A Visit To Bern’s Steak House — Still The Tampa Bay Area’s Most Famous Restaurant!

Photos by Gary Nager & Joel Provenzano 

Bern’s Steak House. For anyone who has lived in the Tampa Bay area for any period of time, the name is almost mythical. For many of those who have seen the changes it ultimately had to go through since the late Bern Laxer (he passed away in 2002) and his wife Gert (who followed her husband in 2020) first opened Bern’s in 1956 (including now owned and is being run by Bern and Gert’’s son David), Bern’s is still the go-to steak house — despite the presence of chains like Fleming’s, Eddie V’s, Charley’s, Capital Grille and Ocean Prime — as much for the experience as for the food itself. 

While the restaurant does accommodate a varying small number of walk-ins for the dinner and lounge areas, and seating at the bar is “first come, first served,” reservations are highly encouraged for dinner tables in the various main dining rooms, and that reservation is still among the hardest to book in Tampa. They often have to be made up to 60 days in advance to ensure a table on the night you want. 

So, after correspondent Joel Provenzano and his wife Jessica told me that their most recent Bern’s experience didn’t live up to the steak house’s legendary reputation — and realizing that I had never taken Jannah there in the ten years we’ve been together — I decided to take us all out to S. Howard Ave. to give this venerable institution another try. 

On Becoming A Legend 

For decades, Bern’s Steak House has stood as a landmark in Tampa’s culinary scene, attracting local elite and the who’s-who of American food royalty, e.g., chefs like Emeril Lagasse, plus sports and entertainment celebrities and even actual visiting royalty. 

Since opening nearly 60 years ago, it has become a go-to destination for special occasions, high-end dining and one of the most extensive wine lists in the entire world, plus a separate dessert room nearly as famous as the restaurant itself. In other words, it would be virtually impossible to replicate what the Laxer family has created and nurtured for generations of Tampa Bay residents and visitors. 

The restaurant was born from very humble beginnings, created by Bern and Gert, with one dining room in a small strip shopping center (which today is the steak house’s Bordeaux dining room), Bern’s eventually grew to eight dining rooms, a massive wine cellar that first-time visitors just have to tour, and the fabled second-story Harry Waugh dessert room (built in 1985 and named for the renowned English wine merchant who provided the redwood wine casks for the dessert room’s 48 private suites) — taking over the whole adjacent strip of businesses and becoming the world-famous steak house it is today. 

A Grand Entrance 

Pulling into Bern’s under its classic porte-cochère, guests are greeted by an efficient valet service — an elegant first touch. Walking in the door, you’re transported into a different era, and a feeling of vintage elegance envelops you, set by the dim lighting and bold colors, textures and lush artwork. It’s immediately clear this is going to be more than just a dinner — it’s meant to be a unique experience. 

Once seated in the Rhône dining room, I ordered a 2004 Silverado Sangiovese — a Napa Valley version of one of my favorite Italian varietals (the grape behind Italian Chianti Classico), which I found by checking out Bern’s 200-page wine list online before we all visited. Our affable waiter Nick opened the bottle next to a lit candle, which not only provided illumination that allows sommeliers to see if there is sediment in the wine and stop pouring before it can enter the decanter — which none of us actually knew was a thing. It also adds to Bern’s romantic ambience. 

On their previous visit, Joel and Jessica shared the unique “Tuna and Wagyu” starter (left), a high-end fusion of Wagyu steak tartare wrapped in sashimi-grade tuna, topped with Osetra caviar. Joel says the four large pieces were visually stunning and delicious, absolute perfection even — a strong recommendation for those who like raw Japanese-style food. (Note- When they asked for chopsticks, they were told Bern’s hadn’t stocked them in years). 

But, speaking of you caviar fans (Jannah and I aren’t among those), Bern’s offers nearly two dozen varieties, plus a selection of high-end cheeses (from French camembert to Italian Fiore Sardo made from sheep’s milk). 

For this visit, we started with an incredible lump crab cake (right), which was mostly crab, grilled to crisp-edge perfection, with charred corn, tomato, basil and mustard seed vinaigrette. 

Other appetizers on Bern’s extensive menu include a dry-aged special chateaubriand carpaccio, seared foie gras, dry-aged beef rib empanadas, shrimp cocktail, oysters on the half shell, coal grilled octopus, escargots, black truffle steak tartare and baked clams, which we did order (left). They were good, but small and I didn’t think the addition of sheep’s milk cheese to the stuffing was a great (or necessary) addition. There also are two giant shellfish “Plateaux de Fruits de Mer,” with everything from shrimp, lobster and oysters to king crab, octopus and more. Not for me, but still. 

And, although every entrée at Bern’s is served with salad and a tasty, cheesy French onion soup and every steak entrée also is served with crispy onion rings and the vegetable of the evening, Joel decided to substitute Bern’s She Crab soup, which featured a large portion of lump crab, with sweet peppers, corn and fino sherry. Nick poured the creamy soup over the other ingredients (right) and of course, I had to at least sample it and found it to be a unique blend of flavors. 

You Have To Try… 

And of course, the must-order when you visit Bern’s, despite the fact the restaurant has 30 different steak options, is the signature chateaubriand (top photo), which is a tender, large, cylindrical cut of tenderloin roasted to a crisp crust outside while staying incredibly tender inside. We ordered one 14-oz. and one 9-oz. cut of chateaubriand for the four of us to share and no one left hungry or disappointed. 

Among the other steak cuts are three sizes of filet mignon, two delmonicos, three sizes of dry-aged strip steaks, two porterhouses, two T-bones and five different varieties of A5 Japanese wagyu, including a wagyu tasting with 4 oz. each of tenderloin, strip and sirloin cap. There also are “large-format” steaks like the 36-oz. wagyu tomahawk, 40-oz. bone-in tenderloin and a 60- oz. porterhouse. Maybe next time. 

Other entrées include the famous Chicken Gert (with roasted garlic rosemary butter), cast iron-roasted grouper, roasted quail, dry-aged rack of lamb, coal-grilled cobia, roasted salmon, halibut and sansho pepper-glazed sea bass. But, if you’re a steak lover and want the full Bern’s experience on your first visit, go with the chateaubriand — it’s the steak that made Bern famous and it was still wonderful. 

In addition to the side dishes served with all of the steak and most of the other entrées, there also are a la carte, shareable vegetables and sides, including parmesan truffle fries, thrice-baked potato, an Okinawan sweet potato purée, steak house mushrooms, roasted asparagus, white truffle mac & cheese and the tasty creamed corn we ordered for the table (and more). 

The Tour & The Dessert Room 

If you’re making your first visit to Bern’s, you simply have to take the tour of both the kitchen and the amazing wine cellar. While many restaurants will allow you to visit the kitchen, very few invite every guest to see for themselves the size, scope and quality control that goes into creating your meal (left), but the crew at Bern’s wants you to know the pains taken to ensure you enjoy a great meal and dining experience. 

The absolutely legendary wine cellar, that Bern himself originally curated, houses about 110,000 bottles of red, white, rosé, sparkling and dessert wines on the premises at any time, which according to our tour guide, is only about 15% of the restaurant’s total wine inventory. If you can’t find a bottle you want on the restaurant’s world-famous list, ask your sommelier to recommend something similar…or better…or completely different — they will always have you covered. 

The rest of the huge number of bottles are stored in an off-site facility and the list is constantly being updated. Some of the rarest and most expensive bottles of wine in the world are housed here. 

The right photo on this page shows just a portion of the hundreds of wines available by the glass, if you don’t want to commit to a full bottle. It’s intentionally really dark in the wine cellar, so it’s tough to get great pictures of anything other than this area, but believe me, the tour is still very much worth taking. 

The Harry Waugh Dessert Room is so famous that you don’t even have to have dinner at Bern’s in order to make a reservation for just the dessert room. Redwood doors and walls separate each dessert room, so you and your guests can enjoy privacy as you indulge in the largest selection of premium cocktails and dessert wines of any restaurant I’ve ever been to— and yes, I’ve been to a few. 

The desserts themselves are so decadent that no matter how full you may be from dinner you kind of sort of still have to indulge. Joel, Jessica, Jannah and I each got our own dessert and there was a lot of sampling going on. 

Jannah’s Dutch apple pie, with Granny Smith apples, brown sugar crumble and caramel ice cream, was great, as was my single scoop of roasted banana ice cream with hot fudge. 

But, Joel and Jessica made even better choices — Jessica’s creme brulée, topped with fresh mixed berries (left) was spot-on and Joel loved his macadamia nut sundae in a house-made waffle bowl (below). 

We all enjoyed a well-deserved after-dinner cocktail and left Bern’s satisfied and thinking about making another visit to try some other wine, steaks, fish and desserts there. 

In other words, Bern’s is still Bern’s. Is it still the best restaurant in Tampa? Try to make a reservation and decide for yourself, but it is still a great experience that everyone should have at least once. 

Bern’s Steak House (1208 S. Howard Ave.) is open every day except Monday for dinner at 5 p.m. To reserve a table, visit BernsSteakHouse.com or call (813) 251-2421 for more information. 

Palms Pharmacy — The Independent Neighborhood Pharmacy That’s Here To Stay

Doctor of Pharmacy Shahida Choudhry (left) and Angie Pares, Palms Pharmacy’s director of operations, celebrated the local independent pharmacy’s ninth anniversary in The Shoppes at The Pointe plaza in Tampa Palms on Apr. 11. (Photos by Charmaine George) 

On a recent Friday evening, Shahida Choudhry, Pharm.D., threw a party, complete with goodie bags and free ice cream (provided by the Ice Dreammm Shop in Wesley Chapel), to celebrate the nine years since she first opened (in 2016) Palms Pharmacy in The Shoppes at The Pointe plaza in Tampa Palms. 

The annual event is a way for Dr. Choudhry and her staff to mark the impact they have on Tampa Palms, New Tampa and the surrounding areas (including Wesley Chapel) by offering an alternative to big box stores and corporate chains. 

“When you walk through the door, we greet you,” Dr. Choudhry says. “When you call the pharmacy, someone picks up the phone.” 

Grace Dimalanta followed her to Palms Pharmacy from a local Publix, where Dr. Choudhry had previously served as the pharmacist for ten years. 

“Everyone is so personable and friendly at Palms Pharmacy,” Grace says. “It’s a different feel than anywhere else. They’re like family. When I leave, they’re calling out, ‘Bye, Grace, see you later! Have a good day!’” 

From its much more humble beginnings, the staff — and the amount of space it occupies in the plaza — has grown to a total of 16 people, including four pharmacists, three interns, plus six others who work in roles such as pharmacy technicians and support staff. They are all committed to providing a personal experience and truly care about their patients, with that bar being set high by Dr. Choudhry herself. 

In addition to top-quality Korean skin care products at outstanding prices (below), Palms Pharmacy also specializes in vitamins and supplements (above).

“I’ve been her customer for a long time,” Grace says. “She knows me so well. She’s even called my doctor to say a medicine that I was prescribed wasn’t good for me.” 

The large staff stays busy shipping orders throughout the whole state of Florida, offering next day delivery on prescriptions, compounded medications, specialty products and supplements. 

The pharmacy’s shelves are stocked with over-the-counter medications and high-quality supplements, including private label supplements made specifically for Palms Pharmacy. 

Dr. Choudhry says that a popular supplement, especially among those with ADHD, is a magnesium blend called Palms NeuroFocus. Other Palms Pharmacy supplements include a daily multi-vitamin and iron. 

And, she says, a new private label is coming soon, called Thrive Plus by Palms Pharmacy. 

“I’ve converted many of my favorite supplements to gummies,” Dr. Choudhry says. “We want to provide top-quality products to be cost effective so people can afford them.” 

She adds that she has found that she can produce some supplements locally to reduce the cost for her customers. 

This includes magnesium glycinate to help with sleep and nighttime carb cravings, a probiotic gummy, a creatine gummy, a greens gummy and NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) capsules, which are known as the “fountain of youth” and help with energy and visible signs of aging. 

“These [Thrive Plus] supplements had to go through FDA (U.S. Food & Drug Administration) clearance and are being produced in a facility in Tampa,” Dr. Choudhry explains. “They will be on our shelves by the end of June.” 

The best part about purchasing supplements from Palms Pharmacy is having access to experts who can explain them and help you get the best products for you. Whether you come in the store and talk with the pharmacist, or call and speak with someone on the phone, they are always happy to answer all of your questions. 

Supplements also can be purchased online at Shop.ThePalmsPharmacy.com. 

In addition to vitamins and supplements, Palms Pharmacy carries a variety of unique gift items, skin care products, and sweets and snacks. 

The Latest & Greatest Skin Care 

“Korean skin care currently is our biggest thing,” Dr. Choudhry says, adding that, unlike some other stores, “Everything we have is under $15, including rice oil, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, vitamin D and retinoids.” 

Regular customers like Grace always enjoy coming into the store to see what’s new. 

“There’s so much unique stuff,” Grace says, “like little soaps. I also buy supplements like vitamin D and calcium pills.” 

Grace says she doesn’t know anything about the quality of supplements, but her daughter-in-law, who does, pointed out that the brand she bought from Palms Pharmacy is a good one that doesn’t use fillers like a lot of companies do. 

“That makes me feel great because I know the store is stocked with stuff that’s good for you,” Grace says. 

She also appreciates that she can get vaccines at Palms Pharmacy, such as the flu shot. 

“I just make an appointment and it’s a nice experience,” Grace says. “I’m always happy to go there.” 

And, Dr. Choudhry says, when you shop at Palms Pharmacy, you’re supporting a small business where the money you spend actually stays in the local community. “We appreciate it when you support your local people and your money goes into the local economy,” Dr. Choudhry says. “While other pharmacies are sold to private equity firms or are closing locations, we’re here to help and give back.” 

In addition to caring for the store’s customers, the staff schedules team-building events every quarter, and often pair their days together with opportunities to serve the community, such as a recent beach cleanup. 

Dr. Choudhry, who earned both her Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degrees from Long Island University in Brooklyn, NY, was recently named the 2024 Independent Pharmacist of the Year by Pharmacist Moms, a national professional organization of more than 35,000 women pharmacists. 

Palms Pharmacy also has been nominated for the 2025 Health Mart Pharmacy of the Year. There are more than 5,000 independent and locally owned neighborhood pharmacies allied together under the Health Mart banner. To win the award, which will be announced in June, the pharmacy has to have best-in-class clinical practices, be a community leader and exhibit excellent financial performance. 

“We enjoy what we do and really appreciate our customers,” Dr. Choudhry says. “We know you can go anywhere, so if you’re willing to park your car and come through our doors, we’re going to try to do a little bit extra to make you feel welcome.” 

Palms Pharmacy is located at 17008 Palm Pointe Dr. and is open Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. You can call the store at (813) 252-9063 or text the secure text-only line at (727) 513-3210. For more info, visit ThePalmsPharmacy.com. 

Ivybrook Academy & Mindful Elevation Cut North Tampa Bay Chamber Ribbons!

Ivybrook Academy 

Congratulations go out to Jade and Duran Thompson (with scissors in photo above), the owners of the new Ivybrook Academy in the Tampa Palms Professional Center at 5392 Primrose Lake Cir., who hosted a North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC) ribbon-cutting event on Sept. 10. 

Neither Jade, who is a Doctor of Pharmacy, nor Duran, an Army veteran who has a Master’s degree in Finance, had any experience in education when they started their journey “about two years ago,” Jade said at the ribbon-cutting event, “with our son Jaden After looking at every preschool from Wesley Chapel to Lutz for him, we finally found one we liked, but there was a rift between the ownership and the local administration and the entire administration left overnight. I remember I said to Duran, ‘I think I can do this better.’” 

So, Jade went back to school to earn her teaching credentials and they started looking to buy an existing school that was already profitable. “But, we just couldn’t find the right school to renovate or location, until this school, which was owned by another family, but got taken over by the Ivybrook franchise, which was looking for local ownership and listed it for sale — nine months before it had ever opened. 

“So, even after our bad experience with that other franchised school, this was so similar to what I had in my business plan I said, ‘Let’s do it!,’ even though it was just dirt at the time.” 

Jade also liked that Ivybrook combines two popular curricula — Montessori and Reggio Emilia. “We have Montessori, which stresses individualized, independent learning groups, for our reading and math curricula, and Reggio Emilia, which promotes collaborative, project-based learning, for a more creative aspect.

Not a lot of pre-schools combine them.” 

There are about 50 Ivybrook Academies currently open in six states. Tampa Palms is number five in Florida, with the closest other Ivybrook being in Sarasota. “but there are about 150 more in development,” Jade said. 

She added, “It’s been really heartwarming to open the doors for the first time two weeks ago and actually see families that had agreed to trust me with their child when I didn’t even have a building for their child to attend. It’s been really exciting.” 

For more info about Ivybrook Academy, visit IvybrookAcademy.com/tampa-palms or call (813) 603-1609. 

Mindful Elevation 

We also congratulate business coach Jacqueline Nelms (at far right in left photo) of Mindful Elevation, which is located in the former location of this publication, at 2604 Cypress Ridge Blvd., Suite 102D. Jacqueline, who hosted her NTBC ribbon-cutting event on Sept. 11, has had a 25-year professional career in the health care field, but has been an executive for the past 12 years, “where I’ve led large teams, built operational strategies, and focused on organizational growth and resilience. She has a Doctorate in Health Sciences with a concentration in Leadership & Organizational Behavior, as well as a Master’s degree in Strategic Leadership. She also is a certified professional life coach and mental health first aider. 

“This combination informs my coaching of academic research, practical leadership experience and a deep commitment to helping individuals and organizations grow in purposeful, ethical and sustainable ways,” she said. 

During her ribbon-cutting event, Jacqueline thanked her husband Ross, “who has been absolutely amazing and supported me through every crazy idea I’ve had over the years,” as well as her kids, Dominick and Nicholas, and all of the Chamber members on hand to support her. 

For more info about how Jacqueline and Mindful Elevation can help you, call (813) 943-4560 or visit MindfulElevate.com. — GN 

Upcoming Events — ‘Up All Night’ Jazz, ‘Oklahoma!,’ Fall Festival & More! 

Monday, October 6, 10 a.m. – BayCare Annual Pet Blessings. At BayCare Hospital Wesley Chapel (4501 Bruce B Downs Blvd.). Bring your pets to BayCare and hospital Chaplain Reid Isenhart will say a blessing over them at this annual event. For more info, call (813) 914-1971. 

Tuesday, October 7, 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m. – North Tampa Bay Chamber Business Breakfast. At Pasco-Hernando State College, Porter Campus (2727 Mansfield Blvd., Conference Center – Third Floor). This month’s guest speaker is Lisa Richardson, ED.D., the VP of Advancement, Innovation & Strategic Partnerships for Pasco-Hernando State College. $25 for members, $30 for non-members to attend. For more info or to register, call (813) 994-8534, visit Business.NorthTampaBayChamber.com.events.

Wednesday-Thursday, October 8-9, 8 p.m.-10 p.m. – Solo Spotlight Series: The Light Bringer. At New Tampa Performing Arts Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). This is the first Solo Spotlight Series of the season: The Light Bringer, an Arab immigrant’s story of family, freedom, and finding the American Dream. In this one-woman storytelling show, Laila Lee brings to light her experiences growing up Muslim in the American South, how she discovers her place in the world, and what sacrifices she has had to make. Tickets $15-$20, depending upon seat selection. For info, call (813) 829-2760. Or, to purchase tickets, visit NewTampaArtsCenter.org/events/solo-spotlight-series-the-light-bringer. 

Saturday, October 11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. – 10th Annual Candy Crawl, presented by Fun 4 Tampa Kids/Tampa Bay Moms Group. At The Shops At Wiregrass (28211 Paseo Dr.). Local businesses and organizations will give guests a very unscary day of fun, with booths featuring crafts, games, candy and treats. There will be a Not-So-Spooky Haunted Obstacle Course, a Monster Bouncer and more. Kids get a free trick or treat bag (while supplies last) so arrive early. Costumes are optional but there will be costume contests. Free to attend but please register for special giveaways. For more info and to register, visit candycrawl25.eventbrite.com. 

Renowned tenor saxophonist Jeremy Carter and his Quintet will try to keep you “Up All Night” at his Tampa Jazz Club show at the New Tampa performing Arts Center on Saturday, October 11. (Photo from Jeremy Carter’s Instagram page) 

Saturday, October 11, 8 p.m. – The Tampa Jazz Club Presents “Up All Night,” Featuring Tenox Saxophonist Jeremy Carter. At the New Tampa Performing Arts Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.) Electrifying tenor saxophonist Jeremy Carter (left), backed by trumpeter James Suggs & the Jeremy Carter Quintet, will provide an exciting evening of music designed to keep you “Up All Night.” Table seats cost $35 ($30 for Tampa Jazz Club members) or theatre seats for $30 ($25 for members). For tickets & more info, visit TampaJazzClub.com. 

Wednesday, October 15, 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m. – North Tampa Bay Chamber Coffee Social. At BayCare Hospital (4502 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., 1st floor classroom). Wake up and join your fellow Chamber members for your morning brew and networking. Free to attend. For more info or to register, call (813) 994-8534 or visit Business.NorthTampaBayChamber.com.events. 

Wednesday, October 15, 1 p.m.-3 p.m. – Fall Fest Senior Expo. At Amberlin Apartments Clubhouse (28149 Sparrows Edge Cir.). Meet local businesses that help seniors in our area. There will be raffles and giveaways. Free to attend. For more info, call (813) 553-3138 or email AmberlinWiregrass@SparrowLiving.com. 

Friday, October 17, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. – Caribbean Chillers Concert. At The Shops at Wiregrass (Piazza Ave). Kick back, relax, and let the island vibes take over as the Caribbean Chillers, the ultimate Jimmy Buffett tribute band, hit the stage! From flip-flops to beachy beats, you’ll be dancing, singing, and soaking in paradise under the stars. Please no outside alcohol or coolers. Lawn chairs and blankets are recommended. Free to attend. For more info, visit TheShopsAtWiregrass.com/event/31388-the-caribbean-chillers-live-concert. 

Friday-Sunday, October 17-19 & October 24-26 – The New Tampa Players Present: “Oklahoma!” At New Tampa Performing Arts Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). Tickets $22 – $40 depending on seat selection. For more info and to purchase tickets, visit NewTampaPlayers.thundertix.com/events. 

Saturday, October 18, 8 a.m.-12 p.m. – Fall Community Yard Sale. At Downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel (4424 Friendly Way). Plan to attend for a morning of treasure hunting throughout the neighborhood. Free to attend. For more info, email Info@AvalonParkWesleyChapel.com or call (813) 783-1515. 

Saturday, October 18, 5 p.m.-9 p.m. – Avalon Park Spooktackular. At Downtown Avalon Park (4424 Friendly Way). There will be trick-or-treating, food trucks, community performances, bounce houses, vendors and a costume contest. Fun for the whole family. Free to attend. For more info, email Info@ AvalonParkWesleyChapel.com or call (813) 783-1515. 

Monday, October 20, 8 p.m.-10 p.m. – Broadway Open Mic Night. At New Tampa Performing Arts Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). Broadway Open Mic Nights are for everyone — whether you’re a seasoned performer, practicing for an audition, or just love to sing. Live piano accompaniment (bring your own sheet music). Cash bar. Free to attend. For info, call (813) 829-2760 or visit NewTampaArtsCenter.org/events/open-mic-oct. 

Saturday & Sunday, October 25 & 26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. – 2nd Annual Wesley Chapel Craft Festival. At The Shops at Wiregrass (along Paseo Dr.). Discover unique handmade treasures as you stroll through the Shops at Wiregrass and explore a wide variety of jewelry, pottery, art, photography, plants, specialty foods, and more — all crafted by talented artisans. Free to attend. For more info, visit TheShopsAtWiregrass.com/event/30968-2nd-annual-wesley-chapel-craft-festival. 

Saturday & Sunday, October 25 & 26, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. – North Tampa Bay Chamber’s Wesley Chapel Fall Festival & Carnival. At The Grove (5854 Wesley Grove Blvd.). The 21st annual Fall Festival returns to The Grove. There will be a full carnival, food trucks, kids play zone & activities, pumpkin photo stops, “Trunk or Treat” on Sunday, costume contests, local bands, community performances and more. For more info, call (727) 674-1464, email Drew@FloridaPenguinProductions.com or visit northtampabaychamber.com/2025-fall-festival. 

Wednesday, October 29, 8 p.m.-10 p.m. – Steinway Signature Series: Nikolov-West Duo: Under Four Hands. At New Tampa Performing Arts Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). This special concert by the Nikolov-West Duo, featuring Viktor Nikolov and Jane West, brings a fresh perspective on the piano duo experience. This dynamic piano four-hands program will weave together beloved traditional masterpieces with bold, rarely heard gems. Whether or not you’re already a classical piano lover, this is one performance you should not miss. Tickets $17.50-$25 depending upon seat selection. For info, call (813) 829-2760 or to purchase tickets visit NewTampaArtsCenter.org/events/under-four-hands. 

Friday, October 31, 4 p.m.-6 p.m. – North Tampa Bay Chamber’s “Final Friday.” At the Marriott Residence Inn at Wiregrass Ranch (2867 Lajuana Blvd, at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus). Join Chamber members as they engage and network in a relaxed environment. Free to attend. For more info, call (813) 994-8534 or visit Business.NorthTampaBayChamber.com.events. 

Friday, October 31, 5 p.m.-11 p.m. – Halloween Party on the Rooftop. At Skybox Rooftop Bar at the Marriott Residence Inn at Wiregrass Ranch (2867 Lajuana Blvd, at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus). There will be live music, games, costume contests and more. Register for the Grand Prize, a free 2-night hotel stay. Free to attend. For more info, call (813) 591-2915. 

Saturday, November 1, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. – 36th Annual India Festival. At Florida State Fair Grounds (4800 US 301, Tampa). Come out to experience dances that dazzle, food that delights and shopping that excites. For more information visit IndiaFestivalTampaBay.com. 

Lima Peruvian Cuisine — Have You Really Still Not Tried This Place?

Lima Rotisserie Chicken & Peruvian Cuisine owner Oscar Escudero is well aware that his restaurant, located in the Publix-anchored New Tampa Center plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. (a mile or so south of the Pasco County line), has been among my favorite restaurants in either of our distribution areas since he first opened in Feb. 2020. 

“Yeah, we opened less than a month before the pandemic hit,” Oscar remembers all too clearly. “And then, only a few months after we opened, the chef I brought over from Peru, Felix Picasso, suffered a stroke here in the restaurant.” 

In other words, no matter how much a certain editor has always loved his place, Oscar has faced several challenges, including having to take over as the main chef in the kitchen — despite previously working in real estate — and even though he had never even cooked in a commercial kitchen before. 

“Felix taught me how to take our recipes, which were mostly my mom’s anyway, and cook them for a large number of people,” Oscar says. “I have put in some 100-hour work weeks trying to keep this place going.” 

But, not only has Oscar kept Lima afloat, in the five+ years since he first opened, his newfound experience in the kitchen has helped him expand his already-delicious Peruvian-Chinese fusion menu with ongoing specials that are a treat for both your eyes and your palette. 

If you’ve been reading my reviews of Lima over the years, I’m sure you know that I’m basically addicted to his all-fish (since I can’t eat shrimp) Ceviché de Pescado, which is as good as any I’ve had anywhere in the Tampa Bay area, with its perfect blend of South American lime juice and spices, those delicious, giant Peruvian corn kernels and sliced red onions. I don’t eat the raw onions themselves, but the flavor they add is a necessity. I also love the wedge of sweet potato that’s soaked in the ceviche’s delectable juice. 

Well, on our most recent visit, Jannah, photographer Charmaine George and I sampled three new specials, including a “Marina Trio” (above left), which featured a nice-sized portion of that amazing fish ceviche, flanked on one side by Arroz Chaufa (Peruvian-Chinese-style fried rice) Mariscos, with shrimp, calamari, mussels and clams one side and by fried white fish fingers called Jalea on the other. Although I couldn’t eat the fried rice, Jannah and Charmaine agreed that it was delicious. I can vouch for the fried rice with either chicken or beef tenderloin tips, though. Yum! 

Next up was the Aticucho de Lomo de Res (top) — tender, tasty beef tenderloin tips (the traditional dish is often made with beef hearts) on skewers on a steaming dish with sizable sides of crispy potato wedges and grilled Peruvian corn. The only warning I’ll offer is that if you don’t like a very spicy dipping sauce, the innocent-looking side of pink rocato sauce is literally an eye-opener. 

And, even though Jannah doesn’t like her meal looking back at her, even she admitted that the third special we tried — the whole, deep-fried yellowtail snapper, served with thick yuca fries (right) — was excellent. The snapper was super-flaky and the flavor is unlike other whole snapper/fish you’ll find at other restaurants. 

The only regular menu item we sampled on our most recent visit, because we had never tried it before, was the aptly named Lima Bowl (below left) — a heaping portion of creamy (and well-spiced, but not spicy) chicken salad, made with Lima’s signature rotisserie chicken, served over white rice, black beans and Romaine lettuce with Peruvian-style pico de gallo. So good. 

Our Old Lima Standbys 

Of course, anytime a local place continues to attract my attention, there are always dishes Jannah and I allow ourselves to indulge in on a regular basis. Mine always starts with the aforementioned Ceviché de Pescado (although I also loved the new Ceviché Lima, which adds fried calamari and a savory golden pepper sauce to the usual ceviché), but Jannah’s absolute favorite dish at Lima is the Tallarin Saltado, which is similar to a Chinese lo mein-style dish, but combines flamed, sliced onions, tomatoes and cilantro, blended with fettuccine-style pasta and Peruvian soy sauce with a touch of sesame oil. 

I’m also partial to the variety of fried fillet of fish dishes, especially the Pescado a la Chorrillana, which is topped with sautéed spices, onions, tomatoes and cilantro, with a splash of wine, and served with jasmine rice, as well as the Asado de Res con Ensalada Rusa, which was a special I told you about last year that is basically the Peruvian version of beef pot roast/brisket, served with a Russian-inspired potato-&-beet salad. 

And yes, I’m also a fan of Lima’s signature crispy-skin, Peruvian rotisserie chicken, but I get almost as much enjoyment simply from the aroma of the chicken anytime you enter the restaurant. 

“It’s a very special oven we make the chicken in,” Oscar says. “We have quite a few regular customers who never get anything else.” If you’re one of these regulars, I get it, but my opinion is that you need to broaden your horizons. 

Don’t forget dessert. Charmaine and I both flipped for last year’s Cake de Maracuya, which is sort of like a passion fruit cake & flan combo. It’s light, airy and delicious. We also agreed that the special we tried this time around — the Tres Leches de Lucuma (right) — definitely had a different flavor than any tres leches we’ve had before, thanks to the South American lucuma fruit which we agreed is a combination of maple, butterscotch and caramel that is light and not too sweet. 

Other desserts include a creamy torta de chocolate, arroz con leche (rice pudding) and alfajores, which are crumbly cookies filled with dulce de leche (always on the front counter). 

Lima also serves beer (I usually get the Peruvian Cusqueña) and wine, as well as Inca Kola (regular and diet) and Peruvian juices in passion fruit and mango. The kids menu includes Salchipapas (French fries topped with diced hot dogs), as well as chicken tenders and fried fish strips. 

Lima (19062 BBD Blvd.) opens every day at 11 a.m. & stays open until 8 p.m. Mon.-Thur., 9 p.m. on Fri. & Sat. & 7 p.m. on Sun. For more info, call (813) 304-0205, order on UberEats or DoorDash, visit LimaTampa.com — and please tell Oscar I sent you!