Council Oak Steaks & Seafood (in Seminole Hard Rock Tampa) — Restaurant in Temple Terrace

The food is excellent. The meat quality is top notch. We also ordered the bacon appetizer, the house salad, and the creamed corn, which were all excellent but we realized after the fact that it also meant we ordered bacon three times because it was in all of it.

As for service, the room attendants were fantastic and greater than our specific server. The room attendants floated about making sure our water was always full, plates taken away quickly, boxes brought quickly, and delivered hot hand towels prior to the meal that smelled richly of amaretto. Our waiter, on the other hand, while he was very friendly, he was easily distracted. At one point he offered to pour more wine, which we accepted, and he immediately walked away and tended to another table. He then returned four to five minutes later and reacted to the fact that we had poured our own wine after he left. Before that, we did not even know there was a wine list until we requested it because he had forgotten to offer it to us, and I had to direct him on the list to the wine we wanted as he did not know the selection. This is not a major issue for us though. We were in no hurry.

It is the environment itself as the reason that we will not be coming back. This restaurant is not just situated deep inside the Hard Rock casino, it is in the very back of the smoking section. You walk through a crowd of people blowing smoke into an already somewhat hazy room and thereseems to be absolutely no rules for smoking there at all. We watched people walk through main through-ways while flicking ash right on the carpet. As someone who smoked for 20 years and quit 7 years ago, this was still too much.

Even once you get in the restaurant and seated, the wafting of smoke-permeated air remains as they keep the restaurant doors wide open. Thus you will be smelling smoke all night in between waves of scents from the kitchen. My wife realized in the parking lot afterwards that her hair and clothes smelled of cigarettes, and our children asked us if we had been smoking when we got home.

Now this last one is personal preference, but we also expected a little more intimate of an atmosphere for the price we were paying. If this is also your preference, I would not recommend eating here. Being situated inside a casino does more than make you stink of cigarettes. It is also very loud, people bringing in drinks and beer bottles from the gambling floor and cluttering up some areas, and we were halfway through the meal before we realized the restaurant is playing a jazz fusion music (at least we think that's what it was. We definitely could not hear it properly over the din of other people in there).

Summary: Overall, if you like a good high-end steak, you'll get it for sure, but the price is more than the cash tag already on the menu. It's in a casino and no amount of decor, staff dress codes, or hot hand towels will fix that. You have to accept that it's going to be a loud, mildly ridiculous mix of people in there, and anything you bring with you is going to come out smelling like cigarettes. Take that as you will by your own limits and preferences.

Edit: And now you've heard it from them in their reply below. If you don't like smoke, go gamble in the NS sections and don't eat in the restaurant at all! This is the kind of detached attendance I was talking about. They thought I was reviewing the casino, which means they didn't even properly read the review title, let alone...

My recent dining experience at Council Oak Steaks & Seafood in Tampa was nothing short of exceptional. From the moment we were seated, it was clear that this establishment takes great pride in offering a top-tier dining experience, and for the most part, it delivered flawlessly.

Let’s begin with the food, which was truly the highlight of the evening. Every dish we ordered was executed to perfection, from the dry-aged steaks that were seared with precision and packed with flavor, to the deliciously seasoned sides and thoughtfully curated wine list. The ingredients were fresh, the presentation was elegant, and the flavors spoke volumes of the kitchen’s attention to detail. It’s rare to find a steakhouse where both the entrées and accompaniments shine equally, but Council Oak absolutely nails it.

The service also deserves high praise. Our server was knowledgeable, attentive, and incredibly courteous throughout the evening. Timing was spot-on between courses, water glasses were never empty, and there was a genuine sense of hospitality that elevated the overall experience. The staff struck a perfect balance between being professional and personable, which made us feel truly welcomed and cared for.

Now, while the food and service were undeniably five-star, there were a couple of environmental factors worth noting. The atmosphere, while upscale and stylish, was slightly brighter than one might expect for an intimate, fine-dining steakhouse. The lighting felt more suited for a lively brunch than a cozy dinner, which detracted a bit from the ambiance we were hoping for. A dimmer, more subdued lighting scheme could easily bring the atmosphere in line with the otherwise luxurious feel of the restaurant.

Additionally, being located within the Seminole Hard Rock Casino, the cigarette smoke from the casino floor unfortunately drifted into the steakhouse. While the restaurant itself is smoke-free and impeccably maintained, the lingering odor from the nearby gaming area did make its way into the dining space, which was mildly unpleasant during our meal. It’s a detail that’s largely out of the restaurant’s direct control, but it is worth noting for diners who are sensitive to smoke or looking for a completely refined environment.

That said, these minor issues didn’t overshadow the outstanding quality of the food and the professionalism of the staff. Despite the brightness and the smoke bleed-through, we’re still giving Council Oak a well-deserved five-star rating. The culinary excellence and superior service easily outweigh the environmental quirks. If you’re looking for one of Tampa’s premier steakhouse experiences—especially one housed in a vibrant and energetic setting—Council Oak is absolutely...

We had dinner reservations which upon arrival we had to wait maybe 10 mins. I guess they were backed up. Only thing I have negative to say which was real disappointing is I feel we were a bit neglected when no one acknowledged my birthday celebration. I would expect a high end restaurant to at least bring forth drinks or desert for the birthday guest... Everywhere else offers guests an accommodating special celebration and try to make it a personal experience. I'm a little bummed out about that I must say. I'll probably celebrate elsewhere now that I know this, next time! Fine dining usually entails this story of thing... Maybe they forgot being busy... But still.

The service was alright but they did come around refill water glasses and ask how our meals were prepared or if needed anything. Our waitress was a nice bright young lady who helped answer or questions about the menu. Food came out pretty fast for it being so busy. The table position which we were seated seemed a little close to the other tables beside us. If your looking for privacy it may be an issue. I heard there was live jazz musicians playing, but you can only witness it from a separate room altogether (different than where we were seated).

Now to the food portion... I ordered a 12oz sirloin steak (medium rare), asparagus with hollandaise sauce, garlic mashed potatoes with a vanilla cocktail (name slipped my tongue). My mom ordered the fillet mignon with the lobster bisque and we shared sides... The food prepared was excellent and I enjoyed the food presentation as well as portion sizing. My mom says the lobster bisque was the best she's ever had! Our signature cocktails were sweet and savory too. There are 3 types of complimentary breads to pair with whipped butter when first seated. The raisin bread one I highly recommend. We were starving so it was a nice addition too.

Don't get me wrong... Overall, I'd say it was a very unique dining experience.. But kind of squished in a bit too close for comfort where you can hear others as if they were sitting at your table. Pricing is high, but food was good quality. We probably spent about close to $200 for 2 people after taxes + tip. You'd figure that cost also supported special occasions, I suppose not. For lack of paying any attention or acknowledgement to my birthday celebration has brought down my rating.. I had high expectations for this place and service. I wanted to feel wined and dined after dressing up for the occasion. Good...