Category: Dining & Entertainment

When we first showed and told you about Birkin’s Steakhouse & Sushi Bar, located on N. Florida Ave. in Lutz (a little north of W. Bearss Ave.) back in June, the then-new restaurant’s main dining room was the main attraction — and it definitely attracted an upscale clientele that appreciated owner Mark Birkin’s selection of prime steaks and fresh sushi. 

The restaurant has done so well that Mark decided that the sushi bar side — which previously was where live music was played when the restaurant was the “LA” (Lutz-Area) Hangout (and the Twisted Rooster after that) — needed and deserved an upgrade so that his ever-growing roster of customers wouldn’t have to deal with a wait on the weekends. 

Well now, with more than 100 additional seats in a variety of both cozy four-top and larger 8-10-top booths, as well as a few large round tables, Mark and GM Doug Scagliola say the revamped Birkin’s sushi side is quickly becoming the location of choice for many of their regulars. 

“It’s only been open three or four weeks,” Mark said at our press time, “but we already have people requesting to sit in the sushi bar area.” (Note- Now that the weather is cooler, Birkin’s also-all-new, large outdoor patio with its own huge bar area, is sure to become another hotspot for his customers.) 

The guess here is that the remodeled section also will help increase sales of Birkin’s outstanding fresh sushi — from basics like California and Rainbow rolls and thick-slice tuna, yellowtail and salmon sashimi to more exotic options like Caterpillar Roll (eel roll topped with avocado and eel sauce), Giant Buda Roll (tempura shrimp with mayo, crab, smelt roe and avocado, all deep fried and topped with eel sauce and spicy mayo), to my new go-to, the Yummy Roll (with crispy baked fish, tempura crunch and roe, topped with avocado, eel sauce and spicy mayo; above photo). Birkin’s doesn’t yet have as large a variety of sushi as some Japanese restaurants, but perhaps the best thing about it is that you can still order from the restaurant’s full menu on the sushi side. 

It was Happy Hour (Wed.-Fri., 3 p.m.-5:30 p.m.) during our last visit, so Charmaine, Jannah and I shared a few of the Birkin’s Happy Hour food specials. We all loved the steak kabobs, made with filet tips and grilled onions and peppers (top photo) with house-made chimichurri sauce ($10 for two kabobs). Charmaine raved about the tangy seafood ceviche (which I couldn’t sample because it’s made with shrimp), served in a martini glass (left photo), for only $6. And, we all enjoyed the crispy potato wedges with blue or peppercorn sauce (I preferred the latter), also for $6. There’s also a Big Burger for $10 and tenderloin sliders for $12, plus Happy Hour California, spicy tuna and a couple of other rolls for just $6 each. 

I effused last time about Birkin’s 12-oz. prime filet mignon, but after seeing the 28-oz. tomahawk ribeye (right photo) come out, that will be my next dinner option. But, whether you crave starters like escargots in butter, fried lobster bites or jumbo shrimp cocktail, entrées like a Surf & Turf (8-oz. filet & lobster tail), hand-cut Chilean sea bass (below photo), grouper piccata or lollipop lamb chops, or even Italian specialties like a thick, tender chicken parmesan or ravioli with portobella mushrooms, you can’t go wrong at Birkin’s. Some entrées do include side dishes, but there also are Family Style sides like a tasty sautéed vegetable medley, mac & cheese, garlic mashed potatoes, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, green beans, creamed spinach and more. I think Jannah, Charmaine and I have sampled most of them and all have been yummy. 

Save room for dessert, because Birkin’s has a delicious Bailey’s Irish Cream cheesecake, an apple crumble and brownie with vanilla ice cream and more. 

And, Birkin’s definitely has your bar favorites covered before, during and after Happy Hour, when select glasses of wine, specialty drinks (including a house old fashioned and “Florida Ave.” margarita) and favorites like Tito’s, Jack Daniel’s, Four Roses, Captain Morgan and Herradura Repo tequila are all just $8. 

If you’re planning a holiday party, Birkin’s even has a private room that seats up to 24 people. 

The restaurant also will be open both Christmas Day and for New Year’s Eve, so why cook when you can make any holiday a little more special at Birkin’s? 

Birkin’s Steakhouse & Sushi Bar (16411 N. Florida Ave.) is open 3 p.m.-11:30 p.m. on Wed.; 3 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Thur.-Sat. & 3:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. on Sun. (it’s closed Mon. & Tues.). For reservations (which are suggested, but not required, except when booking a party) & more information, call (813) 374-8002 or visit BirkinsSteakhouse.com.