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Chanta, Tampa, FL

Chanta

4.6
4.6
197 Reviews
$31 to $50
European
Top Tags:
We would like to invite you to enjoy dinner in little Europe. Our restaurant is fully family-owned. You will meet the grandma who's cooking everyday at the restaurant, you will enjoy our freshly baked bread and delicious food!
The Chanta family invites you to our home, where we will offer you authentic European food, hospitality and warmth! We started our restaurant business in Romania, over 8 years ago and we have three restaurants there. This is our first restaurant in the States, which opened in June 2020. We highly recommend the lamb chops specialty and all the homemade breads we have. The restaurant is beautifully designed for a cozy, intimate dinner. Enjoy your journey!





Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 17 times today

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    European, Italian, German
  • Hours of operation
    Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Thu, Fri 11:30 am–2:00 pm Fri 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Sat 11:30 am–10:00 pm Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (813) 605-4011
  • Website
    http://www.chantarestaurant.com/
  • Dress code
    Business Casual

Offers

  • Weekly Happy Hour

    Multiple dates available
    Sun - 1:00 PM - 9:00 PM,Tue - Thu - 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM,Fri - 4:00 PM - 9:30 PM
    Come join for our weekly happy hours! Tuesday- Thursday 5:00- 6:30 PM Friday & Saturday 4:00-6:30 PM Sunday 4:00- 6:30 PM

What 197 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

197 Reviews

  1. veganwithbennies

    Tampa

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Every single dish on their menu is absolute perfection! The bread is to die for as is the oil-based dipping sauce. They handle dietary allergies with ease and never fail to greet us with a smile! They even remember what we ordered the last time which is amazing! Family-owned. Family-run. Just simply spectacular! One of our go-tos!

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  2. Kate

    Tampa

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 27, 2023

    overall3food2service5ambience2
    It was ok. Service was really nice but the food and the plating were just ok.

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  3. OpenTable Diner

    Tampa

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 25, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great experience! Hungarian food was great and authentic

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  4. Marco

    Washington DC

    14 reviews

    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on November 24, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Absolutely amazing experience. It was a wonderful place to have a birthday dinner. The wine was incredible!!! Food was absolutely amazing

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  5. MichaelG

    Tampa

    14 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on November 18, 2023

    overall4food5service3ambience3
    Taste – Hands down 5/5 - We started with the Burrata and Ciuperci (Stuffed Mushrooms) for an appetizer. The burrata was incredibly creamy and rich, with a delicate texture that melted in my mouth. The mushrooms were generously filled with a savory and aromatic mixture that showcased a wonderful blend of herbs, cheese, and other delightful ingredients. My main dish was Saccottini Vanessa, a delightful blend of flavors and expertly crafted homemade pasta filled with cheese and fresh truffle with mushrooms, pancetta, onions, heavy cream and Italian brandy. Saccottini Vanessa is a must-try. - Presentation – 3/5 - One of my biggest pet peeves this year was restaurants keeping the price but cutting back on the serving. Here in lies the problem. You have pictures on Google that show you what the dishes were supposed to look like. This was the disappointment. When you peel away the onion, you realize there were only 3 mushrooms instead of 6. A person at the table ordered the salmon, which should have been resting on a nice bed of pasta with no pool of sauce. When she received her dish, it looked like soup with pasta and a small piece of salmon on top. - Service 4/5 – the initial wait for service at the table was longer than expected; it took an extended period for a server to acknowledge our presence and even get us drink orders. Once the waiter got us through getting the appetizers, it suddenly sped up. Too fast. She was slow at the beginning, and then, while we were eating our salads, the entrée came out. The Bill – This irritated me. The pre-tax bill for the two of us was $159.00. The tax was $11.93. First off, you never have to post the post-tax amount; however, the 20% they charged us was on the total amount, so it was $34.19. OH WAIT – there's more. They then had TWICE on the receipt attached, asking for even MORE money, another 20-25%. Had I followed their lead and added the other 20%, I would have given her a 42% tip. Watch your Bills, People!

    1 person found this helpful

  6. StacyR

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This place is family owned and operated. I had the Hungarian Goulash which is grandma’s secret recipe…delicious and my husband had Saccottini Vanessa also delicious. I highly recommend this restaurant. Wonderful experience! We will be returning.

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  7. Rob0367

    Tampa

    7 reviews

    4.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on November 4, 2023

    overall4food4service2ambience3
    First time dining . Food was good, but service was slow. Sat at table for over 10 minutes before a server came over

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  8. ThomasK

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 29, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Very impressed the food was fantastic taste seemed so authentic. If there was anything negative the portion size was a little small but just right for my wife. Would recommend for any guy to get a appetizer/salad also. We will be back Goulash and Chicken paprika are the best.

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  9. OpenTable Diner

    Tampa

    26 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    26 reviews

    Dined on October 29, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The menu was very different because of the European flair. The owners were on vacation when we went and the kitchen and staff didn’t miss a beat. Well done

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  10. OpenTable Diner

    Orlando

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 10, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    It was lit. It was amazing I love it so much thanks for the best night

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  11. Mariposa

    Chicago

    14 reviews

    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on October 8, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Total Gem. We will be back. I love that this is a family affair- Three generations in one kitchen!

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  12. CatherineS

    Tampa

    23 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    23 reviews

    Dined on October 7, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    We arrived very, very early for our reserved time, happily they were able to accommodate us quickly. Once seated we were brought menus and water immediately. We ordered mussels as a shared appetizer. They were hands down the most delicious mussels I have had ever. They were plump and tasty. I could have drunk the broth from the bowl. I ordered chicken paprikas and found it pleasant, but maybe could have done with a bit more paprika. I am not a fan of polenta, so subbed out grilled vegetables. I could have eaten a whole plate of veggies and nothing else and been happy. They wre delicious. I had a glass of red wine - for my taste it would have been better at room termparature, not slightly chilled. The schnitzel was good, maybe one of the better we've had outside of Europe. Overall, we enjoyed it and look forward to returning.

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  13. KBLargo

    Tampa

    58 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    58 reviews

    Dined on October 3, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    Pretty Good, but Pricey Chanta is a nice, little Eastern European restaurant near the University of Tampa. Two of us were there early because we had a show at the Straz. For most of the time on this Tuesday evening we were the only diners, but it did pick up as we concluded our meal. Service was friendly and helpful and the restaurant has a nice atmosphere. We started with a dish on their early-diner menu (until 6:30pm), Vinete, a very nice eggplant spread with bread and some nice tomatoes and cheese on the side. Not too much else appealed on the early menu, so the rest of our dinner was from the standard menu. For starters we had the Cozze Chanta, a very good mussels dish, and a mediocre Caesar Salad. For mains we had the Chicken Paprikash which was tasty, but the chicken was a bit overcooked. We also had the Lamb Rack. It was a nicely composed dish with 4 chops, brown rice and 3 asparagus spears wrapped in a piece of bacon. The flavors were nice, but the entire dish was just greasy. We had a bottle of wine, but I wasn’t impressed with the wine list and felt that pricing was high. We passed on dessert. Out the door we spent over $100/person. At that price point I would probably not return. I want 5 stars when I spend that much.

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  14. OpenTable Diner

    Miami

    2 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 1, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Cozy restaurant with the best service in the area.

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  15. LieslM

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 23, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This is a very special place. Grandma and Grandpa (the owners) are there making the food from scratch. Almost every person on staff is part of the family. In my party of seven, we tried all different dishes, and every one was delicious! We met Grandma and Grandma, and they are, the sweetest people you can imagine. Grandma said she cooks from the heart as though she’s preparing food for family. It shows! I 100% recommend Chanta!

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  16. TheoD

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 23, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    I loved my experience at Chanta. The Romanian food tasted just like home. The service was impeccable. Overall I felt very welcome. Would certainly come here again.

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  17. Ashika

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great food. I tried the Romanian stew. Good ambiance. Good service.

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  18. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 10, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Lovely! Food and service were outstanding! We ordered a mix of Italian pastas and snitzels and everyone was very pleased. It was also quiet so we could hear each other talk.

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  19. AnnetteJ

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 8, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Very nice setting. Everyone made us feel at home with the service and their welcoming attitude. New dishes for us but we were anxious to try them and they were nicely done. A little smaller than the online menu but still tasty. Nice experience.

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  20. Tylg66

    Orange County

    11 reviews

    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on September 8, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great service…family owned business open since 2020 made you feel welcome food was impeccable

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  21. Geniap

    Tampa

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 2, 2023

    overall3food3service3ambience3
    We were excited to eat at this family run restaurant. Our appetizer of shrimp and calamari came out promptly, and tasted okay. The puffed pita and garlic olive tapenade was very good. We thought to order two of the lobster ravioli dishes which was delicious. Lobster tail cooked perfect. We also ordered two Romanian stews because our waitress recommended it. The meat (pork) was so over cooked and dry. The stews sauce had a nice flavor, but the sausage was also way over cooked. Apart from that there was a giant scoop of polenta which didn’t add anything to the dish. The ice cream parfait had one tiny profiterole in bottom of glass that was lost in taste and soggy from ice cream. Not thought out at all. Would we go back? Unfortunately, probably not.

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  22. Mike

    Tampa

    18 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    18 reviews

    Dined on August 26, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This was a great family run restaurant with a variety of dishes from Eastern and Western Europe. Will definitely be back!

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  23. maryannd

    San Francisco

    5 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on August 26, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food was outstanding. I felt like I was in Europe. Great service! Can’t wait to go back again.

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  24. PatV

    Tampa

    16 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on August 20, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Really authentic European dishes in a family owned restaurant with great service.

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  25. DavidS

    Tampa

    13 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on August 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This is a culinary treasure!! The menu is a fabulous mix of Romanian and Italian dishes that make it nearly impossible to pick which one to choose. You literally want to order everything. The service was outstanding and the intimate environment makes for a perfect experience. We made new friends and we were happy to be able to once again have a perfect meal thanks to chef Chiro Mancini. You must try this restaurant!!!!

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  26. LESLEYM

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 18, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Great find in the heart of Tampa! The menu is great. We loved the ambiance, the staff was welcoming, knowledgeable, and friendly. Great date night spot!

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  27. WayneM

    Orlando

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 12, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Food was rustic, authentic and fantastic. Like a village moms recipes elevated to simple perfection. No need to try new approaches on the dishes, just clean, flavorful and abundant. Service was attentive but not hovering. It's a tiny restaurant and the staff knows how to provide service without getting in the way. Tables were elegant although dated. They might want to consider replacing the seat cushions as much rear end spend more time on the seat ribbing than any cushion.

    1 person found this helpful

  28. stephanieC

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 11, 2023

    overall3food3service3ambience3
    Food was ok. Quality has gone down since last dined there. Meat was kind of dry and the Caesar salad was Publix standard. I was a bit disappointed with the quality of the food and the pricing. A standard glass of wine was also $15.

    1 person found this helpful

  29. TrishS

    Tampa

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 4, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food was fantastic and we loved the decor and the overall feel. We will definitely be back soon!

    1 person found this helpful

  30. SpicyScarlet2

    Tampa

    9 reviews

    3.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on July 30, 2023

    overall3food4service2ambience4
    The service was strange. Of course we had a reservation? But we’re seated at a table that wasn’t set. Menus did not have detailed descriptions of all the items. We asked questions and decided on the “clams “ offered, but they came out as mussels. We had no silverware or napkins, no plates to place the mussels ( in sauce), and no serving spoon. We had to ask for everything. The olive tempenaud was delicious. Schnitzel was severely over cooked, almost burned. Romanian stew meat was very dry . Lamb chops were very good according to my niece. Desert was tasty but presented in an odd manner . The cream puffs were in the bottom of a large goblet with a sundae on top. They were soggy. I’ve never had profiteroles served this way, all in all it was a great disappointment.

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  31. SandraP

    Tampa

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on July 30, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This was our first time eating at this quaint little restaurant in Tampa. The service and food were outstanding. The server was very knowledgeable and friendly. This family run restaurant has allot to offer and we will definitely be back. Thank you again for making my birthday dinner so damn delicious!

    1 person found this helpful

  32. AlevtinaS

    San Francisco

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on July 28, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Very cute place and the food was fantastic. My lobster ravioli were amazing. The service was very good too. We take our son to basketball practice across the road so this is a gem right there. We certainly will be back

    2 people found this helpful

  33. sams

    New York Area

    4 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on July 23, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We tried many dishes as to experience a wide variety of Romanian and Hungarian flavors. All were delicious to look at and to eat.

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  34. JackS

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 22, 2023

    overall1food3service1ambience3
    Had been to this restaurant a couple of times before. Service always a bit slow, but overall a reasonable dining experience. However, we had dinner at the restaurant on Saturday 7/22/2023, a group of 7 adults. For the first time, they required a credit card for the reservation with the understanding of a no show incurring $100 charge. The restaurant actually processed the $100 deposit prior to the date of the reservation. A bit different. No problem, just deduct $100 from the final tab. Mentioned the $100 charge to server, his response was that the $100 would not be deducted from final bill, but rather a refund of the $100 would be provided to the card. Waited at least 15 - 20+ mins from the time we were seated until we were approached to place our drink and appetizer order. Server also offered to take our dinner order at the same time. Again waited well over 30 minutes to get drinks (5 beers & 1 wine). Worse part the drinks were served as the meals began to be served in intervals. Not everyone received their drinks and food at the same time. 1 person was served and about 15+ mins later another 3 people were served. Finally 6 people were served and we were all waiting for the last person to be served. When the meals began to show up, we canceled the appetizer that had not been served. Lemon was requested on two separate occasions for 3 ordered Wiener Schnitzel meals. Never arrived. Most ate their meals cold waiting for others to be served. The actual meal was not particularly special. The Polenta that was served with one of the meals was not edible. The Wiener Schnitzel was bland. The mashed potatoes lacked flavor and the salad was not fresh. The drama continued with the bill. Server could not get the bill correct. After the second attempt by the server to get our bill correct, we threatened to leave without paying the bill if he couldn't get the bill right on the third attempt. Fortunately he got it right. We paid and promptly left.

    2 people found this helpful

  35. Kimmie

    Tampa

    14 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on July 20, 2023

    overall3food3service4ambience4
    The atmosphere was very warm and cozy. It was quiet which lent itself to allow you to converse and relax. However, it was extremely warm in the restaurant. Not sure if there were AC issues or what was going on. I had the goulash which came in a small bowl with no more than three pieces of beef in it with potatoes. Not what I expected especially for the price of $28. The bolognese looked very good as did the chicken papeikash.

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  36. ConnieG

    Tampa

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on July 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This place is just amazing! Between the generations of family members there all cooking and making this delicious food, and the incredible ambiance , it is really a treasure! I had my grandsons in town and they let them make their own pizzas that evening. The kids had a fantastic time. The daughters that were assisting are just the sweetest young ladies you ever want to meet! This is my fourth visit and there will definitely be many more in my future. This is a great place to take clients, friends and family. I enjoy just sitting at the bar and watching "behind the scenes" as they cook and I eat my dinner. You must go here. It is really so unique and incredible!

    1 person found this helpful

  37. WaterB

    Cleveland

    51 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    51 reviews

    Dined on July 15, 2023

    overall2food3service4ambience3
    Food that was served in bowls resembles US beef stew. It lacked flavor and quality. It also looked unappealing. Sauce on lobster/ravioli was too much and lacked good taste as well. Deserts ok: appetizer ok Staff and owners are very nice but good should stand out as tasty and memorable in a good way : it did not.

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  38. DanF

    Tampa

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Really enjoyed the unique menu and wine list. I had the Hungarian Goulash. The bread was also very good and different than what you see in most restaurants. A very nice evening with my wife as we continue our journey to explore different restaurants in the Tampa Bay area.

    1 person found this helpful

  39. OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    22 reviews

    2.0

    22 reviews

    Dined on July 13, 2023

    overall2food3service2ambience3
    We honestly don’t know why everyone raves about this place. I guess it’s quaint and different from most American restaurants but we’ve lived in Europe so we had high expectations that were far from met. Drove one hour to have the goulash only to be told at 6.45pm that the goulash wouldn’t be ready for 40 mins (surprisingly the table next to us was served 2 goulash 20 min later). They also didn’t have 3 appetizer items from the ‘new’ menu. But the waiter didn’t know this, another waitress came and told us 5-10 min later. My husband got the schnitzel- a paper thin single piece with a small dollop of mashed potatoes- it was good but he was so hungry after that he had to eat my food which was ok because I didn’t much care for my dish (chicken stew). In the meantime the owner stayed behind the bar and never bothered to check in on us. There were only 3 occupied tables at the restaurant. Overall a very disappointing experience- not just the food but especially the service. It was our anniversary dinner and we will have to it again somewhere else.

    1 person found this helpful

  40. Karisa

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 9, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excellent service and delicious food. The food is all homemade and freshly cooked.

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FAQs

Chanta is rated 4.6 stars by 197 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 17 times today
Google Map for Chanta

113 S Hyde Park Ave, Tampa, FL 33606-1929

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Neighborhood
    Tampa
  • Hours of operation
    Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Thu, Fri 11:30 am–2:00 pm Fri 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Sat 11:30 am–10:00 pm Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    European, Italian, German
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    None
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