The Best Restaurant in The Tampa Bay Area, Florida

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Fresh Gulf seafood is plentiful—raw bars serving oysters, clams, and mussels are everywhere. Tampa's many Cuban and Spanish restaurants serve paella with seafood and chicken, boliche criollo (sausage-stuffed eye-round roast) with black beans and rice, ropa vieja (shredded flank steak in tomato sauce), and other treats. Tarpon Springs adds classic Greek specialties. In Sarasota the emphasis is on ritzier dining, though many restaurants offer extra-cheap early-bird menus.

Restaurant BT

$$$$

Local restaurateur BT Nguyen, who opened her first eatery in the early 1990s, has earned a following with her modern takes on high-style class French-Vietnamese cuisine featuring fresh herbs grown on-site and a drink list that includes organic sake martinis. With the motto, "Eat local, think global," the BT menu is sophisticated yet simple, with offerings like Shaken Beef, a go-to dish for regulars, consisting of cubed filet mignon flavored with cognac and shallots. Vegetarians and vegans can rest easy here, with options such as Food Karma (braised tofu, edamame, eggplant, and ginger in coconut broth over black rice). Casual dress is acceptable, but patrons tend to dress up.

2507 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa, FL, 33629, USA
813-258–1916
Known For
  • Creative dishes and local ingredients
  • Vegan and vegetarian options
  • Intimate atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch

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