$15 for $30 of Eclectic Fine Dining & Drinks @ 717 South

One of the most remarkable and innovative restaurants in the Bay Area, 717 South caters to all tastes with an impressive menu ranging from authentic and delicious Italian dishes from the ‘Kitchens of Italy’ to exotic seafood cuisine from the pacific rim.

A modern twist on 1920’s décor (art deco paintings, wood trim, high ceilings and an open kitchen) and the extremely friendly staff are the first course on what promises to be an evening to savor and remember. Smart but unpretentious on the inside; its casual atmosphere is a pleasure to sink into, and there’s also a pretty patio dining area to chill out on with friends.

Suitably relaxed with one of 717 South’s 200+ wines, martinis, or cocktails and the house rolled Pesto Bread served with an island of parmesan, romano and mascarpone cheeses, the next step is the food.

The baked brie encroute is sinfully good, the calamari done to perfection and the crab cakes definitely the best in town, as is the caesar salad. Once you tear yourself away from the appetizers and salads, there’s a world of divine entrees to choose from.

The macadamia nut chicken (nut crusted chicken in lobster and sherry cream sauce with jalapeno sweet potato mash), miso and sake cured tilapia or grouper (in kaffir lime buerre blanc with edamame bean salsa and wasabi mash), and certified Hereford aged beef steaks are particular favorites.

It’s not the oldest restaurant in Tampa, nor does it boast quite a loudly as some we could mention, but it is certainly one of the very best, and we applaud it for its superb menu and excellent service.