​Photog-Foodie Best and Worst of 2017

In 2017 I continued to push the boundary for new food and ventures to new places. What a long strange trip it has been, but the effort was certainly worth it. I ate some great and not so great food, met many fascinating friendly people, and learned more than I ever would have by staying with old favorites.
​For these rankings I use the same metrics as I do for restaurant ratings and you can see those here. 
So, give me good food with good service and make me feel like you appreciate that I chose your restaurant. BTW, a $20 hamburger better come with a car wash and some good lottery numbers. 
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Criteria for how I chose my picks:
  • I must have eaten there in 2017
  • For this review I was not influenced by my work as a food photographer for Creative Loafing.
  • Food must taste great. There are extra points for hybridizing ethnic dishes, preparing a standard dish so well it rocks the planet, or not presenting a standard dish in a cliche way.
  • Food is visually delicious…extra points for creativity in presentation or a cool process to watch in food prep
  • Service is personal, experienced, and welcoming with a customer first smile-on.
  • Dining is an experience, not just a meal. Give me something to connect with. Help me have a good story to tell myself and my readers when I leave.

The Best of 2017​

#1 Piccola Italia Bistro

​This eatery scored one of the only five snap ratings in 2017. Tucked away in an unassuming neighborhood in a strip center in the middle of the city, this hometown Italian place is the real deal. The food uses the freshest ingredients and is top-notch, the service is outstanding and friendly, the chef connects with patrons, and their casual approach to dining make this #1.

#2 Bayshore Mediterranean Grill

​I love surprises when it come to finding great food. Bayshore serves primarily Turkish dishes and does it well. Built at the former site of another Mediterranean restaurant, it could easily be overlooked as a fill in. That would be a mistake, as would missing the warm hummus appetizer or Levrek. Being such a sleeper and having delish food and personable service make it #2 for 2017

#3 Flames Indian Cuisine

​South Tampa has waited a long time for authentic Indian food. There have been a few attempts over the years, but nothing comes close to Flames. They started off with a beautiful rehab of an old building, added a wonderful menu of khormas, curries, and masalas, and added welcoming friendly staff. This is the real deal if you want authentic  Indian food. 

#4 Mortar and Pestle

​When Mortar and Pestle opened, they did so with a culinary splash. The food they served was artistic, innovative, and fresh. Dishes like sous vide pork belly and crispy five spice duck were outstanding. They should really  be higher in this ranking except 2 1/2 months after opening they changed the kitchen staff and everything on the menu. It may have been because of the criminal activity in Seminole Heights, or maybe they just miscalculated. But, it was awesome while it lasted!

#5 Mise en Place


​The food here is legendary. They have consistently provided patrons with first-class food and service. The wine list, cocktails, and food are superior compared to their high-end competition. Older places tend to get panned by food critics and locals who are looking for latest trends. Mise en Place has staying power for a reason. It's that good!

Honorable Mentions
Choosing a top 5 isn't easy. There are just so many delectable places in the Tampa Bay area. Here are three more  standouts and are also "older" places, but remain  preeminent . Armani's has an opulent old school feel and a stalwart exceptional menu. Add to that a spectacular view, and it's worth an expensive visit. Ruth's Chris, even though it is a chain, consistently puts out delicious meals, great service, with an outstanding wine list. Restaurant BT is also a perennial favorite for many locals and tourists as well. The food is creative and presented with artistic style and remains one of my all-time favorites.

The Worst of 2017​

Just a heads up. I understand that being in the restaurant business is tough and competitive and I don't take criticizing some ones lifework lightly. I do believe, however, that if you're going to hold yourself out as a place where people pay hard earned money to eat the food, you need to bring your best game, with customer-centric service and a good value for the food you serve. Having a mind toward cleanliness and a kitchen staff who use decent ingredients and a little know-how is also key. It doesn't have to be stellar, it just can't be yuck!

#1 Chef Thai Sushi

​It's hard to believe how poorly crafted the food was here.  Thai peanut sauce needs to be more than warmed peanut butter. Cleanliness was also a challenge. This eatery has been around for a long time, but it seems they are just going through the motions, not putting in much effort.

#2 Roy's Restaurant ​

I walked out of Roy's asking myself, "What the hell happened?".  I am not sure which was worse, the food or the service. After being seated on time it went downhill. I've heard that ownership changed and perhaps that is contributing to the significant decline in quality. The Misoyaki Butterfish used to be to die for. Now it's on life support. Three dishes were overcooked and served cold. For $160 for two people i was felt disappointed and ripped off. I won't go back.

#3 Brunchery Restaurant & Catering

​I had always heard pretty good things about the breakfast here. But, that was not my experience. I understand that doing eggs sunny side up correctly is a challenge, but this is a brunch place. Burned cold food when there is only one other active table in the restaurant is unacceptable, especially when it was sent back (not something I'm a big fan of doing) to be corrected. They took the original eggs, put them back on the grill, burned them, and replated. Maybe it was closing time and maybe a bad day, but unacceptable just the same.

#4 Chronic Tacos

​Chipotle, Taco Bell, Moe's, Taco Bus, California Taco, bartaco, Taco Son, and a half a dozen others have saturated the taco market in Tampa. Some do it well. Some, not so much. Chronic Taco leans hard into the Mexican palette and it comes up short at best. The tacos are humdrum and some of their special dishes are just poorly done. 

#5 Bonefish Grill

​This is another "what happened" restaurant. In its heyday Bonefish seafood was outstanding. They used to take pride in the quality of their food, servers were on their game, and drinks weren't watered down. Not anymore. You can't increase profits by lowering quality. While I can't say for sure that's what happened here, again, I won't go back.
Bring on 2018. I predict the Tampa Bay food scene will continue to explode and I can't wait to see what's next! 

    Tell me what you think!