History
Goody Goody Burgers is another iconic Tampa brand specializing in all-day breakfast as well as burgers , sandwiches and pies . The original restaurant , opened in 1925 , was one of the first drive-ins east of the Mississippi River . It closed in 2005 . After having been purchased by Richard Gonzmart and the Columbia Restaurant Group in 2014 , the restaurant reopened in Hyde Park Village . Its crowd-pleasing menu includes the signature POX burger ( served with pickles , onions and a tomato-based special sauce ) and butterscotch pie . Conveniently , there is a second location at the Tampa International Airport , in Airside C .
In another historic transformation , Tampa Bay ’ s most popular steakhouse started as a humble luncheonette called Bern and Gert ’ s Little Midway . In 1956 , Bern and Gert Laxer moved into Beer Haven on South Howard Avenue , and Bern ’ s Steak House opened its doors . Ever since , Bern ’ s has been known for its stellar steaks , spectacular wine list and the Harry Waugh Dessert Room , which features a menu of nearly 50 decadent desserts .
MEETS
MODERN
JUST LIKE THE CITY ITSELF , TAMPA BAY ’ S CUISINE SCENE SERVES UP AN INSPIRED MIX OF OLD AND NEW .
The Tampa Bay dining scene is as diverse as the city ’ s history , dating back to the late 1800s , when just over 700 people lived here . From its humble beginnings serving local cigar factory workers to today ’ s innovative chefs , Tampa Bay ’ s dining scene embraces its history and caters to the most forward-thinking foodies .
Withstanding the test of time . When the Columbia Restaurantopened in Ybor City in 1905 , the main draw was its Cuban sandwiches and café con leche . More than 100 years later , the same family still owns the restaurant — now the oldest in Florida — and it still serves its original sandwiches and coffee , along with an extensive menu of Spanish and Cuban favorites .