Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Tampa area by diners
Fine dining in the United States isn't what it used to be. Many customers are no longer interested in classic white tablecloths and 16-ounce New York strips; these days, it's all about cutting-edge culinary experiences.
Although steakhouses have defined fine dining in America since the 19th century, that started to change in the mid-1990s. Elite chefs like Thomas Keller and his three-Michelin-starred restaurant, French Laundry, unearthed a whole different kind of tasting experience (with 40 courses), and a new age of fine dining was born. Soon, prix fixe meals鈥攁 French style of serving with a set menu鈥攂ecame the norm for fine dining in the U.S.
Between the rise of chefs' tasting menus and consumers' continued desire to have diverse culinary experiences, the restaurants that grace the pages of top-tier restaurant reviewers like Zagat or the Michelin Guide look very different today than they did 30 years ago. Restaurant goers aren't just looking for high-quality food. They want the type of menu that will tell a story. They want creative ingredients they've never tried before. They want to be transported into a whole new world.
With so many innovative menus and restaurant experiences popping up across America, it can be challenging to choose where to go for a special evening. compiled a list of the highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Tampa area using data from . Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself.
Only businesses with at least five reviews and at least level 2 pricing (i.e., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of June 25, 2025.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#28. La Casa Della Pasta
- Rating: 4.1/5 (370 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5273 Ehrlich Road Tampa, Florida
- Categories: Italian, Bars, Desserts
-
#27. CW's Gin Joint
- Rating: 4.1/5 (532 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 633 North Franklin St. Tampa, Florida
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Seafood, Sandwiches
-
#26. Noble Rice
- Rating: 4.2/5 (186 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 615 Channelside Drive Ste 112 Tampa, Florida
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Ramen
-
#25. Michael's Grill
- Rating: 4.2/5 (246 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 11720 North Dale Mabry Hwy Tampa, Florida
- Categories: Seafood, American, Breakfast & Brunch
-
#24. Predalina
- Rating: 4.2/5 (315 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1001 East Cumberland Ave. Tampa, Florida
- Categories: Mediterranean, Bars, Seafood
-
#23. Bern's Steak House
- Rating: 4.2/5 (3979 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1208 South Howard Ave. Tampa, Florida
- Categories: Steakhouses
-
#22. Union New American
- Rating: 4.2/5 (265 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1111 Northwest Shore Blvd. Tampa, Florida
- Categories: New American, Lounges
-
#21. The Pearl - Tampa
- Rating: 4.2/5 (458 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 823 Water St. C100 C100 Tampa, Florida
- Categories: Seafood, Cocktail Bars, Breakfast & Brunch
-
#20. Ulele
- Rating: 4.2/5 (4803 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1810 North Highland Ave. Tampa, Florida
- Categories: New American, Breweries, Seafood
-
#19. Haven
- Rating: 4.2/5 (538 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2208 West Morrison Ave. Tampa, Florida
- Categories: Venues & Event Spaces, Tapas/Small Plates, Cocktail Bars
-
#18. Trattoria Pasquale
- Rating: 4.2/5 (162 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3671 South West Shore Blvd. Tampa, Florida
- Categories: Italian
-
#17. Bulla Gastrobar
- Rating: 4.3/5 (998 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 930 South Howard Ave. Tampa, Florida
- Categories: Spanish, Gastropubs, Tapas Bars
-
#16. Casa Santo Stefano
- Rating: 4.3/5 (604 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1607 North 22nd St. Tampa, Florida
- Categories: Sicilian, Seafood, Cocktail Bars
-
#15. Nabruzzi Trattoria
- Rating: 4.3/5 (599 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6062 Van Dyke Road Lutz, Florida
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars, Pizza
-
#14. Oxford Exchange
- Rating: 4.3/5 (2704 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 420 West Kennedy Blvd. Tampa, Florida
- Categories: Bookstores, Venues & Event Spaces, American
-
#13. Ocean Prime
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1127 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 2205 North Westshore Blvd. Tampa, Florida
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses, Cocktail Bars
-
#12. Willa's
- Rating: 4.3/5 (288 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1700 West Fig St. Tampa, Florida
- Categories: New American, Desserts, Burgers
-
#11. Pane Rustica
- Rating: 4.4/5 (559 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3225 South Macdill Ave. Tampa, Florida
- Categories: Italian, Bakeries
-
#10. Rooster & the Till
- Rating: 4.4/5 (823 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 6500 North Florida Ave. Tampa, Florida
- Categories: New American
-
#9. Restaurant BT
- Rating: 4.4/5 (286 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2507 South MacDill Ave. Tampa, Florida
- Categories: French, Vietnamese
-
#8. Rocca
- Rating: 4.5/5 (600 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 323 West Palm Ave. Tampa, Florida
- Categories: Italian
-
#7. Ponte Modern American
- Rating: 4.5/5 (335 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1010 Gramercy Lane Tampa, Florida
- Categories: New American, Seafood, Cocktail Bars
-
#6. La Terrazza Ristorante Italiano
- Rating: 4.5/5 (286 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1727 East 7th Ave. Tampa, Florida
- Categories: Italian, Seafood
-
#5. OLIVIA
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1509 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 3601 West Swann Ave. Tampa, Florida
- Categories: Italian, Desserts, Bars
-
#4. On Swann
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2170 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1501 West Swann Ave. Tampa, Florida
- Categories: Bars, New American, Desserts
-
#3. Oak and Ola
- Rating: 4.5/5 (978 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1910 North Ola Ave. Tampa, Florida
- Categories: New American, Modern European
-
#2. Half Moon Seafood Company
- Rating: 4.6/5 (236 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 615 Channelside Drive Tampa, Florida
- Categories: Seafood
-
#1. Terra Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse - Tampa
- Rating: 4.6/5 (672 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1108 South Dale Mabry Hwy Tampa, Florida
- Categories: Brazilian, Steakhouses, Buffets
-
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 319 metros.
