We spent New Year's Eve in the care of the kitchen at Rooster and the Till, a modern American neighborhood-type restaurant with world-flavor wisdom. R&T just celebrated its tenth anniversary, and there’s a reason it has persevered while so many others have failed. It’s the same reason it remains toward the top of my Tampa favorites list.

Olivia Italian Restaurant opened in 2019 amid delays, the pandemic, and fanfare. Owner, Chef Chris Ponte and family are a known quantity in the area for fine food and restaurant design. It quickly received remarkable reviews. Not being a trend follower (usually), we waited. It was worth it. Here’s why

Chef/owner Christina Theofilos is second generation Greek American, born and raised in Tampa with an intense passion for great service and special food. psomi is her first big foray into the culinary world, and boy did she land it! The interior of the restaurant is stunning. It is a well-appointed modern and airy space with simple and refined food to match.

We continued our GOAT restaurant tour last night, this time for a very special occasion. We went to the Granddaddy of them all Bern's Steakhouse.