Sal Rosa — Restaurant in Tampa

Can you spend the night at Le Méridien without staying there? Sure! The lobby presents plenty of opportunities to do just that. You can order lavender macaroons at the petite bistro and a side of café au lait to get rid of the smell of booze you just coincidentally acquired at the bar. The Longitude Bar’s lavished cocktails are a great temptation. No, the prices are not cheap, but the experience of the place makes them worthwhile. Try the Vieux Carre. Not a Shirley Temple. A concoction of rye whiskey and Benedictine that smells better than some, rather expensive perfumes, you have given an ex for Valentine’s in a failed attempt to get them back. A drink to be savored slowly unless your intentions are to end up dancing on tables by the end of the night. The “Not your Father’s Old Fashioned” is good, but actually might just be a left over from one of your father’s because, although quite nice, is not creatively fabulous. However, you can never go wrong with an Old Fashioned. If you are into girlie (I can foresee the avalanche of hate mail from feminist here, even when I am one myself) drinks or fruity drinks, you might enjoy the Bizou Bramble. A lovely cocktail of Flor de Caña rum, blackberry infused syrup and lemon. Personally, it would take me about ten of those to get my booze on, and by then, I most likely be washing dishes in the kitchen to pay for the bill… but if you don’t want to scare your first date, you might just order one because it is classy and unalcoholic like. Bizou Brasserie, the restaurant, redefines fabulous. I have taken pictures of the place and believe it haunted. The photos, even when unedited, always come out in sepia. Some trick of the lighting and the marble on the walls… pure magic. Bizou cooks the best duck in Tampa, in my very humble and gastronomically uneducated opinion. When I don’t ask for it, I harass someone else in the table to order it and then pout and annoy him or her into sharing it with me. The duck is pan seared and served with the celery root puree (but I always trade it for the cauliflower hash) and a citrus sauce. My favorite part are also the beluga lentils they garnish the plate with. More please. I have tasted the Pancetta Wrapped Monkfish and it was good. Not great because I learned to eat monkfish in Oviedo and the freshness and saltiness is completely different. The fish is quite savory nevertheless. If you choose to wander into the adventure of monkfish and you just don’t know what it looks like or you no longer remember… do yourself a favor and do not google pictures. Don’t be judgmental. Think of other unpleasantly looking things that are edible and enjoyable. As appetizers, Bizou serves an amazing beef tartare. They use filet mignon, capers, cornichons (baby pickles), artichokes and an alioli. The deviled eggs are also a treat. They are filled with crab meat and portioned to share. The escargots are cooked inside a puff pastry. A great way to try them if you have been afraid of ordering them otherwise. The building exudes elegance and refinement and the dishes and libations complement it. If it is a bit expensive to binge at, it is still a wonderful place to sit and sip coffee at. It is after all an old court house remodeled. One of the few times in which you can celebrate the feared: “you have officially...

Downtown Tampa, Florida has much to offer in the way of food and beverages. You just have to know where to look and if you happen to find yourself walking past a court building, you might want to do a double take because Bizou Brasserie restaurant could very well be located inside.

Bizou Brasserie is, in fact, part of the same building that houses the Le Meridien hotel and, yes, this was once a federal court building. The restaurant features a good deal of ambiance, comfortable seating, pillars, marble, and other features that produce and elegant look overall. However, if you’re concerned that this dining establishment might be on the snooty side, don’t worry- Bizou Brasserie isn’t like that. It is still casual enough that you will feel comfortable.

Bizou Brasserie has six different menus: One for breakfast, lunch, dinner, desserts, Sunday brunch, and Bar & Small Plates. Many who visit here come for the bar and drinks, and it isn’t difficult to see why. They serve specialty drinks, plus local beer and a vast selection of wine. The wine is easily visible in the main dining room, and that is because there is a full wall of wine in racks.

When I dined at Bizou Brasserie , it was for breakfast. I pondered over the menu for quite some time before finally choosing a ham and cheese omelet with potatoes, toast, orange juice, and coffee. I felt satisfied with the quality and found the amount of food just right. It was a great way to start my day and provide the fuel I needed before exploring the city. If you like coffee and want something delicious, I recommend indulging in one of the specialty coffees like the Salted Caramel Mocha Cappuccino and Peppermint Mocha Latte. They are certain to satisfy most any coffee lover who tries them.

Bizou Brasserie service is quite good with a wait staff that is attentive and accommodating. My overall experience at Bizou Brasserie was positive overall and I recommend at least stopping by and sitting at the bar for a quick drink and one of the small plates if you happen to be in...

I love this place. I have the hotel it's in on my short list for an event venue and the food at the restaurant is pretty good. I've come for brunch in the past, had drinks and apps at the bar on a Friday night and the service is always good.

I have a very specific bone to pick with them though...the foods sometimes trendy to a fault. Each time I've gone to brunch, everyone had questions about the menu. I love french toast, they had stuffed french toast. I like bacon, theirs is candied. I like tomatoes, they have tomato jam. It's almost comical- but honestly I do find something I enjoy everytime I go, but it's like those niche and trendy items are to justify the prices that accompany a restaurant being in a hotel in downtown.

I like that they take risks with the menu and I always find something I enjoy eating.

Each time I've gone, it hasn't been busy, but they act like it is. 😂

The last time I went, I ordered french toast and it was burnt. They still get 4 stars because I was with a group and everything else for everyone else came out good, but I was a little peeved because I ordered my food after everyone else had ordered so it wasn't part of a large order and the restaurant was clearing out from after brunch, so it didn't make sense why my food would come out burnt. It looked burnt, the first bite, I couldn't taste the char, but after I got through the first half slice all I tasted was burnt food.

If this was my first visit, I would have given 3 stars. Burnt food should not make it to the table under any circumstances.

Neil and Cody are both great servers and great sports for my group.

Pro-tip: If you get your parking validated at the restaurant, it only costs $5 and they have umbrellas when...