Great spot in a middle of a vibrant community surrounded by stores, restaurants, hotels and…read moreresidences. The service was great and the food was filling and came out fast. I got hummus with a side of their home made sourdough bread to start and then ordered a turkey burger. The burger was flavorful and came out with a generous side. Their dining room is large and they also have a nice size shaded patio. There is no street parking, but there is a large parking garage that offers free parking while you're at the restaurant

True Food Kitchen had the good sense to plunk itself down in the middle of Midtown. It's in the…read morebeating heart of that mixed-use development and it's good for your beating heart, too. This place is fresh and healthy and makes you feel good about eating good. The first time I was here, it was a gorgeous "Florida winter" day so we sat outside-lunch on the large patio. This time, with a different group of friends, we were inside-on a Saturday evening. Glad we had a reservation. Because it was bustling and humming. But the vibes were still happy and healing. (As were the cocktails! The spicy pineapple margaritas are fantastic!) My fiends each ordered something different: a burger for one, a salad for another and a pizza for yet another. They were each delighted with their choices. I went for two appetizers: the charred cauliflower... which was excellent (those dates!) and a seasonal butternut squash soup that was unforgettably good-it satisfied both stomach and soul. One friend savored a Manhattan and two were all into the lavender matcha. Four completely different palettes but the same happy feeling. This was a good choice (thanks, Michelle) True Food Kitchen prides itself on fresh, quality ingredients and you can taste it. The menu isn't huge, but the variety is good and the flavors are tremendous. The interior is bright, with lots of windows and interesting seating. It was a little loud in there, but that's to be expected on a Saturday. I don't remember if there were desserts-we were so full, I don't think we even looked. I owe it to myself to go back and check. Midtown is so easy to park at (free garages!). And you can walk off your calories at the nearby shops (sadly, William Dean chocolates is closing this location, soon) I'll be back soon!

Service was awesome all around -- attentive without being overbearing, and everyone we interacted…read morewith was friendly and on it. The ambience is lovely too. It felt relaxed and comfortable, which made the whole meal more enjoyable. Food was really good, and the menu has a lot of options, so there's something for different tastes. The brunch cocktail was also really good. Prices were reasonable for the quality, which I appreciated. It wasn't very busy either, so we got a peaceful brunch instead of a loud, rushed one. That made a big difference. The only thing I would say is they should add some kids options. If they did that, it would be even easier to come back with the whole family. Would definitely return for brunch again.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

My wife and I wanted a nice, special dinner before welcoming our second baby. A last hurrah, for…read morethe time being, if you will, and chose Ponte Modern American. Our early evening dinner was fantastic. Excellent service, excellent food and everything we would expect from a fine dining experience curated by the family-owned The Ponte Group. We're big fans of On Swann and Olivia and have had Ponte Modern American on our list for a while. We arrived to Midtown and were ready for our dining experience. We received a friendly welcome into the light and airy entrance. We were escorted along white cloth covered tables to the spot where we would dine. Our server was around quick and started on drinks for us. The cocktail menu offers classic and modern versions of some of the most common drinks. I love an old fashioned and opted for the "modern" version. Instead of bourbon, it was made with Japanese whiskey, kokuto, which is considered to be the world's healthiest brown sugar and black walnut bitters. It had depth and flavor and a flair that made it stand out compared to the classic drink. My wife had a mocktail. It was light, sweet and hit the spot she said. We didn't order any starters but a man with a variety of fresh breads came around multiple times. He offered up as much as we would like, everything from sourdough to focaccia and beyond. My favorite was a black olive sourdough. The Chef also sent out a small espresso cup filled with his signature mushroom soup. At first a little confused, I eventually got bold with it and sipped this like I was sipping coffee. It was really good. Thick, rich and flavorful. The white mushrooms and earthy truffle creme made this a hit. I could have had a whole bowl of this but soup just isn't my go-to. Between the cocktail, bread and soup, this dinner was already starting out pretty fantastic. For our mains, I got the house specialty Beef Wellington. My wife got the boneless short ribs entree. Our food arrived and we were ready to dig in. Like most elegant dining experiences, you can expect top notch food, smaller portions and a focus on presentation. My Beef Wellington was served medium rare. It was wrapped in salty prosciutto, mushroom duxelles and had a little extra depth, foie gras. The duck liver added texture and a buttery flavor that melded with everything well. The earthy minced mushrooms had an array of pointed subtle flavor. I appreciated the classic take on a classic dish, that had a hint of flair that worked so well. The red wine demi glas was an excellent dipping sauce and added to the overall presentation with it's dark red smear on the plate. My wife highly enjoyed her short ribs. The tender beef was rich in flavor and paired well with pureed potatoes and an apple slaw garnish for a hint of sweet with a little spice. We also shared a side dish. The campanelle mac and cheese. This was rich, creamy and an excellent Mac and cheese side that we would definitely get again. While we didn't order dessert, they did send out three small sweets. A mini key lime custard, dark chocolate and a small chocolate chip cookie. All of them were sweet and tasty. A nice little finish. Our dinner at Ponte was great. From the service, to the food, to the ambiance and experience, all maintain that level of elegance and modern that make it what it is: a restaurant you should eat at.

Back in Florida and made reservations for Olivia. Excellent staff, amazing food, with a perfect…read moreatmosphere. We will continue to venture this restaurant when in Tampa.

Our server Savannah was amazing first off! The ambiance was super cute inside and felt fancy. They…read morewere making homemade pasta with a big window you could see. And the manager talked to us for a long time and actually cares. This place was so good I didn't want to stop eating. Loved the TikTok chicken. (Chicken parm!) and the short rib ravioli. The burrata was great. Go here!!!!!

Union New American was a vibe. The service at the bar for happy hour was top tier, we were…read moreconstantly asked if we needed anything. Happy hour is served every day from 3pm to 6pm. Parking lot is able to accommodate a mass crowd. We ordered the following: Hamachi Maki Roll consisting of Yamagobo, daikon, chili crunch $15. Very tasty roll and very fresh. Tuna crispy rice consisting of chilli mayo & scallion, we passed on the chili mayo $9. Very tasty and flavorful dish. Crispy zucchini consisting of labneh, dill & preserved lemon $9. Elite dish, yogurt based sauce. Wagyu beef skewers consisting of romesco & pickled onions $13. Loved this dish, top tier. Chili like chicken consisting of crispy chicken breast, sesame & gochujang $9. This chicken was amazing, I almost ordered another order. I got the lychee lover martini consisting of 6 O'Clock Gin, Elderflower, grapefruit, lychee & lavender $10 Good job Union New American, I'm a fan!

This place was definitely a 5-star experience! Theo was one of the best waiters we've ever had. He…read morewas personable, friendly, and attentive from start to finish. We told him we were visiting to celebrate an early birthday and attend the Ye concert, and he made sure everything was perfect the entire time. The rest of the staff was also welcoming and helpful, but Theo truly stood out. The food was a 10/10! Our favorite dessert was the blackberry cobbler, but we don't have a picture because my daughter devoured it before I had the chance . Thank you, Theo, for making us feel so welcomed and for all of your great recommendations. We'll definitely be back!

Went to celebrate my friend's birthday and it was a nice vibe. I would consider it eclectic but…read morecasual in ambiance and the food was a different version of American brunch dishes you may be familiar with. Parking is limited, a few spaces behind the restaurant and a "hope and prayer" for street parking. I found parking behind the building thankfully. The food was divine. I enjoyed the Huevos Rancheros and would totally recommend again. It's not the typical Huevos Rancheros, which is why I liked it. It's filling and I enjoyed the grilled chorizo. The fries in the apps were also delicious. My friends raved about their dishes: avocado toast and the Nate's Plate. I also had the matcha lemonade which was a perfect blend of both. The service was fantastic! Shout out to our server. I wish I remembered her name.

Came for daiquiri competition left loosey goosey…read more The interior is aesthetically, pleasing very calm tones on the wall. And very minimalist with an earthy vibe. They had a DJ that was spinning all the hits of the 80s however he was struggling with blending his music, but he picked good songs. The daiquiris were flowing and they were delicious and priced just right. They should do this every Wednesday because I would be there. They may not want me there, but I would be there. The patrons were even extremely polite to get us up to the bar to be able to get our drinks and that is highly unusual for most places in the Tampa area. They served us chicken nuggets to keep us a little more, even kilter in the fries and who knew chicken nuggets could be so good. I love how they support their local vendors and give them an outlet to generate some funds while having some drinks and eating some food. Willa's a cool hangout and I can't wait to see what they will do next. I'll be back for brunch, but as for now the drinks are good

Dock B's is such a fun little spot for a happy hour lunch! The food was great, the atmosphere was…read morelaid back. The highlight? My friend and I got hit on by a couple of the bar regulars while trying to find the bathroom. Apparently we took a wrong turn and wandered into the "local dating scene." Overall, great food, friendly vibe, and definitely a place I'll be back to. Next time I'll just make sure I know where the bathroom is before accidentally becoming part of the entertainment.

Service was weird and slow…read more Chicken wings were precooked, tough and not good. Chicken kebab was overcooked. Steak was pretty damn amazing. Probably won't be back but better than last time so thats good.

We had such a wonderful dinner at Cooper's Hawk! Every dish we ordered was outstanding. We started…read morewith the Drunken Shrimp, and the tequila lime butter sauce paired with the bacon wrapped shrimp was absolutely incredible. For entrées, the Trio of Medallions was cooked perfectly, with each filet offering a unique flavor, and the Soy Ginger Atlantic Salmon was tender, flavorful, and paired beautifully with the wasabi mashed potatoes and Asian slaw. We also enjoyed a glass of the Blanc de Blanc, which was crisp, refreshing, and the perfect complement to our meal. What truly made the evening exceptional was our server, Hannah. She was incredibly knowledgeable about both the food and wine, offered excellent recommendations, and made us feel genuinely welcomed. Her positive personality, attention to detail, and enthusiasm elevated an already fantastic meal into a memorable dining experience. Delicious food, wonderful wine, outstanding service, and a warm atmosphere, we'll definitely be back, and we'll be asking for Hannah again!

First time at this location and I enjoyed it immensely. The wine tasting area when you walk in is…read moreinviting and they have numerous interesting items for sale. Our server was friendly and helpful. We got a bottle of wine for thr 4 of us to share and ordered the Brussels sprout appetizer. In the meantime, our server brought pretzel bread with butter. The appetizer looked great and was yummy. The luncheon menu has lots of entrees, salads and sandwiches as well as lighter fares where the calories are shown. I ordered the chicken piccata which came with capellini and asparagus. Our food arrived timely and was nice and hot. The chicken was tender, the pasta was full of flavor and the asparagus was perfectly cooked. Service remained great our entire time there. I will be back!!

Ambiance: iIndustrial, low lighting. Combo of regular dining seating + lounge seating. They offer…read moreindoor and outdoor seating. Service: Amazing. Our waiter, Gavin (I believe... sorry) was super friendly, knowledgeable and gave great recommendations. He even created our cocktails based on what we liked. At the end, he also curated his own whiskey flight for us to try. We had two other brief waiters who came to drop off our food and they too were friendly. Food (brunch): For an appetizer, we ordered the candied bacon which honestly was the best bacon we've had. It was thick with a good combo of crispy and chewy. It wasn't soggy nor overly sweet, just perfect. For our main course, we ordered the breakfast sandwich which consisted of BEC w peppers, garlic-basil aoli on an everything bagel. The bagel was delicious (coming from a NYer, we were impressed). The sandwich was filling and you have your choice of sides (such as hash, fries, etc). Overall: We would highly recommend this spot. It was our first time and we are already excited to visit again, this time for dinner.

We needed a place to come to and not worry about the stresses of this day…read more This was the place to do it. From the ambience to the food it was such an awesome service. Order the smoking old fashioned. Its $20 but so worth the experience! My wife was in her glory with her pork steak and said the fries were the best shes ever had. I had the steak and gruyère sandwich that was generic and disappointing but hit the spot. And the service.... We were greeted by a really welcoming hostess (didn't get name but tall and blonde). She was fun and even took our water order and served it to us. Never seen that before and more places should do this. Our server Caleb is easily top 3 of the servers we have ever had. Friendly, joking and very accommodating. His recommendations were spot on and after finding out about my wife's drinks tastes gave her the perfect drink. We also have to mention Lucky. Never has a food runner left such a lasting impression that we needed to ask for his name to give him the recognition he rightfully deserves. And we may also add that this place was very busy and this dedicated service went against this. We are already planning out next trip back and bringing others with us! Water 8.5/10

My wife and I came for our anniversary dinner after seeing the menu online. The food seemed so…read moreinventive and exciting. We were seated at a super small table so it made for an uncomfortable situation with so little real estate available. Also the place looks like it's converted from a garage or something with metal walls and roll up doors that made the sound bounce around. The service was nice. We were well taken care of but they seemed to be spread thin because getting refills and getting our check took a bit longer than expected. One ssue was that the menu was very different from what was online via Google. I should have gone to their website I guess, but several items were not available and the filet I was so excited for had a very different set of items. No Brie au gratin potatoes or braised rainbow chard, citrus gremolata and a fig chutney. Now, let me say that my filet was delicious. I loved the sauce and the asparagus was good but for me, the potatoes were super underwhelming. A nice sauce or something would have made them better. They just tasted bland, were really dry and lacked any flavor. My wife expected the lamb or pork chops, they were both not on the menu. She got fish and chips which she really enjoyed, so it was a win. The Asian wings were our appetizer and were delightful too. Now the only real negative for us was the noise. We got there at 5:30 and it was fine. But as more people came in, the sound bounced around so bad that it became almost unbearable for me. I wanted to go so bad because people laughing and talking made my head hurt. Would I go back? Probably not. I didn't enjoy how loud it was. The food was very good though, so perhaps takeout would be more my speed. We had a nice meal and my leftovers were delicious later that evening.

Nicely decorated, photo worthy spot. The establishment was clean and welcoming. Parking was easy,…read morethere's a lot behind the building. We tried the espresso martini flight and ehhh photo worthy but it was just okay. No option to customize the flavors, so you're kind of stuck with whatever comes with it, even if you don't like the flavors. The mussels appetizer was good. My friend ordered the Kale Caesar salad...but it came out with spinach instead, which was a little odd. We both got the short rib for our entree and honestly... neither of us liked it. The flavor was lacking The service was great. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. Pricing fits for the type of restaurant, but based on the overall experience, it didn't feel worth the high bill this time around.

Another great visit to Shell's Seafood--worth the 4-year wait! No Miami location, so I had to stop…read moreby while in downtown Tampa. Still the same decor and has not changed in years. Came with family and had excellent service from Anthony and Tony. The New England clam chowder, shrimp pasta, seafood pasta, and crispy shrimp (lightly battered) were all delicious. Loved that I could swap the slaw for pasta--nice surprise! Hope to return much sooner next time.

Very secluded off the beaten path and tucked within the willows of the streets of Bon Air…read moreneighborhood of South Tampa. This seafood restaurant is pretty close to Tampa International Airport and minutes away from all major beaches. It is far from glamor and glory of the other places in Tampa, but man, the food here is incredible. Continue reading to find out... Located on the corner of W Cleveland Street & S Dale Marbry Highway, in the Bon Air Neighborhood, Shells Seafood is very easy to get to. A talk sign that towers over the restaurant can be seen from hundreds of feet away while driving; it's hard to miss the sign. Plenty of parking in the stalls on the property as well as neighborhood parking and local stores adjacent parking spots. Once inside, you are greeted by the cute looking host at the nicely decorated front reception. She seats you immediately to a an open floor spacing with two sides of seating and a centralized semi-circle bar area. There are roughly over 30 tables and plenty of room to accommodate small to larger. The cajun boil here is fabulous! Loved every minute of it. Will be visiting again ... maybe not during the hurricane seasons. :)