A Tampa Gem. My wife and my favorite restaurant. Excellent food and service. Unique and charming atmosphere, perfect for date night read more

I have been wanting to try Restaurant BT for about 5 months (I love Bistro, and BT To go) and was able to convince my partner to give it a shot. We were not disappointed. Everything we tasted was perfectly presented, cooked to the right degree, and had so much flavor. We ordered the beef dumplings, tuna tartare (quality of tuna is almost unmatched in Tampa) , duck burrito (a must try), king salmon, and coq au vin. The king salmon was unbelievable! This might be one of my new favorite restaurants. I can't wait until they get their liquor license and take their drinks to the same level as the menu. Bravo! read more

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One of my favorite restaurants in Tampa. A very intimate restaurant with limited seating. Especially during the pandemic, each table has a partition to separate them. I don't believe I've ever left this restaurant disappointed. The duck-duck-goose and the snapper are two of my favorites there. Their sake cocktails are also quite enjoyable. Definitely up there for a great food experience. read more

Amazing service, outstanding food and pleasant ambiance. Fantastic dining experience read more

Zen-like fine dining In Palma Ceia. No detail is forgotten at this Tampa gem. Haute cuisine with the freshest ingredients. Food presentation was artistic and elegant! Every dish I tried from the escargot to the croissant bread pudding had layers of flavor, texture, and depth. Quite worthy of a Michelin star in my opinion, but go see and taste for yourself. read more

My wife and I han been trying Vietnamese restaurants in Tampa for a few years and had become very well acquainted with the cuisine. I saw BT in the Michelin guide, so I thought this would the perfect place for our wedding anniversary dinner... In summary, one of the best restaurants we have ever eaten at. The food was fresh, flavorful and impeccably presented, the wine spectacular, and the best of all was the service. We look forward to going back soon. read more

Exquisite. Exceptional. Expensive. This is a sophisticated way to enjoy authentic Vietnamese cuisine. There's no sharing a communal bottle of siracha or hoisin sauce with other diners here. It's served in a small ramekin, perfectly portioned just for you and your pho, which costs about double what you would pay at most Vietnamese noodle shops. The chicken is organic though and it's served in a beautiful extra clean looking bowl. I still had trouble swallowing the $13 price tag for the soup along with a $3 split fee for my husband and myself sharing it. We paid $16 for soup. Vietnamese store owners everywhere must be looking at them with awe and envy. Teas and limeade beverages range from $3.50-5. Restaurant BT and its dining experience are unlike other Vietnamese restaurants though. For one, it's not in a strip mall. This is probably the most overlooked restaurant on Mac Dill with most drivers' attention steered toward the neon orange Datz sign across the street. Enter the small building and you'll feel the upscale atmosphere - white linen table cloths, clear plastic French bistro chairs, calming environment, professional service, and nice tableware. Outside is a serene patio with bamboo, orchids and a small garden that helps you forget the construction and traffic just steps away. Parking is very limited as they only have a small lot behind the building with spaces so narrow I recommend letting your passenger out before squeezing into the space. My last recommendation is the duck burrito. It's like a Peking duck pancake roll but beautifully wrapped and presented for you to enjoy with no effort on your part other than consuming. The pork bun entree was also superb. Shrimp rolls were fresh. I don't believe there is anything on the menu that isn't prepared well. It's authentic Vietnamese, just presented in a sophisticated manner. This is how distinguished diners enjoy the flavorful dishes of Vietnam without dining at a strip mall joint. read more

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Why 5 stars? Because it's an instant classic. --- --- --- It only happens from time to time, but I'm reviewing this place the same night that I ate there. The reason for this is that it was such an amazing meal, I couldn't wait til Yelp my face off and spread the good word. I had BT on my "to-do" list for a while, but hadn't been able to get around to trying it out. Then one day, when putting together The Weekly Yelp on Bayshore Beautiful, I noticed Rich D's review of BT and I knew that I had to expedite the process of dining there. His review said something along the lines of, "I've traveled all over the world and eaten at some amazing places over time, but my meal at Restaurant BT is in the top 3 I've ever had the pleasure of eating." How do you possibly read that and not immediately feel a magnetic pull to Macdill and Bay to Bay? He ordered the Shaken Beef, so I obviously wasn't going to be needing a menu upon my arrival. One bite in, I understood exactly why his comments were so strong. The beef was incredibly tender and flavorful....my only wish is that the portion was six times bigger, because I would have been able to eat it for hours. My friend ordered the Stroganoff, which was incredible as well. I liked my order more, but hers was 5-star quality as well. Her noodles were the best I've ever had. For dessert she went with the bread pudding and I had the banana pudding. Hers was made of bits of heaven clouds. Mine was solid, don't get me wrong....but that bread pudding was not to be ignored. And it never will be again. Restaurant BT - one of the best restaurants in Tampa Bay. And the area of "Bayshore Beautiful" is easily the class of restaurants in Tampa Bay. read more

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Yeap 4 stars! Located on Macdill Ave, across from Datz. We walked over to the restaurant after our hot class at Evolation studio. It's such a beautiful restaurant, bamboo sticks adorn the awning, felt like I was entering a forbidden garden. Very whimsical feeling. Not knowingly, we entered the restaurant through the kitchen which was so awkward but got a impromptu tour of this quaint restaurant. The dining room had a very clean feeling, lots of white but the seats were unusual, clear and plastic. Overall, nicely decorated. The hostess was amazing, I loved how she described the specials with such grace and made me salivate before we even ordered lol. FYI, this place isn't cheap but great attention to details and presentation was amazing for every dish we tried. Also, my friend is a strict vegan but the hostess assured us most of their menu items are customizable, which was a great touch. We started the night with Duck burrito OMG so good. Pulled duck meat with aromatics in hoisin (Asian BBQ sauce), one of the best things I had there. My friend opted for fresh rolls with tofu, came with a side of peanut/soy dipping sauce. It was filled with rice noodles, matchstick veggies and tofu. It was good but quite dry, needed some moisture inside the roll. For entrees, my friend and I ordered app size phó, duck phó for me and beef for her. I was underwhelmed, most Vietnamese places I went to in the past offered all the fixings like basil, lime, beansprouts on the side but here they were all added for us. Everyone has a different way of dressing their phó and I was really hoping to get my hands dirty and use the accompaniments to my liking. The broth felt one note, there was no heat or tang to the soup. We ended the night with desserts, bread pudding topped with ice cream nestled in a sweet milk. OMG to the 100th power, this was yummy. My friend ordered the banana tapioca pudding, I am not the biggest banana fan but that was quite good. Overall, great food. I am taking a star off for phó, it could've been so much better. FYI, the word Phó is mispronounced by many people. Just remember, it's the letter F (sounds like) in the word FUN. Hope that makes sense lol. read more

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Duck Burrito (YUM!) Shaken Beef (Good!) Bread Pudding (Too Small!) Rose Champagne (are you kidding? A Plus) The experience at BT for dinner was lovely for all practical purposes. I dined with great company. The service was great the first half until our server became super busy. I've waited a few months to review this restaurant because of a conversation I had with BT that left me a bit perplexed. I decided to sit on it, but now it's time. After the app was served (Duck), the waiter offered to box the half I had remaining on my plate. I said yes! Please! And so a box was delivered with my duck tucked safely inside. The main course was served and then again, cleared and collected. This was around the time that the establishment was cranking. I clearly divided half of my plate. The server took the plates without discussion. We ordered dessert. Our Checks arrived. My leftovers never came back. I was going to inquire about them (I'm not afraid to speak up) but BT beat me to it. I had enclosed a "You've Been Yelped" card in with my check and payment, as I always do. BT came to the table and asked if someone was unhappy. I raised my hand and said I wished for my leftovers. She informed me that they do not box or ask guests unless the guest specifies. Um. BT made me a leftover half order to take home but then testily said that we should not give negative reviews on Yelp. To the whole table. Um, what? I didn't have any real issues until that came out. She was mad and counteracted the correction. The 9 other guests were offended by the way that part was handled. I really don't know what to think. read more

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Fabulous little place for a romantic night out. The restaurant is a lot bigger inside than you would guess from the outside, as they have two dining rooms - one large, one small, plus a patio section that was set for dinner. There are cool driftwood sculptures on the walls, and sheer curtains cover the windows and doors. It all works in harmony to create a peaceful, elegant, intimate atmosphere which I loved. Service was outstanding. In addition to our server, there were bus boys, water boys, etc., who constantly made sure our table was clean, our water was topped off, provided new silverware for every course, and that we were enjoying everything. Food was wonderful - after reading all the recommendations we started off with the duck burrito. So flavorful - the duck was so tender and rich. As soon as I saw they had bouillabaisse on the menu, I was a goner - it is one of my favorite entrees, and I have never had the Vietnamese twist on it. And while I liked it, I didn't love it. For one thing, it wasn't served hot. Even though the chef came out to the table and poured the broth on top of my bowl of fresh seafood, it was just was barely warm. And while all the fresh seafood was delicious, the main portion in the dish was salmon, which was just kind of plain. I think they count on the sauce to take everything over the top on flavor, and it just didn't happen. I sampled my boyfriend's seafood avocado salad and his snapper entrée, however, and both were excellent. I will definitely come back here for lunch - I am excited to try their pho and other Vietnamese specialties. read more

Restaurant BT - Action shot! Chef pouring the broth on my seafood bouillabaisse. - French Near Me - Tampa, Florida

I love date nights. I'm always with the prettiest lady in the restaurant and we always end up with great food. Tonight was no different, though the food could have been a bit better. We heard about BT a while ago and while I had forgotten about it, my lady steered us here. The menu is fantastic and I couldn't wait to try it. Probably could have just ate appetizers all night, but the entrees had like 10 good options. The restaurant is very sterile looking, and by that, I mean everything is white and the chairs are plastic. Seriously-clear plastic chairs with cushions. Comfortable, but it feels surgical in there. The decor is very understated-jars of spices on the wall, and what looks like petrified antlers behind the bar. They serve wine and sake-I didn't see a liquor bottle or anyone having a drink, but maybe I missed it. Service was fine. Nothing worth adding or subtracting a star over. Melissa and I had an opposite experience with food. My appetizer was to die for, my entree just pretty good. Hers was the other way-meh on the app, but delicious entree. Her review will give the details on hers, but I started with the Vietnamese mini spring rolls (it was that or the duck burrito and it was a good 10 minute internal debate). Absolutely fantastic. Best spring rolls I think I have ever had. However, for my entree, I had the shaken beef. The filet mignon was cooked perfectly, but it just didn't have a lot of flavor. It was very good, but I think I chalk that up more to perfectly cooked filet mignon than to anything they did with sauces or seasonings. For French/Vietnamese, I would have expected more bite or more more flavor to the sauce. In the end, it just wasn't as good as I would have expected. That said, clearly there are better options. Melissa's snapper was awesome, though I only had a bite or two, and there are so many delicious looking items on this menu, that I'll definitely be back to try more. read more

Based upon the reviews I was expecting some fairly extraordinary food, and I was not disappointed. Everything we had was top notch. The complexity of the recipes and quality of the ingredients is definitely far above most Vietnamese restaurants I've been to. At a recent lunch we worked our way through many appetizer courses, beginning with the fresh shrimp rolls and the mini crispy spring rolls. Both were elevated by the inclusion of very flavorful and fresh herbs. Tuna Tai Chanh was a wonderful tuna tartare that was mixed with an unusually large amount of chopped fresh herbs that gave it a complex flavor, elevating it far about the tuna and sesame oil base. We also tried two special. Pheasant pate was an excellent rough country style pate served with traditional French accompaniments of mustard, gherkins and chopped onions. Truffled burrata cheese was also nicely done, with a sort of pesto or chimichurri accompaniment. For an entree I had the grilled pork banh mi. I'm a particular fan of that sandwich, and this one was as good as any I've had, with lots of fresh herbs, a savory soy marinade, and just the right amount of creamy mayonnaise. I'm not sure I'd describe anything I had as "fusion" cuisine. Most of the dishes are gourmet Vietnamese, and the two specials we had were French, but I didn't detect any fusing going on. The wine list is reasonably priced and offers some nice choices. The Puligny Montrachet went well with the food, although not as well as the Chateau Carbonneau that we brought. The $30 corkage seemed a bit steep, but otherwise I thought the food pricing was very reasonable. I can only assume those complaining about the prices were expecting Vietnamese sandwich shop and the ingredients here mark this as a very fine dining restaurant that happens to serve lunch, too. read more

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Absolutely phenomenal. One of the best places in Tampa with the highest quality of ingredients. Intimate atmosphere. Yummy saketinis too. read more

Restaurant BT - Beef dumplings - French Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Hostess was unpleasant and rude. Server was very good. Waited too long for our food. Almost an hour. Food was good but left me hungry. Ordered an expensive snapper dish. Tasted good but very small piece of snapper for $40+. Mushroom soup not like the photos. Tasted like Campbell's soup. Too expensive for what you get. Will not come back. Lots of other better restaurants that are the same price range but much better food, ambience and value. read more

Restaurant BT is located off Macdill in South Tampa next to Indian Flames Grill, Datz, Dough, and Lure. There is parking in the back and it is in a shared building with a clothing boutique. The restaurant is kind of in a small space with very low lying ceilings but they still did a nice job in providing a chic low light candle lit elegant impressive atmosphere to enjoy dinner. We didn't need reservations. We were able to get seating without any wait and our food came out in under 10 minutes. There was a relaxing lounge music playing which was about he right volume, not too loud or too quiet. I got the BOUILLABAISSE DE BT which came with Maine lobster claws, Gulf prawns, Pink salmon, calamari, saffron - seafood broth, black garlic rouille, baby potatoes, baguette and was delicious and very plentiful ! 10/10 We also got the SALMON A LA PLANCHA Pan seared pink salmon, lobster risotto, roasted rainbow cauliflower, and tamarind-ginger-sake sauce which was pretty tasty but not the biggest serving size nor the most unique dish 7/10 Cafe Bt grows their own spring mint, chocolate mint, basil onions, lime, flowers for the tables, Red peppers, jalapeño peppers, garlic, thyme, oregano, terragon, calamendine, lemon grass, and various other herbs on their grounds and they have a bonsai tree shaper master and spice master that tends the garden in the grounds! I wanna be a spice master! That sounds cool! Look forward to coming back to try more from the menu another time! read more

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BT has been called the "Godmother" of Tampa fine dining and for good reason. It's been a few years since dining in her landmark location and things have changed yet stayed the same. Love the new look in the dining room, the curtains create an allure of private and fancy experience I've only seen done at Ciro's. Such an elegant touch when you walk through the place. Service is prompt yet never rushed. We started with a Burgundy red because a meal of this level deserves a wine to match! The wine list is extensive and covers the bases for any true wine lover. We had the great honor of sitting in the smaller back room next to Chef BT. We were worried about bringing our 4month old to dinner but she welcomed him during the Friday 8pm dinner rush! The pace of dinner was amazing, plenty of time to enjoy our wine and enjoy the date out with my wife. Food was incredible- specially the soup and the duck! read more

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What a wonderful experience! Our server Erin was professional, lovely and fun. Her timing and manner were so perfect for my boyfriends birthday. Not to mention the food! Incredible flavor, presentation and style. Would highly recommend this cozy, stylish and flavorful restaurant for any intimate evening! Thanks again ERIN! Stellar service! read more

We live in St. Pete, so we are not in Tampa very often, but whenever we are, we either go here or to their cafe if it's lunchtime. We also celebrate our anniversary dinner here as well. They go above and beyond to make it memorable for us, from printing our names and a special message on the menu to a special dessert. It keeps us coming back each year. read more

I have been a huge fan of Restaurant BT for years, ever since she occupied the space in Hyde Park. The restaurant, for years now, resides in a smaller spot on MacDill Avenue. I'll mention the parking is behind this gem off of Palmira. Walk in and you will find the décor to be very clean, minimalist, with lots of bamboo. The atmosphere is Zen-like to me. It has a relaxed, comfortable,casual feel. The menu is French-Vietnamese with strong hints of a global influence. In one word the food is seductive. I feel the passion that goes into the food just by visually taking in how beautifully plated each menu item is, as it is presented to the diner. It's like you have been given a piece of art that you may further enjoy by devouring all of its parts. BT is truly gifted at combining spices, creating contrast between textures, color and flavor, therefore giving her customers a delicious gorgeous meal. I have enjoyed the fresh rolls, spring rolls, tuna tai chanh, salmon gravalax, and duck burrito as starters. The black truffle burrata and the avocado lobster salad are divine. The entree's that stand out for me are the shaken beef, prawns and the snapper. Not a fan of the pho. I personally think it needs to be bolder. My favorite thing to do is order several starters for the table to share. I rarely order dessert so I am unable to comment on her sweets. The wine list is creative and BT takes pride in selecting what she has to offer her guests. I believe you may bring in your own bottle for a steep corkage fee of $30-$40. Please confirm this with the restaurant. I have always been pleased with the wait staff. This is an expensive night out, no doubt. I believe several menu items are too high for what you are receiving. Overall, you are still 5 stars. read more

A foodie friend of mine recommended Restaurant BT and it really doesn't get much better. The presentation was perfection. We started with Vietnamese mini spring rolls and escargot in a puff pastry cup followed by warm lobster salad served on cucumbers. Everything was delicious. For the entree, I recommend the tuna sashimi served with pickled ginger, seaweed salad and soba noodles. The tuna melts in your mouth. So good! This is an eclectic, elegant experience. read more

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We came in for a romantic date night and that is what we got. By sheer coincidence we had a very early reservation because my husband got home early. If you want a very romantic experience take the 5:30pm reservation and you will be the first there. It took about an hour for people to trickle in after that. We had a very attentive waiter, think like that of what you would experience at ta five star restaurant. The decor of the restaurant is simple and beautiful in style and aesthetic. I loved the spice wall and open space of the building. Ok, so the food is simple, fresh, and beautiful just like you would expect at Bistro BT. The steamed lobster salad was absolutely fantastic. My husband and I split it because we weren't sure how much it would end up being serving size wise. It was large enough for both of us to split and we both got the same entree which was great. My husband loved the duck burrito as the favorite of the dinner (he loves duck). Parking can be limited, the parking lot is small and there is no street parking. Dinner ended up being around 210-ish, but it was on par with what I would expect for the level of food and service we received. A lot of the menu is gluten free also. I think this place is a gem, consider it for your next date night. Its easy to miss on Macdill Ave, but its right across from Datz. read more

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The best meal I've ever had. If any Florida restaurant deserves a Michelin star Restaurant BT does! The service, the cuisine, the presentation and the ambience all top-notch. Wonderful way to celebrate. Thank you read more

Beautiful interior, delicious food, excellent service. High prices. Highly recommend the shaken beef! Also loved the lobster roll appetizer and dumplings. Gorgeous plating! read more

Restaurant BT - Lobster roll - French Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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BT is the place to go if you want to try a creative and sophisticated version of your favorites. As a huge fan of BT To Go, it's only natural I had to visit the Mama restaurant, and it was only natural for me to love it. The restaurant itself is intimate. Its decorations are simple and organic. I didn't make a reservation when I went for dinner, and I was seated almost right away. I started with the Peking duck burrito ($14), and it was everything you could ever want in a Peking duck burrito: beautiful, flavorful, and warm. I wish it were more than one piece. I ordered the shaken beef ($31) as my entree. I was hesitant at first because of the incorporation of Maggi soy sauce which I don't love, but I ended up loving the shaken beef. The meat is perfect and tender, and the soy sauce was not overwhelming. I could've had it without the bed of tomatoes. I dislike tomatoes, and it was like the tomatoes were guarding the beef against me lol. For dessert, I chose the croissant bread pudding ($11) which is as good as you picture it to be. I loved that I could tell it was a croissant. The ice cream and creme anglaise complimented perfectly. It was the perfect way to end a beautiful experience. I'll be back [when my wallet permits]. read more

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Amazing local hidden gem! Will be back for more, loved every bit of it. Can't wait to go back.

This is my first time to this restaurant and I am absolutely impressed by it. I would think that this fusion food is more French than Asian. Regardless, it's well prepared. They are pricy but it's definitely worth the $$. read more

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Excellent service, food, and atmosphere. We got the escargot puff pastry pot pie for a starter. Entrees were the snapper and lemongrass chicken special. Dessert was the Croissant bread pudding. That might have been the best chicken I've ever had. The escargot app was phenomenal and unique as well. read more

Restaurant BT - Snapper a la Vietnam - French Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Unique experience. BT takes great pains to teach us to respect and celebrate the vibrancy of the life we too simply call " food "

Our Number 1 restaurant - This has become our "go to" restaurant for out-of-town guests. The iconic Bern's is a "one and done" restaurant, whereas Restaurant BT is one they we keep going back to. Specials supplement a menu of modest length, but the dishes are worth repeating (my fav: Duck Duck Goose). You must try her escargot in the puff pastry. Even if you hate "snails" this will change your mind. The waitstaff are very knowledgeable - like culinary school graduates - take their advice. read more

One of our favorites. Have loved everything we tried. Small, quiet place with good service. Recommend!

Wow. This place is pretty spectacular. I just found out about this gem and I wish I had sooner. We had the Vietnamese soup special for an app, best seafood soup I've ever had. Light and refreshing, no cream. We also had the tuna app which had hearts of palms to mix inside the tuna, yum!! I had the squid dish, never had anything like it before and the black rice that goes with it was magnificent. My fiancé got the bouillabaisse which also delicious. They were decent size portions and had to take home left overs. Bread pudding dessert was lovely as well, smaller portion but perfect for two stuffed individuals. Absolutely worthy of 5 stars. Their wine glass pours are pretty stingy but you can go very close by and get a better pour somewhere else. Will definitely be back for the food... and drink after the meal next time. read more

Restaurant BT - Squid dish - French Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Great food, great ambiance, and great experience. My only criticism is the costs have gone up significantly... $25 starters are a bit much.. I had the duck which was delicious and executed well, but it was a small portion than I would've hoped for with a price tag of $48...costs aside I'm still rating 5 stars because the food is outstanding. read more

It truly doesn't get better for fine dining than BT! At this location, they have a more upscale menu, service and environment. The staff is excellent and very attentive. At my last visit here, we had a few starters which included fresh rolls (so delicious) and black truffle burrata with heirloom tomatoes and balsamic (insanely good). I ordered the seafood special which included lobster and salmon, and it was terrific. I also ordered the snapper entree which was phenomenal, with a perfectly crispy crust and crunchy cabbage and cucumber salad beneath the fish. Lastly we ordered creme brûlée for dessert, and it came out as 3 different creme brûlée flavors. Very creative and tasty. The flavors and presentation are top notch thanks to the amazing talent of BT Nguyen! For a bit of a higher price point, it's perfect for a night to dress up and enjoy luxury dining. 5 stars! read more

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Anh catered an event for us last night by University of Tampa and the food was amazing. Awesome salad and summer rolls. The summer rolls were quite popular and went fast. Anh made the entire process so easy from ordering to delivery to billing. She also was able to provide options for vegetarian guests in attendance at the event. Look forward to the next opportunity to use them again for catering. read more

Amazing dining experience! The Chef and Owner, BT, has created a warm and elegant space. Her menu is creative and the food, every single plate, is wonderful. I love this place! read more

We did the chef tasting menu and it was literally one of the best meals I've ever had. I left happy and my stomach was overly satisfied. Service was amazing too! read more

Delicious food. Fresh veggies grown in the garden outside. Very good service and attention to detail on every aspect of the meal. Very high quality read more

BT's restaurants are always a treat. I hope she will put that wonderful stuffed duck (not sure of the real name) that she made at Exodus Cafe on the menu. It changed my life. Always good and unique flavor combos with BT. read more

By far the best food I have ever tasted in my life. I got the salmon and honestly there are no words to possibly describe how amazing it was. One thing that I absolutely love about it is the location. It's hidden and very European, and inside is simplistic yet so romantic. The pictures don't give it justice whatsoever. Also, the service was absolutely fenomenal. Trust me, you won't be disappointed. It Definitely exceeded my expectations! read more

Restaurant BT - Salmon - French Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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