Diners' Choice: Contemporary American restaurants in Tampa

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Contemporary American cuisine in Tampa? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Rooster & The Till

4.8

4.8 (204)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Tampa

About the restaurant

Rooster & the Till is an award-winning, modern American neighborhood restaurant in Seminole Heights. With an always-evolving menu & eclectic beverage program, it's perfect for adventurous diners looking to be challenged by new ingredients and who expect high attention to service.

We offer 2 different reservation options each evening, seats at one of our tables or at our kitchen counter, barstools that overlook the kitchen. The full menu, including tasting, is available anywhere within the restaurant.

Top review

DonnieVIP

Dined on Jun 25, 2025

Creative menu, expert preparation, great wine and friendly staff!

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Experience

Nightly Table Reservation

Experience

Nightly Kitchen Counter Reservation

Experience

Rooster Summer Brunch

Oxford Exchange

4.8

4.8 (5501)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Tampa

About the restaurant

There may be nothing that brings people together as often as food and drink. A daytime affair, The Restaurant serves weekday breakfast and lunch, weekend brunch, and afternoon tea, where guests may be seated in an art-filled dining room with an open kitchen or the sunlit Conservatory, complete with creeping vines and a retractable glass roof. Showcasing continued attention to detail, the menu consists of fresh, seasonal, signature dishes, complemented by an array of premium coffees, teas, and cocktails for a new translation of the classic bistro.

Top review

Stephanie

Dined 3 days ago

Love the service…Joel was amazing…loved the food…and as always…loved the ambiance!

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Experience

Book A Candle Pour Experience

Experience

Happy Hour at the Champagne Bar!

Sacred Pepper

4.8

4.8 (7190)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Tampa

About the restaurant

Food. Flavors. People. Style.

Inspired by her flavorful travels, Candy DeBartolo set out to bring something different to North Tampa’s food scene: a dining destination where everything that happens around the table is considered sacred—a place where every detail matters. Together with her team of passionate experts, she opened Sacred Pepper to provide the community with new twists on classic favorites in an inviting atmosphere. Locally sourced ingredients and made-from-scratch pastas and sauces highlight a Contemporary American menu with dashes of Mediterranean flair. Cocktails are inspired by cultures from around the world as well as modern, traditional, and pre-prohibition tastes.

Top review

Kelley

Dined 3 days ago

Excellent food, beautiful environment and great prices.

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Popular dish

Raviolo & Lobster

Popular dish

Baked Lobster Stuffed Shrimp

Popular dish

Salmon Piccata

Counter Culture

4.7

4.7 (1694)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Tampa

About the restaurant

5 time James Beard Nominated, Chef Pierola’s modern homage to classic counter dining and its barstool kinship between diners and the kitchen. Elevated kitchen bar dining, open air mixologist bar, Florida patio seating, and sparkling bay views.

Located just off of iconic Bayshore Blvd, in the heart of South Tampa, a few minutes from downtown.

SUN–THURS 4p-9p DINNER | FRI-SAT 4p-10p DINNER | SAT and SUN 8a–3p BRUNCH

Parking? There are select spaces in front of the restaurant and free valet seven days a week. There are additional spaces along the side of the building, as well as in the parking garage around the back on the right.

Top review

JuliaVIP

Dined on Jun 15, 2025

We love brunch there. And sitting outside. Even in the summer, is very pleasant with the umbrellas and fans. The menu satisfies those who love pancakes and those who want to experiment with new and different egg dishes

Whiskey Cake - Tampa

4.7

4.7 (1972)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Tampa

About the restaurant

Our menus are all about bold, seasonal flavors, using ingredients from the best local farmers, ranchers, and growers—because fresh just hits different. Behind the bar, we’re mixing up garden-to-glass cocktails with house-made syrups and fresh juices, plus a barrel select whiskey program that’s all about the good stuff. Whiskey Cake is where great food and good company always come together.

Top review

SteveVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Natalie, Amanda, & Erin did a great job helping me celebrate my birthday 🎂 ! The food and the drinks were amazing as well. Will definitely be back!

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4.8

4.8 (1359)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Tampa

About the restaurant

CW's Gin Joint in Downtown Tampa - "Where style and grace have an attitude."
Come join us for an amazing night out with delectable dishes and some of the best craft cocktails around! A speakeasy kind of vibe, with live Music Thursday-Sunday starting at 7pm. Dress to impress!! A business casual dress code is enforced. (No gym clothes, basketball shorts, tank tops, or flip flops)
We offer a full dinner menu, and dining room tables, along with our lounge area if you are getting together for appetizers and cocktails with a few friends.
Sit back, relax and let us take care of all the little details. Get ready to be #GINSPIRED !

Top review

MIMIVIP

Dined 4 days ago

It was our first time. Good was amazing, great atmosphere, great service

Élevage SoHo Kitchen & Bar

4.5

4.5 (1366)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Tampa

About the restaurant

Inspired by a variety of cultures and cuisines, Executive Chef, Johnathan Atanacio has had over 20 years of perfecting innovative and aesthetically beautiful dishes that elevate the palate beyond your typical dining experience. Offering a selection of specialty dishes, from steak and seafood to vegan dishes, each entrée is crafted with both pride and passion for great flavors and exceptional presentation.

Nestled in the heart of Tampa, in the popular SoHo and Hyde Park area, Elevage offers Contemporary American and International dishes, with an ever changing menu. This neighborhood gem is a local Tampa Hotspot for Happy Hour cocktails, Wine Wednesdays, and culinary experiences that elevate even the most refined culinary palettes. Whether you're dining in our main dining room, on the outdoor terrace or watching the sun set from our roof top cocktail lounge, our ambience and atmosphere sets Elevage apart as an unforgettable culinary experience. Valet parking is available.

Top review

Dayna

Dined on Jun 26, 2025

This dining experience was exceptional. The meal was incredible, the atmosphere was lovely, and service was impeccable. Our server, Troy, was the absolute best. I'd recommend this restaurant to anyone.

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4.4

4.4 (211)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Tampa

About the restaurant

Here at Julian's restaurant, we’ve incorporated our love for food and travel into a locavore seafood concept we call “Sun Coastal Cuisine”. The goal is to showcase the incredible bounty available due to our proximity to the Gulf and couple it with our team’s passion for preparing great food.

Top review

Jim

Dined 1 day ago

This is the second time we’ve been there at Julian. Both experiences have been great. Service is great, food is served in a timely manner and is tasty. I recommend it to anyone looking to eat somewhere with a view.

Rome + Fig

4.5

4.5 (307)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Tampa

About the restaurant

Nestled in the heart of Tampa’s North Hyde Park, our restaurant honors the art of personal connection while enjoying unique culinary experiences. We’re proud to be owner and chef led, infusing more than 20 years of industry knowledge and service into every globally inspired meal.

As our guest, you’ll be welcomed into a warm atmosphere by a team that can’t wait to meet you. You’ll dine with the people you love most over elevated classics with a modern twist. Coastal chic accents, an intimate view of our open-kitchen and hand-curated vintage community table will tell the story of our latest adventures, as you casually exchange stories of your own. We hope for Rome + Fig to serve as your new home away from home.

Top review

Pete

Dined on Jun 18, 2025

All around great venture. Our friendly server made our whole experience. Compound that with fantastic food with good value. Can't wait to be back!

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4.0

4 (159)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Tampa

About the restaurant

Inspired by the spirit of the Roaring Twenties and Hotel Floridan’s original Sapphire Lounge, a new restaurant comes to Tampa Bay as a modern take on old-school speakeasies. You’ll soon be lounging with a cocktail in your hand and feasting on Gulf Coast cuisine while jazz music and our smooth, sophisticated ambiance take you back in time.

We can’t wait for you to dine at The Dan

Top review

Liz

Dined 1 day ago

AMAZING! Cute restaurant inside of the FLOR hotel but so dainty and the food was phenomenal! I had the ravioli and it was DELICIOUS! And the server was exclusively detail oriented with us (tall gentlemen with white hair) and the drinks to DIE FOR!

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