was in SF/Napa a couple weeks ago, food was decent, nothing blew me away sadly, with the exception of Goose & Gander. That was fantastic, don't miss that. The cocktails are some of the best I've had, get the one with the beet pickled cucumbers and such in it. Also the burger with bone marrow is really something.

Ad Hoc was really good too, Bouchon was good but stuffy, and Bouchon Bakery was great for breakfast.

Stop every chance you get at a taqueria and get some awesome authentic tacos.

Oh and don't drive after drinking, the cops are a bunch of douchebags.

Must agree. Went to numerous bars/speakeasies this weekend and Death & Co was head & shoulders above the rest. Staff was super cool, food was fantastic, drinks were brilliant. Went to PDT right beforehand and found it pretty hipsterypretentious, and Pegu Club night before, which was decent but equivalently douchey. Death & Co was the best drinking experience this trip by far.

What would you guys say? I love trying multiple different things, and not gorging myself doing so :) Modern American is my favorite, good craft beer or wine list always a plus!

Thanks!!!

Vicki- a solid walk, but I'd say head down to Pour House for a glass of wine (or microbrewed beer) and some food from Bistro Cafe or the new mexican spot next door (I believe it's the Salty Dog Cantina?). Either would be better than the tourist trap crap at Channelside.

Pane- amazing (lunch is the way to go though, bang for buck there is no better restaurant in Tampa)
Wine Exchange- meh
Sideberns- amazing (happy hour is the way to go on this one, again no better bang for buck given the quality and creativity of the food)
Mid-Peninsula- yummy!
Ted Peters- worth a visit
Terra Sur- some of the best tapas we have to offer
Salt Rock Grill- not bad, but not worth going out of your way for.

This place sounded like it sucked from the get-go, I appreciate you confirming it!!!

from New York? and they put the fried eel sauce cream cheese shrimp rolls on a big wooden boat? HELLO NEW BEST RESTAURANT EVAR!!!

Went to Goma Sushi tonight. It was amazing. Had an oyster that was nearly a foot long, and escolar (white tuna) that is now my new bacon.

That is all.

Oh yeah I forgot, salsa bar alone is worth visiting. I typically fill up on those awesome pickled onions/jalapenos and chips with excellent salsas/moles/etc long before the food shows up

Yeah I thought the noche buena meal was pretty excellent. Definitely as good as previous Kitchenbars.

Ask for a server named Jack. He's worked at a number of wine-centric spots and has an excellent palete, and has gotten me in to $50 bottles at Berns that rival a lot of super expensive ones I've had. No need to spend a ton to get a great bottle, you just need to know the right guy. Tell him Todd send you :)

This place soundeds amazings!!! I WANTS TO GO TO THEIRS!!!11

indie- really appreciate you reporting back, and I couldn't be happier that you enjoyed some of the great food Tampa has to offer. I pretty much anticipated after I read the word "Ceviche" that the response wouldn't be anything worthy of note, but am happy to hear you had some great cocktails at Ciro's and some yummy grub at Pane and Mid Peninsula. If you dug taco bus, you really have to try the big brother restaurant (Taqueria Monterrey) next time you're in town. It's like Taco Bus, only good ;)

ooohhhhh yes, I was pretty bummed that day. Hey if you guys dig tapas, Terra Sur is pretty damn fantastic. Went with Limetruk and our better halves the other day. Also pretty damn reasonable price-wise, we stuffed ourselves and had two bottles of wine (and some sangria) and the whole bill was about $30 a person.

Tampa is a little vague, specifically where?

REALLY good in Daytona will be a challenge. Best bet is to keep your expectations really, really low, that way you won't be disappointed!

Go to Walt's in the Treasure Island area. Problem solved.

Former Knife & Co Chef Gary Moran and his wife have opened Wimauma on South Macdill in the space formerly occupied by Delizie (just south of Mad Dogs & Englishmen). Contemporary Florida Seafood is the theme, the menu is solid, and the prices are pretty excellent. Went with a group of friends a couple nights ago, tried probably 2/3rds of the menu, everything ranged from good to great. 7 people splitting dishes with beers (and wine for the lady) - just over $100.

I should note that it's ladies night every night until NYE, so ladies get free wine or draft beer each night until then! They're oak-smoking a number of their own meats and veggies, and they've got an adjacent plot of land out back where they're growing some herbs and such. Also they're using an awesome but well hidden farm in South Tampa (near Interbay and 2nd) for local free range eggs, honey, mustard greens, etc.

Our table's favorites were the Disco Fries, the Oyster Bacon Pan Stew, and the Fried Oysters with Guacamole, Cilantro, and Smoked Tomato Jam. Menu pic attached.

Did you try the pulpo? A torta? What'd you have?

Walk it off! Man up and go get some chow ;)

We had a pretty killer (albeit pretty complicated) burger at Pine 22, the Rusty Spoon's sister restaurant.

x2 on that, I felt like a moron because I drove a couple people out of our way to visit this place, they got normal burgers, I splurged on the foie burger, thinking it'd be something special. Picking up the soggy bun and having grease literally pour out of it should've been a hint, but I took a bite anyway. A bite was enough. Ruined my day. Was able to weasel a couple bites of my buddy's standard burger, which wasn't bad but wasn't anything special by any means.

Thanks for the (very specific) review!

One of the most entertaining CH posts I've read all year. Well done Bill!

x2 on ditching Meh-viche.

Los Antojitos Fried Pork over rice is a pretty amazing dish too. The spicy salsa verde they give you for it, along with the crispy pork skin, and that tender, tender pork...

Dammit now I'm hungry

Cool! Thanks for the review! :)

Jimbo's has gone downhill, it's more of an interesting space than good food. Maggiano's is really consistent (consistently crappy with bad service). Mitchell's not too bad but again a chain. The weather is nice right now, if you don't mind chains you could sit outside at Capital Grille or Ocean Prime, but if you're digging for foodie grub you'll need to drive about ten minutes...

What do you like to eat back home? There's good Pizza, BBQ, Cuban, Seafood, Italian etc all within about ten-ish minutes. Point us in a direction and we'll send you somewhere good.

Sideberns will be a bit pricier, but is some of the best food in Tampa. Go between 5-7, their happy hour is amazing. Pane Rustica is a close second. Mise En Place is very hit or miss.

I didn't see any specific dishes that were repeats, but a lot of the items that were the focus of the dish (oysters, burrata, duck confit, etc) were similar to previous incarnations. And yep it wasn't cheap...