If you’re on an expense account, Berns is a must.

Try The Columbian. It will appear kind of touristy, but the 1905 Salad is one of the most memorable offerings I’ve ever had in a restaurant. It could be a wonderful meal itself with the bread and butter they bring. Respectable sangria, as well. Good cuban sandwich. Top-notch black bean soup. They hope you’ll spend a lot of money there, but you can choose wisely and eat cheaply and very well in "roadfood" style.

Second on Bern’s.

Bern’s Steak house is a must- really top quality everything- steak, home grown veggies and salad, each corse served with various homemade breads and/or crackers /toast great wine list and very reasonably priced choices b/c they sell based on purchase price.- reserve desert room upstairs for amazing fudge and after dinner wines, etc- Port, sauterne, eiswein etc

I 2nd suggestion to go to tarpon springs one saturday type day- good greek food and different

Mels is a classic as is Proud Lion Pub for Haecker Pschorr and other German beers on tap – good sandwiches and chips w/ california onion Dip- unexpected but we all love it.

A must go to is Mel’s Hot Dogs on Busch Blvd, a bit east of Busch Gardens. They have been there a very, very, long time.

John

Don’t miss, ‘Bush Gardens’ in Tampa! The park itself is so much fun. I went to a restaurant there where u had to walk up 20 or so steps to get to and the food was GREAT. I had a roast beef sandwich. The cuisine is American. Sorry I don’t remember the name.

Be sure to check out Tarpon Springs for some good Greek food. My fave is Mykonos. Most people love Hellas, but it’s pretty standard greek fare there. Just splitting hairs: either way, I’m jealous.

Can’t go wrong with Columbia in Ybor too. Gets a little crazy there at night though.

If you get to Ybor City, and have a taste for authentic Cuban/Spanish food in a historic old-Tampa atmosphere, be sure to try the original Columbia Restaurant on 7th Avenue (main drag thru Ybor City). Even if you haven’t acquired a taste for Cuban food, this place will have things you will like on the menu and the restaurant is like going back in a time warp. Many of the wait staff have been there for 20-30 yrs and will help you negotiate the unfamiliar Spanish names of things. Some folks say it has become too touristy, but I was there just this past Monday and it is as good as ever (Mrs QFan and I used to live in Tampa and still go there frequently). [:D][:D]
QFan
Bonita Springs, FL

p.s. Welcome to Roadfood! You’ll find this a great site with a bunch of wonderful fellow roadfooders.

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Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN