Best restaurants in Clearwater

Rocca

★ Michelin$$Italian, Contemporary

Chef Bryce Bonsack blends his New York know-how with Italian training to great effect in this of-the-moment eatery. Naturally, there's an assortment of pastas, skillfully made in house and showcasing classic flavors and scrupulous technique, as in spaghetti al limone, tossed with knobs of blue crab and lemon, shaved garlic and zucchini. Guests gush over mozzarella hand pulled to order in a tableside cart, but the flavor outshines the show. Perhaps most exciting of all are the displays of originality and dessert is a delightful bookend to an impressive meal. In particular, the chocolate custard

Kōsen

★ Michelin$$$$Japanese, Sushi

This elegant restaurant takes a minimalist approach to its design, employing a dark color palette instead of the typical blonde wood, but all eyes should be on the omakase, which Chef Andrew Huang runs with skill and precision. Three thin slices of scallops in a bright and vibrant strawberry vinegar with scallions impresses, while tempura-fried kamasu, served with myoga and chilled, roasted sweet eggplant, is smart and spot on. After a handful of dishes from the kitchen, they progress into the nigiri. There’s plenty of showmanship and style, but the sushi leans traditional without a lot of fus

Ebbe

★ Michelin$$$$swedish

Chef Ebbe Vollmer's eponymous downtown dweller isn't your typical Tampa restaurant. Sleek and contemporary with a space dominated by a U-shaped marble bar, it's hyper-focused with just one tasting menu. Scandinavian elements make their way onto the dishes here, hinting at the chef's Swedish background, and the cooking is both clever and confident without superfluous fuss. Artful plating takes center stage in dishes like the beet roulade with a brown butter and black cherry sauce. Fermented white asparagus beurre monté and sautéed spinach make a beautiful base for tender turbot that comes alive

Koya

★ Michelin$$$$Japanese, Contemporary

There is a watchful eye over the experience at this intimate counter, where a multicourse contemporary tasting menu shares a singular interpretation of Japanese cuisine. The dishes are often unexpected yet always thoughtful. Spectacular seafood is a given: staple luxuries like bluefin tuna and uni are flown in weekly from Toyosu Market. Instead of the typical parade of nigiri, dishes offer unique combinations of Eastern and Western culinary sensibilities, as in the A5 olive wagyu with fried capers and aged parmesan or Spanish turbot set in a tomato and miso emulsion. An impressive list of prem

Rooster and the Till

Bib Gourmand$$International

It's a low-key spot with a contemporary feel. The bar is central and wraps around an open kitchen, so grab a seat at the counter for the best view. Between the lively tunes and buzzy staff, the aura is anything but stuffy. The plates follow suit—freewheeling, frequently changing and shareable with elements from SE Asia, Latin America and the Levant. Yet, nothing seems out of place, as in a green garbanzo croquette with Goan curry, avocado, melon and sikil p'ak. Fried cobia collar with nuoc cham boasts a cultish following. Such seductive textures and explosive flavors continue in full force in

Streetlight Taco

Bib Gourmand$$Mexican

This South Tampa taqueria certainly ups the style quotient on the typical taqueria. From the black-painted, exposed ductwork to the tables lacquered with Mexican comics to the open kitchen, this fast casual spot delivers on contemporary flair, and the food isn't pulling any punches, either. Heirloom corn is nixtamalized in house for a menu featuring tacos, tostadas, salsas, sides and more. Don't skip the Sunday snack tostada, an equal parts sweet-and-savory delight with two blue corn tostadas layered with cream cheese with lump crab, diced sweet mango and a mango habanero sauce. The sweet pota

Psomi

Bib Gourmand$$Greek

Owned and run by second-generation Greek American Chef Christina Theofilos, this daytime eatery and bakery epitomizes warmth and comfort. Strangers become friends in no time, noshing on breakfast and lunch during the week and brunch on weekends. The menu is laced with Greek items ranging from flavorful and tender octopus ceviche to house-made dolmades that display an added level of care. Their take on a French dip with feta-brined organic roasted chicken, kefalograviera cheese and skordalia aioli on a crusty baguette is a hearty and delicious meal. Of course, with a name that translates to bre

Gorkhali Kitchen

Bib Gourmand$$Nepali, Indian

Take the short drive from downtown for a taste of Himalayan cuisine at Gorkhali Kitchen. The mirrored glass exterior means the interior is kept a secret until you're through the door but come inside to experience this place's warm hospitality.The menu is large with a Nepalese focus along with some Indian elements. Of course, there must be momo, those iconic Nepalese dumplings that are seared, pan-fried or even in jhol (soup). Chili momo filled with chicken is tossed in a fiery sauce that's not for the faint of heart. Sweet at the start, the heat builds and then finishes with a very spicy kick—

Fat Beet Farm Kitchen and Bakery

$$American

Founded by husband-and-wife duo Jen and Tim Curci in 2013, what began as a farm outside of Tampa has morphed into so much more. Focusing on sustainable initiatives, their kitchen and storefront offer an all-day dining menu, utilizing local products while showcasing house-made bakery items. Community events, including tours and yoga on site are posted on a calendar inside which doubles as a meeting place for all things delicious. Order the biscuits with honey, whipped butter and jam, or any one of their flavorful soups or sandwiches, like the turkey Reuben. On any given day you'll find their ma

The Tides Market

$$$Seafood

North of St. Pete in the charming town of Safety Harbor, The Tides Market from husband-and-wife Jon and Mary Kate Walker is part bustling market and part full-service restaurant. As the location and name suggest, it's all about seafood here. From the sourcing to the execution, great care is taken with every step. The menu is large and shows off a Southern edge (fried green tomatoes and pimento cheese pop up throughout). Kick things off with oysters Bienville, a plate of broiled oysters topped with butter breadcrumbs, house andouille, shrimp, and parmesan, then tuck in to a Po'boy. You can orde

Ponte

$$$$american

Chef Christopher Ponte oversees the very grand eponymous restaurant located in midtown Tampa where a cream-and-white palette sets an elegant tone. This is a linen tablecloth kind of place where a comprehensive menu lists dishes with a contemporary and creative American flair.Kick off this memorable meal with Champagne and pearls—oysters finished with a pink peppercorn mignonette foam—or opt for the salmon Wagyu set over crispy sushi rice. Discover an entire section of the menu devoted to steaks with different sauces, toppers and butters. It may read a bit showy, but it's exciting nonetheless a

🕐 Su-Th 16:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 16:00-23:00

Flaming Mountain

$$Chinese, Regional Cuisine

Flaming Mountain's strip mall environs may be less than exciting but they save their sizzle for the food. The owners, husband-and-wife Hongfeng Li and Ling Wu, are originally from Shenyang in China's northeast, and the menu proudly displays their regional heritage alongside classic Sichuan cuisine and grilled skewers. Chef Wei Zhang sources quality ingredients for dishes that deliver bold flavor across the board. Portions are hearty, so arrive armed with an appetite for meals like Chungking spicy chicken, with a plate piled high with classic dry fried chicken studded with chilies and peppercor

The Brisket Shoppe

$$Barbecue

Located in the downtown section of Tampa, this spot from owner/pitmaster Danny Hernandez serves up a blend of Texas-style barbecue with a side of Cuban flair in a style dubbed “Tampeño." The menu includes sought-after meats such as black pepper-rubbed turkey or traditional beef brisket. Tempting sides of vinegary collard greens with smoked ham, crispy French fries and flavor-packed cowboy beans are also on the menu. The succulent brisket bon bons, pillowy house-made yeast rolls encasing tender meat, are not to be missed. To complete your indulgence, the beef tallow chocolate chunk cookies fini

Bistro BT

$$Fusion, Vietnamese

This casual yet charming outpost arrives on the scene courtesy of celebrated local restaurateur, BT Nguyen. It is friendly and atmospheric with gracious servers merely augmenting the inviting feel. Over in the kitchen, the team cooks up a homey combination of French and Vietnamese dishes, ranging from beloved standbys to bolder bistro fare. The Vietnamese plates are a cut above, though, and include the likes of crispy spring rolls faithfully packed with ground pork, glass noodles and wood ear mushroom; followed by deeply aromatic pho bobbing with springy noodles and generous amounts of melting

Olivia

$$italian

Named after Chef/owner Chris Ponte's daughter, it's only appropriate that the cooking at this bustling, Italian-inspired venue should set itself apart thanks to extra care. That characteristic attention to detail includes efforts, like extruding all pastas in house before slowly drying them—but it’s the sort of work that pays off for diners.Although the cuisine draws heavily on classic flavors, don't expect by-the-books renditions—even the simplest dishes flaunt a bit of personality. Take, for example, mini rigatoni sauced with ragù Bolognese and a dollop of herbed ricotta; it's a departure fr

🕐 Mo-Th 17:00-21:00; Fr 17:00-22:00; Sa 10:00-22:00; Su 10:00-21:00

Bar Terroir

$$$French

This French-inspired bistro and wine bar, with its dimly lit dining room, leather booths and black-and-white marbled floors, exemplifies a moody, cozy feel worthy of Paris. The menu is built around house-made cheese and charcuterie, followed by several small plates and traditional entrees that highlight true French classics. Nibble on a plate of Comté and thinly sliced, garlicky saucisson with baguette and a warm apple butter to start. Then, consider a tried-and-true favorite like steak frites or boeuf bourguignon. Duck confit, served with celery root gratin and a perfectly balanced watercress

Cousin Vinny's Sandwich Co.

$Italian-American

There's usually a line and rarely a seat at this casual sandwich shop in Tampa's NoHo neighborhood. It's Italian to the bone (note the flag out front for further proof) and the name is both a nod to the movie of the same name, as well as one of the co-owners, Vincent “Vinny” Andriotti. Together with friends Russell Leone, AJ DeSimone, and Jake Schmidt, they're bringing New York Italian-American flavor to Tampa. Any sandwich aficionado knows it's all about the bread and the fillings, and both are top notch here. Tomato and mozzarella on their house-made schiacciata (think focaccia, only thinner

Restaurant BT

$$$french, vietnamese

Both intimate and serene, this romantic retreat is restaurateur and Chef BT Nguyen's flagship. Its motto "eat local, think global" accurately captures both her genre-defying, eclectic cuisine as well as her dedication to high quality, local ingredients. Although the presentation may lean a bit fussy and old-fashioned (think tomato roses and other such twee garnishes), there's plenty of substance behind the fluff. This is cooking that's assiduously seasoned and bursting with flavor.Many of the dishes draw upon the chef's Vietnamese heritage, seen in the telltale use of bright, aromatic flavors,

🕐 Tu-Th 17:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 17:00-23:00

Bern’s Steak House

$$$$Steakhouse

For decades, this stately steakhouse has been a local favorite for special occasions of all stripes, and its popularity shows no signs of shrinking. Diners dress to impress amid the garish vintage opulence, which is matched by a slickly ceremonious suit-clad service team and colossal wine collection.A meal might start with oysters, or one of the many caviar options, but savvy diners save ample space for a curated selection of prime steaks, many dry-aged extensively in house before getting a char treatment on the kitchen’s massive grill. Don’t fill up on the assorted sides—at the end of the mea

Kinjo

$$$$Fusion

Warm and welcoming, this polished setting is marked by an open kitchen and a unique concept: Itameshi, or Japanese Italian fusion cuisine. Expect a creative touch in everything from snacks like an eclair filled with whipped ricotta, brown butter maitake mushrooms and duck prosciutto or the wagyu beef tart with yuzu aioli and 24-month aged Parmesan. The uni focaccia featuring pickled daikon and aged balsamic is another favorite. For mains, the vitelli tonatto pizza with black garlic tomato sauce, capers and olive powder and the chawanmushi with guanciale in Parmesan brodo and shaved white truff

Yummy House

$$Chinese, Dim Sum

Crowds still clamber to fill the seats at this spacious, no-frills eatery, whose sizable menu presents ample options for a range of tastes. Diners can find contentment with familiar American-Chinese staples, like orange chicken and salt-and-pepper fried calamari (or tofu). However, dishes like clay pot-braised fish have their own unique, earthy appeal. During lunch hours you’d be well-advised to select from the separate dim sum menu, which features typical bites like dumplings and turnip cakes, as well as sweet regional specialties like pineapple buns and Hong Kong-style egg tarts.Thanks to th

Supernatural Food & Wine

$American

Located in downtown Tampa in a tiny space with some seating outside and a small counter inside, this casual concept is all about sandwiches—at breakfast and lunch—as well as a few sides and salads. It's a bright, mood-elevating kind of place where diners come in the morning for the olive and feta sandwich, served on a toasted focaccia bun with a black olive tapenade, fluffy egg, feta, thinly sliced red onion, and roasted peppers. Craving sweet instead of savory? Fresh cinnamon sugar sour doughnuts are a hit (and often sell out). Middays are met with the likes of turkey and cheddar melts with s

Mise en Place

$$$International, Contemporary

Originally a small-scale catering business founded in 1986 by partners Maryann Ferenc and Chef Marty Blitz, this restaurant has gone on to become a local culinary fixture. The sleek, comfortable space and assured service are as suitable for romantic duos as business groups—and either set would be well advised to sample from their list of carefully poured classic cocktails.The menu features a freewheeling selection of international flavors—from squash blossoms filled with creamy ricotta and spicy 'nduja, to mole-crusted scallops with a masa and squash purée. Desserts in particular are noteworth

Lilac

$$$$Contemporary, Mediterranean Cuisine

This concept from John Fraser occupies its own corner of the sleek and stylish Tampa EDITION hotel. An open kitchen with glossy emerald-green tile overlooks the small dining room and delivers a contemporary prix-fixe with broad Mediterranean influences. Dinner begins with a series of bites, including French onion pull-apart bread topped with slow-cooked onions. Grilled Spanish octopus tails set with seared pork belly rest atop a succotash base made with stewed corn, white beans and 'nduja for a particular delightful entree before a classic baba au rhum. A lengthy list of cocktails and rather p

Predalina

$$$Mediterranean Cuisine

Located in the Channelside District of downtown Tampa, siblings Blake Casper and Allison Casper Adams founded Predalina as an homage to their great-grandmother's coastal heritage (she was born in Brazil, raised in Portugal and finally settled in Rhode Island).The large menu is a nod to the Mediterranean, beginning with a wide variety of mezzes (the blistered cauliflower surrounded by whipped tahini is a winner). Lunch offers a nice mix of sandwiches and salads, while dinner is squarely focused on entrées and pastas. The tomato calamarata looks every bit the calamari it's named for, and dressed

The Pearl

$$seafood

Located in the Channelside district of downtown Tampa, The Pearl rests within a mixed-use building with plenty of outdoor seating for warm days and nights. Inside, the space is contemporary with maritime and nostalgic touches throughout. The large American menu with shareable options aplenty sports a seafood focus, but don't sleep on dessert, as the in-house pastry chef oversees the pie-only menu. Come with friends for a fun time and to snack on treats such as fried pickles with a creamy dipping sauce or raw, baked or fried oysters. Go for broke with a seafood tower or enjoy a humbler entree,

Mad Dogs & Englishmen

$$$Gastropub

Mad Dogs & Englishmen isn't exactly new—the previous iteration down the street opened in 1991—but this new standalone space is bigger and better with a proper English pub style. Inside is a warren of small rooms, along with a bar and a large conservatory that opens up on nice days. In classic style, the walls are appropriately loaded with all manner of British paraphernalia, and the food follows suit, with a litany of traditional offerings including a weekly Sunday roast. Tuck into a puff pastry-wrapped sausage with a tangy curry-Dijon mayo. Shepherd's pie is a must in any pub, but here it's m

Noble Rice

$$$$noodle, sushi

Restaurants pack this area just off Channelside Drive, but Noble Rice deserves your attention, and not just because it's a sister spot to Koya. Unlike most minimalist Japanese restaurants, this place has a lively, modern vibe. There is an omakase on offer at a separate counter, but the real draw here is their à la carte sushi-focused menu with some izakaya and small plate options (think shrimp toast and karaage; skewers and ramen). Traditionalists should head for the king salmon nigiri sourced from New Zealand, while bold and creative flavor combinations are found in maki like the negi toro ro

in between days

$$Japanese Contemporary

In Between Days bills itself as Florida’s first Tokyo-style sake bar and vinyl house. The space feels intentionally intimate where the lights stay low, the records spin slowly and the food comes in a tight little lineup of dishes that include gyoza, hamachi, oysters and a single rotating noodle dish. This is very much a place you settle into. The team leans into sake-based cocktails, the vibe feels warm and effortless and the food hits a sweet spot between comfort and quiet technical skill.Dive into some bouncy, chewy noodles by trying the chef's choice ramen consisting of a rich, silky bone m

Big Ray's Fish Camp

$$Seafood

Far from the trendy neighborhoods, this seafood shack that could be mistaken for a bait and tackle shop flies slightly under the radar but is a total find. Order from the menu displayed behind the counter, then find a seat at one of a few wooden tables set with metal chairs inside, or head outdoors to a tent-covered picnic table. Owner Raymond "Nick" Cruz doles out a typical dressed-down, seafood shack-style menu with starters like smoked fish dip, peel and eat shrimp, and a basket loaded with blackened shrimp and Cuban-style yucca. Then, a smattering of sandwiches includes their house classic

Elliott Aster

$$$$Italian Contemporary, Steakhouse

Located within the Vinoy Resort and Golf Club, with its high ceilings and large chandeliers, this Italian-inspired steakhouse has a grand feel. The menu is centered around wood-fired steaks and house-made pastas, blending classic Italian foundations with a polished steakhouse sensibility. Begin with the focaccia "pull apart" rolls with pecorino and taleggio cheese and wildflower honey. If pasta is your passion, have the radiatore alla vodka with a decadent sauce that clings to every ridge and finishes with a little heat from Calabrian chili. Complete your meal with a caramel coffee budino, ser

Sushi Sho Rexley

$$$$Sushi

A block from the busy bar scene in St Pete's downtown, Chef Rexley Kwok's sushi counter is equal parts skillful and approachable. This omakase-only spot features two options: a signature menu with a few more appetizers or a smaller menu with a tighter focus. No matter your choice, nigiri is the heart of a meal here, with standouts like koji fermented ora king salmon. Brushed with whiskey barrel-aged soy and with pickled scallions, it's exceptional. Hokkaido uni with just a touch of yuzu shines, while spot prawn with oyster-fermented soy sauce is sided by a fried counterpart for an interesting

Il Ritorno

$$$$Italian, Contemporary

For more than a decade, Chef David Benstock has led this fine dining Italian stalwart from the heart of downtown St. Petersburg. High ceilings, exposed red brick, and easy-going servers set a relaxed tone for a team that’s full of ideas and keen to present them in attractive ways. How often do you see duck tortellini with shaved foie gras or a salad of radishes presented as a garden bed with soil and fences? Creative pastas are at the heart of this menu, alongside serious cuts of steak and lamb sourced from their butcher shop next door. Though some dishes can feel busy, there is boldness and f

Fortu

$$$Asian

This attractive, high-energy dining room in downtown St Petersburg is cool in all the right ways. Handsome wood finishes, sleek lighting, and large arched mirrors cut a sharp figure at the base of the Ponce de Leon Hotel. Most importantly, this Pan-Asian kitchen backs up all this style with proper substance. Skip the raw bar in favor of plump, spicy pork wontons showered with crispy garlic and chili crisp. Glazed carrots in kimchi butter are both satisfying and sophisticated. And though the restaurant isn’t technically a steakhouse, this might be the best place around to splurge on beef. Beaut