampa, FL
(813) 328-8866
Olivia is Tampa’s top spot for modern Italian! Combining authentic and traditional flavors with a casually sophisticated atmosphere, Olivia delights guests with house-made pasta. All pizzas at Olivia are made with fresh dough and straight-from-the-farm mozzarella. Pizza night will never be the same after getting a taste of pizza made with truffle honey and scallion! The wild arugula salad made with fennel, strawberries, honey crunch, and pistachio vinaigrette is a great way to start your meal. The craft cocktails are also exceptional.
Ponte Modern American
1010 Gramercy Lane, Tampa, FL
(813) 582-7755
The roasted beet salad, mushroom risotto, salmon, and incredible bread service are just some of the many reasons why Ponte Modern American deserves a Michelin Star. The “raw and chilled” menu elevates Ponte above other contemporary eateries using steak tartare, scallop ceviche, hamachi crudo, and champagne and pearls oysters! The menu of prime and aged steaks alone is worthy of a visit! The panna cotta dessert made with white chocolate, fruit consommé, and raspberry crisp offers an incredible way to close out an unforgettable meal.
Rooster & the Till
6500 North Florida Avenue, Tampa, FL
(813) 374-8940
While Rooster & the Till doesn’t have a star, this gem has earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand distinction for being a friendly restaurant that serves exceptional food at moderate prices. The appetizers list draws guests in with smoked potato pierogies, tuna crudo, and potato crusted fish. Rooster & Till offers an option to do a tasting menu with carefully curated courses. The black sesame ice cream featuring pineapple coconut jam, milk crumble, and Thai tea caramel is a dessert experience you’ll be telling people about for a long time! The dessert wines and “night caps” also help to make Rooster & the Till an unforgettable Tampa restaurant!
Ocean Prime
2205 North Westshore Boulevard, Tampa, FL
(813) 490-5288
Ocean Prime is a contemporary steakhouse featuring a main dining room, lounge, outdoor terrace, and several private dining rooms. If you’re in the mood for something on ice, start with oysters on the half shell, jumbo shrimp cocktails, or the photo-worthy shellfish tower. The elegant dinner menu boasts blackened snapper, sea scallops, Chilean sea bass, filet mignon, and more. However, the menu of sides is something to really get excited about! Ocean Prime lets you pair your juicy, perfectly made entrée with bacon creamed spinach, whipped potatoes, asparagus with hollandaise, parmesan fries, baked lobster mac & cheese, and other elevated comfort foods.
Ebbe
1202 North Franklin Street, Tampa, FL
Chef Ebbe will take you on a Scandinavian culinary odyssey at this incredible eatery! Ebbe offers a multi-course tasting experience featuring two fixed menus crafted using the best seasonal ingredients. While the menu leans heavily Scandinavian, the chef works authentic Florida flavors into many dishes. Some of the rotating options that have been featured so far include smoked eel soup, lamb, beetroot, and lobster saffron ravioli topped with sturgeon. Each dish is truly a work of art. While Ebbe is still a fairly new restaurant, there’s already chatter that this restaurant is on track to receive a Michelin Star.
Bern’s Steak House
1208 South Howard Ave, Tampa, FL
(813) 251-2421
Bern’s Steak House truly offers an experience to remember. A Tampa staple since 1956, this eatery boasts one of the largest wine collections in the world! It’s also home to the internationally famous Harry Waugh Dessert Room that invites guests to enjoy decadent desserts and after-dinner drinks in private booths made from aged wine casks! Guests are also invited to tour the restaurant’s wine cellar. After starting your meal with dry-aged carpaccio or caviar, enjoy filet mignon, dry-aged strip, cast-iron pork chop, rack of lamb, or lobster thermidor.
Rome + Fig
317 North Rome Avenue, Tampa, FL
(813) 253-3353
The polished patio at Rome + Fig deserves its own star! While the delectable menu is the obvious draw at this restaurant, it’s impossible not to fall in love with the charming setting. Nestled in Tampa’s North Hyde Park, Rome + Fig aces flavor and presentation. The calamari fritti, creamy risotto, and truffle arancini are all wonderful. Even the simple bruschetta served on garlic sourdough toast will make you wonder why this spot doesn’t have a Michelin Star yet!
For more recommendations on where to eat and drink in the city, check out our Tampa page here.
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