Bern Laxer founded Bern’s Steak House in 1956. | Photo via Bern’s Steak House
Valentine’s Day approaches, and so does the traditional onslaught of themed prix fixe offerings that always seems to accompany it. But we recommend planning a special night out with your person whenever the mood strikes.
And here’s the perfect excuse: OpenTable just released its “2026’s Top 100 Romantic Restaurants,” and a slew of Tampa Bay eateries made the cut. Here’s some inspo for your love month:
Bern’s Steak House | Obviously, this South Tampa institution and its Harry Waugh Dessert Room made the list. After all, the 22 types of caviar, booths crafted from old wine casks, and stacked wine list deliver “an experience to remember.”
The Black Pearl | Tucked right off Dunedin’s Main Street, this intimate joint serves up dishes like a White Truffle Lobster Risotto + Stuffed Radicchio.
Charley’s Steak House | If the rendezvous doesn’t turn out that well, don’t blame it on this classic steakhouse’s cozy wood-beamed ceiling vibe + array of Waygu and filets.
Asked
Asked
Do you like prix fixe menus?
A. I love ‘em B. It depends on the spot C. Hard pass
12,000. That’s about how many folks signed on to a petition opposing building a 300-acre cruise port terminal just south of the Skyway Bridge in Manatee County. Take a look at the proposed site + potential impacts. (WUSF News, Tampa Bay Times)
Watch
“The Shining” is now an opera — yes,really. This weekend, The Florida Orchestra is performing a musical adaptation of “The Shining” at the Straz Center’s Ferguson Hall. Even if you don’t want to watch the horror play out on stage, you might wonder how the show made its way to TBAY. (Tampa Bay Times)
Real Estate
Tampa has 82.2% percent more sellers than buyers, according to new Redfin data. Why’s that? First off, Florida is one of a few states building a ton of homes, so there’s higher supply than demand. Then, throw in hurricanes, high insurance premiums, and rising condo HOA fees.
Announced
Didn’t score BTS tickets the first go around? Don’t blame Bailey. You’re in luck, the K-pop phenomenon just announced a third show at Benchmark International Arena. Tickets to the Saturday, April 25, Sunday, April 26, and Tuesday, April 28 performances are on sale now. (That’s So Tampa)
Stat
Over 200 million. That’s how many people across the US were impacted by the recent winter storm. The storm also triggered the highest number of flight cancelations since March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. With more cold weather ahead, now’s a good time to review our local winter weather trends.
Show
The pirates invade downtown Tampa this weekend, but so do the kings. The Kings of Leon, that is. If you’d rather spend Saturday night at a concert instead of fending off a day-long Gasparilla hangover, there’s plenty more live music to be had across Tampa Bay.
Seasonal
Speaking of pirates, The Roast of Jose Gaspar is booked for Friday, Jan. 30, in Tampa. Get tickets to watch local comedians skewer the famed buccaneer at The Commodore. (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)
Quoted
“I never count him out. He goes back every year and sees how he’s feeling. The guy is amazing.” That’s what Bruce Arians had to say about Mike Evans. Now, dive in deeper on the wide receiver’s future with local Bucs experts on Locked On’s daily podcasts.
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Coming Soon
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I, for one, am far more amped for the Oscar’s than Valentine’s Day this year. This is the first year I’ve already watched most of the nominees for Best Picture — my pick is “Sentimental Value” le duh.
Play catch up, or spend some more quality time with Paul Mescal with screenings of “Hamnet” and “The Secret Agent” at the Tampa Theatre. Please send me your Best Picture thoughts.
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