655675 Mon Sep 28 22:13:32 -0700 2009 32 10 Florida 0 5065887 I will be in the area for the U2 concert next week with my wife....I am not really interested in chains but seriously good food, service, and selections...We both work in the hospitality industry and have some serious expectations..your help would be greatly appreciated. The type of cuisine is not that important, but we want can't miss!!! Any help would be appreciated! Cheers! Mon Sep 28 22:13:32 -0700 2009 214084 MGTico 1 5066472 Pane Rustica, on S. MacDill, is can't-miss. The dinner menu--different from their lunch menu, which is also good but not as elaborate--features fresh, seasonal, creative cuisine. It's sophisticated food and service in a casual atmosphere. Tue Sep 29 07:45:39 -0700 2009 5065887 93147 Miss E 1 5066502 Arco Iris Selmons or Jimbos Byblos Bin27 Laughing Cat Malio's Tue Sep 29 07:56:31 -0700 2009 5065887 17583 rshally 2 5071660 arco iris is a hole in the wall and not a great date place but more of a lunch spot. Selmons is a chain and not original for a date but decent bbq, Jimbos is overrated. Byblos is a good option, great atmosphere and great food. along the same lines is Marrakech (more focused on Morrocan) but lots of coucous and lamb, etc Bin 27 is also a godo choice, but make a reservation if its a weekend night. Filet is a good choice and the tuna appetizer. Laughing Cat is not one of my picks for Italian - I would say Osteria (the old Spartaco on s. macdill), Cafe Paradiso, Laura Ristourante or Vino E Pasta Malios is a good choice for atmosphere, but if you are looking for a great steak, Capital Grill's kona filet is much better, as well as Flemings. Grill 116 in N. Tampa is also a great choice. Other good choices are Baileys in Hyde Park (only open Wed, Thurs, and Fri nights) and fantastic southern home cooking. and BYOB. Wine Exchange, Ceviche, Acropolis is Ybor, Bernini in Ybor, Bungalow Bistro on Nebraska, Soho Sushi, Sakana, Ocean Prime, Oystercatchers, Armanis...and I agree with Pane Rustica above. I am sure there are others Im not thinking of right this second, but these you cant go wrong with and i am a picking eater! Thu Oct 01 06:17:24 -0700 2009 5066502 1084526 tampa eater 3 5071966 Tampa Eater, and others, thanks....It looks like Bin27 will be the choice...Went to their website and everything looked great....I will let you all know. Thanks! Thu Oct 01 08:07:29 -0700 2009 5071660 214084 MGTico 4 5072028 Would you please come back and let us know how it was? I had a bad dinner there about 6 months ago and haven't been back since, but I'm not trying to make you change your mind--I'd like to know what you think. Thu Oct 01 08:24:52 -0700 2009 5071966 93147 Miss E 5 5074214 Will do.....I called to make a reservation for 10pm...she told me the kitchen closed for dinner service then and they went to a "Bar Menu". I was a bit surprised, perhaps I am used to here in Miami late night dining....We'll see if we make it. Depends on the concert and what time it ends. Fri Oct 02 06:44:55 -0700 2009 5072028 214084 MGTico 6 5074289 I doubt the U2 show will be over until at least 11. I would likely do an early dinner somewhere before the show. They do put on such a great show. I have seen them a couple of times here in Tampa. Have fun! Fri Oct 02 07:15:38 -0700 2009 5074214 60784 rhnault 6 5074494 Muse is opening, and that should be a longish set (at least I hope so), so I agree, do an early dinner before the show. If that really doesn't work for you, go to Fly downtown after the show; it's more of a bar, but a cool one, serving tapas-like small bites. They do roll up the sidewalks kinda early in Tampa... Fri Oct 02 08:50:57 -0700 2009 5074214 93147 Miss E 7 5075106 You also have Rawbar and Taps for light food and drinks before the show Fri Oct 02 13:09:22 -0700 2009 5074494 1084526 tampa eater 8 5075120 late night dining in Tampa after midnight includes places like Pop n Sons, Moms Place, iHop, Village Inn, Waffle House or Pizza along 7th ave in Ybor. Please tell me im wrong!!!! Fri Oct 02 13:17:05 -0700 2009 5075106 17583 rshally 9 5075251 Casino? Fri Oct 02 14:19:33 -0700 2009 5075120 60784 rhnault 9 5147663 So wrong! Come to Ybor City - Acropolis and Samurai Blue are both open late and are both great. Sun Nov 01 16:08:59 -0800 2009 5075120 246637 awood2120 9 5155492 The Taco Bus is another late night option. Wed Nov 04 10:51:14 -0800 2009 5075120 15121 rikkikm 8 5077072 I haven't personally been here, but a friend of mine, who is chowhounder, went last night and used the words "awful" "uninventive" "overpriced" Sat Oct 03 16:41:44 -0700 2009 5075106 165293 Lpflaum 9 5077806 I ate there once when it first opened and was underwhelmed. I thought maye since I have heard good things aout the Steak house there that they may offer a decent late dining option now. Sun Oct 04 06:49:56 -0700 2009 5077072 60784 rhnault 9 5078017 Council Oak: expensive and boring, the other recs here are much better. Sun Oct 04 08:49:34 -0700 2009 5077072 13633 andy huse 10 5078299 Yeah I haven't been in a hurry to try another expensive steak house lately Sun Oct 04 11:52:32 -0700 2009 5078017 60784 rhnault 7 5075856 Thanks...I wasn't sure if they had an opening act......I have seen U2 before in Seattle many years ago...they are great and have a huge catalog of music to play....looks like dinner before...Fly sounds good for "tapas" we might go salsa dancing too.... Fri Oct 02 21:54:29 -0700 2009 5074494 214084 MGTico 1 5077075 I've heard great things about Fly Bar, Ceviche on S. Howard (get a green shuttle to take you there) serves pretty late on the weekends, and if you're looking for something quick Paninoteca makes a really great sandwich Sat Oct 03 16:42:47 -0700 2009 5065887 165293 Lpflaum 1 5080659 One of my fave's is El Puerto, its an Argentinian restraunt in Ybor, kitchen open until ATLEAST 12 on weekends, later when its lively(starts gettin busy at 9 or 10-ish). This is not a big fave on this board, however I've lived in Tampa my entire life and I think it's one of Tampas best. Great steaks and seafood. Mon Oct 05 13:25:25 -0700 2009 5065887 218483 TampaNativeThatLovesNYC 2 5088733 Yum, I forgot how good their Skirt Steaks and Chicken Fried Rice is here...good choice(El Puerto in Ybor City) Thu Oct 08 11:20:30 -0700 2009 5080659 17583 rshally 2 5088739 I had lunch at El Puerto earlier this week, and it was excellent. I and a friend both had mixed grills (sausage, chicken, two kinds of steak), all grilled perfectly, for $25 with sides and drinks. Highly recommended. Thu Oct 08 11:22:01 -0700 2009 5080659 13633 andy huse 1 5091002 I'm glad more Chowhounders are giving El Puerto a try! Their seafood fried rice is also delish, and a must try is their Dulce Tres Leche, it's not on the menu but if you ask for it, you will be addicted:) Oh, and don't forget about the fried pork appetizer, comes w a scrumptious little salad mixture and yucca, it's a meal in itself! Fri Oct 09 09:00:01 -0700 2009 5065887 218483 TampaNativeThatLovesNYC 2 5091231 I am going to try it soon. Sounds so good~! Fri Oct 09 10:16:40 -0700 2009 5091002 60784 rhnault 3 5097170 I agree whole-hearteldy about El Puerto, was just there SAturday evening for the 22oz Curasco Steak,a nd Chicken Fried RIce....love that dresh bread with fresh Chimichurra sauce... Mon Oct 12 10:27:28 -0700 2009 5091231 17583 rshally 4 5127716 we had lunch today at El Puerto. I was blown away. It is absolutely wonderful! We had the ceviche mixto and the mixed grill for one and shared. I was disappointed they did not have the tres leches cake today! Not that I had any room left for it. Sat Oct 24 11:45:20 -0700 2009 5097170 60784 rhnault 5 5127993 Okay, I'm now heading back soon. My neighbors rave about this place as well, and now reading all of these terrific reviews, I'm going to try it again. I went a couple of months back for lunch and I think they were just overwhelmed at the time -- it took a long time to get the food and it seemed like my skirt steak had been sitting under the lights for a while. But I've heard nothing but great things from everyone else, including on this board. Will hit it for lunch on Monday. Sat Oct 24 14:18:32 -0700 2009 5127716 169142 kentski 6 5128253 They open at 12 on Sat and we were there at like 12:15. First people there. Other tables started trickling in before we left. But I could see through the window, across the little courtyard, and into the kitchen window where the chef was trimming our meat. Everything was fresh and I am in love with the chimichurri and the spicy sauce. Sat Oct 24 16:39:59 -0700 2009 5127993 60784 rhnault 7 5137438 I have never been for lunch but I hear it gets packed. I normally go for dinner between 6:00-8:00 and theres no one there and the service is very quick. Oh...the chimichurri sauce...you gotta try the fried pork cube app, it comes w yuca, sooo good w the chimichurri! Wed Oct 28 10:16:44 -0700 2009 5128253 218483 TampaNativeThatLovesNYC 8 5137809 We were there on a Sat so it was not so busy at lunchtime. It was sooooooo good. My only disappointment was that they did not have the tres leches you recommend. I love tres leches cake! Do you know the name of the mustard type sauce that comes in the squeeze bottle? Wed Oct 28 12:00:01 -0700 2009 5137438 60784 rhnault 9 5139632 No, sorry, I do not know the name of that sauce, but it sure is tasty, I prefer the green sauce though:) Did you ask for the cake? It's called Dulce De Leche, it's like Tres Leche only it has a hunk of caramel in the middle! Remember it's not on the menu, hopefully next time you go they will have it, you will be addicted! Thu Oct 29 05:40:32 -0700 2009 5137809 218483 TampaNativeThatLovesNYC 10 5139777 The only dessert they had the day we were there was flan. I think I like the chimchurri best as well but I was using the spicy sauce almost equally. I have never had it before so it intrigues me. Thu Oct 29 06:52:23 -0700 2009 5139632 60784 rhnault