2 Best Restaurants in The Tampa Bay Area, Florida

Named after a 16th-century Tocobagan princess, this hot spot was created by the family behind the historic Columbia restaurant in Ybor City. Although diverse, the menu focuses on local ingredients and has an easy-to-detect Southern accent, with appetizers such as alligator hush puppies and okra fries and entrées like pan-seared Florida pompano served with sun-dried-tomato shallot cream and fried carrot ribbons. Set in the refurbished old Tampa Waterworks building, high on the bank of the Hillsborough River, its water views are particularly spectacular at dusk; Downtown is an easy walk away. 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.

In the relatively short time this gastropub has been around, it has handily earned a spot at the table of Tampa culinary musts. The internationally influenced, creative menu changes almost every day as chef–owner Jeannie Pierola experiments with a revolving list of intriguing ingredients. Choices include Korean-style fried chicken and waffles as well as butternut squash and coconut gnudi (a type of gnocchi). And the list goes on. The kitchen happily makes substitutions or changes recipes if you have any dietary restrictions. The bar has a great list of craft cocktails.