Living in New York, sometimes you just have to escape down to the South for a relaxing vacation, and Tampa, Florida is one of our favorite places to go. As any visitor will tell you, any time you ask someone in Tampa where you should eat Bern’s Steakhouse is always one of the first things out of their mouth. It has a long-standing reputation as not only one of the best steakhouses in Tampa, but also one of the best restaurants in Florida. Situated in South Tampa on Howard Ave, Bern’s has the vibe of a traditional old school steakhouse, yet its clientele range from young professionals to the trendy jet-set crowd and of course a base of loyalists that keep the spirit of all things Tampa alive and breathing.
When you first walk in the front door you are greeted by the opulent decor of rich reds and deep mahogany, which is carried throughout the antique furnishings and wall adornments of all eight dining rooms, the wine cellar, and the dessert room.
The service was both incredibly friendly and knowledgeable and answered every question we had. We took our server’s suggestions and tried a few different things, from the filet to the Chateaubriand, and found everything to be completely perfect.
After dinner, all guests are given the option of a personal tour and history of the wine cellar, which houses thousands of vintages from all around the world.
Upstairs, the Henry Waugh dessert room awaits you, which features 48 private dining areas each with its own vintage radio tuned to a variety of genres. We had a sampling of desserts paired with deliciously sweet dessert wines. The entire experience from start to finish was as close to perfect as a dining experience can be.
Bern’s Steakhouse is a permanent fixture in Tampa, and one of the things that you absolutely must do whether you are a visitor, new resident, or local. There are very few restaurants where every facet of the experience is so well thought-out and perfected that you can only describe the act of consumption as exquisite, but Bern’s Steakhouse is at the top of that list.
