Love is in the air in Tampa. This city is brimming with date night goals, and one legendary restaurant in Tampa just made the list of most romantic restaurants in America, that being Bern’s Steak House. Michael’s On East, a Sarasota staple, was also among the 100 most romantic spots in the country by OpenTable.
Editors at OpenTable analyzed over 12 million diner reviews and metrics to find the restaurants that had diners swooning.
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Three words: perfectly aged steaks. Bern’s Steak House located in Tampa has been serving guests since 1956 with prime steaks and locally grown vegetables on the side, notes legendary Chef Robert Irvine in his review of the iconic restaurant. “Their whole schtick is steak elevated to an art form, and my experience there has been true to their mission,” Irvine writes. “It’s fitting that a place that opened in the ’50s still has a dress code — and trust me, this is food worth dressing up for.”
Bern’s Steak House has a legendary wine cellar
The restaurant is also revered for its dessert room, huge wine collection, and excellent service. You have to try the baked Alaska in the dessert room if you haven’t before. You can make reservations, and see its full menu on its website. Bern’s is located at 1208 S Howard Ave.
Michael’s On East looks luxurious. It’s a restaurant I’ve yet to visit, but the views and design alone seem worth the drive. Since its establishment on April 27, 1987, Michael’s On East “has redefined fine dining, elevating culinary experiences to extraordinary heights,” write the owners on the restaurant’s website. 
A foodie gem in the heart of Sarasota
Nestled in a timeless 1940s supper club ambiance, the restaurant boasts award-winning cuisine and consistently well-reviewed service. Joining the ranks of the esteemed Nation’s Restaurant News Fine Dining Hall of Fame in 2009—an honor reserved for just ten restaurants nationwide—solidified its status as a culinary icon. Maintaining its excellence, Michael’s On East proudly clinched its 34th consecutive AAA Four-Diamond Award in 2023, a testament to its unwavering commitment to culinary mastery.
The restaurant reserves a guiding philosophy of treating every guest with the utmost respect, they’ve cultivated a legacy of exceptional service and inspired gastronomy. Their philanthropic endeavors, spanning over 500 nonprofit organizations across Sarasota and Manatee Counties, reflect their unwavering dedication to community enrichment. Surpassing one million dollars in contributions, donations, and partnerships, Michael’s On East stands as a beacon of culinary excellence and community stewardship.
Michael’s on East is located at 1212 East Ave. S.
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