Best place to get a craft beer:
The Independent is the heartbeat of Seminole Heights. It’s a quintessential neighborhood bar with a small but eclectic rotating tap list. The bartenders, layout and crowd make this place.
Best place to have dinner on the water:
Ulele is pretty new to the Tampa food scene, but the dining room view is spectacular – so is their Florida Native Chili.
Best place to get barbecue:
Al’s Finger Licking Good Bar-B-Que. From meats to sides to desserts, I’ve never had anything here that wasn’t awesome. And the collards. Oh, the collards.
Favorite place for a date night:
Edison Food + Drink Lab. This is my wife and I’s favorite restaurant right now in Tampa, hands down.
Favorite spot for fresh sandwiches:
Datz’s sandwiches are original, enormous and tasty. A winning combination.
Place you take people from out of town:
Mr. Dunderbak’s. My favorite bar in Tampa, this 52-tap, USF-area legend has been going strong since 1973. You’ll find me there every Thursday.
Favorite local beach:
Siesta Key.
Best Italian food:
La Terrazza. It’s super small, but it has unparalleled Northern Italian cuisine. Ask for Luigi, and expect a hug.
Best burger:
The Refinery. A close second for my favorite restaurant, The Refinery changes their burger, like their menu, every week. They are all awesome. The last one I had was with a gochujang aioli, pear-coriander butter, Gouda, watercress and crispy onion straws. Boom.
Best wings:
Copper Top Pub smokes their wings, and they are phenomenal. Mondays are all-you-can-eat nights.
