Food was amazing and the atmosphere even better. Such a fun and classy place. A must stop if you're…read morein the Tampa area! Very robust whiskey selection and wine for everyone. Our server, Destiny, was so much fun and gave us great recommendations!

Oak & Ola has become our go-to restaurant for large birthday celebrations, and they exceed our…read moreexpectations every single time. We've celebrated multiple birthdays there with groups of 20-25 women, and they always make the experience feel effortless. While many Tampa restaurants require deposits, minimum spends, or limited menus for large parties, Oak & Ola simply welcomes us with open arms and genuinely seems happy to have us there. The service is consistently impeccable, the food is both beautiful and absolutely delicious, and the restaurant itself offers a gorgeous atmosphere with stunning waterfront views. It's clear that every detail matters to them. They reserve a special table for gifts, have even printed custom "Happy Birthday" menus for us, and on our most recent visit, Chef Margaret came out personally to wish the birthday girl a happy birthday. Our servers were phenomenal. They anticipated every need, kept everything running smoothly for such a large group, and never missed a beat. Coordinating a party our size is no small task, yet they made it look easy while making every single person feel cared for. If you're looking for a restaurant with exceptional food, outstanding service, and a team that truly knows how to make guests feel special, Oak & Ola is one of the very best in Tampa. We can't wait for our next celebration there!

Good Service, really thank you for everything I love yall guys, I seen good guy at bartenderread more

Best food I've had in my life. Amazing atmosphere and beautiful dishes of food.- Kaleb Brunsread more

Beyond impressed! A flawless dining experience. If you…read morehaven't checked this steakhouse out yet, you are seriously missing out! We had an absolutely incredible experience from start to finish. The food was unmatched--the steak was divine and cooked to absolute perfection. Beyond the food, the ambiance is beautiful and romantic, with a minimal noise level that actually allows you to enjoy your conversation. What really sets this place apart, though, is the service. It was outstanding. Management was incredibly attentive and even stopped by a second time just to check on us and ensure everything was perfect. We were beyond impressed with the care and detail they put into their hospitality. We will absolutely be back! Highly, highly recommend.

I really need to stop falling for social media hype. Driftlight fell way short of expectations,…read moreespecially for their price point. Let's start with the good. We arrived for our reservation and were seated promptly. Walking in, there were plenty of open tables. Maybe that should have been our first warning sign. Our server was friendly, but the tableside manner didn't match other comparable modern American steakhouses in the Tampa Bay/St. Pete area. My wife and I started with the French onion soup; our son had the Key Lime Caesar. The soup portion was smaller than usual, with a significant taper toward the bottom of the cup, but the flavor more than made up for it. A strong start! The Caesar was crisp and cold, and our son devoured it in minutes. Another win; however, this was short lived. Now for the bad. My wife and I both ordered the filet; I added the truffle butter enhancement. Unfortunately, my steak was ridiculously overcooked, and the truffle butter was the only thing that salvaged the flavor. Our son's 18oz Delmonico fared no better -- his verdict: "it's ok." For sides, we ordered baked potatoes and broccolini. Hard to screw up a baked potato, so no complaints there. The broccolini, however, was dry and flavorless. I should have sent it back and asked for a substitute. As a side note, we were also served creamed corn, which we hadn't officially ordered. We'd discussed it while placing our order but ultimately decided against it. We figured our server misheard and put it in anyway. Ironically, the dish we didn't order was the best one on the table, if a bit drowning in cheese. Shortly after, an order of mushrooms arrived, which we also hadn't ordered. That's when it clicked: the creamed corn was meant for another table, and we'd been served someone else's food. We debated skipping dessert but figured we might as well get the full experience. We ordered the gelato; my wife wanted it served as an affogato. When she asked, she was met with a blank look from our server. At this price point, the server should know what an affogato is. So we ordered an espresso separately and made the affogato ourselves. Honestly, I'm not convinced what we got was gelato and not just plain ice cream -- it was freezer-burnt. Final damage for the evening: over $500 with gratuity. Absolutely ridiculous for the quality of food and service we received. To close things out, our server seemed eager to rush us off, asking if we were done with the check and whisking it away almost immediately. At least let us sit and bask in the $500 worth of regret. Bottom line: if you want a genuine modern American steakhouse experience, there are significantly better options in Tampa/St. Pete...especially at a $500 price point.

This was, without question, the best dining experience I've ever had…read more We had a 9:00 PM reservation for my brother's fiancée's birthday. When we arrived, we were told there would be a short wait because a few tables had paid but hadn't left yet. About 15 minutes passed, but every staff member was incredibly kind throughout the process. They even came outside and brought us complimentary champagne to apologize, which immediately set the tone for the night. We hadn't even sat down yet, and they had already made us feel valued. From the moment we walked inside, the atmosphere was incredible. The energy, the ambiance, and the service exceeded every expectation I had for my first Michelin restaurant experience. Our server, Elijah, was exceptional. He was knowledgeable, intentional, and genuinely passionate about creating a great experience. Sophie also gave fantastic wine recommendations that paired perfectly with our entrées. The mozzarella cart is an absolute must. There is no reason to visit Rocca and skip it. While it was being prepared, we had the opportunity to talk with Mason about life, goals, and dreams, and it felt like talking with an old friend. Later, after mentioning how much we loved the music, Kingston came over, found out we were in town for the J. Cole concert, and played J. Cole throughout the rest of the evening. It was such a thoughtful, personal touch that made the night even more memorable. To top it off, the restaurant brought us additional complimentary bites as another apology for the initial wait, even though we already felt they had gone above and beyond. The food was phenomenal. Every dish was authentic, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. Two people in our group have spent significant time in Italy, and both said it was the best Italian food they've had anywhere in America. We finished the evening with espresso, stayed until closing, and never once felt rushed. In fact, we were told they would happily stay all night if we wanted to keep enjoying ourselves. Thank you to Elijah, Sophie, Mason, Kingston, and everyone at Rocca for creating such an unforgettable evening. If I'm ever within two hours of Tampa again, I'll be coming back. God bless you all.

Do yourself a favor, if you like cheese, start with the mozzarella cart! It is the freshest…read moremozzarella I've ever had, made table side. Not usually a fan of tomatoes but this caprese was fantastic. Agnolotti was delicious, a little spice from the sausage but well balanced with the sauce. Sphaghetti al limone was my favorite bite of the whole meal. Generous portions of crab meat with a buttery, tart kick of lemon sauce was incredible. Service was excellent as expected from a place with this reputation and pricing. Our server was very attentive and made appropriate recommendations throughout. Ambiance was dark and intimate. An upscale atmosphere without being overly stuffy. A must try for a nicer night out, we went for our anniversary dinner and had a wonderful experience. Would definitely come back here again!

15/10 experience…read more Lee our server was above and beyond. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. The steak tartare was exquisite but I will say if you order a steak you do not need apps since it does come with steak, potato, salad, French onion soup, veggie, and onion straws. Good bang for your buck! You will spend a lot but it is more than worth it. The kitchen and wine tour just gives you an idea of the production of this magical place. The history and authenticity is just amazing.

We went for a romantic dinner and this place did not disappoint I thought the portions were way too…read morebig but that didn't stop it from having 5 stars, because take home was nice. I suggest you do not sleep on the escargot. It was perfect and the gazpacho style soup was wayyyy better than their,in my opinion, burnt French onion soup. (We came at the end of the night, so chalk that up to being literally one of the last guests). Wine list was INSANE and the cellar tour was one of the highlights of my year it was amazing to see so many old and relived bottles and some of the rarest in the world. This experience alone is why I give it 5 stars. I don't think my waygu filet was waygu- no marbling and it was not buttery at all we actually boxed it up immediately because it was not cooked med rare, but we were sharing a plate so, whatever. Kitchens seem to hate when people share but I have a special need and cannot eat large portions like that so, it was not us being cheap. We wanted to go to the dessert room, and so I wanted to save my last few bites for that. Food was basic in my opinion- but it was a grand experience and the server and very attentive and kind It was strange but they add 13% (didn't seem enough in my experience) to the bill, we added more, but didn't understand the feez?? I want to always leave a good tip but I didn't know if it was a "service fee" or if it was for the server it was not fully explained. (Hope he got the full tip.) Upstairs was the dessert room, the nostalgia of this was heavenly. A phone on the wall you can call the pianist and request a song. It was amazing. The flourless chocolate sundae---- OMG so good. The tiny but tasty brandy Alexander for the price it should have been much creamier and more than 2oz of whatever it was it didn't have all of the ingredients in it as described, but hey I still give this place 5 stars because it is kinda like a brothel meets the haunted mansion meets/ your grandmas house. So it was definitely unique and worth the over 400$ bill I just wish they would explain what their "service fee is" and when you order waygu- don't send out a regular filet to a person, who is a chef. It's insulting and really not what a company should do. Again, we were the last guests of the night we booked late on purpose, and start to finish this place was fascinating. The truffled tar tar was also very good. We had apps, wine, drinks dessert, steaks, salads, soups our waitstaff made up for the kitchens error on the cut of meat and we still at it next day. Fascinating is the word I think of for this Tampa favorite. I will go back but skip the meal and have appetizers, wine, and dessert. Hope they don't mind that.

District South has been on my list of places for brunch and I'm so glad I finally had the chance to…read morecheck it out! I recently went for brunch to celebrate a friend's birthday. We were a group of 10 and our server was excellent! The whole staff really! We sat outside and enjoyed our food+ mimosas. There was a tv out there so i know if i ever go with my husband he can watch his games (gooooo sports) while i indulge in my mimosas. I'd been studying the menu ever since my friend told me we were going. I ended up going with the avocado tartine and added smoked salmon. It was delicious and went well with a day of heavy drinking!! We also ordered the grazing board for the table which was amazing. I loved the assortment of cheeses and snacks. The butter on the board was bussinnnnn! I was in heaven!! I should mention the bottomless mimosas were $25 and the bottles literally just keep coming! Safe to say we were all feeling nice and toasty by the time we left. We hung out for a while without even getting kicked out I'd love to visit again and try more menu items. The server mentioned the cubano is the best Cuban you'll have. Now I'm always a bit skeptical bc everyone says that lol but the cubano came out looking gooooodT! I didn't try it but my friend who ordered it loved it! Parking was easy and right outside. We parked and checked in pretty quickly with ease. Thanks for the awesome service and experience! I definitely recommend adding district south kitchen & craft to your list of boozy brunch spots!

Hmmmm Peaks and…read morevalleys. Thats the best way I can describe how this meal felt. Appetizers were strong. Focaccia bread with some sorta meat baked on top and grouper breaded in coconut, heck yeahhhh. Both great, fun choices that were great. Down to the meal itself. I had prime rib sammich and then my friend got the grits with braised pork. Super excited for it and it was good. But I wouldn't go past good? I'm not sure. It was one of those ones where I for sure ate it all, I did like it but I was not wow'd. With the apps, they were outfitted with great sauce choices. Look at those plates. Two different sauces per plate. So in my mind, that means they most likely make their own ranch, honey mustard, etc. how exciting?! I ordered a ranch for my friend and I, hoping that it would be homemade and blow my doors off. Ranch came, paired great with the fires but then they charged me $2.75?! Yooo, did me dirty, I can't lie. All in all, I liked it here. I just don't know if I'll hurry back. Also, for two apps, 3 entries, was kinda expansive. Idk maybe I'm just complaining. We are in Tampa, I just didn't feel great looking at the bill.

Came for happy hour with a friend and it was everything I'd hope for. Drinks were great ranging…read morefrom $7-9 and the cucumber gimlet was so refreshing! I got the fried green tomato Caprese and didn't want balsamic on it but the pesto on bottom did just the trick. Staff were kind and helpful with suggestions and there's plenty of parking on the street or a small lot behind the restaurant

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.

We arrived early for a dinner reservation and were so happy there were only 2 people at the bar so…read morethe 4 of us could sit down and enjoy a drink together. The atmosphere was super festive and we were looking forward to our evening. The bartender was friendly and took our drink order. We waited an extremely long time and his excuse was he had to climb up to get a bottle of Grey Goose. After waiting so long he still forgot the one drink which we thought was what took so long, an old fashioned. The two other customers got an additional drink while we were waiting. We were 15 minutes late for our reservation, which didn't matter because there were only 2 tables of patrons. Our server in training came by and dropped off paper Christmas menus and brought us water. Then we waited and waited and finally our sever arrived. We asked for the menu and she said the only thing they had was this special Christmas menu, which was basically all appetizers. This is NOT what we planned when making reservations weeks ago. So disappointing! We ended up leaving and having dinner elsewhere.

The perfect spot for a girls night if you're trying to sleigh into the holiday spirit! We all…read moredressed up in Christmas colors and Santa hats and felt right at home under the magical decor tinsel, twinkling lights, oversized ornaments, the works! I had two cocktails one came in the cutest Santa mug (instant mood boost), and the Clover d'Hiver was pretty and delicious from the Christmas menu. Service was a little slow with checks and I never got the food I ordered but honestly, the vibes were so cute and cozy I didn't even stay mad. Great spot for a festive night out with friends or a cute holiday date night.