Award-winning

Lilac

Name: Lilac
Address: 500 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL, United States, 33602
Telephone: (813) 771-8022
Price range: $50 and over
Rating: 4.7

4.7

348 Reviews

$50 and over

Mediterranean

Top Tags:

Lilac is a modern Mediterranean restaurant helmed by Michelin-starred chef and California native, John Fraser. Lilac exclusively offers a 4-course prix fixe menu featuring signature elements of Chef Fraser's mastery of Mediterranean cuisine explored through the lens of Floridian coastal produce. Open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday, the dining room’s walnut flooring and the warm glow from the pendant globes create an elevated, convivial space focused around an eight-seat Christian Liaigre chef’s counter in sandblasted walnut and a lively open kitchen. Taking its cues from Fraser’s Greek heritage and his admiration of Turkish cuisine, Lilac’s balanced menu is a celebration of the chef’s vegetable-forward philosophy using fresh, seasonal, and locally sourced ingredients.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Nov 30, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 26 times today

Experiences are available.

Additional information

Dining style
Fine Dining
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Mediterranean
Hours of operation
Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(813) 771-8022
Website
https://www.editionhotels.com/tampa/restaurants-and-bars
Dress code
Smart Casual

Location
500 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602
Award-winning
1. MICHELIN 1 Star 2023
Neighborhood
Tampa
Parking details
Valet
Additional
Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

Explore the 2023 MICHELIN picks for Florida

Experiences

Christmas at Lilac
$175.00 per person
Dec 24 - Dec 25, 2023
Immerse yourself in the warmth of the season at Lilac, the Michelin-starred Mediterranean gem located on the ground floor of The Tampa EDITION. Join us for an exquisite festive celebration, meticulously curated by renowned Chef John Fraser and our esteemed culinary team. Indulge in a sumptuous Christmas feast crafted from the finest local ingredients and infused with the vibrant flavors of the season. Each dish promises a culinary adventure, rich with the spirit of the holidays. At Lilac, every bite is an enchanting journey, inviting you to savor the magic of the moment. Come, experience the joy of togetherness, and relish in the enchantment on December 24th and 25th. Your heartwarming holiday indulgence awaits.
New Year's Eve at Lilac
Dec 31, 2023 only
Step into the captivating world of Lilac this New Year's Eve, where culinary artistry and refined sophistication converge for an unforgettable experience. Choose from two exceptional dining options—an early four-course seating or a late six-course seating—each meticulously crafted to elevate your evening to a superb celebration. For the early seating between 5 - 5:30 PM, indulge in a symphony of flavors across four courses, promising a culinary journey that captivates the senses at $185 per person. Or, opt for a later seating between 8 - 8:30 PM and experience the lavish six-course affair, a gastronomic masterpiece that unfolds like a poetic narrative, ensuring a memorable transition into the New Year.

Popular dishes

Pain Lyonnais
Milk bread, sweet onions, thyme
Carrot Tabbouleh
Sweet lettuce cup, Lebanese bulgur, mild harissa
Smoked Grouper Feuillantine
Blackening spice, creamy lime vinaigrette
Poultry Liver Mousse
Port wine gelée, savory almond croissants
Lilac Caviar Service
Osetra, sundried tomato dip, pommes rösti

Appetizers

Autumn Vegetable Salad
Brussels sprout julienne, baby beets en rotisserie, dill crème, black truffle vinaigrette
Marinated Half Maine Lobster
Compressed strawberries, melted rhubarb, wildflowers
Tuna Tartare Mont Blanc
Avocado, demi sec tomatoes, garlic meringue
Dressed Shrimp Cocktail
Tomato-horseradish aioli, Sicilian pistachio oil, wild cauliflower mushrooms
Maine Lobster Chowder
Shellfish haché parmentier, littleneck clams, three olive oils
Diver Scallop
Pinenut-preserved lemon risotto, rosemary embers
Heritage Pork Belly & Spanish Octopus
Spicy nduja sausage, sweet corn succotash
Spice Braised Rabbit
Semolina pasta halo, provencal mustard, parmesan-potato cloud, guanciale
White Truffle Tajarin (Supplement 55)
Hand cut pasta, Parmigiano Reggiano, white Alba truffles

Entrées

Sweet Potato Baked in Seaweed Bread
Dijonette butter, vegan demiglace, braised Tuscan kale
Roasted Dover Sole (Supplement 20)
Wild chanterelle grenobloise, fresh rigatoni, tomato sauce à l'arête
Atlantic Swordfish
Vesuvian tomato puttanesca, roasted eggplant caviar
Ora King Salmon
Stone crab, pommes fondantes, fresno-lime butter
Duck au Poivre
Peppered duck breast, crispy leg confit, heirloom citrus glazed carrots
Aged Colorado Lamb Chop
Leeks in vinaigrette, coriander-black truffle crumble
Glazed Short Rib
Roasted king trumpet mushroom, smoked parsnip purée, grilled grape leaves, Calimyrna fig infusion
Gulf Red Snapper (Serves Two)
Baked in cataplana, creamy grits, fennel, saffron, white asparagus, rich shellfish broth
Prime Beef Ribeye en Rotisserie (Supplement 125, Serves Two)
Ratatouille gratin, garden chimichurri

Dessert

Chocolate Walnut Crémeux
Dark chocolate sponge, milk chocolate, ganache, espresso gelato
Caramelized Honey Bombe
White chocolate honeycomb, miel bavarois, almond croustilliant
Olive Oil Gâteau
Candied orange & fennel jam, Campari sprinkles
Bomboloni
Apple-rosemary caramel, Calvados créme
Robiola Goat Cheese
Herbes de Provence lavash, apricot mostarda, balsamic reduction
Dark Chocolate Soufflé (Serves Two)
Vanilla gelato, orange marmalade, saffron Anglaise

What 348 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.6Food
4.8Service
4.6Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Tampa
Great for fine wines

348 Reviews

OT
OpenTable Diner
Tampa
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
overall5food5service5ambience4
The foooooood! AMAZING! I wish the seating was more intimate and private.
Is this helpful?
H
Herbert
Orlando
54 reviews
vip
5.0
54 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience4
Wonderful dinner, best in quite awhile. Scallops and then Duck, both superb. Thanks Trinaty for the great service. Will be back
Is this helpful?
AC
AntonioC
Orlando
33 reviews
vip
5.0
33 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Everything was great as expected, food recipes, well kind of art and better on itself and served on a plate, BRAVO FOR LILAC’s team‼️
Is this helpful?
KL
KenL
London
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
overall5food4service5ambience5
Great service. Was surprised by how small restaurant is. Good food. Some dishes excellent such as octopus and pork but some were kind of standard such as salmon. Overall nice.
Is this helpful?
KL
KateL005
Tampa
55 reviews
vip
5.0
55 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food was phenomenal, the drinks elevated, and the chef and staff earned every part of their Michelin Star! Congrats!
Is this helpful?
G
Glenda
Tampa
52 reviews
vip
4.0
52 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
overall4food4service4ambience4
Service was great, food was tasty. We had their Thanksgiving prefixed menu. The servings are small but filling. We wished they would have offered the regular menu so that we could have tried other items since this was our first time dining there.
Is this helpful?
A
Anotherdinner
Tampa
45 reviews
vip
5.0
45 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Lovely thanksgiving dinner experience. Will definitely do it again. I forgot my servers name but she was amazing. Five stars all the way around👍🏾
Is this helpful?
p
prettygirl
Tampa
32 reviews
vip
2.0
32 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
overall2food2service2ambience2
After having eating in various Michelin stars restaurants around the world Lilac was not at all what we were expecting from a Michelin star restaurant, from the size and layout of the restaurant which leaves a lot to be desired to the quality of the food and the service. Restaurant is very small and right next to the lobby bar without any wall separation. We arrived earlier since that day was a lightning game at the Convention Center, checked in with the hostess to let him know we were at the bar and 5 mins after our 8:15pm reservation one of the bar waitress had to go and reminded him about us… food was terrible and service was not impressive at all. Not coming back for sure.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Charleston
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined 7 days ago
overall3food3service3ambience1
For a one star restaurant, it did not live up to its expectations. Food was above average, service was friendly but disorganized. The space felt like a pop up restaurant shoved in the only space left in the building behind plants & on the other side was a loud busy bar. I’ve dined at several Michelin one, two and three star restaurants throughout the world recently, and I do not think this will restaurant will maintain its standings.
Is this helpful?
WH
WayneH
Tallahassee
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Outstanding! Food was wonderful, service was spot on. Enjoyed it 100%. Looking forward to returning.
Is this helpful?
M
Maria
Tampa
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 19, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience2
Very good location, great service, great food but keep in mind the restaurant is right beside a bar so it’s very loud. And the tables are very close to each other. Other than that, was a great experience.
1 person found this helpful
RF
RaheemF
Philadelphia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Never have I been to a restaurant where the ambiance, taste & service was so perfectly balanced.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Orlando
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Where do I start? The service in this restaurant was outstanding. Absolutely outstanding. Jesse was our server and along with the rest of the team they excelled in taking care of my wife and I. My wife has an egg allergy and they did a wonderful job in accommodating that. The food was amazing. The Pork Belly and Octopus was so tasty and so well prepared. The Diver Scallops were beautiful. Entrees were the Dover Sole and the King Salmon. The Dover Sole was the best fish dish I have ever tasted. The deserts of Olive Oil Cake, snd Chocolate and Walnut Cremeux were delightful. I had the wine pairing also, which gave the evening a nice touch. We’ll definitely be back to sample more that Lilac has to offer. On a side note - on getting to the hotel where Lilac is located, many of the roads were closed due to a Hockey game at the Amalie Arena. The valet staff and the Tampa Police Department were wonderful in helping us get to the hotel. If you are driving to the hotel you may want to check to see there is anything happening at the Amalie.
Is this helpful?
T
Toni
San Francisco
55 reviews
vip
5.0
55 reviews
Dined on November 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Worthy of it's Michelin star. Professional friendly service. Charming atmosphere. Amazing food. Chef willing to assist with food allergies. Sexy room.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Tampa
4 reviews
vip
1.0
4 reviews
Dined on November 17, 2023
overall1food1service3ambience5
Absolutely no words. •Took a few friends one from out of town and now I’m restricted from picking any restaurants for a while. •3 people $1,000- and nobody liked their food
2 people found this helpful
p
philadelphiaboy
Philadelphia
11 reviews
vip
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on November 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience3
Excellent service. Well-curated menu. Lovely ambience. Surely recommended for a Tampa culinary experience.
Is this helpful?
A
Anonymous
Tampa
26 reviews
5.0
26 reviews
Dined on November 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great experience for a special occasion. Excellent food and service.
Is this helpful?
BS
BettieS
Tampa
54 reviews
vip
5.0
54 reviews
Dined on November 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Lilac and its chef, who appeared to complete the finishing touches on most dishes. delivered a meal that met the expectations of a Michelin starred restaurant. Four of us enjoyed our four-course meal from appetizers to dessert. Highlights were - the spiced braised rabbit appetizer. the Gulf red snapper with its lovely presentation, duck au poivre, glazed short rib, and dark chocolate souffle. We were told this was the Fall menu and it will be in place for another couple of months. We also had the wine pairing. We found the whites to be interesting and thoughtfully matched to each dish. I was disappointed with the odd Bourdeaux Zin or Tuscan. The late harvest and port with the desserts went well. Our waiter, Ryan, paced the meal perfectly and dealt with the plants that must have grown over night and were invading our space with his trusty pair of scissors. It was a beautiful evening.
Is this helpful?
JA
JenniferA
Tampa
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 12, 2023
overall3food4service5ambience3
Overall it was a nice experience because we chose to overlook a few things such as the noise level is not that of a fine dining experience. It was very loud and obnoxious right beside where the restaurant is located inside the hotel. I would personally put up a divider between the dining area and the open hotel entrance area to muffle some of the sound. The street was completely blocked off making it difficult to find a place to park blocks away. I didn’t appreciate this as I expected to have valet, or at least able to pull up to the hotel. I think the restaurant should have called or texted us to let us know of the parking issue before arriving. It was obvious right out their front door the blocked streets. It would have helped us not have the frustration of driving in circles to figure out how to get to their hotel/restaurant. The food was good, the service was excellent, and great wine. I wanted to give this experience a 5 star and could not. I would give it 3.5 stars. I may give this a shot again in the future.
2 people found this helpful
OT
OpenTable Diner
Tampa
18 reviews
vip
5.0
18 reviews
Dined on November 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We love coming to Lilac for the amazing food and great service! Looking forward to coming back when the menu changes again!
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Greater Boston
7 reviews
vip
4.0
7 reviews
Dined on November 12, 2023
overall4food4service3ambience3
Nice restaurant and good food, service a little slow. Thought it was a little over hyped.
Is this helpful?
C
Chastity
Tampa
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great experience! Loved it. Everything was great
Is this helpful?
YV
YanetV
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 11, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
I went with my husband and two children (ages 3 and 1) and everyone was so accommodating and kind! They even offered to order my children’s food from the hotel’s kitchen. The food at the restaurant was absolutely amazing! It was an unforgettable experience from beginning to end. Our waiter was always professional and made fantastic recommendations on the dinner choices. The amount of effort from all the restaurant staff to the chefs was above and beyond. We definitely plan to go in the future!
Is this helpful?
JC
JohnC
Tampa
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 11, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Lovely restaurant and atmosphere, excellent service including absolute awareness and care of an allergy. The food was superb as well. My only issue was that we were wanting to add 2 to our party of 3 for a 92 year old's birthday and each time I called it was not possible, however when we arrived, the hostesses said it may have been. Otherwise a delightful experience albeit quite expensive.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Sacramento
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 8, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent service and the food was delicious with a stunning presentation.
Is this helpful?
E
Enzosmom
Tampa
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 4, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food! Aside from the wonderful set first course of milk break that had onions and was served warm—yum, artichoke raviolis that had a shell that melted in my mouth, the liver mouse was smooth, and the smoked fish bite was nice, the pork belly and octopus app was superb (my husband really wanted to order another). Both the pork and octopus were super tender. For dinner we had duck. The pepper encrusted duck skin was unbelievably delicious and had a great texture. Interesting to have duck cooked two ways in the same dish confit and sous vide. Paired well with the salt in the olives and the sweet carrots. The dessert was a nice summation. We had the olive oil cake that came with a nice cream layer and orange marmalade. And a delicious cream covered in a white chocolate. It really was like eating a Magnum white ice cream just not cold and soft inside. The sour cocktail was sooooo nice. Loved how it was infused with a pepper and only felt the spicy feeling a few seconds after sipping it. Neat surprise. Super balanced. They gave us a nice little after dinner cookie and bit of almost candied strawberry jam with a tiny pistachio and orange speck that was perfect. The service was awesome. Jessie made great suggestions and was super informative of everything! I love that he loves food—it really shows. Alex did a great job keeping us hydrated and humoring us as we asked random questions. And saying “Of course” every time we said thank you which was very often because we were so excited and grateful for every little detail! So excited that the menu is seasonal so will be going back for sure when it changes. And after saving up many nickels…for reals!
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 3, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food and service was very good. Enjoyed the visit!
Is this helpful?
j
joser
Tampa
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 2, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great fine dining experience. The ambience was on point and the food amazing.
Is this helpful?
ET
ElainaT
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 2, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
What a great dining experience. The food, service and wine was all so amazing.
Is this helpful?
TB
TomB
Greater Boston
8 reviews
2.0
8 reviews
Dined on November 2, 2023
overall2food1service5ambience4
Brought my wife for her birthday last night. Food was very disappointing. Seemed like the focus was on presentation not flavor. Concepts were either mediocre or poor. Lobster appetizer (flavors were unappetizing), salmon entree (so salty it was inedible), and duck entree (leather tough) were all big misses … so bad, we didn’t eat them. Wine pairing was okay, but probably not worth it. Desserts were good. Clearly a strong focus on service, which was very good. We were so excited to try and Michelin star restaurant in Tampa. Overall, very let down … won’t be going back.
Is this helpful?
K
Kate
Philadelphia
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 31, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This was my husband’s first Michelin restaurant, and he wasn’t sure what to expect but left raving about our meal, the wine pairings, and the overall experience. Everything was delicious and visually appealing. Will definitely return!
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Naples
6 reviews
vip
3.0
6 reviews
Dined on October 31, 2023
overall3food2service3ambience3
This was overall an average experience. I had the rabbit appetizer and bit into a bone in the meat. The duck entree was good just not memorable. Our favorite was the hors d’oeuvres. Not worth the price and will likely not be back.
Is this helpful?
SR
StephanieR
Tampa
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on October 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had a wonderful time celebrating my husbands birthday. Food was absolutely delicious and the staff were incredible!
Is this helpful?
RR
RestaurantRev
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on October 27, 2023
overall3food2service1ambience1
Just not up to the quality standards of a true Michelin star restaurant
1 person found this helpful
OT
OpenTable Diner
Hong Kong
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on October 26, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
Good food and service and overall presentation but not at the level expected for a 1 star Michelin
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on October 20, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food and great service. Worth the price and rating!
1 person found this helpful
DF
DiannaF
New York Area
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on October 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
What an incredible experience! The food, the ambience, the experience, the service, always impeccable and memorable Thank you
Is this helpful?
A
Anonymous
New York Area
107 reviews
vip
5.0
107 reviews
Dined on October 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had a fantastic dinner, and the service and ambiance were outstanding.
Is this helpful?
JT
JoeT
Tampa
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 14, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
excellent experience, highly recommended for anyone wanting to discover what Tampa Bay has to offer for culinary experiences.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on October 13, 2023
overall3food4service5ambience2
The presentation was not what I had experienced in other Michelin star restaurants
1 person found this helpful

FAQs

Lilac is rated 4.7 stars by 348 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Nov 30, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 26 times today

Experiences are available.

500 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602

Additional information

Award-winning
1. MICHELIN 1 Star 2023
Neighborhood
Tampa
Hours of operation
Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Mediterranean
Dining style
Fine Dining
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Valet
Additional
Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
https://www.editionhotels.com/tampa/restaurants-and-bars
Phone number
(813) 771-8022

Featured in

Explore the 2023 MICHELIN picks for Florida

Lilac

Make a reservation

Additional information

Explore the 2023 MICHELIN picks for Florida

Christmas at Lilac

New Year's Eve at Lilac

Ora King Salmon

Olive Oil Gâteau

Diver Scallop

Hors d'Oeuvres

Pain Lyonnais

Carrot Tabbouleh

Smoked Grouper Feuillantine

Poultry Liver Mousse

Lilac Caviar Service

Appetizers

Autumn Vegetable Salad

Marinated Half Maine Lobster

Tuna Tartare Mont Blanc

Dressed Shrimp Cocktail

Maine Lobster Chowder

Diver Scallop

Heritage Pork Belly & Spanish Octopus

Spice Braised Rabbit

White Truffle Tajarin (Supplement 55)

Entrées

Sweet Potato Baked in Seaweed Bread

Roasted Dover Sole (Supplement 20)

Atlantic Swordfish

Ora King Salmon

Duck au Poivre

Aged Colorado Lamb Chop

Glazed Short Rib

Gulf Red Snapper (Serves Two)

Prime Beef Ribeye en Rotisserie (Supplement 125, Serves Two)

Dessert

Chocolate Walnut Crémeux

Caramelized Honey Bombe

Olive Oil Gâteau

Bomboloni

Robiola Goat Cheese

Dark Chocolate Soufflé (Serves Two)

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

FAQs

How is Lilac restaurant rated?

Is Lilac currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information

Featured in

Explore the 2023 MICHELIN picks for Florida