Love this place. There is something on the menu for everyone. this is a little gem in Carrollwood!! Loved it

As a longtime resident of Carrollwood we experienced this cuisine years ago and it was the best you could find with such an interestingly broad menu. We were so happy to see it return a few years ago with the same and better fresh offerings. The service and food are still top notch! I have some advice for the owner which would produce additional revenues at very little cost. If you pass by the restaurant you cannot tell if it is open?? ! Fix the broken sign out front; add a neon OPEN sign on the door. Find a way to eliminate the stack of wine boxes at the entryway. Listen to suggestions from customers and staff. You have such great potential! If you do this, when you are ready to sell to a chef who appreciates your restaurant, you will receive top $$$. read more

Friday 6/30 should have stopped at one visit then memory would have been all good. Returned tonight, dinner was good enough - only problem was double corkage fees. Corkage of $40 total just doesn't work for me. They certainly have a right to charge anything they want - they have to make a living. On the other hand I find it more than a little bit duplicitous the whole ritual of sharing our bottle with everybody at the bar and tasting owner Michael first. Plus no decanting for either bottle and no new glasses other than tastes for Michael. Hoping for a different outcome I did something a little different - took some time to cool down and then called Michael hoping he would give it a second thought and take one corkage off. But he didn't - defended the double corkage. Just like he can choose what to charge, we have choices where to spend our money. Can see no reason to return. **** Original review: OK folks, this place is a winner. Can't believe we waited so long to go here after all we heard about them. If you like wine - we sure do. And good food - we certainly do. And really attentive service - who doesn't. And very fair pricing then this restaurant is for you. Went with friends, one in the business I would been telling me for years how good this restaurant is. Finally made it happen. The decor and vibe is clean modern nice and informal. You enter and see shelf after shelf a very interesting one for consumption and/or sale. You then pass a very full walk-in wine cellar with all kinds of goodies. They were busy, thought we would have to wait but a table came our way quickly. HINT - make a reservation if you can. The menu goes on and on and on. It's hard to believe the range of food available from casual to 2 types of duck to prime fillet to seafood and Thai. Making the selection was the most challenging part of the evening. Amongst the four of us we have three completely different dinners and they were all excellent, excellent, excellent! I had the crispy duck. It was perfect. Could not resist starting with a small spinach salad with a sweet warm bacon type dressing. Darn it was good. Their wine selection is quite interesting and fairly priced. They have wines that you would be hard-pressed to find anywhere - not obscure wines but great wines like RLF from Booker. Simply put the order Michael really knows wine. After dinner we migrated to the bar for another bottle of wine and some dessert. The freshly baked chocolate cake was light, moist to-die-for. If you like chocolate this is a cake for you. If it sounds like I'm a new fan, you're right, I am. I expect to return often, add to my post from time to time and enjoy building a relationship with Michael and his wonderful team. read more

The food is AMAZING! Judy is an impressive cook and the environment is so homey. Can't wait to go back for another meal.

South Tampa's loss is certainly Carrollwood's gain, as this long-time popular bistro along Azeele Street moved up north to set down some roots at the intersection of N. Dale Mabry Highway and South Village Drive. Circles Bistro now sits in the Carrollwood Village Shops shopping center along with Chili's, World of Beer, Anthony's Coal-Fired Pizza, and Ocean Blue Sushi. Circles is on the very west end of this shopping plaza, facing South Village Drive. Some of you might remember that Circles was a well-known Carrollwood bistro with a disastrous parking problem, and that's why they pulled up stakes and moved to South Tampa. Now some 13 years later, the Prodigal Son has returned to Carrollwood in a shopping center with lots of available parking spaces. I was there for Sunday Brunch with my adorable girlfriend, and we were midway through a furniture assembly project of epic proportions when she suggested that we should find something to eat. A quick scan of my trusty Yelp app, and we found ourselves at Circles Bistro which was near to our neighborhood Lowe's. The outside of Circles Bistro disguises the serene atmosphere inside, and that has always been one of Circles hidden charms. This is a place where you can walk inside and say hi to Michael and Judy. Judy is the chef, while Michael works the front of the house and tends to the bar. There are only about 12 - 15 tables in the restaurant, and about 15 barstools surrounding the bar. The tables all face out to the enclosed courtyard. There is no Wi-Fi service inside the restaurant, and they recommend that their patrons converse with each other, or read through the Sunday paper. I started my meal with a spicy Bloody Mary, and Brittany ordered a mimosa. After perusing the various breakfast & brunch options I selected a seafood omelet made with sautéed shrimp, scallops, lump crabmeat, and lobster meat with sweet onions and melted Monterey Jack cheese. Britt ordered the goat cheese, spinach & tomatoes omelet. Both omelets came with a choice of home fried potatoes or a fresh fruit medley, and we both opted for the fruit. While Michael was mixing our drinks, Judy came out of the kitchen to deliver the homemade multi-grain bread with a strawberry compound butter. Oh yum!!!! The omelets arrived shortly thereafter, and they were delicious. In my case lots of very good seafood, covered with melted cheese inside of a fluffy omelet. The fresh fruit medley had a nice mix of apples, strawberries, blueberries, melon, and grapes. Very delicious meal for $12 a piece, plus the drinks. The brunch menu at Circles has lots of traditional egg dishes and some lighter entrées. Even though seating is limited you are encouraged to relax and enjoy your meal without being made to feel rushed. The traditional lunch and dinner menu lists a wider variety of casual multi-cultural dining options including Italian, Asian, Cajun, Indonesian, and classic Americana meals. Prices for these meals are closer to $20, and that includes soup or salad. Rumor has it that their lobster bisque is legendary, so I'll go back soon to give that a try. Circles has a full bar and a rather-large wine cellar, but precious little storage space for the cases of wine as they arrive. Expect to see the boxes lined up in the hallway as you walk back to their dining room. Bottom line -- a nice place for a quiet Sunday brunch where you can relax and enjoy your food and drink. read more

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The best lobster bisque I ever have OMG it's a "Must Try"!!! You Can't miss out on the fresh homemade bread that's still hot from the oven along with Salad dressing also Homemade. Yummmm We got three entrees today Cajun cream Tortellini chicken , Chicken Boregard and Shrimp Scampi OMG ITS AWESOME!!!!!Full bar and top shelf liquor it's amazing choices to choose from. Triple chocolate cake and tiramisu cake it's a well known dessert here that's I can't leave the restaurant without it. Thank you read more

Circles Bistro - Best cosmopolitan ever by the owner Michale here at Circle Bistro - New American Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Circles is fantastic. I had the flounder with Thai vegetables and I'm still thinking about it hours later. The artichoke appetizer was delightful, acidic, garlicky, peppery, well balanced. This is easily one of my favorite gourmet scratch kitchens in town. The service is great. They have an interesting wine list, full bar, and beer on tap. Circles is the perfect place to take a date in Carrolwood. read more

This is a cute little spot. The service is always good. It is a good lunch spot when you want to sit and be served. Dinner is great too. Since i've been Ive had the burg, the chicken sandwich, caesar salad and also this tortellini and chicken pasta. They also give great rolls. I didn't take photos because I eat too fast. read more

Looking at the restaurant from the outside & without knowing what we were stepping into, I was a little confused as to what type of cuisine this restaurant served as the name or the outside decor didn't really have any indications of the type of cuisine inside. Guess the only way ever find out is to be adventurous and go in right ? When we walked inside i was surprised to see wine cases lined up on the walls right by the entrance. Perhaps they just got their new shipments in? When you saw the wine cave from our seats, i could tell they had a nice selection at hand but we opted for a drink at their bar instead. I ordered a sazarac which was very good & strong ... just the way i like my drinks! For appetizers we ordered the circles dim sum & lobster bisque. I loved the lobster bisque as it was very creamy and tasty. The dim sum (pork, crab meat, and fresh herbs, steamed in wonton wraps, with browned garlic drizzles and chili soy dip) was also very flavorful and me and the misses finished each one in one bite. I only wish more was served as our portion only had about 4 pieces = $6.50 For our main course i ordered the Crispy Duck breast w/ Black cherry brandy sauce. The duck was very crispy which i liked alot and had just the right combination of sauces to balance out the taste. I finished my meal along with the rice. The misses ordered the Shrimp Paht Thai which was just ok as the noodles were a bit on the dry side. On the bright side they did include alot of shrimp! We ended up taking this home to go and ended up splitting it for lunch the next day. All in all circles was a nice place to try if you are looking for a menu selection that can cater to a large audience, as they have pasta & asian dishes on the menu. read more

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Amazing food and great people! We moved to Lutz last July and really enjoy going to Circles. The owners - Michael and Judy are also great people! read more

I visited Circles right before their south Tampa location closed and loved it. We were upset that such a good find was closing but were excited to find they were just moving to this new location. The menu choices are somewhat of a head scratcher at first (Asian dishes along with Italian dishes?), but it totally works. My favorite is the chicken scampi. Delicious! The bread they give you before each meal is fantastic. Great desserts such as creme brûlée and key lime pie also. The only thing that frustrates me about this place is that you cannot get lunch on the weekend. read more

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We love circles, 3 of us go every Wednesday and the food is always spectacular. Judy the Chef is remarkable and Michael the Owner and Bartender is very Knowledgeable in wines and drinks. read more

I love love love that now there's this Circles in Carrollwood. The food is, in a word, exquisite. I've been very surprised by the excellence of the Asian dishes. The aso bucco (sp?) was traditional and excellent, homey and yummy. Loved the spicy salt and pepper calamari. The lady at the next table swooned over a special, halibut. Pleased they have a full liquor bar. Most pleased that it's only ten minutes from home. Twice we've eaten here before hitting Sude Splitters comedy club for a show afterward. An older blond woman has been our server most times and she is a delight! (I posted their menu here since I couldn't find it anywhere online and they don't have a website.) read more

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When I went in, I was looking for a light meal and some dessert. So I ordered from their appetizer and small plates menu. It worked out perfectly. I was able to make a 3 course meal out of it without being ridiculously overfed. I ordered Lobster Bisque as an appetizer, braised short ribs with lobster mashed potatoes, and a chocolate walnut cake. Their Lobster bisque soup was a little watered down with very little lobster but it was still decent. The short ribs were a little salty but the mashed potatoes were just right. I almost wished I had a full sized order they were so delicious. The cake was not too sweet and just the right portion size. I always worry about that with desserts. My complaints are the lay out of the place because of all the boxes piled up near the entrance. It almost seemed as if you are entering the place from the backdoor. Also, the bakery seemed to be hidden off to the side, I didn't even know that they had their own bakery until the waiter pointed it out as I was getting ready to leave. Overall, the experience was good but not award winning. read more

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What a wonderful dinner place. 100s of bottles of wine, full bar, and delicious food. Every course is hot and fresh. Lobster bisque, salad, fresh rolls, and dinner were all fantastic. Cajun cream sauce dish and pad Thai were an absolute must. read more

If you are in the Carolwood area, you have got to check out Circles. Mediterranean, Asian and French cuisine blend together to make a tasty treat. Full bar, large assortment of wine and homemade breads and desserts. Five stars. read more

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Wow! All the food here is fantastic. Judy & Michael really knock it out of the park when it comes to service and flavor. My only gripe is that I have to travel so far to eat here...but it is by far well worth it! I'll do it every time. read more

Love the menu. Great chef does an amazing job every time. Server Ian is a joy. Very friendly and looks to please.

Despite the photographs and menus on this website, be advised Circles is not open for Sunday brunch. Such a pity!

Dinner for 5 last night. A very impressive variety of selections with Thai and French influence. Everything we ordered was absolutely excellent. If anything a few things could have been spicier but overall it was a great experience. We will be back. Right next to the comedy club so it worked out perfectly for seeing one of our favorite comedians. read more

This restaurant has good food but when you enter there are huge boxes of wine stacked up against the wall very unprofessional.

Visited for dinner, I recommend grabbing a reservation. They have a very fun and consistent menu, most people should be able to find something they like. I liked the twists in some of their dishes. The dining room is a bit small, but not cramped and the ambience overall is very nice. Friendly staff! read more

Although this location has low scores, I totally enjoyed it. The restaurant owner's wife is the chef. There is a connection between the Circles in Apollo Beach and this location in the Carrollwood area...the owners are brothers who parted ways but no bridges were burned. We ordered the calamari and it was pretty good; I appreciated receiving the rings versus the usual combo rings-tentacles like other restaurants. read more

Had dinner with 3 friends this evening. Everything was perfect with the 4 entrees that were ordered. We shared two appetizers (artichoke hearts and crispy avocado ) and they were fantastic. I would highly recommend this neighborhood favorite. read more

Spicy Thai wings are great . Special desserts are always excellent as well. Casual dining with high end food

Tried once again and unfortunately it was just as disappointing as the other tries. It is always discouraging when a local mom-n-pop bistro cannot seem to help themselves a little more. The décor has improved since our last visit and at least the front hallway held slightly endearing stacked wine cases instead of chairs - a bit tight to navigate to the door or restrooms though. Our waiter was truly trying hard but did not meet expectations at all. As a foursome of ladies meeting for lunch we noticed a larger group of the red/purple hat club, a few business lunches and a couple of single professional types dining at the bar. The croquet monsieur was rich and very tasty but quite too salty between the ham, bechemel and cheese. The menu said it was to come with a side of fries which never came- the waiter delivered a side salad to me instead and I asked why there weren't fries and he said it didn't come with it. Not in the mood to argue or point out the menu, I ignored the salad. Strangely though 2 of the other ladies ordered salads and their came out well ahead of the lunch entrees- so something was very amiss. One of them was supposed to get a salad with her yummy salmon and the other was not supposed to do she was charged. The glass of wine I ordered had to be requested twice before it finally came with the meal. It is so disappointing that they cannot seem to get their act together, the place is so local and used to be here in the area years ago...... maybe someday the owners will catch on. I would recommend going elsewhere.... third time was Not a charm, read more

In terms of both the food and service, Circles is still as excellent as it has always been. We live too far now, so I only got to stop in the other day when I unexpectedly ended up in Carrollwood during dinner time. I hope the owners take another go at a second location, since the New Tampa / Wesley Chapel area is in desperate need of good restaurants and has a Carrollwood-like demographic that can both appreciate and afford a real restaurant (as opposed to the few sub-par corporate chains there now). read more

I would give this a zero if I could. I've never been treated so poorly at a restaurant before. My wife and I walked in and sat at the bar and waited to order some wine. We were told by the owner we could not sit there because people had reserved the seats at the bar. He did not offer us any alternative seating arrangements and basically showed us the door even though there were plenty of empty seats at the bar and empty tables in the restaurant. We have been there 2 or 3 times before and the service is always below average but this was just so rude and disrespectful. I'll never set foot in that place again. If you are a regular, it seems you get taken care of. If you're not, don't waste your time going there. Go to Cepas and ask for Courtney and you'll have a much better time. read more

Circle's menu is an interesting blend of Asian and Italian cuisine. They have an extensive wine collection and surprising an extensive selection of premium whiskies including the unicorn of bourbon Pappy Van Winkle. We went thre recently with another couple three of us had Asian inspired fish dishes like miso glazed sea bass and the fourth ordered veal picata. Everything was excellent. If your a whisky-phile this place is the place to go. read more

We've been fans of Circles since it was located in South Tampa. Now it's ten miles north of our home, but still worth a 20-mile round trip for Judy's cuisine and Michael's gracious manner and mad bar skills. The menu is modern, eclectic, and uniformly excellent. The Thai chicken wings with flash-fried basil is spectacular, as so generous a portion as to make the entree optional - especially if you indulge one of Judy's fresh yeast rolls along with it. All of the dishes are made fresh to order an it shows. Wonderful wine selection - ask Michael for his recommendations, as not all of the inventory is on the list. Absolutely our go-to favorite. read more

I took my mom here because I had been here years ago before I was a Yelper. We walked in and the gentleman behind the bar greeting us. I joked that I wanted a table by the fireplace and he started leading us to the kitchen lol. I think he is the owner. We ordered the Brussel sprouts with the bacon on the side and the chef initially said no problem. The first time the dish came out as is. My mom doesn't eat bacon. We sent it back and it came back out with no bacon but also not on the side and the waiter told us the chef could not do that when initially we were told it could be done. Communication breakdown perhaps? They were ok but probably because we tweaked it. Next we shared an Asian noodle dish with chicken. We both found it quite bland. I also ordered the lobster bisque. To me, a bisque is creamy. This was a broth with lobster in it. Overall I was disappointed the quality of food went down from my last visit. read more

Circle's Bistro is a must try if you are in the Tampa Bay Area. A very contemporary spin on modern dining classics. The food is always delicious and, of course, always fresh! There are plenty of consistent menu items to try from, as well as, many seasonal dishes to sample! The staff is always so attentive and friendly...even on a busy evening, my drinking glass remains full and my appetite satisfied! The owner of the establishment is almost always on site, welcoming guests and making sure everything is to your liking. Very modestly priced for the extreme high-quality of the entire dining experience. Also, if you are an adult that appreciates fine spirits, you will not find a nicer selection anywhere else in this area. I will be returning! read more

Husband and I met another last evening for dinner. While it awkward entering and immediately passing the door to the ladies room, we found the restaurant to be outstanding. It's now on our favorites list. All food was delicious, beautifully plated and read more

There are two things I always receive while visiting Circles. A delicious meal made fresh inhouse by the chef/owner and some of the best service I have had. read more

I would give this place a three rating BUT honestly the food is not that great and what really is so bad about this place was my experience. The waitress came out to my car as I was leaving and handed me back my tip and told me that I must need it more then her...that is so RUDE. I left her 15% and that wasn't good enough for her? Sorry but I'm not rich and she should feel lucky she got anything considering her service honestly SUCKED...Sad that management allowed something like that to take place. They def lost me and my whole family as customers.... read more

Ridiculous. A friend and I came here for Sunday brunch because First Watch was packed. Both of us had sleeveless shirts on (I'm female and he's male). A man came up to us at the hostess stand and told my friend that they require sleeves. That's understandable, if it was posted or if its for dinner!! There was no one in the restaurant at the time- hope they can stay in business because we definitely won't be going back. read more

One of the best filets I've ever had! My girlfriend had the seafood newberg and she was equally impressed. The service was great and we will be back soon. read more

I love this place! It is a cozy limited seating restaurant, but the menu is big and the food is excellent. They even accommodated us on a scheduled amount of time, we had to go to our sons chorus recital at school. Don't miss out on this place! read more

Being new to the neighborhood, I am always exploring new places to eat. Circles Bistro was great! The staff was very welcoming. My server, Alex, was very professional and kind. When I mentioned I was on a time constraint, he had my food over in no time. Finally, the food was fresh and delicious! read more

We have been going to this nice little neighborhood restaurant for years. Really missed it when it was in south Tampa and we were delighted when it returned to Carrollwood. Michael, the owner, is there most nights and greets everyone as a friend. His wife is an excellent cook and we enjoy our usuals as well as experimenting, from to time, with other menu items and specials. Parking can be a challenge, but it has improved, thanks to changes within the shopping center. read more