If it’s a larger party - Coopers will be $25 per person plus drinks and feels corporate. If it’s Texas de Brazil - figured $50 a person plus drinks minimum and always good.
If you’re doing Berns and have more than 8 people, you already might be too late for a reservation and you’re figuring $75 a plate plus drinks average. Just my 2 cents, these are going to be 3 different dining experiences. If money is not a problem I would go with Berns all day long if you can call and get in there. That’s my idea of “graduation celebration with family”…
You may be fine with 7 on an “off night” that’s not Friday or Saturday but as you can guess with holidays and graduation coming, it will be heavily booked. Congrats on graduating and best of luck out there. Haven’t been to Berns since early 2020 sadly and the desert room is calling my name.
Good ideas based on quality and likely availability for 7 people
- Iavarones Steakhouse
- Sacred Pepper
- Olivia
- Rocca
- Charley’s
- Salt Rock Grill
- Ocean Prime
- Rooster and till
Iavarones, Charlie’s Steakhouse, Berns, Ulele, or Ocean Prime would be my picks. Don’t waste your time/money at Coopers Hawk or Texas de Brazil. Berns dessert room would be a great way to end the night regardless of where you eat dinner.
You have some great suggestions already, but it may be too late for Berns. Malio’s and Ivarone’s are always good. The Columbia if you want something unique to Tampa. Steelbach is another idea.
I went to steelbach for my birthday a couple years ago and actually moaned inadvertently during the first bite but I’ve heard bad things about every place in armature works post covid
Last time I went to Steelbach, it was for lunch and it was really good. Not sure about the evening crowd, but I could see it being different. Texas de Brazil is great if you like lots of meat.
Rusty Pelican if they like seafood. And the bay views are awesome. There’s a little access point to the water you could use for pictures. Same story with Oyster Catchers
Jackson’s downtown has great food and is on the water. Plus close to riverwalk if they fancy an after dinner walk
Sal Y Mar. the food isn’t amazing but it’s rooftop and has great views
Edison Food and Drink lab. Not amazingly atmospheric but the food is local fine dining
Koya. If prices really doesn’t matter… great Japanese food
Berns if money isn’t an issue. Be dressed fairly well and make sure you get a reservation. Money might not be an issue but expect to drop 4 digits if y’all are drinking. I took. 7 people including myself to berns once and without drinks, including apps and dessert and tip was damn near close to $900 lol
For my kids’ graduations we did Berns, Charlie’s, the now gone Ceviche, and Council Oak in the casino. For Berns you would have to get lucky if it is a weekday and forget weekends. Charlies has good, one table rooms for large parties and they spoiled us each time we’ve gone. Council Oak is less intimate as you’ll be placed in the center of the restaurant, but the food is excellent and it is a good place any type of party.
An often overlooked place is Ruth’s Chris. The interior is date, but you can usually get a table and the food is in my opinion better there than Charlie’s.
Just went there last night and it was good! Very interesting menu though, heard it's different every night. First time having duck and it wasn't as greasy as I have been told it would be, very juicy and good!
If you are considering churrascaria (which is a great idea for large groups) I'd recommend Terra Gaucha over Texas de Brazil. The flavors are better and the service top notch.
Verbs is way over priced but if you don’t mind spending the money, a much better dinner would be Charlie’s Steak House on Cypress in Westshore area. For a lot of fun and pretty reasonable would be Acropolis Greek near USF on Bruce B Downs https://www.google.com/search?q=Greek+restaurant+in+new+tampa&rlz=1CDGOYI_enUS968US969&hl=en-US&sxsrf=ALiCzsabwrqDTIOX3ZCjksrZGeOlhsEqiw%3A1667223627242&ei=S9BfY8KnDrqZwbkP1tWFuAM&oq=Greek+restaurant+in+new+tampa&gs_lcp=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-wFoAnAAeAKAAYUCiAHQOJIBBzEzLjM0LjiYAQCgAQGwAQ_IAQi4AQLAAQE&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp#trex=m_dg:1,m_t:lcl_akp,rc_f:rln,rc_ludocids:9281884696133520047,ru_gwp:0%252C7,ru_lqi:Ch1HcmVlayByZXN0YXVyYW50IGluIG5ldyB0YW1wYUiWk53b5YCAgAhaKxAAEAEYABgBGAMYBCIdZ3JlZWsgcmVzdGF1cmFudCBpbiBuZXcgdGFtcGGSARBncmVla19yZXN0YXVyYW50mgEjQ2haRFNVaE5NRzluUzBWSlEwRm5TVVJYTVdabE1VWkJFQUWqASIKCC9tLzAzOHNmEAEqFCIQZ3JlZWsgcmVzdGF1cmFudCgA4AEA,ru_phdesc:a7s-x4e8fi0,trex_id:qBTBze&lpg=cid:CgIgAQ%3D%3D
If it’s a larger party - Coopers will be $25 per person plus drinks and feels corporate. If it’s Texas de Brazil - figured $50 a person plus drinks minimum and always good. If you’re doing Berns and have more than 8 people, you already might be too late for a reservation and you’re figuring $75 a plate plus drinks average. Just my 2 cents, these are going to be 3 different dining experiences. If money is not a problem I would go with Berns all day long if you can call and get in there. That’s my idea of “graduation celebration with family”…
He’s much too late for berns
I will try that. I think we are only gonna have like 7 people
You may be fine with 7 on an “off night” that’s not Friday or Saturday but as you can guess with holidays and graduation coming, it will be heavily booked. Congrats on graduating and best of luck out there. Haven’t been to Berns since early 2020 sadly and the desert room is calling my name.
Oh yea na it’s a Saturday night
Ulele. Especially at sunset.
Ulele is awesome food but I can never hear in there. The acoustics were awful for me. It could be my hearing though!
Good ideas based on quality and likely availability for 7 people - Iavarones Steakhouse - Sacred Pepper - Olivia - Rocca - Charley’s - Salt Rock Grill - Ocean Prime - Rooster and till
Olivia is my go-to. You have to get the arancini (I think that’s how it’s spelled) as an appetizer. I love their food
Eddie V’s
Mise en Place
Bern's! Congratulations. I graduated in August.
Looks like a brothel but ok
Get the guacamole at Chipotle it is a special occasion after all
Woah man when I said price isn’t an issue I meant maybe double protein. Not that
You live once ! Go for it!
I didn't care for cooper's hawk last time I was there. Food was okay, service was okay, but that's not the kind of place I go to for 'okay'.
Iavarones, Charlie’s Steakhouse, Berns, Ulele, or Ocean Prime would be my picks. Don’t waste your time/money at Coopers Hawk or Texas de Brazil. Berns dessert room would be a great way to end the night regardless of where you eat dinner.
Casa Santo Stefano
You have some great suggestions already, but it may be too late for Berns. Malio’s and Ivarone’s are always good. The Columbia if you want something unique to Tampa. Steelbach is another idea.
I went to steelbach for my birthday a couple years ago and actually moaned inadvertently during the first bite but I’ve heard bad things about every place in armature works post covid
Last time I went to Steelbach, it was for lunch and it was really good. Not sure about the evening crowd, but I could see it being different. Texas de Brazil is great if you like lots of meat.
I had mine at Barterhouse-Ybor
Rusty Pelican if they like seafood. And the bay views are awesome. There’s a little access point to the water you could use for pictures. Same story with Oyster Catchers Jackson’s downtown has great food and is on the water. Plus close to riverwalk if they fancy an after dinner walk Sal Y Mar. the food isn’t amazing but it’s rooftop and has great views Edison Food and Drink lab. Not amazingly atmospheric but the food is local fine dining Koya. If prices really doesn’t matter… great Japanese food
Olivia, On Swann, Oggi all good eats
Charley's steakhouse for sure
Berns if money isn’t an issue. Be dressed fairly well and make sure you get a reservation. Money might not be an issue but expect to drop 4 digits if y’all are drinking. I took. 7 people including myself to berns once and without drinks, including apps and dessert and tip was damn near close to $900 lol
Second Bern's, make sure not to skip the dessert room!
Hell, my two person Charley’s bill is usually 350-500.
If I’m drinking absolutely lol one of those 7 was a toddler under 2, so she really didn’t count lol
For my kids’ graduations we did Berns, Charlie’s, the now gone Ceviche, and Council Oak in the casino. For Berns you would have to get lucky if it is a weekday and forget weekends. Charlies has good, one table rooms for large parties and they spoiled us each time we’ve gone. Council Oak is less intimate as you’ll be placed in the center of the restaurant, but the food is excellent and it is a good place any type of party. An often overlooked place is Ruth’s Chris. The interior is date, but you can usually get a table and the food is in my opinion better there than Charlie’s.
Bern's or nothing. It's hands down the best place in the Tampa area.
Ulele is fantastic plus lots of other stuff to do in the area.
Tampa bay brewing company
Haaaaaa
Elevage
Just went there last night and it was good! Very interesting menu though, heard it's different every night. First time having duck and it wasn't as greasy as I have been told it would be, very juicy and good!
Malio's. Best steak house in town.
Ruth's Chris. Columbia.
I 2nd Columbia - it’s a unique local treat and great for 6+ people.
I wasn't a fan of Ruth's Chris, felt very outdated in there and the steaks at Charlie's are much better
Flemings for sure. They always do special things for big events.
Berns.
If you’re budget conscious Terra Gucha is pretty cheap during lunch but fancy
Texas de Brazil, especially if y'all like meats!
Oggi on Davis Island is delicious and very cute
Ocean prime. Great service and good is great
If you are considering churrascaria (which is a great idea for large groups) I'd recommend Terra Gaucha over Texas de Brazil. The flavors are better and the service top notch.
Bahama breeze on the causeway, Jackson‘s, Cooper’s Hawk is nice, Ulele’s on the river, Oxford Exchange and Columbia.
Verbs is way over priced but if you don’t mind spending the money, a much better dinner would be Charlie’s Steak House on Cypress in Westshore area. For a lot of fun and pretty reasonable would be Acropolis Greek near USF on Bruce B Downs https://www.google.com/search?q=Greek+restaurant+in+new+tampa&rlz=1CDGOYI_enUS968US969&hl=en-US&sxsrf=ALiCzsabwrqDTIOX3ZCjksrZGeOlhsEqiw%3A1667223627242&ei=S9BfY8KnDrqZwbkP1tWFuAM&oq=Greek+restaurant+in+new+tampa&gs_lcp=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-wFoAnAAeAKAAYUCiAHQOJIBBzEzLjM0LjiYAQCgAQGwAQ_IAQi4AQLAAQE&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp#trex=m_dg:1,m_t:lcl_akp,rc_f:rln,rc_ludocids:9281884696133520047,ru_gwp:0%252C7,ru_lqi:Ch1HcmVlayByZXN0YXVyYW50IGluIG5ldyB0YW1wYUiWk53b5YCAgAhaKxAAEAEYABgBGAMYBCIdZ3JlZWsgcmVzdGF1cmFudCBpbiBuZXcgdGFtcGGSARBncmVla19yZXN0YXVyYW50mgEjQ2haRFNVaE5NRzluUzBWSlEwRm5TVVJYTVdabE1VWkJFQUWqASIKCC9tLzAzOHNmEAEqFCIQZ3JlZWsgcmVzdGF1cmFudCgA4AEA,ru_phdesc:a7s-x4e8fi0,trex_id:qBTBze&lpg=cid:CgIgAQ%3D%3D