Budget
Carmine's Restaurant
1802 e 7th ave, ybor city neighborhood. cuban, spanish, and italian.
Hugo's Spanish Restaurant
931 s howard ave., 813 251-2842. slightly more expensive than la teresita, but still a bargain in the pricey soho neighborhood. $10 will buy you a mountain of food at lunch time.
The Jerk Hut
207 e twiggs st., 813 223-4473. and 1406 e fowler ave 813 632-9551 don't be put off by the name - "jerk" is a jamaican term for slow-roasting meats. the jerk hut serves theirs with an addictive sweet red sauce. also, curries and oxtail stew.
Mel's Hot Dogs
4136 e busch blvd., 813 985-8000. a tacky little restaurant near busch gardens. good hot dogs and bizarre hot dog related memorabilia.
Mema's Alaskan Tacos
1724 e 8th ave, ybor city. 813 242-8226. "alaskan" or not, the good fresh made tacos and tamales are a favorite with locals and visitors alike in the ybor city neighborhood, right on the trolley car line.
El Taconazo
913 e hillsborough ave., 813 232-5889. known locally as the "taco bus." simple and delicious mexican food for very little money. the ceviche is a steal at only $5, but be forewarned: there's no air conditioning.
La Teresita
3246 w columbus dr., 813 879-4909. inexpensive cuban diner with good food and interesting characters. a true tampa institution.
Westshore Pizza
927 s howard ave., 813 251-2020. numerous other locations throughout tampa bay. a local chain with good, cheap eats including pizza and cheesesteaks.
Xtreme Juice Smoothies
619 s. dale mabry hwy.., 813 879-6033. south tampa's best smoothies. a local smoothie shop that offers buy one get one free on sundays.
New Soul Sandwich Shop
518 n willow ave., 813 251-3720. definitely "off the beaten path." great soul food in industrial neighborhood, just off kennedy. don't mind the ramshackle surroundings, as the proprietors and the regulars are quite friendly.
Midrange
Bahama Breeze
3045 n. rocky point drive e., phone: 813 289-7922.
Fuego
(http://www.fuegosteakhous...) 1721 west brandon blvd, brandon just outside the tampa city limits; highway 60/adamo blvd becomes brandon blvd. at the line tel. 813 413-8382. brazilian. if you're a meat eater and looking for something a bit different, this is a treat. waiters bring a wide variety of chicken, beef, pork, and sausages fresh cooked in various ways to your table to sample as much as you wish of.
T. C. Choy's Asian Bistro
301 s howard ave., 813 251-1191. sushi and dim sum, along with other traditional chinese fare.
Tampa Bay Brewing Company
(http://www.tampabaybrewin...), 1600 e. 8th avenue, ybor city section of tampa. tel. 247-1422. brew pub with a good food menu including shepard's pie and huge calzones in addition to more standard fare.
The NoHo Bistro
(http://www.thenohobistro.com/) 1714 n armenia avenue, tampa 33607, tel. 813-514-0691. local independent bistro located in the historic west tampa district. lunch and dinner service available. menus change seasonally and weekly in the case of dinner. classic european-style bistro fare with an eclectic american flare. catering and private dining also available.
Top end
Bern's Steak House
1208 s howard av. +1 813-251-2421, (http://www.bernssteakhous...). considered to be one of the best steakhouses in florida: it claims to have the largest privately owned wine lists in the world, with over 7000 labels and a million bottles. it is commonplace to have a tour of the kitchen and wine cellar after dinner, but expect to spend at least a few hours.
Cafe Don Jose
N. 56th st. a bit cheaper than the columbia restaurant, yet the quality seems to be much better.
The Columbia Restaurant
2117 east 7th avenue, phone: 813 248-4961, (http://www.columbiarestau...). spanish, a landmark in the ybor city neighborhood since 1905.
Mise en Place
442 w kennedy blvd., 813 254-5373, (http://www.miseonline.com/).
The View at CK's
Atop the marriott at tampa international airport, 813 878-6500, (http://www.ckstampa.com/). a revolving gourmet restaurant right in the middle of the tampa airport.