Fodor's Expert Review Ulele

Named after a 16th-century Tocobagan princess, this hot spot from the same family behind the historic Columbia restaurant in Ybor City has become the go-to spot for Tampa diners in the know. The diverse menu focuses on locally available ingredients but has an easy-to-detect Southern accent. Favorites include gator bites, okra fries, pan-seared Florida pompano fillet (served with sun-dried-tomato shallot cream and fried carrot ribbons), and a deconstructed seafood potpie (featuring Gulf seafood chowder shrimp, pulpo, grouper, smoked oysters, vegetables, and white wine cream) with a side of puff pastry. In the refurbished old Tampa Waterworks building, its location high on the bank of the Hillsborough River offers spectacular views of the water, especially at dusk, and it's an easy walk from downtown and the Straz Center. Beer is brewed on-site, and the creative cocktail menu (go for the Ring of Fire, a spicy creation of vodka, gin, and lychee liqueur) is supplemented with wines from domestic, family-owned vineyards like Silver Oak Winery.