Diners' Choice: Good for special occasions restaurants in Tampa / Central Florida West

OpenTable

Updated July 05, 2025

Looking for the best special occasion restaurants in Tampa / Central Florida West? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Paul’s Fusion Kitchen

4.9

4.9 (78)

$30 and under

Asian

Tampa

About the restaurant

We are a family with a rich Thai heritage that has been passed down for generations. Our love for Thai food and culture inspired us to create a fusion of traditional Thai dishes with a modern twist. Growing up in a Thai household, we were taught to appreciate the balance of flavors and the use of fresh ingredients in our cooking. Our menu features an array of dishes that combine Thai spices and flavors with other cuisines. Our goal is to showcase the beauty and complexity of Thai cuisine while infusing it with modern and creative flavors. We are excited to share our passion for food with you and hope you enjoy our unique fusion creations.

Our restaurant is located at 4034 W Kennedy Blvd right next to The British Shop and in the same plaza as Sucre and Chicken Salad Chick. Place a to-go order for your office or dine in with us in our cozy dining room!

We're looking forward to serving you in South Tampa, Florida.

Top review

CindyVIP

Dined on Jun 4, 2025

Wonderful food, attentive service and a nice atmosphere. A favorite!

Massimo's Eclectic Fine Dining

4.8

4.8 (1068)

$31 to $50

Italian

Palm Harbor

About the restaurant

Join Chef Massimo for an artful blend of Italian and Mediterranean cuisines paired with an award winning wine list and full bar.
Appetizers range from Hudson Valley Grade-A Foie Gras, Pistachio coated Pan Seared Duck and Brie to Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes and rice flour battered calamari. A rich, creamy lobster bisque is a favorite among customers.
Other specialties include Veal Cognac in a creamy truffle sauce, veal chop, sweetbreads, risotto and Chilean Sea Bass.
Last, but not least, are the homemade delectable desserts.
Complementing his efforts in the kitchen is the gracious, knowledgeable and efficient staff.
Tables at the casually elegant restaurant are dressed with crisp table linens, and candles. Cascading fountains decorate the walls.

Top review

BrianVIP

Dined 5 days ago

One of our favorite restaurants in the Palm Harbor/Clearwater area!!! Authentic, homemade Italian cuisine. Our server, B, is knowledgeable, professional, and most of all fun!!

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4.8

4.8 (114)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Wesley Chapel

About the restaurant

The new chapter at UMU, After 4 years of connecting with our community and exploring the best local, Japanese, and Thai ingredients, we are ready to share a new dining experience with you. By combining the authentic flavors we are known for with modern takes on classic dishes, we have reimagined our menu and our restaurant to create an intimate experience that welcomes newcomers and regulars back to our table.

Top review

VinceVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Food and service are second to none. Atmosphere is calm and inviting. Our go to Asian restaurant in the Tampa area!

The Citrus Room

4.8

4.8 (184)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Dade City

About the restaurant

Fine dining in Dade City featuring Prime Steaks, Seafood, Wines and Liquors including Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Eagle Rare, Sazerac, Blanton and E.H. Taylor! Located in downtown Dade City, across from the Historic Pasco County courthouse, The Citrus Room will feature Meyer Prime Steaks in a cozy, intimate setting. We are proud to announce that our "Old School Steakhouse" menu includes salad, entree', side and dessert along with an excellent selection of fine wines and liquors. Reservations available by calling 352-523-0023.

Top review

Wendi

Dined 1 day ago

This is the second time we have dinned at Citrus Room it was fabulous, we highly recommend it.

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4.8

4.8 (31)

$50 and over

Japanese

Tampa

About the restaurant

A 2024 & 2025 MICHELIN Star Restaurant. Kōsen, which translates to "ray of light", embodies brilliance and enlightenment. This philosophy is reflected throughout every element of the dining experience, from the carefully crafted menu to the striking design. Kōsen seamlessly blends tradition with innovation, delivering a refined Japanese concept to the vibrant Tampa Heights district.

Experiences include our Signature 20+ course Omakase at our Chef's Counter, and multi-course Kaiseki menus in our dining room. By Executive Chef Andrew Huang and Chef de Cuisine Alex Chamberlain.

***
We are proud to unveil our environmental sustainability initiative, which introduces comprehensive practices to reduce waste across every facet of our operations. From our in-house fermentation program to partnering with local regenerative farmers for responsibly sourced produce, and eliminating single-use plastics, we are dedicated to making sustainable dining the foundation of our restaurant philosophy.

Top review

LaBresha

Dined 7 days ago

Great experience! It’s a little pricey but truly worth the experience. Will be attending again in the future.

Arts Club

4.6

4.6 (50)

$31 to $50

Asian

Tampa

About the restaurant

Where refined taste meets bold style. Tailored to those who appreciate the art of experience, this multi-sensory venue blends expertly crafted cocktails, Asian-inspired shareable plates, and curated musical entertainment that comes to life in a striking, multi-room setting designed for discovery. The venue flows from a moody lounge with dark wood finishes to a central bar wrapped in marble, ending in the Red Room: a decadent hideaway glittering with mirrored globes and bathed in red velvet—designed for nights that become stories.

Top review

danielVIP

Dined on Jun 22, 2025

Always an amazing experience with great food and drinks

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Experience

CHEF ANDREW YEO TAKEOVER | ASIAN TAPAS (FRIDAY)

Experience

CHEF ANDREW YEO TAKEOVER | ASIAN TAPAS (THURSDAY)

Terrace Grille

4.5

4.5 (863)

$30 and under

American

Lakeland

About the restaurant

Lakeland's prominent upscale dining location for all generations to gather and celebrate. An elegant urban oasis in the heart of Downtown, we are recognized for our historic floor-to-ceiling arched windows, black and white patterned floors, and dramatic pecky cypress patterned ceilings. Our scratch kitchen features the freshest ingredients, local offerings, and sustainably sourced and humanely raised proteins. In our kitchen, we make every item fresh in-house daily.

Top review

Angie VIP

Dined 7 days ago

We had a really fun and delicious Sunday Brunch. Our server was so sweet and attentive

Crabby's Dockside Clearwater

4.5

4.5 (12)

$30 and under

Seafood

Clearwater Beach

About the restaurant

We at Crabby’s Dockside are committed to serving quality food at a fair
price .
Come for the fresh Florida Grouper. Stay for the Dockside Punch and the views.
Offering a panoramic view of Clearwater Beach, we’re proud to share this
picture perfect view with you.
So come down to beautiful Clearwater Beach, Florida and enjoy a little slice of
paradise with us here at Crabby’s Dockside.

Top review

RichardVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Cozy spot and the service was spot on. I had the blackened Mahi and it was fabulous.

Spain Restaurant & Toma Bar

4.4

4.4 (631)

$30 and under

Spanish

Tampa

About the restaurant

Enjoy Mediterranean atmosphere in Tampa’s most unique, modern, urban setting complimented by excellent authentic Spanish (tapas) cuisine at affordable prices. Just blocks around the corner from Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center and the Tampa Theater, the Spain Restaurant and Toma Tapas Bar is the perfect place to be before or after a show.

We offer Live Music every Friday and Saturday nights.

Authentic Flamenco Dinners show is at 8pm the last Saturday of each month.

Top review

Bert

Dined 1 day ago

Great authentic Spanish cuisine. Also great service in atmosphere.

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Tapas Tasting Experience

Punch Room

4.3

4.3 (163)

$50 and over

Cocktail Bar

Tampa

About the restaurant

Innovation rooted in tradition. At Punch Room, cocktails have never been just drinks—they are stories in a glass, experiences that transport, and rituals that connect us to the past and the future. With our latest menu, we embark on a journey through North America, inviting guests to explore the flavors, traditions, and hidden histories of the continent. Whether enjoyed as a single glass or in a punch bowl, its drinks are meant to be shared, savored, and remembered.

Top review

JasmineVIP

Dined on May 11, 2025

Everything was great. Clean and great service!! Will be back

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