We independently research and recommend any products or places but we may earn a commission if you click on affiliate links we provide. Learn More.
The doors first opened to Bern’s Steakhouse in 1956 and since then it has become an institution. It’s known as the best steakhouse in Tampa and, dare we say, even in the whole country.
They pride themselves on perfectly aged steaks and one of the largest wine collections in the world. A visit to Bern’s is not just a meal. It’s an experience.
The History
The restaurant’s story begins with Bern Laxer who was born on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in 1923. After serving in World War II and meeting his wife Gert, life took him down to Tampa Florida to visit his aunt.
While they never had a plan to stay in Tampa, a few roadblocks forced them to find ways to make an income. They attempted a soft-serve ice cream parlor without success but finally in 1953, they bought a small luncheonette.
Once the luncheonette started becoming successful, they bought the Beer Haven bar which they eventually named Bern’s with salvaged letters from the existing sign. Having some troubles with the landlord made them revert the bar back into a restaurant where they eventually bought adjoining shops.
This grew their space into eight dining rooms and in 1985 the world famous dessert room was built.
Bern and Gert has since passed away but their son David continues the operations of running the business and to carry on his parents’ tradition and legacy.
The Ambiance
The experience begins as you pull up to the entrance were a valet takes your car to park it for you. As you walk through the entrance, you are greeted with an ambiance that not many restaurants have. You know you’ve walked into somewhere special.
It’s luxurious, elegant, exclusive.
A quick check in at the desk and you are told that you will be seated shortly. This is an excellent time to take pictures in the foyer as you start your evening to remember.
Since this is restaurant is about fine dining, they have a dress code that must be followed. The expected dress code is business casual to semi-formal and you’ll notice that most people here are dressed very well.
If you do come in dressed in more relaxed attire, there is a chance you will be seated in the lounge instead of one of the main dining rooms.
As your name is called and you are led to one of the main dining rooms, notice that the decor is drenched in red and that the rooms are very dimly lit to create an intimate feeling.
Each of the dining rooms has a bit of a different ambiance though so it does depend on the room you will be seated at. Most are decorated with art that Bern himself collected.
The Food
Being known for the best steak comes with a perfected method of preparing them. Their steaks are dry-aged in house for 5-8 weeks before they are even served on a plate. This long process tenderizes the meat creating a steak that you want to keep coming back for.
Once the steaks are ready to be cooked for guests, they are charbroiled over natural hardwood lump charcoal.
There are different options for starters but every steak comes with a French onion soup, house salad, baked potato, onion rings, and the vegetable of the evening. That can change depending on the type of steak you get or with time so refer to the menu on the site.
This felt like a sufficient meal for us so we didn’t opt for any other additions although there are options to order things such as oysters, escargot, and 22 different types of caviars. If you are a seafood fan, definitely choose their seafood platter Le Bern’s that includes king crab, lobster, scallops, shrimp, oysters, crab cocktail, ceviche, mussels, and smoked salmon rillette.
Each starter was presented in a timely manner and once the starters were finished came the most awaited meal – the steaks.
These steaks were truly some of the best we have had and they didn’t disappoint. They were melt-in-your-mouth tender without any chewy parts. You can pick how you want them cooked and they cook them to perfection.
The sides, however, left something to be desired. They were generic sides without much flavor that can be much improved to be served with such a steak.
In the beginning of your meal, you are asked if you would like to make a reservation in the dessert room as well. If you have opted to do so, after you’re done with the meal you are escorted upstairs to the dessert room.
Along the way, you have an optional tour of the wine cellar and the kitchen to see a little bit of the operations behind the scenes.
The Dessert Room
The world-famous Harry Waugh dessert room is one of the most iconic parts of the restaurant. It’s located upstairs, separately from the main dining areas.
It’s almost considered as a separate restaurant since it functions all on its own. Even though you technically make a reservation ahead of time, you are still required to check in with the hostess when you arrive and then wait for a table to open up to be seated.
It is said that Bern got the idea for a dessert room when he was dining at his friend Harry’s and got invited for dessert in the drawing for after dinner cordials.
The dessert room has small private booths where you are seated that create an intimate experience.
We got the Banana Cheese Pie and the Creme Brulee for our desserts of the evening. The Banana Cheese Pie is their signature dessert and it is quite delicious. It is like a combination of banana pudding and cheesecake.
The Creme Brulee was great too but I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad Creme Brulee anywhere so that was an easy win for me.
They also feature many ice cream flavors and even options for cheese platters.
Little Details & Tips
To be able to dine at Bern’s you need to make a reservation ahead of time. Reservations start on a rolling 60 day availability and they can be booked up fast so make sure to reserve your time as soon as possible.
To make reservations you can book online or call the 813-251-2421 number. The only times you don’t need a reservation is if you are dining at the bar if there is availability, or if you are having dessert in the Dessert Room.
A credit card is required to secure a reservation and a $25 per person fee will be charged if any guest cancels within 24 hours of their schedules reservation.
Bern’s Steakhouse is a dinner-only restaurant so they only open at 5p.m. Tuesday through Thursday they are open 5p.m. to 10p.m., Friday & Saturday it’s 5p.m. to 11p.m., Sunday it’s 5p.m. to 10p.m. and Monday they are closed.
Their address is 1208 S Howard Ave. Tampa Florida 33606.
Final Thoughts
It’s definitely worth making a reservation at Bern’s Steakhouse to experience one of the best steaks in the area. For a special event such as a birthday, it’s a special place to enjoy dinner.
You can expect to pay a few hundred dollars for the whole dinner and dessert experience for a party of two.
While there are a few things that could be improved, from the ambiance to the food, you will leave satisfied with the experience as a whole. In our opinion, don’t skip the Dessert Room since it adds a fun level to the experience.