Bon Zanmi Restaurant — Restaurant in Temple Terrace

Avoid this place if you value your time, good service, and basic respect.

My partner and I tried making a reservation through Google Assistant multiple times, but no one ever answered the phone. It kept going straight to voicemail. When we finally got a hold of someone named Greg, he took our reservation for 6:45 PM and said to ask for him when we arrived.

We got to the restaurant early at 6:27 PM. First of all, it’s shady just getting there. The restaurant is tucked away behind another building with barely any signs—if you don’t know exactly where to look, you might miss it entirely.

When we walked in, we were completely ignored. No greeting, no acknowledgment—just blank stares. We asked a staff member where to sit, and she barely even looked at us before saying, “sit anywhere,” and then just walked off. No menus, no water, no welcome. It felt like we were invisible.

We sat there waiting patiently, hoping someone would come over with menus. By 6:43—still nothing. My partner went up and asked for Greg like we were told. Finally, someone came to take our order. We kept it simple: rice and beans, fried chicken, pickliz, and passion fruit milkshakes.

It took a shocking 40 minutes just to get our drinks. In that time, we noticed other tables who had been there even before us were still waiting on food. People were looking around, clearly frustrated, but the staff seemed completely unbothered.

By 7:35 PM—nearly an hour after our reservation time—we still had no food. We watched plates go to other tables that came in after us, and at that point, it was obvious our order was just sitting somewhere forgotten. We decided enough was enough and left.

The service was rude, the wait was ridiculous, and the lack of acknowledgment was just plain disrespectful. What makes it worse is that my partner and I genuinely wanted to support the community and this restaurant. We showed up early, were polite, and wanted to see them thrive. But if this is how they treat paying customers, it’s no wonder there were so many frustrated faces.

It honestly feels like they’re taking advantage of the fact that there are barely any Haitian dining options in Tampa Bay. They know people don’t have many choices, so they act like good service isn’t necessary.

Do yourself a favor and eat somewhere else. I wouldn’t even risk it on UberEats or DoorDash unless you’re fine with waiting forever and being treated like you...

Okay Bon Zanmi! I placed my order at 7:49pm. I received it at 8:05pm. Quality of the food was very good. I’ve had more tasteful Sos Pwa (black bean sauce) in my lifetime, but then again I did order a little late in the day so maybe they just whipped the last batch of the night quick. Rice was cooked to perfection, not a crunch or uncooked rice anywhere. The legume (vegetable stew with beef) was delicious! The amount of beef they gave, amounted for the price and the amount of vegetable stew. It was tasteful. The only reason I gave 4 stars was because on their menu, they advertise that “all entrees come with Pikliz” (spicy pickled slaw. Kind of like and edible, crunchy, hot sauce) and I was almost charged for it. I say almost, because when I pointed out to the lady who took my order what it stated on the menu, she was sweet about and and apologized and said “yes, but usually legume does not come with pikliz”. In Haitian culture (I have many friends and past relationships of those that are of Haitian decent) pikliz just typically doesn’t go with legume. But someone who is American, and loves to put hot sauce on everything, I use pikliz as such when provided. And with it saying it came with all entrees, I was just confused. But no big deal. The server was sweet about it, and only charged me for 1/2. I kindly suggested to them to just add that minor tweak/statement to the menu so people aren’t confused if/when charged for pikliz when ordering legume here. The atmosphere was nice. And I was greeted and parted with smiling faces. I will...

Bon Zanmi Haitian Cuisine:

A Delightful Transformation

Having previously reviewed Bon Zanmi Haitian Cuisine a few years ago, I was thrilled to revisit their newly opened location on Fowler Avenue. The transformation is nothing short of remarkable.

Modern Ambiance & Exquisite Cuisine

Gone are the outdated elements. The new space boasts a sleek, professional interior, easily one of the most stylish Haitian restaurants I've encountered in recent years. This renovation extends to the menu, with the dishes showcasing a delightful blend of tradition and contemporary flair. The succulent patties are a testament to this, and the overall food quality is simply outstanding.

A Destination for Haitian Flavor

The portions are generous, offering excellent value for money. While my previous experience warranted a 3-star rating, the new Bon Zanmi is undeniably a 5-star establishment. Their dedication to exceptional food and ambiance positions them as a frontrunner in Tampa's Haitian culinary scene, potentially surpassing even Miami's Tap Tap Restaurant.

(Optional) A Foodie's Promise

I devoured my meal so quickly that capturing photos slipped my mind. However, on future visits, I'll ensure to document the culinary delights for all to see.

Highly Recommended

For anyone seeking an authentic Haitian dining experience, Bon Zanmi is a must-visit. The drive is well worth it, regardless of your location within Tampa. The combination of exceptional food, stylish decor, and friendly service makes Bon Zanmi an exceptional...