A lovely sidewalk cafe with great food and friendly staff. Walked here on our last day in Tampa. Husband had chicken fried steak and eggs. He said it was delicious especially the hashbrowns! It could be improved with hand made chicken fry and not the frozen prepared ones. I had the turkey panini and potato salad. My sandwich was flavorful. What really makes this place is the staff! Terry is EXACTLY the waiter you want when on holiday: friendly, efficient, and loving his work! read more

Wow! Have never had a gyro omelette before but it was dynamite! Extremely fast service & they even had GF bread! Highly recommend to stop in and see Drew! read more

Went for breakfast. Ordered the eggs Benedict. Picked this place after all the great reviews. The food was so over salty it almost tasted rancid. I had two bites and couldn't finish. My son has the strawberry crepe with Nutella. It was fine. Nothing to rave about. Pretty disappointed would not return. read more

We love this place for breakfast. The cappuccinos are delicious. The new owners are amazing. We definitely recommend the Samaria Cafe. read more

Samaria Cafe - We love this place for breakfast. The cappuccinos are delicious. The new owners are amazing. We definitely recommend the Samaria Cafe. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Tampa, Florida

You can't beat a delicious breakfast served with a smile. The Monte Cristo Sandwich was just perfect! read more

WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS PLACE......... Used to be my fave downtown, really good food, staff, service..... Now it's a hassle to get seated, zero interaction with staff/just drop your order & check and walk away.......while owner barks over din with endless barrage of orders to waitstaff..........used to calm relaxing experience, now chaos & noise the entire time..........guess I'll find a new place.........RIP Good Samaria................ read more

I visited this cafe for the first time for breakfast on a Sunday. It was excellent!!! I live in downtown, but had not tried this cafe before because for some reason I had something completely different in mind based on the name. The restaurant is more like a typical diner/restaurant with some Greek items (not what I expected). First of all the food was great. I had eggs Benedict and asked for a side of gyro meat to use instead of Canadian bacon and it was so good. The meat was SO good. The thing that makes this place stand out more than any other small restaurant I have been to in downtown is the OWNER! His name is Steve and he is so friendly! I was sitting alone and once I realized I was the only party left sitting outside I was a little more cautious about who was walking up the sidewalk. Steve came out and sat with me. Its like small town 1950s. He was so friendly and chatted about his family and his business! This made me feel so much more comfortable and was so much appreciated. I will 100% be returning to this place! read more

Breakfast was fantastic! And make sure you bring your appetite because we couldn't finish everything they brought out. They use 8 eggs to make their omelettes. We would have been better to share but the food is great and the service was super friendly. They have both outdoor and indoor seating and accept cards. read more

Took a stroll here on a Sunday in a hung-over stupor. Walked past a few places and saw the glorious prospect of a gyro omelette on their menu. Bliss. The owner and staff are probably the nicest and friendliest staff I've met in a long time. They even let me sit in a booth alone as I'm sure they could tell the bar seating would result in catastrophe in my hung over state. The gyro omelette changed my life. Headache a mere afterthought. Tzaziki sauce was on point, especially since I chose the tomatoes as my side. Bacon was cooked to perfection. I will make it a point to stop here any time I come back into town! Sober, drunk, or anywhere in between! Thanks Gloria! read more

I was in Tampa for a women's health conference and found this diner within walking distance from the hotel. I stopped by for lunch and am glad that I did. The service was prompt and the food came out quickly. The portion was huge and the food was decently priced. The sandwich had roasted red peppers on ciabatta bread with southwest sauce and blackened chicken. It was delicious and done well. I requested the fries be seasoned which wasn't an option but they accommodated it without additional charge. The fries were crisp and evenly done. The seasoning on them was excellent. The waitress checked on me regularly and even helped me decide between two options on the menu. Over all, I recommend you try out this place. Lots of variety on the menu so I'm sure you'll find something you'll like! read more

Samaria Cafe - Southwest chipotle chicken sandwich with seasoned fries - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Typical diner food. It was good! The service was great! Great location in Tampa. I'd revisit.

Just one of those places where you feel the almost family atmosphere when you walk in. The owner spent a few minutes with us as we sat down, even asking us if the temperature in the restaurant was ok. The food is perfect for those "wow Saturday morning vane early" type of mornings - if you know what I mean. I always prefer places that leave the carafe of coffee at your table, which is how they do it. Food is absolutely above average for a diner setting. We'll be back. read more

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Great food! Serves breakfast all day. Brought our 3 year old child, and our waiter Terry was beyond nice to him. Talking to him and asking him what he wanted to eat. Our child got pancakes and they came our perfectly cooked as mickey mouse faces. The coffee is phenomenal. They use both European blends and Cuban blends. I was lucky the get the Cuban and it was delicious. So glad we found this little hole in the wall. read more

I always eat here when I am in town and it's always great! I love getting the omelets or the Brie skillet. Service is always great and staff is always friendly. It's a very cafe feel inside which I also like read more

Slow service, decent food. It took awhile before waitress came to my table initially. When she did I told her I was going to restroom and would be right back. In the meantime I came right back and they took my coffee and place settings off the table. Then it took the server awhile to come back to the table to get another cup of coffee and take my order. She did not check on me very often between the meal, flying solo... The first time I came to this restaurant same slow service and my friend said she wasn't coming back. I decided to give it another chance. There will not be a 3rd. It's too bad, because they are in a great location downtown and food is pretty good. It seems to be some disorganization going on behind the scenes. So many great breakfast spots, find another option. read more

This place is a solid 3 stars. I thought the food was ok, I had the bacon omelette. It was STUFFED with bacon bits (I mean broken up pieces of real bacon), but the egg texture was a little odd, it had (like) bubbles in it. Not sure how you get bubbly eggs once cooked. That didn't really bother me, but the taste of the eggs were bland. The service was great. Our server was attentive, answered questions and checked on us often. Although the owner/chef came out and checked on the tables all around us, he never once approached us. I wonder if we just looked like we were too engrossed in conversation. The place is decent, good location, prices were fairly reasonable. I think I would try lunch but probably wouldn't return for breakfast. read more

Downtown Tampa on a early Sunday morning and I found this gem. They say it gets busy in here late morning, but just a hand full of guests now at 0830. I had Italian Sausage Omelette, coffee, toast and water $13.14!! I've traveled the globe (rarely post about it) and this has got to be one of the top five breakfasts I've ever had. I'm stuffed. My server Tara was great, always checked in with me to see if I needed anything, but not to the point of being bothersome. The Boss Man, a.k.a owner is here and we talked awhile. Seems to be an honest hard working guy who loves his family and kids. He's been in Restaurant business for years. So bottom line is.... stop looking and come here to eat!! read more

Samaria Cafe - My Italian Sausage Omelette. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Since the new owners took over, food quality has gone down. DO NOT get sausage OR anything benedict. Sausage was rubbery and sauce was watery. I'd expect an establishment like this to at least do an average job in these dishes. Food quality drop is very apparent. read more

Came in today for a late lunch. Everything was fresh and we all ordered sandwiches, and a hummus plate, the only surprising thing was the cost here. I would say change this to $$ category as it really doesn't fit into anything lower than that. Prices have gone up! read more

Samaria Cafe - Chicken pesto panini with fruit - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Definitely not the cleanest place I've ever eaten at and the bathroom trash was overflowing. The server we had was very rude. It's a rainy day so we asked for their caramel lattes. They come out as Iced so I said "oh, I thought these were hot" she insisted that we asked for iced. She offered to take them back after that begrudgingly but I was already over it. I was half tempted to walk out then but figured we'd see how the food was. I got the French toast and my friend got the Eggs Benedict. I had to coat mine in syrup because they were so dry and my friend said hers were bland. The server never asked how we were doing or how the food was. Didn't even ask if we wanted separate checks or not, just came out with the checks. Over all, we should have waited in the First Watch line. Would not recommend to anyone. read more

This place wasn't very impressive. The pictures definitely made us eager to try it but the flavor was fair at best. Overcooked eggs and bland Benedict's. Service was a bit slow as well. read more

Samaria is a gem of a restaurant in downtown Tampa. For those of us who hang out in downtown on weekends, good breakfast spots are sometimes hard to come by. Samaria is a great place for breakfast on weekends (and lunch too!). We ordered omelets for breakfast, but also had to try their hummus platter and sweet potato fries. Both were awesome. The hummus had a very good consistency, not too soft or hard, and a strong taste (not bland at all). The platter came with tomatoes, kalamatas, feta cheese and warm pita bread. The sweet potato fries are thick cut, fried extra crispy, and served with a side of syrup mixed with a bit of cinnamon. Yum. I ordered the avocado omelet with egg whites, side of sliced tomatoes and toast. The omelet is huge with a lot of stuffing. It is a great value. I like the service and the atmosphere. Very clean place. The cook (owner maybe?) came by to check on us and was greeting a lot of people at the door with a hearty "welcome back!". That's always a good sign. The menu is very rich in options, from sandwiches to salads to full meal plates. The sandwiches and salads look delicious. This is definitely a go to spot for me on weekends. With most places in downtown catering to the M-F business crowd, it is refreshing to see a quality place open for us weekend dwellers. A definitely good place to eat at. I recommend it. read more

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This is a gem, every penny. Brings a home cooked breakfast to your table. The grand slam is out of this word. If you are looking for fresh juice check out their orange juice read more

This place was pretty disappointing, my friend and I were in downtown Tampa to pay a traffic violation , and decided to go to Samaria Cafe for breakfast. The place has a diner like atmosphere and the service was average at best. The food was way below average, my friend ordered the "Grand Slam" which brought pancakes and they were raw, he ordered a side of rye toast, which tasted like cardboard. I ordered the western omelette which had no cheese and was probably the worst omelet I have ever had in any restaurant. This place is overpriced and overrated, I prefer local restaurants instead of chains but in this case Denny's or lHOP would have been a way better option! read more

Definitely happy with the service and food that I got. The meal out faster than we order...this worked perfectly because we were really hungry. read more

Samaria Cafe - Mushroom Benedict w/ Turkey Sausage - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Tampa, Florida

When Charles Ranhofer invented the Eggs Benedict in Lower Manhattan circa 1860, I am quite sure he never foresaw his concoction to be topped by the chefs at Samaria Cafe. With notes of champagne in their delectable Hollandaise, the "Eggs Benny" as I affectionally call it- is my favorite breakfast in all of Tampa Bay. Which sadly brings me to the next portion of my critique, amending my previous 5 Star rating, down to a 4 Star review. Upon entering the restaurant this morning prior to my radio show, my brother Niles and I were greeted by a horrific smell. The pungent aroma of a soiled, aged mop long forgotten in the utility closet permeated not only our noses- but our souls. "Well Frasier, I don't recall the Yankee Candle having a sale on Exit 301 Homosassa Springs Rest Stop Public Restroom Wax Melts," my brother whispered to me in jest. The Hollandaise sauce which we dreamt about the night prior was masked in the nightmare that was the smell of a mop that wiped every single restroom across America. Thanks for listening. read more

I feel at home! One of the best things about Samaria Cafe is the owners. They treat you like a guest in their home and their home is CLEAN! The wait staff is friendly and consistent too. I also love the food because it's FRESH unlike many other breakfast places that use frozen veggies and canned items...ewe! The egg white omelete's are the BEST IN TOWN..totally fluffy! You can find so many healthy things on the menu and they make whatever you want without a huge extra, extra, extra fee. I am so glad to see a new breakfast place in downtown Tampa that can easily be a morning destination. read more

Samaria Cafe - Grand slam breakfast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Used to love this place, but since Steve and Georgia sold it, it has really gone down hill. My boyfriend and I went for lunch today (he had never been there and I had been raving about the food). I couldn't decide on the Greek salad or the Gyro but the waiter said "The Gyro!!" My boyfriend ordered a BLT with grilled onions and asked the waiter how the coleslaw was (he said it was good). Well, my Gyro was not like I expected - the pita was limp, the red onions were sliced super thin and were soggy. The meat was blah and the tomatoes were over ripe. The tzatziki tasted like thick sour cream with some scallions in it - very bland. Only the fries were good. My boyfriend's BLT had over ripe tomatoes and the coleslaw was disgusting. The cabbage was not chopped, but sliced super thin and it looked like angel hair spaghetti. Whatever sauce they put on it was bland as well. Our server was pleasant enough, but I am so sorry to see this place I used to love go down hill. We won't be going back. read more

Cute little diner great prices and will go again. I would say the coffee isn't the best so stick with juice here. And biscuits and gravy were not a huge hit. read more

This is a great mom-and-pop cafe in downtown Tampa. I eat lunch here at least once a week. There is a wide ranging menu and everything is well prepared. I am amazed at the versatility of what comes out of the kitchen in this little place. If you in downtown Tampa, you can't go wrong with Samaria. The only drawback is that the place still gets very busy during the lunch hour and the kitchen can be slow at peak times. read more

Not a bad diner, a little expensive for what it is, but actually a relatively good deal for breakfast comparing to other choices downtown Tampa. Everything is relative, if I reviewed this restaurant right after eating here I would have only given three stars, but after a terrible experience around the corner at "The Loading Dock," I was reminded how important it is to get the food that I ordered without being treated with disrespect, for breakfast. It's the start of the day! Not very different from other Greek-American run diners I've experienced across the cities of the Midwest, but this one is in Tampa. Would American breakfast and patty melts have disappeared without Greek immigrants? I wonder. Tasty, unhealthy high cholesterol American breakfast choices are all good here. Consider what you want when the waitress asks you if you want your toast "buttered," as it's not going to be real butter, they are going to soak your toast in that oily yellow goo that they use in diners and movie theaters. The service is prompt, friendly, and accurate. There are three good breakfast choices all in a row on this block, all three are busy, all get good reviews on YELP so we chose this one because: 1. Immediate seating versus the wait at the enticing corner breakfast place and 2. The otherwise attractive looking place next door touted a "gluten-free" menu, which in my experience doesn't bode well for taste. Not disappointed, the best aspect of the place is the sincerely friendly service. read more

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I've walked past this cafe plenty of times but I'm glad I finally stopped by this morning for breakfast. We both ordered the breakfast sandwich with home fries and everything was very tasty and fresh. The service was quick and super friendly as well. She even gave us little to-go containers with salt and pepper, which I thought was very thoughtful! The coffee was fresh and made perfectly sweetened as I requested. Their menu is slightly abbreviated right now due to COVID19 but there's still a nice selection of breakfast and lunch items to choose from. I recommend! read more

Popped in for Lunch while visiting Tampa. Christina our server was friendly and efficient. I had the Le Sucre Sale - a very tasty sandwich and Hubby had the Crepe Pomme d amour which he devoured . They ran out of Ice tea so we only got one but Christina did let us know she could brew another batch in 30 minutes. We were fine with just one but appreciated the offer. read more

Enormous (and delicious) portions, fair prices, and attentive service. This is my new go-to for breakfast in downtown Tampa.

i went to eat there a for breakfast a few mornings ago my waitress was a skinny girl with glasses and curly hair and she reeked of cigarettes so bad my service was actually the worst i've ever experienced. she was slow wasn't very welcoming and when she did come around the cigarette smell was actually so bad i couldn't even finish my food. the food was okay but please do something about the waitress who smells . read more

I had a great late morning breakfast here. I do not like going anywhere for breakfast. I find breakfast to be very overpriced for something that is easily made at home (scrambled eggs, a slice of toast and a couple slices of bacon can be done in 10 min for about $2). On that note, I enjoyed the food here and was not upset by the prices... and for breakfast, I am happy with that. I needed them to ensure a gluten free meal and they were able to make me something safe. I had an omelette with hash browns and bacon on the side. The food was cooked perfectly and the flavor was just right. We were in a bit of a hurry and we were able to get in and out quickly. Parking was difficult. The restaurant wasn't crowded but the closest parking space we could find was a couple blocks away. read more

Had a great breakfast at Samaria today. Food was tasty, served quickly and nice and hot. California eggs Benedict was delicious! Our server Tyler was friendly and personable! Would recommend and would go back next time we are in the area! read more

The service was great, but the food was very bland. We got the Mushroom Benedict and the Country Benedict and were disappointed. Nice staff though! read more

After some brief googling for "awesome and mind blowing breakfast in Tampa" we decided to stop here after picking up our rental car. We were only in town for a few days and wanted it to start off right. The food is some of the best breakfast we've ever had. We split it up with some Eggs Benny, Pancakes and an Omelette, just really, really amazing all around. Pricing was also on point. Service-wise? Eh, not so much here. We sat for at least 10 minutes before we got menus, and after delivering the food we didn't see our server for close to 15 minutes. I ended up having to get up and get condiments from another table. Sloppy. By the time we were able to get the check, we decided to pay up front; knowing full well that we were likely to not see our server for ANOTHER 10-15 minutes. But this time the front was packed with people waiting to sit and a handful waiting to pay, and there was one nice older lady kind of barking out orders to employees to try and get everything handled. It wasn't working very well. I got to the point where I just kind of pushed my way up to the counter and forced the bill into her line of sight. Time of walking up to counter to getting rung out? Close to 15 minutes, again. Most times I will give a place the benefit of the doubt and say they had and off day. But this place strikes me as having some seriously dug in service issues. The food was good, but not good enough to offset the service. 2 stars for the food, but would not return. read more

Surprised to see negative reviews here. This restaurant is owned by a hard working Greek man who takes a lot of pride in his restaurant. I got to know him between the two breakfasts I had at his restaurant. The first day my server mumbled and was hard to understand. The waiter complete forgot to put in my order so the owner rushed it. The second day our service was much better. The portions here are great but the coffee has much room to be improved. I'd recommend the gyro omelette with a fruit bowl! read more

Samaria Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Tampa, Florida