Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in Tampa

OpenTable

Updated April 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems in Tampa? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Quality Foods Market

5.0

5 (312)

$50 and over

Italian

Tampa

About the restaurant

Quality Foods Market offers a unique culinary experience, featuring authentic Italian cuisine, in a relaxed, elevated casual, and intimate atmosphere. Enjoy a seasonally changing, from scratch menu, featuring both classic and modern pastas; hand cut steaks from USDA Certified Premium Hereford Heritage 1881 Beef; New Zealand Lamb Chops; USDA Certified Prime Veal; and the freshest seafood available, flown in from around the world throughout the week. In addition, Quality Foods Market offers a curated wine list with selections from all over the world, and an unrivaled craft and imported beer selection. Executive Chef Christopher Houp takes the time to interact with each and every guest throughout the dining experience, taking the Chef's Table concept to a whole new level. Tables are limited, with just 16 seats inside, and an additional 16 seats for al fresco dining. Our guests are treated to a true Italian dining experience, as we allow a minimum of three hours between reservations.

Top review

Jody

Dined 5 days ago

Two days ago I ate at Quality Foods Market. Yesterday I arrived in Milan, and had dinner at L'immagine Bistrot Ristorante. It was magnificent and anyone visiting Milan should try it out. But it was not quite as good as the wine pairing dinner I enjoyed on Monday at Quality Foods Market. Kudos to Chef Chris and his team for crafting and serving up a world class experience that compares favorably to most of the better restaurants I've eaten at in Italy.

Pane Rustica

4.9

4.9 (1398)

$31 to $50

Fusion / Eclectic

Tampa

About the restaurant

Pane Rustica is a Zagat-rated restaurant and artisan bakery featuring handcrafted baked goods, savory lunch items and enticing dinners. Lunch customers can choose from hearth-baked pizza, sandwiches and salads in a casual atmosphere. In the evening, the menu and service style elevate to fine dining, serving unique wood-fired entrees, appetizers and small plates. Our wine and drink menu offer delicious choices to pair with our menu items.

Top review

CathyVIP

Dined on Apr 18, 2025

This is probably my third or fourth review of Pane Rustica but I can’t help complimenting this restaurant on their consistently excellent service and food! My husband and I split the burger last night and it was delicious! The Caesar salad was crisp and cold. No matter what we order, it’s always tasty and delivered with a smile! We are Friday night regulars and always enjoy our dinner date at Pane!

Michael's Grill

4.8

4.8 (1559)

$30 and under

American

Tampa

About the restaurant

Michael’s Grill is a refreshing destination for a unique dining experience in the town of Carrollwood. It hosts a spacious covered patio along with a beautiful granite bar to enjoy your favorite cocktails. Main dining room offers an open kitchen experience, where fully trained Chefs can be seen preparing the magic that you deserve. Michael’s fresh seafood is the talk of the town, which he attributes to a long lasting friendship with a local fish monger of 30 years.
Steaks, chicken and pasta also compliments the menu, as well as a trendy lunch menu offering.
Come see what all the fuss is about.

Top review

LyndaVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Just had another great dinner. So thankful for finding Michael’s. We were in town to have a medical procedure and it was on a mile for our VRBO. Great food, great service. Couldn’t be happier. And, sitting outside was very nice.

La Casa Della Pasta

4.8

4.8 (405)

$30 and under

Italian

Tampa

About the restaurant

We bought La Casa della Pasta in 2017 and moved from our home in the Langhe in Piedmont, located in the northwest of Italy to the sunshine state. We have always been passionate about food and wine and would like to share the authentic Italian cuisine we know and love with you! While our time at La Casa della Pasta is just beginning, we have spent many years in the restaurant industry and are eager to share our delicious food with you! We hope to see you soon, Mara and Franco.

Top review

FabioVIP

Dined on Apr 13, 2025

Really nice place and good food ,and friendly staff.

Umu Japanese&Thai

4.8

4.8 (106)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Wesley Chapel

About the restaurant

The new chapter at UMU, After 4 years of connecting with our community and exploring the best local, Japanese, and Thai ingredients, we are ready to share a new dining experience with you. By combining the authentic flavors we are known for with modern takes on classic dishes, we have reimagined our menu and our restaurant to create an intimate experience that welcomes newcomers and regulars back to our table.

Top review

DavidVIP

Dined on Apr 16, 2025

Our absolute favorite. We go as often as we can. Katy our server is the best if you are going on Tuesday or Wednesday evening.

Acropolis Greek Taverna- Riverview

4.7

4.7 (84)

$30 and under

Greek

Tampa

About the restaurant

Escape to the vibrant flavors of Greece at Acropolis Greek Taverna in Riverview. Our menu offers a modern twist on classic Greek dishes, including traditional Gyros and our signature Acropolis Salad, all crafted with the freshest ingredients. Experience lively Greek entertainment in a warm atmosphere that ensures every visit is memorable. Join us at Acropolis Greek Taverna and savor the best Greek food in town.

Top review

Mark

Dined on Apr 12, 2025

Good service good stuff..

Cantina Viajero

4.7

4.7 (336)

$30 and under

Mexican

Trinity

About the restaurant

Coming Soon!

Top review

Kaluza

Dined on Apr 11, 2025

Our server Paige was EXCELLENT!!!! Attentive, friendly and made delicious table side guacamole! We had fajitas and charro beans and the jalapeño cucumber margarita was awesome! Will be back and will ask for Paige! Thank you for a wonderful evening with our friends. Melody Kaluza

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4.6

4.6 (289)

$31 to $50

Spanish

Tampa

About the restaurant

Authentic cuisine from Spain. Small Tapas plates and main dishes. FResh fish, fresh seafood and USDA Choice Black Angus steaks.

Top review

JeffreyVIP

Dined on Apr 5, 2025

What’s not to like? Great location, parking availability, service, and authentic food.

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Iavarone's Steakhouse and Italian Grill

4.5

4.5 (88)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Tampa

About the restaurant

Iavarone's Steakhouse and Italian Grill in Tampa, Florida is a family restaurant with a diverse menu. A traditional steak house with a unique Italian flare. All of the beef here is from grain-fed cows in the Midwest. It's carefully aged USDA Choice and is kept in-house at least four to six days before being served. Since 1948, Iavarone's Steakhouse and Italian Grill has offered guests an extensive selection of steaks like the NY strip, 12-oz. rib eye bone-in, 12-oz. T-bone and the filet mignon.

Other popular options at Iavarone's Steakhouse and Italian Grill include the rack of lamb, veal scaloppine, chicken scallopine, calamari, shrimp picatta and the sushi-grade ahi tuna.

Top review

MATT

Dined 3 days ago

Great food and service, always consistent and reliable.

Santos Kitchen + Lounge

3.7

3.7 (12)

$31 to $50

Latin American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Step into Santos Kitchen + Lounge, a slice of Tulum's vibrant spirit nestled in the heart of downtown Tampa. Embark on a culinary journey that transcends borders, as our gastronomy menu fuses flavors from around the world, delighting your taste buds with each bite. Our talented kitchen staff skillfully infuse local ingredients into every dish, giving you a taste of the region's finest produce.
Whether you seek a gastronomic adventure or a spirited night out, Santos Kitchen + Lounge is your passport to a Tulum-like experience right in the heart of Tampa. Let us whisk you away on a journey of flavors and sensations, where every moment is an escape to paradise.

Top review

Marissa

Dined on Apr 10, 2025

I absolutely loved TULUM night ✨😘 so epic!!! Will definitely be coming back :)

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