Tampa reccomendations?

After scouring the board and finding only a couple suggestions relating directly to the Tampa area, I figured I'd just start a new topic.

I'll be in Tampa for a couple of weeks starting tomorrow, does anyone have any "not to be missed" reccomendations for places to try during my visit? Bern's is already on my list, for certain.

The other topics make it look like grouper is something I shouldn't overlook during my stay and I'm hoping to try my first authentic Cuban sandwich as well.

Thanks for any help!

Pete, I'll pm you with some more details, but here are some starters.

Cafe con leche and Cuban toast in the morning, go to La Tropicana in Ybor. Ybor city still belongs to the domino playing old-time Cubans, Italians and Spaniards, politicos and lawyers. Closed Sunday. Good at lunch, too. Sandwiches are ok, but the real find is the devil crab and potaje de garbanzos. Devil crabs are unique to Tampa and are very bready compared to Baltimore crab cakes. They are closely related to Spanish/Cuban croquetas.

Berns is great if you come in with sober expectations about the quality of the meat, which I find is a notch below the top Chicago/NY places. (But those who like grass-fed will prefer it.) Get one of the big cuts to split; you have to. Do research the wine list, because that's the whole point. The caviar program is top-notch and dirt cheap. Have desert and digestifs. Again, likely the biggest list of dessert wines, whiskies, etc. in the world.

The old Columbia in Ybor has had its ups and down, but is supposedly running a good kitchen again. Old-fashioned Spanish with flamenco shows. Downtown in Tampa is a more modern Cuban/Spanish place Spain/Toma, which can be very good.

I've been dying to try a new Basqueish seafood place in Carollwood (north suburb) called Viscaya. Looks to be quite good.

For down-home Cuban, you'll want to hit the cafeterias, bodegas and bakeries on Colombus Blvd. Arco Iris is one of the last old-school Cuban-Chinese places, and it is my first choice for sandwiches. La Teresita, the old rambling coffee shop, has a massive Cuban and South American menu. Ridiculously cheap and open all night. Most of the food is pretty good. La Ideal is also very good. Florida Bakery on Colombus and La Segunda in Ybor are the places to try Cuban bread, both in its crsiper, lardier Miami style (Florida) and its more rustic, chewier Tampa style (Segunda). (Both styles are Cuban, just from different places in Cuba.)

The old Sicilian grocery-cum-bar, Demi's (aka Market on 7th) has good hand-tossed, "NY" style pizza.

Most of the higher end stuff in Tampa is trying to impress vacationers from Long Island or Schaumburg. It's mostly a waste of meals, IMO. But you can have a great fancy meal at places such as Mise en Place, St. Bart's, or Bern's sister place, Side Berns. These are the three places that I would say reflect the locale, rather than try to be something from somewhere else.

You should go to the beach, of course. Clearwater is regarded as the finest urban beach in the US (including Waikiki and South Beach) by that guy who rates beaches and is published in USAToday each year (based on beauty, cleanliness, water conditions, etc.). Frenchy's, with its own day boats, has a mini-empire of Grouper places on Clearwater beach. Even better is Keegan's further south (Indian Rocks, I think).

Smoked mullet is pretty good if you enjoy an oily, smoked fish. Ted Peters in St. Pete is famous for it.

There are a few other interesting options, including Vietnamese, Colombian, and BBQ. But none of that reaches the levels available here for the same cuisines. Fancier meals tend to be dominated by the big chain steakhouses. In fact, I'd put Florida up there with Texas and the OC for chain domination. This is the home of Outback and Hooters. You really have to look hard for non-corporate dining.

PS, a highly recommended side trip is Tarpon Springs to the north on the coast. The little old downtown is probably the Greekest place in America. The bakeries and diners are excellent. I like Mr. Souvlaki for a cheap, sit down meal.