This 70-Year-Old Tampa Steakhouse Boasts A Million-Bottle Wine Cellar That You Can Tour

Bern’s has been around for decades and it’s still one of the best steak houses you’ll find in Florida.

This Howard Avenue restaurant transforms dinner into a three-hour culinary adventure. Since 1956, locals and visitors alike have flocked here for mouthwatering steaks, stellar service, and an astonishing wine collection.

What makes Bern’s special?

It’s not just dinner. It’s a complete experience with kitchen tours, private dessert rooms, and steaks that will haunt your dreams.

Culinary Highlights

The Steaks: Perfection on a plate.

Each cut is individually selected, dry-aged in-house for 5-8 weeks, and charbroiled over natural hardwood lump charcoal to your exact specifications.

Whether you choose the melt-in-your-mouth Chateaubriand, the richly flavored Delmonico, or the indulgent Wagyu A5 strip, expect nothing short of extraordinary.

The French Onion Soup: This is a Bern’s signature that even onion-haters devour to the last drop.

The perfectly seasoned broth topped with a beautifully melted cheese blend creates a starter that has achieved legendary status among regulars and first-timers alike.

Complete Dining Experience: Every steak entrée includes French onion soup, house salad with your choice of dressing, a loaded baked potato, perfectly crisp onion rings, and seasonal vegetables – making Bern’s not just a meal but a multi-course celebration of fine dining.

Beyond Beef: The seafood options dazzle equally as much here as the steaks.

Standouts include exquisite sea bass and a prawn cocktail that seafood enthusiasts will adore.

Vegetarians aren’t forgotten either (despite this being a steak house!). But the tomato tartare is a delicious option for plant-based diners.

The Incomparable Wine Cellar

A World-Class Collection: Housing nearly one million bottles, Bern’s boasts one of the world’s largest private wine collections.

From accessible options to rarities dating back to the 1800s, the selection is simply staggering in both breadth and depth.

Expert Guidance: The knowledgeable staff helps navigate this vinous treasure trove, ensuring the perfect pairing for your meal regardless of your wine expertise or budget. If you have questions then definitely ask.

The Cellar Tour: A fascinating journey through racks of history where you’ll glimpse bottles from another era and gain insights into the passion that built this remarkable collection over decades.

Atmosphere & Décor

Old-World Elegance: The moment you step into Bern’s, you’re transported to a realm of classic steakhouse ambiance with a distinctly Tampa twist.

The lighting creates an intimate atmosphere that enhances conversation while highlighting the beautiful presentation of your meal.

Variety of Spaces: With eight distinct dining rooms accommodating 350 guests, each area offers its own character while maintaining the restaurant’s signature sophistication.

Bar Experience: Many regulars prefer the lively bar area, where the full menu is available alongside expertly crafted cocktails like their legendary Old-Fashioned.

Pricing & Value

Premium Experience: While Bern’s certainly occupies the upper echelon of pricing, the value proposition is clear – just don’t be surprised about the pricing before you get here.

What appears as simply a steak entrée includes multiple courses. But still, a $70-$100+ main course price can lead to sticker shock, so just know this is not the cheapest place to visit.

Complete Package: The complimentary kitchen and wine cellar tours, coupled with the option to continue your evening in the dessert room, transforms dinner into a full evening’s entertainment.

Special Occasion Worthy: For celebrations and milestone moments, the splurge delivers memories that last far longer than the bill.

Other Considerations

Reservation Essential: Securing a table can require planning weeks in advance, particularly for weekend dinners. Sunday is the optimal day to check for the following week’s availability.

Staff Longevity: The remarkably tenured staff has many servers boasting 30+ years of experience. And this speaks volumes about both the restaurant’s culture and consistency.

Kitchen Tour: The behind-the-scenes look at the massive 6,000-square-foot kitchen offers fascinating insights into the precision and scale of Bern’s operation.

Valet Parking: All parking is handled by valet service, so factor this into your arrival timing.

The Legendary Dessert Room: After dinner, you’ll be escorted upstairs to Bern’s crown jewel: the Harry Waugh Dessert Room. And yes, it’s delicious.

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No trip to Tampa is complete without experiencing Bern’s Steak House.

Yes, it’s pricey.

But it’s a truly high-quality dining experience that just doesn’t exist much in America anymore.

If you do decide to give this a try, just remember to secure your reservation a bit in advance. Your taste buds will thank you for the planning.

Bern’s Steak House
📍 1208 S Howard Ave, Tampa, FL 33606
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