Lovely presentations, subtle flavors, killer beverage menu, and a nearly impeccable staff. There were a couple minor gaffes and they were pretty funny: sriracha was described as "Japanese Tabasco," and upon being seated, we were warned that any photographs we might take are of copyrighted items, and we could be held legally responsible for copyright infringement. Giggles were suppressed. The lime leaf and lemongrass martini was delicious, if a little on the sweet side. By all reports, the classic bloody marys (served with generous sprigs of basil) were delightful. The order of 2 vegetarian summer rolls, packed full of cilantro, mint and smoky tofu, were served with a side of hoisin with sriracha. They were so tasty, they didn't even frighten the guy who ordered steak-frites. I had a vegetable dish (Monk's Ragout) that was superb- pretty well loaded with fresh vegetables and wood ears, but also plenty of gluten and smoky tofu, so it was definitely on the rich side of vegetable dishes. The coolest aspect of it was the seasoning that, though mild, had surprisingly complex flavor. I can't wait to return, but it will probably be for drinks and snacks, or maybe lunch, since I find the dinner entrees rather steep, though the quality is hard to beat.
(5)
Woods R.
exquisite food. professional service , nonpareiile in Tampa
(5)
Michele R.
disclosure-- i live 7 blocks away and consider BT's one of the best insofar as victuals are concerned. she is an amazing chef. service is iffy. DO NOT suffer. FLAG down someone. NEW MENU--- 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 dollars option. ASK for it. Cost of drink IS HIGH. Be ready or drink water, tap. do not be embarassed to query PRIOR to receiving that amazing natural fusion something or other. Some of the waiters are FANTASTIC. SOME of the hostess staff SUCKS. DEMAND politely what should be. She pays 14K a month for that space. Dinner is worth it. Before 7 specials. Late bar menu makes it affordable. Decor is Asian modern yet interestingly inviting. Something for everyone.... even my yankee chicken and potatoes man! To your memories! michele
(5)
Anonymous P.
Very good. Some flaws. The high points made up for them. Cucumber/aloe martini was very interesting and pretty tasty. They obviously put a lot of thought into the recipe (cucumber + Hendricks gin is a great combination). Unfortunately, it was far too watered down by the "cucumber water." Otherwise successful. Appetizers were good. The roasted sea eel was a little tough for some reason, but otherwise excellent, not ruined by an over-sweet sauce as it is elsewhere. Vegetarian spring rolls and tuna sashimi were superb. Salmon in dill and white wine sauce was almost perfect, just slightly overcooked, but beautiful flavor. Vegetables along side were delicious in the sauce. The lemongrass-infused rice was out of this world. Ginger prawns were good but the three of us felt they were clearly overcooked. This was by far the biggest mistake of the kitchen. Dad loved his special of venison with black truffles--I didn't try it. Good selections of beers, teas, wines, and spirits. Dad and I shared a large Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale, which was very nice with the food. Service and atmosphere were excellent. I was disappointed by the dessert menu, wishing it had some more exotic options (there are amazing SE Asian desserts). Maybe the best dining experience I've had in Tampa. With drinks but without splurging, $60 or so per person + tip.
(5)
Felipe G.
There needs to be more restaurants like Restaurant BT in Tampa. With its location in the very cute Old Hyde Park Village and the great upscale minimalist and classy ambiance inside-- for a little while you can actually forget you are in Tampa. It seems like way too many places around the Bay Area are just so plain/predictable, casual, and touristy so it is a breath of fresh air to go to a place that feels hip, urban, and best of all features a modern interpretation of French/Vietnamese food that sounds as exciting on the menu as it is delicious. I think the highlight of my meal had to be the great Yum Pra-Hmik (Squid) salad appetizer. I frequently order this at Thai restaurants, but this dish redefined how amazing and good this dish can be. The ginger, lemongrass, scallions, cilantro, and red chili peppers just came alive with flavor perfectly complimenting the tender pieces of steamed squid. It is a simple dish but the preparation and presentation of the ingredients was executed in such way that made it really stand out. My wife's appetizer of vegetarian pumpkin soup was also very good. With both expected a thick puree but instead rich tasting chunks of pumpkin were floating in a coconut milk broth. It tasted great, but was almost served a little too warm and had to cool down a bunch. My entree of a yellow-tail snapper was flash fried and in a curry based sauce. I remember it being very good, but not quite as amazing as my squid starter. My wife had their vegetarian stuffed tofu pockets. It tasted OK, but she felt like it was a little lacking in flavor. I think it was a case where the ingredients on the menu ( tofu pouches filled with tree ear mushrooms, lily buds, taro root, tomatoes, and glass noodles with a pineapple tomato ginger sauce) sounded better than the end result. With that being said, I am happy that menu features a vegetarian section as it seems like Tampa fine dining often overlooks dietary restrictions and just relies on steak and more steak. I am sure that on subsequent visits we will explore the other 2 vegetarian entrees and see how they fare. They all sound delicious. Just to touch on a few other odds and ends. The wine, beer, and cocktail menus are great and feature some new, unexpected flavors and options. The service was top notch during our dinner and as I stated at the beginning of the review the ambiance and decor of the place is both modern and classy. If the street parking is hard to come by there is a garage directly across the street for all of Old Hyde Park Village that is free. I look forward to future visits and more great food at Restaurant BT.
(5)
robin l.
Don't get me wrong, I've never gotten a bad meal here, but I have to comment on their tapas menu. I've been dying to try it so I finally went w/ 2 other people. The food was very good as usual, but for the price the portions were extremely small. The soup came in this cup that was nearly the size of a thimble. They even had to give you a baby spoon. It's soup, come on, it could have at least come in a rice bowl. The escargot were 3 small snails in a cream sauce, the scallop was one scallop. I will definitely go back but not order off the tapas menu.
(4)
Adam N.
Fantastic food, ate there two nights in a row on business. Fantastic food, great service, highly recommended.
(5)
Elizabeth G.
My boyfriend and I took a quick weekend trip to Tampa to escape the cold and snow in Chicago. We wanted to try local cuisine and settled on Restaurant BT based on numerous reviews. I would like to preface this review by saying that price sets expectations. I could easily have overlooked many flaws at a lower price point. First impression was not good: dimly lit parking lot and the entrance next to the kitchen and garbage can. The hostess was friendly but seemed flustered and disorganized - this was the theme of the service in general. We were seated in the vacant side room with my chair next to the office door. The entire meal was marked by waiters, owner, hostess repeatedly going in and out of the office, door swinging in my face. We began to notice a war going on over the music volume. One person would walk into the office and turn the music up; one person would walk into the office and turn the music down. Our waiter was friendly but also disorganized and scattered. He could not remember the one special and had to dig for his notes. Repeat this scattered behavior for 90 minutes. Cocktails were the only truly great part of the meal. The herbal saketini was fantastic. Our appetizer of samosas was not good: tough dumplings wrappers filled with flavorless edamame and potatoes with a side of sour cream. My boyfriend had the pumpkin soup which he described as far too sweet to finish (this is a man who never lets anything go to waste). My caprese salad was good, but overwhelmed by way too many cherry tomatoes. It was also an odd menu item compared to the rest of the theme - perhaps my bad for ordering. My boyfriend ordered the shaken beef. The beef itself was good, but overwhelming since there was only a whole, sliced tomato and bed of soggy greens on the plate. My choice of tofu and edamame was a truly poor one: totally flavorless and swimming in a bowl of tomato broth. This was the single time I complained to the waiter who said, "oh well, sorry 'bout that." After trying to satiate myself with rice, we decided to go for a dessert of croissant bread pudding. This was delicious, but nothing out of the three star restaurant variety. Then the bill arrived. During the entire meal I had patiently and optimistically hoped each next course would be brilliant and bring the experience home, despite a door constantly swinging in my face. I appreciate the tenacity of local, interesting restaurants. However, the sum total just left me feeling hoodwinked and angry.
(1)
Rommie J.
Always love this place, but tonight I had an awesome duck confit and cassoulet that I don't remember seeing on the menu before. BT gets a lot of notice for its Vietnamese dishes (and the Bo Thai Chanh is worth every bit of praise it receives), but a lot of people forget how well they do traditional French-style dishes, too. The duck was actually the leg *and* sliced breast, so it was a hearty portion and served with the humble cassoulet (white bean stew), haricots verts and washed down with a fragrant Van Duzer Pinot, it felt like comfort food from the deep south -- the south of France, that is. A great meal. (3/16/2009)
(4)
RD E.
good food, but average service
(4)
BB T.
We came here for a romantic date night and the atmosphere and ambience delivered. We split the duck burrito, sounds strange but is delicious and I would go back for just this. Also had the summer roll, which was good but nothing to write home about. We also had the grass fed loin special and stuffed squid. Both dished were unique and very tasty. Menu is fun and adventurous. Only bad thing I can say about this establishment is their chairs, they are really uncomfortable.
(5)
Ed S.
Loved BT. Very calming, intimate space. Good was delicious, service attentive. Had the duck rolls, and the banh mi. Both were excellent. The hot sauce on the side was legit! Took one star away for being a little hard to find, kind of behind datz's, and being a little pricey.
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and am a real foodie. I have dined at many excellent restaurants, and am happy to report that Restaurant BT is as fine as any restaurant near home. The Peking Duck burrito is phenomenal, the Salmon soba bowl is exquisite, and their Jasmine iced tea is the best beverage I've ever had. I'd give Restaurant BT ten stars if I could.
(5)
Charles R.
What a fabulous place! My wife and I were there last Saturday evening and my wife has continually been talking since then about what a nice time we had and how good the restaurant was. My brother-in-law was with us and he's typically a very hard marker and he had nothing bad to say about the restaurant. Just a great experience with really good food and it's clear the chef pays attention to detail.
(5)
B N.
Food was very good. Service was excellent. That said, it was way overpriced and portions were small. If prices were a little less than half of what we paid, it would be worth it.
(2)
Lauren C.
I came here for what was a very impressive dining experience after receiving a suggestion from my fellow yelpers via the Talk thread. I was looking for an upscale Asian restaurant near south Tampa or the malls and many people had fabulous things to say. I chose this as our dinner destination to bring some of my "foodie family" who was visiting from out of town. We arrived around 7 PM on a Thursday night. The maitre d' greeted us and asked if we had a reservation, we did not, but it was not an issue as there was plenty of seating available. The very first thing that impressed me about Restaurant BT was the decor and upscale, yet relaxing & hip ambience. The feeling of being inside the restaurant was enough to make me want to stay all night! I was promptly greeted by more than one server within a moment of arriving as they came by to take my drink order. I was waiting for the rest of the party to arrive, but they were kind enough to bring me water in the mean time. Shortly thereafter, the entire party was seated and we began to browse the menu. For starters, we chose the vietnamese mini spring rolls, escargot and bo tai chanh (beef tartare). I enjoyed the spring rolls and the escargot (which was served in a bowl with a large puff pastry atop all of the escargot, rather than individual puffs). I didn't care for the bo tai chanh much, but that's just my personal preference as I'm never a huge fan of anything tartare. Next came the difficult decision of deciding what to have for our entree. The server presented 2 different specials, but I opted to stay classic and go for the fresh rolls and an "appetizer" sized bowl of pho. The pho had a phenomenal flavor and was loaded with goodies. Good thing I opted to not get the large dinner sized bowl as it would have been far too much food. Fresh rolls were tasty and the accompanying peanut sauce complemented them well. My family tried a variety of seafood entrees and were very impressed with everything. The service continued to be stellar throughout the entire experience in every way, I cannot stress enough that the service is what brought this review to 5 stars. In my opinion, the food was 4 stars, but the service was nothing short of top notch. The only thing I would comment about is that I do wish they had a few more options on the menu, as the choices seemed somewhat limited to me. However, I suppose this is a case of quality over quantity in regards to ingredients and care taken with each entree. Finally, we wrapped up the evening with dessert. I chose the banana tapioca pudding, served warm with coconut milk and nuts on top. Absolutely delectable. I had the pleasure of sampling with coconut panna cotta that one of my relatives ordered and let me just say it was out of this world amazing. Unlike anything I've ever had. In fact, I'd go back again just for that. Regardless, all 4 of us were very satisfied with restaurant BT from start to finish and we all agreed we'd like to return again in the very near future. Two thumbs up to BT & staff for serving up perfection in Vietnamese - French cuisine.
(5)
Joey M.
Fabulous food and experience, just overpriced. Perhaps if they had a liquor license, it could contribute to lower food prices. The meal itself was absolutely wonderful. The staff seemed very team-oriented in that we had just about everyone employeed by the restaurant visit our table, or so it seemed. Loved the outdoor patio. It was interesting walking through the kitchen though to get to the restrooms. This is a dog-friendly restaurant, and it was a nice touch that they asked and then provided water for our dogs.
BT continues to impress with her cuisine. Most recent trip I tried her Kobe beef dumplings- deep fried with soft well flavored steak on the inside. What a treat!! Her croissant bread pudding desert remains one of the best I've ever had. Excellent service, wine and drink menu, great ambience. Great to have the chef working the room, saying hello to customers and ensuring service is above par. Looking forward to her new expansion and what she will deliver with world inspired tapas.
(5)
Erica M.
Restaurant BT was very good, but I'm not sure if it is worth the price tag. We came with another couple on a very rainy weeknight. We were greeted warmly and shown to our table. Throughout the meal, we had different servers coming up to us and asking us the same questions. One server came up and asked if we wanted water. 15 seconds later, another server came up and asked if we wanted water (this server gave us options of different flavors...too bad we had already "ordered" regular water from the first server). This continued throughout the meal...at least 5 times. There is obviously a lack of communication among employees and while we appreciated the attentiveness, there is such a thing as overbearing and annoying service, especially when they are asking us the exact same questions. I don't remember what drink I ordered, but I know I didn't like it. We started with the duck burrito appetizer, spring rolls, and lobster bisque, all of which were very good. For an entree, I had the shaken beef, my husband had the tuna sashimi, and our friends had a double portion of the appetizer pho ($26!!!!) and another dish that I am forgetting. The food was very good...my shaken beef had excellent flavor and my husband's tuna was great quality (though a bit bland in my opinion). I definitely want to return for lunch and try the duck pho (I'm a sucker for duck and pho so the two mixed together sounds like heaven). But I'm not sure I'd rush back for dinner, unless another person suggested/requested it.
(4)
Claire K.
Duck Burrito (YUM!) Shaken Beef (Good!) Bread Pudding (Too Small!) Rose Champagne (are you kidding? A Plus) The experience at BT for dinner was lovely for all practical purposes. I dined with great company. The service was great the first half until our server became super busy. I've waited a few months to review this restaurant because of a conversation I had with BT that left me a bit perplexed. I decided to sit on it, but now it's time. After the app was served (Duck), the waiter offered to box the half I had remaining on my plate. I said yes! Please! And so a box was delivered with my duck tucked safely inside. The main course was served and then again, cleared and collected. This was around the time that the establishment was cranking. I clearly divided half of my plate. The server took the plates without discussion. We ordered dessert. Our Checks arrived. My leftovers never came back. I was going to inquire about them (I'm not afraid to speak up) but BT beat me to it. I had enclosed a "You've Been Yelped" card in with my check and payment, as I always do. BT came to the table and asked if someone was unhappy. I raised my hand and said I wished for my leftovers. She informed me that they do not box or ask guests unless the guest specifies. Um. BT made me a leftover half order to take home but then testily said that we should not give negative reviews on Yelp. To the whole table. Um, what? I didn't have any real issues until that came out. She was mad and counteracted the correction. The 9 other guests were offended by the way that part was handled. I really don't know what to think.
(4)
Maryana A.
I had been dying to try this place, but ended up pretty disappointed. Although the space is lovely and the presentation was excellent, the food was seriously underwhelming. Besides the duck burrito and lamb stew (a featured entree that evening), the dishes we ordered were bland and flavorless. My pho tasted like unseasoned, store-bought beef stock with some noodles thrown in. One of our party ordered the vegetarian pumpkin soup and it was watery and sugary. The coq au vin was tender but completely lacking flavor. One of our party ordered the shaken beef that others have raved about, but it was totally dry. Since the ambiance was great, the service was friendly enough, and a couple of the food items were good, I'm giving this place three stars. On the whole, however, I felt like the menu was beautifully imagined but poorly executed. My fellow Yelpers rarely lead me astray, so I'm confused as to why our experience was so different from everyone else. Maybe it was just a bad night.
Excellent service, excellent food, relaxing and quiet atmosphere. The owner always comes by at some point during dinner to ask about the meal. The portions are large....I'm not sure how one could argue otherwise. Highly recommend for an upscale meal. I'd say without a doubt among the top 3 restaurants in Tampa.
(5)
Nick W.
I came into this evening at Restaurant BT with such high expectations. Recently, my wife and I relocated to central Florida from the Seattle area. At the risk of sounding a little bourgeois, the food scene in Seattle is pretty amazing-- farm to table everything, creative, consistent, never dull, and rarely disappointing. That hasn't necessarily been consistent with our experiences in Tampa, however, Restaurant BT came with great reviews, and sounded like a fresh take with ingredients to follow suit. Hence, my excitement when we booked a reservation for date night on a Friday night. That's where my expectations unfortunately weren't completely consistent with our experience. The design of the place is great-- understated, bright, simple, and modern. The clear plastic chairs weren't really my thing, but didn't detract from the design, that was pretty great. By far the worst part of our experience was the service. We were greeted in good time, however when we tried to engage about drink options, and starters, we were met with short, uninspired responses about our options. Once drinks were ordered and dropped, we tried to engage once again, and it seemed that we had become an inconvenience to the server. The food that came out was pretty spectacular for the first couple courses-- short ribs that were tender and flavorful, and a papaya salad with fresh herbs that was the highlight of the meal. Our main courses (I had the stuffed squid, and my wife had steak nuggets over fresh spinach) weren't bad, but weren't particularly inspired. I capped the evening off with a Vietnamese drip coffee, which was good, but again, a little underwhelming. By Tampa standards, this really should get 4 stars, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. We will for sure be back, to try a couple different things, and hopefully score some better service and dishes that we can't wait to text our friends about.
(3)
Loretta Z.
Being of Vietnamese descent myself, I was really rooting for Restaurant BT to be out of this world, fantastic. After all, it is not often that you see Vietnamese food and fine dining coupled together. My hubby took me here for my birthday. Valet parking is complimentary and was a nice but necessary touch because the dedicated parking lot is very small. The restaurant is set up in two separate sections which makes the larger space seem quite intimate and small. There are no booths that I could see, just table tops in a modern, clean, minimalist type of decor. My kids had the Beef Pho and I have to say I was not a fan of the flavor. My parents are Southern Vietnamese and that may account for the difference in palate as I believe the pho here is Hanoi style. My husband ordered the duck burrito as an appetizer and that was delicious! Loads of flavor and tons of duck meat. I ordered the special which was monk fish in a coconut curry sauce. It was very tasty but probably not any better than what I can get from the Thai restaurant right across the street from my house. The best part of this restaurant was the outstanding service. We were meticulously taken care of and nothing was overlooked. I was trying to decide between 3 or 4 stars. The service is excellent. The decor is clean and modern. But if my Vietnamese parents came to visit, would I take them here for excellent Vietnamese food? Because my parents are way more interested in authenticity and flavor than impeccable service and fine dining, I probably would not. While this restaurant is good, it isn't great yet to me. I think it has the potential to get there and I will be back to give it a second try.
(3)
Chris I.
I need to state upfront that this restaurant is every bit of 5 stars with regards to the food. Every dish I had there was some of the best food I have ever eaten. That being said, I highly doubt that I will ever return. As wonderful as the food was, I hated my experience there. I found the atmosphere to be uncomfortable. I believe there was a Gordon Ramsey's BBC Kitchen Nightmare's episode that covered the same exact scenario. Very formal, classic service, multiple waiters taking care of your single table, nearly as many waiters as there are customers, not much room to relax and enjoy. I understand there are some groups of people who do enjoy this type of service, but for me the more relaxed and informal the better. I find that to be more friendly and pleasurable. It has been a few months from my visit, so I can't go into too much details on the food other than to say that it was fantastic. Order the Bo Tai chanh and the croissant bread pudding - maybe order two, they are that good. If i could only enjoy this food under a different setting, I would be a frequent customer.
(4)
Angela D.
Open on Christmas Eve. Holy crap the food is pure bliss. Tampa should be freaking grateful that BT chooses to have her business here and not cut corners American style. Glad to see it busy for lunch on Christmas Eve.
Is there anything better anywhere? I answered that question last night. Went for my anniversary and was awed by how good the food and experience was. If you are within 100 miles of this restaurant you should go. Right away. Splendid.
(5)
Lynnette S.
Love that it's trendy classy and different. The food was exquisite and exotic!!! The staff were wonderful and went above and beyond to give you a wonderful experience! Will return back!
(5)
Ann M.
Our meal was absolutely amazing and the service was spectacular! The many layers of flavor with each bite.... Unreal! Rich and fresh!!! I highly recommend you try this establishment out.... You will not be disappointed! I look forward to my next visit.
(5)
Isabelle R.
Great service, ambience, and food. Recommend lunch, the salmon soba noodle bowl was excellent.
(4)
Josiah G.
This was a great experience! What an amazing, diverse menu that delivered on every item we ate. The star for me was the kobe beef stroganoff. The beef just melted in my mouth and the homemade egg noodles soaked up all the sauce and juice. I doubt I will ever have stroganoff anywhere, like I had here. Everything that came out of the kitchen was just on a different level. The only complaints would be that the waiter didn't seem to know much about the menu or the wine. We asked about a wine and he said another person would answer that better and he sent over their wine expert, which happens and is totally fine, but when we asked questions about the menu, he didn't seem to know much. He didn't know what noodles came with the stroganoff or what was in the sauce for the escargot. This was a bit frustrating, but we looked past it. Also, the tables were very small and the plates were very big, so for the four of us with a couple appetizers, we literally had the hold the plates in our hands a couple times and there were a couple close calls with wine glasses that were constantly being moved out of the way. I'll be back for sure and I don't care if a drunk monkey serves the food on a paper plate on a TV tray.
(4)
Terra I.
This place is really underrated on the Tampa food scene- great atmosphere, fresh flavor a, unique dishes, great well priced wine list. Definitely a new fav of ours after just moving back from Manhattan.
(5)
Patricia B.
Fantastic little restaurant on MacDill. I went for lunch with two girlfriends and the food was great, the portions were large, and the service was very attentive. I had traditional Vietnamese pho and it was really good. One girlfriend had the spring rolls and they were super good. The other friend had a tofu sandwich on a delicious baguette, and it was a massive sandwich. Definitely going back again.
(5)
Tina R.
Absolutely wonderful! So many delicious flavors. The spring rolls were tasty! My shrimp was perfectly cooked and loaded with flavor. The fresh herbs and edible garnish made the presentation especially nice. The steamed artichoke with mushrooms and crab meat was delicious and unexpected. Wonderful service with very friendly knowledgeable staff.
(5)
D K.
What a gem of a restaurant! Everything we had to eat was delicious and fresh, infused with unique and tasteful flavors. The service was personable and attentive. Highly recommend the homemade Jasmine Iced Tea (wish they sold it by the bottle so that we could take some home), the fresh shrimp roll, tuna Thai chanh, Vietnamese shredded cabbage with steamed organic chili chicken, salmon soba and the croissant bread pudding!
(5)
Abe J.
Excellent food. Love the tuna app and entree. Snapper Saigon is fantastic. Great selection of wines by the glass, as well as sake. Service has been perfect on recent visits from beginning to end.
(5)
Kelleigh M.
Carlos posting on the talk thread that Restaurant BT was being featured on Emeril's show, stirred in me the desire to try this place. It's been a Tampa favorite for as long as I can remember, yet I've never been. Friday changed all that. I called early that afternoon and requested a 7:30 reservation. The lovely French maitre d informed me that 7:45 would be best-no problem. As 6:30 approached, my stomach started growling. When mama's hungry, my darling husband knows I must eat now. He gathered his car keys and off we went to Restaurant BT. We arrived at 7:15, 30 minutes too early for our 7:45 reservation. The French maître d (in case you couldn't tell I'm infatuated with anything French....French baguettes, French desserts, French cooking techniques, French accents) was very charming in person and told me he could seat us early. The restaurant itself is very minimal-modern and clean lines. The chairs are a clear resin like material and the tablecloths and color scheme is a muted beige. We were promptly sat at a table and the server brought us water-sadly this is where the service ended ;( throughout the entire night I felt like we were ignored. It seemed as though they were short a server so everyone was pitching in. It wasn't their fault, but it did hold me back from awarding 5 stars. After sitting there for a good 10-15 minutes the maître d asked if we would like a glass of wine. My husband ordered a glass of Sauvignon blanc. After the wine arrived we probably waited another 5 minutes before BT herself came by to tell is the specials. Fast forward another 5 minutes and BT could tell no one was serving us so she took our order. I do appreciate her stepping in and trying to rectify the situation. Like I said, no one was being lazy. I just think they were short 1 person. I decided upon the tuna tai Chanh for my appetizer and my husband ordered the special-her version of a clam chowder. Both were exquisite. The tuna tai Chanh is like a tuna tartare served with an accompaniment of hearts of palm nicely diced on the side. The chowder was unbelievable. It wasn't think but incredibly flavorful. So good in fact it inspired me to make soup the next day (my soup is NOTHING compared to hers). For our entrees, my husband ordered the shaken beef thanks to yelpers' suggestions. For mine I ordered the salmon entree that was served on a bed of succotash and a side of lobster ravioli. Mine was out of this world. My husband's shaken beef didn't even require a knife. The beef was so tender that it literally melted in his mouth. For the value, we decided this is a great restaurant in Tampa. For our evening, out the door with tip, it was $115. Very reasonable considering the quality, presentation and creativity that went into this meal. We will definitely be back.
(4)
Nicole F.
I have to give this place 5 stars all the way. Down to the food, ambience, and service. We will definitely be returning for some more of the delicious food. I am glad we found this place
Fantastic, hidden gem in South Tampa. Luckily, they are now on Open Table and hopefully, this makes their existence better known so that more people can experience the beautiful Vietnamese-French fusion dishes that BT serves up. The restaurant is on MacDill with a rear entrance not facing the road, near Datz. Not the most ideal location for visibility, but this has worked in my favor as I have never had trouble getting a table. Menu items to try are: Vegetarian Pumpkin Soup - very pumpkiny and delicious Crustacean Bisque - very generous with lobster pieces Global Salad Salad Composee Salmon A La Plancha Shaken Beef - WOW! Cote Basque Prawns Pork Tenderloin Sous Vide - phenomenal They also serve very good sake-tinis and many wines by the glass. In all, I don't think you can go wrong here. Just go. Update 2/15/14 - Still awesome. Got the croissant bread pudding for dessert and was blown away (thanks for the recommendation, Brett).
(5)
Brittany L.
Dined here for Valentine's Day lunch 2015. Partook in the Bo Tai Chahn, lobster bisque, ginger prawns, salmon & brie croissant and French press coffee; all of which I award a 5 star rating for both taste and presentation. The ambience is elegant yet comfortable, and the staff is pleasant and appropriately attentive. Thanks for being part of our first Valentine's Day together :)
(5)
David H.
Came here with my girlfriend to celebrate our anniversary and had a really nice meal. Started with the Tuna Tartar and Peking Duck Burrito. I got the Red Snapper a la Saigon and my gf got the dinner special, lamb and prawns. My snapper was well cooked and had a nice crisp at the bottom of the fillet. It was seasoned well and I really enjoyed it. The snapper was served over a bed of coleslaw that was dressed with a fish sauce based dressing, all surrounded by slices of cucumber. The special was decent, the shrimp was served with a tomato based sauce and was cooked well. The lamb chops on the other hand were a tad bit undercooked. I believe lamb should usually be served medium rare, but this was pretty much rare. Must have just been seared for a minute or two. Overall the food was good and I would go again to try other dishes.
(4)
Chris T.
Just want to start off by saying I'm Vietnamese, so when I heard about this place visiting Tampa I was some what excited to try it. I had the Beef Pho and eggrolls. I don't understand how you can make both of those and be soo bland and flavorless. BOTH were so bad, and honestly my friends can make these both better at home. So when finding out how much everything was it was even more disappointing. I'm sorry folks but this is not a good representation of Vietnamese food. There is WAY better places to eat that's much cheaper as well. I guess if you want pho or eggrolls don't come here. Best meal was the coconut ice cream. For sure never coming back.
(1)
Brett N.
Why 5 stars? Because it's an instant classic. --- --- --- It only happens from time to time, but I'm reviewing this place the same night that I ate there. The reason for this is that it was such an amazing meal, I couldn't wait til Yelp my face off and spread the good word. I had BT on my "to-do" list for a while, but hadn't been able to get around to trying it out. Then one day, when putting together The Weekly Yelp on Bayshore Beautiful, I noticed Rich D's review of BT and I knew that I had to expedite the process of dining there. His review said something along the lines of, "I've traveled all over the world and eaten at some amazing places over time, but my meal at Restaurant BT is in the top 3 I've ever had the pleasure of eating." How do you possibly read that and not immediately feel a magnetic pull to Macdill and Bay to Bay? He ordered the Shaken Beef, so I obviously wasn't going to be needing a menu upon my arrival. One bite in, I understood exactly why his comments were so strong. The beef was incredibly tender and flavorful....my only wish is that the portion was six times bigger, because I would have been able to eat it for hours. My friend ordered the Stroganoff, which was incredible as well. I liked my order more, but hers was 5-star quality as well. Her noodles were the best I've ever had. For dessert she went with the bread pudding and I had the banana pudding. Hers was made of bits of heaven clouds. Mine was solid, don't get me wrong....but that bread pudding was not to be ignored. And it never will be again. Restaurant BT - one of the best restaurants in Tampa Bay. And the area of "Bayshore Beautiful" is easily the class of restaurants in Tampa Bay.
(5)
Chon N.
Had a great meal here last night with my brother. Highly recommend everything we ordered : tuna appetizer, escargot, lobster avocado, duck burrito, shaken beef, scallops, tapioca pudding, and chocolate mousse. Ambiance and decor was perfect and the staff was very attentive. Will absolutely be back with my wife for a date night.
(5)
Randi H.
Good food, good service. Expensive. Uptight setting. Just don't think about how your meal costs as much as the average Vietnamese person makes in 1 month.
(3)
Yuri W.
Cafe BT is awesome!! Love the beef Pho here as it is probably the best I have found anywhere in the country so far.
(5)
SH K.
Really really enjoyed my meal there. Definitely 1 of those places you would have driven past 50 times and not thought of patronising until you hear about it. I got the peking duck burrito for starters, and the shaken beef as mains. The beef was definitely top class, and the lemongrass rice amazing. As for the peking duck burrito, I thought it was "normal" and in fact a bit too sweet as peking duck in the US tends to be. Excellent choice of wines too. Price wise, definitely on the high side, but I also think the quality of the food justifies it. Just not a place I can go to on a whim...
(5)
Gabrielle D.
I was looking for a restaurant to celebrate a birthday of somebody special. I had found about it through Open Table by running a search of French restaurants in the Tampa area. We read several menus and were intrigued by the combination of Vietnamese and French dishes proposed by BT. Being from San Francisco, we are hard to please and harder to impress. The experience was outstanding. The food is very fresh, complex, creative, delicious. There is an attention to details, from the presentation of the dishes to the selection of teas or wines. The service is discreet and knowledgeable. There are many traditional dishes that have been reinvented. We tried the coq au vin and the escargots. They were a joy and we enjoyed every bite. We will be back! Merci beaucoup, BT! This was a memorable meal and the most interesting experience this year!
(5)
Adrian M.
One of my new favs - the food was innovative, refreshing & absolutely delicious! We tried several dishes on the menu & also the specials of the evening - we were thrilled with all of them. The modern minimalist decor is very Zen like & the service was great too! Book a table & go now! We LOVE this place!
(5)
Marya C.
This is my FAVORITE restaurant in Tampa! I have always gravitated to Vietnamese cuisine, but this unique restaurant takes it to another level. Every dish has intense flavor, and the presentation is exquisite. This is a restaurant where you want to take your time and savor the atmosphere and your meal. My favorite dishes include: pumpkin soup, duck pho, pork bun, and jasmine green tea. Do not miss this restaurant!
(5)
Kevin F.
Nice small place with great food. I'm a big fan of the Bo Tai Chanh. It's not like a typical steak-tartare, but if you're coming here to eat, you probably aren't looking for "typical", right?
(4)
Dion L.
Delicious, amped up, modernized, super local and fresh interpretation of Vietnamese...but some things fell short when my husband and I dined here for lunch. The bahn mi featured really nicely seasoned, tender pork and plenty of vegetables inside, crispy fried onions, and a tiny, nicely sweet and acidic cucumber salad on the side. My husband even noted the bread was extra fresh and perfectly toasted. The bun was also quite delicious, featuring melt-in-your-mouth pieces of beef, along with peanuts, cucumber, shredded greens and the traditional fish sauce on the bottom. While delicious, the temperature of the cold noodles and hot beef, and fish sauce already on the bottom of the bowl made for a less-than-lukewarm temperature, and too liquidy dish. I also would have liked to see a combo bun with grilled shimp, chicken *and* beef with maybe some crispy rolls. Drinks: Obviously a restaurant has to make money, and I did a story once on how restaurants do this by marking up beverages. However, the jasmine iced tea...which tastes like many jasmine teas, costs $4.25! That's $8.50 for two people! That's almost the price of a cocktail. Service: Mixed. Maybe it's all the lunching ladies with their Louis Vuitton, but warm isn't the word I'd use to describe the servers. They're friendly, but you can tell they're not particularly charming or chatty...which is fine...but would have helped us justify $11 for dessert or $4.25 for an iced tea! Note: Parking can be a little tricky since the restaurant was packed at lunchtime. Be aware some residential parking is only 5 minutes long so watch for the signs!
(4)
Linda N.
EVERYTHING: FIVE STARS. All of the food here is traditional Vietnamese food with a modern and delicious twist with global influences. You will not find another place like BT's. And if you do, it won't be as good as it is here. Although the food is super pricey, it is well worth every dollar! I say go for the bo tai chanh or tuna tai chanh, 'bun' noodle bowls, salmon soba, banh mis, or BT's infamous Hanoi Beef Pho for lunch. As for dinner, get any of the specials, amazing tuna sashimi or... actually, EVERYTHING on the lunch or dinner menus will not disappoint. Ask your server or BT for recommendations on cocktails (Sake-tinis or homemade bloody marys are great) or wine pairings from her extensive wine list with your meal. You will definitely fall in love. Bon appetit!
(5)
Christa B.
I absolutely love the Food Karma! One of my favorite lunches. We normally order take-out for lunch and that is why I'm giving it for stars. I have not been inside to have the whole experience but when I am I'm sure it will bump up to five stars!
(4)
Chi P.
Food was delicious!! Had the vegetarian samosas to start and the vegan version of the snapper for my main dish. Both were cooked perfectly. The entree was amazing; it was as if the dish was supposed to be made with tofu. We asked for their hottest chiles on the side, and were pleasantly surprised when they gave us a little bowl of green Thai chiles. We were expecting the standard Sriracha or Sambal Olek...both of which add tanginess as well as heat. Thai chiles were perfect.
(4)
Jane E.
I went again with my friends and have to say that this one of the best restaurants in the Tampa area. I do not understand why this does not show up on lists all over the place. The food impeccably prepared and presented. The ambiance is one of the best. I don't know why it has taken me two years to come back here. I am going to go more often in the future.
(5)
Amanda L.
Asian fusion at its best. One of my top choices for a special occasion. Refined atmosphere and sophisticated food profiles. This restaurant could "make it" in a big city, and that's not something I would say for many Tampa restaurants. There's nothing not to love about this place. Delicious, creative cocktails, wonderful sommelier, amazing food, and friendly staff. An excellent choice if you're looking for a fancy dinner at a restaurant in a formal, but not pretentious setting.
(5)
Grace M.
BT was fabulous - so glad we found it! The menu was unusual, fresh and delicious. We loved the fact that BT, the owner, was attentive to each table, recommending wine and making sure your experience was great. Was visiting daughter in Tampa and will put on the top of my list on my next visit!
(5)
Rob B.
Good luck finding this one!! Parking is in the back and a very small sign on the front. Look for Subway. Beautiful modern interior, the bar has a wonderful cocktail list and thanks to yelpers I had the lemongrass martini. I also had the beef Bahn mi. The sub was wonderfully fresh unlike neighboring Subway, the bread here was a delight. It was served with a cucumber salad that I put squarely on the sub. While a nice asian beef salad on a roll, I miss the mayo and pate that is often found on more traditional versions.
(4)
Beth S.
I'm officially obsessed with this place. I've eaten lunch twice and both times the food has been amazing. Both times I've eaten out on their lovely patio and it's been so nice sitting outside during the workday that I would eat there every day if I could. The restaurant is basically French/Vietnamese and having eaten at a similar eatery in Orlando, I was just as impressed. The first meal I tried was the beef pho and it was perfect. Delicious vermicelli noodles in a warm broth with light veggies and perfectly cooked beef taking a nice little bath. The second meal I had was the beef bun noodle salad. It was even better than the pho! Again, delicious sliced beef served over the "bun" noodles with lettuce and peanuts and a light dressing I want to drink. Instead of drinking that though, I had Jasmine tea. It's slightly sweet and served nice and chilled over ice. I can't wait to eat here again and order a Vietnamese sandwich. I implore you all to eat here and help make this place a local favorite! Pho real!
(5)
David F.
Ginger Ginger Ginger. This place tries to fuse Vietnamese with French and ends up with inedible dished that are heavy handedly flavored and over priced. The service is terrible and there are at least 10 better restaurants within walking distance. Don't waste your time.
(1)
michelle l.
After months of thinking about checking this place out, we finally did, and I'm glad we did. The wine, beer and mixed drink list is impressive. The decor is subtle. The waiters are attentive and courteous. We started out with the spring rolls and one of the appetizer specials, the steamed pork dumplings. Both were lovely and very tasty. The spring rolls reminded me of ones I had at fantastic restaurants in Los Angeles. The dumplings were tender and perfectly cooked. For entrees, my husband had the squid stuffed with pork. He enjoyed it, although he didn't like the coconut in the fragrant black rice. I had the cassoulet. The duck confit's fat wasn't as rendered as I would have liked, and the pork belly didn't quite melt in my mouth, but the flavor was good. We didn't try the dessert because we were full, but I liked the dessert beverage list and would like to try some of the desserts in the future.
(4)
Clayton L.
You can do worse than BT, but you can certainly do better too. The best thing BT has going for it is the service which is quite possibly some of the best service I have ever had at a restaurant. We literally had 3 people waiting on us at one time. The food was very good, but not great, which is what I would expect for BT prices. And the venue was very small, and although nicely decorated, it was nothing special. The biggest drawback was the price. It was definitely on the expensive side. And the food did not live up to the price. I was hoping that it would, but it just didn't. Would I go here again? Maybe. But it wouldn't be my first choice for a fancy dinner. Bern's, Charley's, and Salt Rock Grill all have great food, nice atmospheres, good service and they all provide a better value than BT.
(3)
Mike S.
Best in class for Viet cuisine. Ate there years ago at the original Gandy location. Very elegant, extremely smooth service, and wonderful food. I served in Vietnam but mainly ate C-Rats, LRRP rations or other GI cookery, rarely eating Viet food except when invited to a memorable Tet family dinner. Then after the war, we hosted some Viet refugees who shared their recipes with us as we exposed them to grits, hot dogs, gumbo, sauerkraut/brats, and similar eclectic Yank cuisine. So I know good Viet food. And their higher prices are merited by quality of the experience. Wish they were closer to my West Tampa neighborhood. Unless you work at MacDill, South Tampa is not "on the way" to anything. My test dishes for evaluating Viet restaurants are Pho soup, nuoc mam sauce and unfried Spring rolls. BT excels in all and the servers are delighted to have a customer that relishes and asks for nuoc mam sauce on the side....the fermented fish sauce also used in Thai cookery but not always disclosed to squeamish American guests. BT also offers some dishes blending basic Viet cuisine with French elements. The French may have gotten run out of Vietnam, but they left a culinary legacy. We yanks had a "strategic withdrawal with honor (!?!)," but no particular influence on cookery. However, we have now prevailed economically as the nominally socialist Viet government mightily competes to get more US sneaker and T-shirt assembly plants. C'est la guerre.
(4)
Jamie K.
We had another great experience at BT last night. The food is unique and delicious. We shared the vegetarian samosas and the Lincoln Lawyer salad, both top notch. For my entree, I had the Monk's Pot au Feu, which was heavenly. My partner had the Bouillabaisse special, and he said it was the best Bouillabaisse he has ever had. Our server recommended a fantastic red wine to pair with the Bouillabaisse (I don't remember what kind). I also order the white pear saketini every time - it is so good!
(5)
Sarah B.
We stopped in for lunch while visiting family in Tampa and had a really great experience. All of the food was executed perfectly and had amazing flavors. I had the pumpkin soup with a beef tenderloin Banh Mi sandwhich. Both were cooked to perfection and I couldn't get enough of the light french bread used on the sandwich. I would come back on another trip.
(5)
Mr N.
BT has done it again! The food was nothing shy of fantastic. I can't say how much we love this place... Best to make a reservation.
(4)
Lisa R.
From start to finish Restaurant BT was a sublime experience. We went around 1pm on a Tuesday and had an absolutely stunning meal. The surroundings are cool and modern but comfortable. The waiter was friendly, helpful and unobtrusive (and gorgeous!) We enjoyed a couple of cool infused waters, one lemon and one cucumber, while struggling to decide what to try. The fresh roll starter was like a spring oll but not deep fried and it was honestly the best I've ever had. The peanut sauce was thick and rich. A generous portion. We had the Aromatic Chicken Pho and the Salmon Soba. I had a taste of the pho and the flavors were delicate and complex, enhanced by the sriracha and hoisin on the side to add as desired. The chicken was tender and not watered down by the broth. The Salmon Soba? Oh. My. Gosh. I ate every morsel. It was so fresh and flavorful, I can hardly explain how good it tasted but also how good it made me feel. Chef Nguyen is a genius. I can hardly wait to go back. Try this place, support local fresh healthy food!
(5)
Virginia G.
We were thoroughly pleased with our dinner here. Started with the escargot en croute ($13) which had an excellent sauce in it and the pastry was nice and flaky. Moved on to the squash blossom soup ($11) which was just loaded with flavors. The mushrooms in it were amazingly good and a nice twist to the traditional squash blossom dishes I've had. Dinner consisted of Chipriones Richard ($23) which is baby squid stuffed with shrimp, pork, mushrooms. It was so good! I don't know where they get their exotic mushrooms when their theme is eat locally cause you sure can't find them around here! Hubby had the Duck breasts ($28) served with Goji berries and figs with a compote with a side of lemon risotto. It was delicious. We could hardly keep our forks off each others plates! The service was spot on and they have a great drink selection. Definitely a repeat place for us!
(4)
Leo K.
One of south Tampa's best restaurants!!! The atmosphere is very beautiful and relaxing. The service is as good as it gets... Lots of recommendations from the waitstaff who knows the food. How can you go wrong when everything in the menu is spectacular?! My recommendation is always order the special. I had the rack of lamb and it was the best I have had,,,juicy and perfectly cooked. My wife had the salmon which was delicious. The owner made contact with everyone in the restaurant !! Awesome!!!!!
(5)
Nancy E.
Fabulous, innovative restaurant - we were in from out of town and wish BT would come to Atlanta. The food was flavorful, presentation was over the top, and service was spot on. We started with appetizers - I have to say the Tuna Tai Chanh is something not to be overlooked. I could have had two of those as my meal and been very happy. Others at our table had the Deconstructed Beef Stroganoff James - tender beef, fantastic flavors - and the Coq Au Vin - some of the best I have ever had. And if you like to complete the meal with a coffee, the Vietnamese drip is a must try - sweet cream and a strong chicory coffee - the perfect finish. Their wine list is ok - good selections of Burgundy and Barolo - but we did find it a little over priced. Being from a city that does not discourage bringing in your own wine, we found the $30 corkage a little intimidating - but after seeing the make up on their wine, I am sorry we didn't just bring our own and pay the corkage.
(5)
Mark V.
I live in NYC and have a generous pick of good restaurants there. This my MUST go to restaurant when I am in the Tampa bay area! I have never been disappointed or let down in any way!
(5)
Louis A.
BT has always been a family favorite. I can remember going to one of her earlier restaurants, Exodus, on Arminia many moons ago. She has done it again and with the same flair and finesse. Her place on S. MacDill is absolutely scrumptious. Even though there are many mouth-watering choices I'd probably have to say her tuna is beyond compare. The seasoning, whatever it is, is to die for. If you are a foodie and you have not tried BTs you don't know what you are missing.
(5)
Eric S.
This is the kind of food that makes you want to slow down and observe everything that's going on on the plate. Amazing, with high prices.
I hadn't dined at Restaurant BT since it moved from it's Hyde Park Village residence on Snow. For starters, the server was awful. He was non attentive. After he brought us our first round of libations, he didn't come back and ask if we would like another for about 20 minutes. My cucumber martini was refreshing and executed quite well. Our appetizer was the tuna tai chanh. It was beautifully presented and the flavors were spot on. For the main course I got the Magret de Canard Trina (duck). It was very rubbery and overcooked. I was really looking forward to crispy duck skin :( The flavors weren't bad, but they weren't good either. For $28, I expect a little more. My boyfriend got the Snapper a la Saigon. It was a very generous portion, but lacked any sort of flavor. Needed salt, pepper, amongst other flavorings. Overall, I was very disappointed with the service and the food. I used to love Restaurant BT in it's old location! But from what I've heard, BT has all new kitchen staff, which could be a result of the overcooked duck and the flavorless snapper. We will perhaps give it another try sometime in the future...
(2)
Devil M.
Vietnamese Duck Pho - Good, not great. French press coffee....mmmmmmmm tasty! Mini spring rolls - awesome Lemon grass beef "Bun" bowl - awesomer Roasted batata & Dungeness crap soup - awesomest! Went for lunch on my birthday and had a good time. Even gave me a complementarity dessert that I would have never expected. Nice touch. The dessert was great. Lots to choose from on the menu and it was tough to decide because so much of it sounds SO GOOD. I would give 5 stars, but I need to go back a few more times to decide if it's that good.
(4)
April B.
Good food, nice atmosphere. Came during lunch time and really enjoyed it. The waiter was very helpful and knowledgable on what to order. I got the beef bowl. Had more onions that I expected (I don't care for onions) but was good. I will definitely come back and bring a friend next time.
(4)
Liz A.
Had lunch & dinner twice. Have tasted half the dinner menu already & the food is suburb! The tuna appetizer is out of this world!! The scallops, duck burrito, shaken beef are dinner menu favorites. Lava cake & bread pudding are a must, the most amazing bread pudding I've ever had. Great wine selection as well. Overall, a wonderful dining experience.
(5)
J H.
Love yelp for these kinds of restaurants that I would never find on my own. Great food, mostly organic meat, nice decor and decent wine list. We had the duck burrito (a tad sweet for me, but boyfriend loved it), fresh rolls (healthy and super tasty with great dipping sauce), beef pho (LOVED the broth) and steak. Everything was fresh, healthy and delicious.
(5)
Hilary M.
Enjoyed the food, ambiance and the service! The food was fresh and had just the right amount of spice! This restaurant has more of a Vietnamese feel than French for sure: Loved the spring rolls with shrimp, pumpkin soup, pot de feu, banana tapioca and Papaya salad. The details including interesting dishware, flowers and how we were served made this one of our favorite restaurants so far!
(5)
Misty B.
What can I say, BT is simply one of the absolute BEST options in Tampa for food lovers. Dishes are beautiful and incredibly flavorful; it's quickly obvious that a talented chef oversees each night's service versus phones it in. It's actually one of the very few restaurants I've been to in South Tampa that puts an emphasis on presentation as well as flavor. The bar is not big, but there's something about its positioning in the restaurant and the surrounding design that transports you out of Tampa and into NYC, West Hollywood or maybe Silverlake (CA). I wouldn't recommend BT for "just drinks"; but I would recommend that you arrive 20-30 minutes ahead of your reservation to grab a drink at the bar first. Decor is refreshingly unique; I remember once congratulating BT for not subscribing to the typical restaurant decor or IKEA fall-back options. On weekends, have cash on hand for valet tip (valet itself is free); it's a necessity unless you want to try and squeeze onto a side street. The BT lot is tiny; it probably fits 10 cars at most. An early-eve reservation mid-week may snag you a lucky lot spot. Service is smart, brisk and efficient. My only (minor) complaint is the chair selection in the restaurant. The chairs are clear acrylic (read: hard), which is chic and airy, but they lose any comfort they had after an hour or so. BT isn't a dine-and-run kind of place; you kind of want to stay for a couple hours. I always find myself squirming toward the end of my meal.
(5)
Rich D.
I joined a friend of mine for a meal at Restaurant BT with 8 other acquaintances. My friend (not in the food/restaurant business) has known BT for a number of years and always stops in when he's traveling through the area. I certainly don't know if this affected the level of attention we received from BT and her staff, but my friend assured me she and her crew have treated him the same since day one when he first read about the restaurant in Zagat, went there for a meal and met her. Simply said, the meal was incredible, and the service was first rate. Everyone seemed to try a different dish, so we had a wide variety of entrees to respond to. To the last person, we all found each meal delightful. I chose the shaken beef, which features cubed filet mignon, Courvoisier cognac, Swiss soy sauce, crispy shallots, watercress, tomatoes and jasmine rice. The flavors exploded on my palate, and I could not only taste the flavor of each ingredient and how they mingled, but I could definitely taste the freshness of each of them. I've been fortunate enough to dine in many major cities in over 40 countries, and I can say without question this meal on that night was in the top 3 meals I've ever had. Seriously, it was that good. I had high expectations based on what my friend had told be about Restaurant BT, but I didn't expect the meal to blow those away and exceed them so much. My friend ordered the Vietnamese Bouillabaisse, which includes gulf prawns, baby calamari, salmon, pineapple, okra, bean sprouts, lily stem, and tomato in a tangy-aromatic seafood broth. While his work takes him to most every major city in the US where he dines widely, he described it as "extraordinary". The service by the staff was prompt and attentive, with never a wait for anything we wanted or needed. When many of us commented on the freshness of the ingredients, our waiter took a moment to bring us out several of those ingredients from the kitchen, explained more about each of them, and then showed us how to tell how fresh they are should we ever buy them ourselves. Truly, a very nice touch. I'm anxious to return and try out more of the menu, and that will definitely happen soon. Atmosphere: 5 Service: 5 Food: 5 Value: 5
(5)
Mike A.
One of the best restaurants I've found in Tampa, especially for lunch. Particularly recommended are the Spring Rolls, Coq Au Vin, Hanoi Beef Pho, Ginger Shrimp Brochette with risotto, and Garlic Prawn salad. Items are fairly priced given the superior quality of ingredients used. Very good selection of wine by glass. Mint, cumber, lemon and lime infused water is also available. Service is professional and of a higher standard than typical of the area. Outside dining is available facing McDill and is very pleasant despite the high level of traffic on street. A parking lot and the main entrance to the dining room are on the opposite side of the building.
(4)
Barry V.
For my out-of-body experience, I'm recommending Restaurant BT. Chef/owner BT Nguyen creates magnificent French/Vietnamese fusion dishes that are beyond my culinary vocabulary. My wife and I shared the Vietnamese spring roll and watermelon/goat cheese/radish salad. I had the Kobe-style skirt steak stroganoff, which was great. My wife had the pumpkin soup...another five star Yelp meal.
(5)
Erin L.
A welcome retreat from the ordinary! So glad we finally experienced their new location. The service has soared - it was top notch from the moment we were greeted at the door, to the server, to the sommelier. We even had a brief chat with BT herself. The decor was just beautiful. I felt like we were whisked away to Maui for the evening. Cucumber-infused filtered water was so refreshing on the hot summer night that it was. The Pinot Noir I had was perfect. My husband was eager to have the spring rolls with the rockstar peanut sauce again - it had been years since he last had them. I chose the Tuna Sashimi Charlie Hounchell for my main course, not only because I was in the mood for fresh tuna, but I guess you could say I wanted to celebrate the namesake of the dish. I really don't know what my husband got because I was so enthralled with my plate! It was spectacular, and I'm kicking myself for not taking a picture. I haven't had soba noodles in years, so I was anxious to enjoy those, and they were amazing. What really surprised me was that I found out that I do like ginger and a seaweed salad. Maybe I finally found a place where it was prepared properly?! Overall - absolutely fantastic experience. I would love to come back to explore more of their menu, dine at different times to enjoy their patio and bring friends and family. Great job BT.
(5)
Alexandra S.
One of my favorite and one of the best restaurants in Tampa. A wonderful fusion of Vietnamese and French cuisines done in an elegant and refined setting. Classy space that is unique with great food and drink offerings. I am addicted to the saketinis (get them extra dirty) and I have had some very memorable dishes. I still have dreams about the tartar which had one of the most unique flavors I have experienced. Traditional summer rolls are filled with a mix you might find at other places but just taste better here. One night they had dim sum special which included some amazing dumplings and soft shell crabs. This place is worth repeating but don't tell everyone, I would hate to have wait for a reservation, it's just too good.
(5)
nancy c.
It's hard to find warm yet upscale ambiance this impeccably executed in Tampa. You can't help but put on your best behavior, which makes it a perfect date spot. We got the Vietnamese spring rolls to start. Otherwise pretty typical, they're served in little lettuce cups. Our server made sure we ate the parcels all together, it's good advice. I'm considering tucking some bibb lettuce in my purse, in case I come across a less well-accessorized plate of spring rolls over the weekend... Next I had the shaken beef. Amazing. The beef cubes were incredibly tender and the dish hit on all the classic notes you expect (sweet, salty, spicy, and sour). My husband had the Vietnamese bouillabase. We both preferred the beef, but there was definitely nothing bad about any of it. The service was perfectly attentive and unobtrusive. The bill broke three figures (with drinks), but you won't find diner's remorse here!
(5)
Andrea J.
It doesn't get any better than BT! Amazing flavors, freshly prepared ingredients, a variety of items to choose from and great service. Every time we leave we say, "that was the best meal we've had out since the last time we were at BT!" Thank you BT!
(5)
marcie r.
Amazing food! We ate here over a year ago and kept saying we needed to return. Boy- am I sorry it's taken so long to do it. Martinis are wonderful and very unique. We split the Salad Melangee- it had goat cheese, pine nuts and gogi berries on it. I had the quail on soba noodles. Not only divine, but beautifully plated. Hubby had the Filet tournedos. Very tasty as well. Service was very fast, almost too fast. We were still enjoying our martinis and the salad came out. Nice to see a full restaurant as well. It will not be such a long time for a return visit.
(5)
Jason R.
A Vietnamese/French fusion affair. I only went there for brunch and the atmosphere was rather pretentious. The food is good, albeit WAY overpriced. The Mimosas were also $9/glass. For a better brunch (both quality and value), head down the street to Ceviche.
(3)
Bernardo A.
One of the best lunches I've had in years. The place was empty at 12:30 when we arrived on our way to a meeting. The waiter was very accommodating when we explained to him that we were in a hurry. Points for not using disposable chopsticks. Their rice noodle dishes are phenomenal for lunch. That Vietnamese mixture of mint and vinegar and a little sweetness with the savory meats is one of my favorites. The curried veggies were also amazing. Overall, an amazing experience. Will become a must visit whenever I'm in Tampa.
(4)
Kevin M.
Duck, duck, duck. I love it and they had it every which way the evening I dined at BT. Anyway, for those who are not as enamored with duck as I am, the other folks at my table ate equally as well and were deeply satisfied. All of the plates were beautifully presented, the service was warm and attentive without being overbearing, the wine list was decent, and dessert nicely done. A gem in Tampa.
(4)
Maria W.
My husband and I are foodies, and Restaurant BT is our de facto lunch or date night spot. It's the perfect combination of food that pleases the eye and the palate, and atmosphere which is modern and trendy but not too loud for a proper conversation. Our top recommendations: the always-fresh tuna tai chanh, the aromatic beef pho, and the addictive lychee saketini.
(5)
Joe S.
Restaurant BT is one of Tampa's premier restaurants, from its ambiance, to its service and, most importantly, it's cuisine. Fresh, tasty, exquisitely prepared, with a wine list and bar selection to match. Sounds like a paid Ad doesn't it? Well, it's true. Everything is made from scratch with the finest ingredients. Her blend of Asian/Vietnamese flavors with traditional dishes is truly unique. If you're watching your wallet they have bar specials (food and drink) and lunch. Try the Steak sandwich, awesome! My favorite appetizer is then tuna ti chan, no, the bo ti chan, forget, go with 4 and order both!
(5)
Phil L.
4 stars, 5 stars which do I choose? I choose 5. It's close but it is as good as it gets. My wife and I enjoyed a lovely romantic dinner here. The spring rolls were perfect as an appetizer. Light, sticky lettuce cups, just enough for two. A great sauce that paired with the Pinot Noirs we each had. I had the Pumpkin Soup - coconut based so it was a bit sweet but not too much (I think just right). Excellent. My wife wasn't fond of the Lobster bisque (for her it was too "creole" but I liked it). The service was excellent and gave her a salad she enjoyed. For the main course I had the Red Snapper. This can be made into a vegetarian plate (Tofu-based) which I did not do. There were many dishes that could be made into vegetarian plates. I had ginger infused sticky rice on the side. Incredibly tasty. I finished it (I love ginger). My wife had the wild Salmon - she loved it. I think the presentation for all dishes was excellent, the food hit many taste buds without overpowering and the service was prompt. But here's my beef. The service was overdone. This isn't Ruth's Chris Steak house where 5 people wait on you. It was confusing to have so many people to work with. I was hoping for a more intimate, romantic setting without having to remember who did what. Will I come back, absolutely. You cannot go wrong here. It is expensive but it's worth it.
(5)
Jen A.
I can't say enough wonderful things about BT. The food is amazing, the waitstaff is attentive, and I love the decor. I love this place. The chicken galangal noodle salad is wonderful, as well as the beef and tuna tartar appetizers. Try the iced tea - it's slightly sweetened jasmine tea with a twist. Delicious and refreshing!
(5)
Arpakorn W.
Amazing asian-fusion Vietnamese food. Creative, fresh, complex. Specialty drinks...competes with best bars in New York City. Atmosphere trending asian modern and very social-comfortable. Lunch menu, get the galagal chicken bum with the cucumber aloe martini Brunch chili chicken salad with a uniquely wonderful herb-infused bloody mary Dinner escargot and beef tartar (apps) sea scallops and a Vietnamese herb martini or the Buddha hand martini Ate there 4 days in a row...I dont even like Vietnamese food normally. Only negative...servers a little slow, but not too bad.
(5)
Diana L.
I'm definitely a fan. The food, drinks, ambiance, and service were excellent. Went here to celebrate a friend's Birthday. Started with two appetizers...duck dumplings and goat cheese spread. Both were very good! (Though there were only 3 dumplings and 3 pieces of baguettes for the cheese spread. 3 doesn't divide well when you have two people. We actually asked for a few more baguette slices to finish our cheese spread). I tried a Kaffir Lime Lemongrass Martini. Very refreshing with the taste of lime and lemongrass both very noticable...different. For entrees, I had the Lamb Stew and my friend had the Bouillabaisse. Both were excellent! and we were surprised at the large portions. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU TRY RESTAURANT BT. (for 2 apps, 1 wine, 1 martini, and 2 entrees bill was $113.00)
(5)
Kristi A.
This is truly a spectacular place to dine at and I would recommend it for a romantic date night or special occasion as it tends to lean more toward the upper scale side. I was blown away by the staff service and their attention to every detail in our dining experience. Also the food presentation was picture worthy...I am not one to ever think about taking a photo of my food but here I was very tempted! They offer a variety of dishes and combine ingredients in a way I have never seen and my mouth has never experienced before...truly phenomenal food! The chef, who I think is also the owner, came around during our dinner to see how everything tasted and how our experience was...I could sense she really cares about creating the best dining experience for those who come. If you have not yet been to this place, it is a must-do in Tampa. Be prepared to spend a little more money than usual as the food does cost a little more, but it is high quality and worth every penny! Love it!
(5)
antonio m.
The good is great location, attractive, tasty looking menu. The bad is we went on a Weds night, not crowded. Got nice table and menu. And that is all! No water no bread no waiter - waited 15 minutes while bus boy set up tables next to us and two waiters wkked around. Amazing. Walked out and hostess thanked is for coming . Certainly a difference experience from other reviews.
(1)
Becky S.
My fiance and I found this restaurant one day on our way to Channelside. I've only been here a couple of weeks so I had never heard of the Village at Hyde Park. But what a quaint little area!! And this restaurant is AWESOME!! My fiance was just saying that we need to find a Pho' place... and this place served it up!! BT serves traditional Vietnamese cuisine with a modern twist. All the flavor is there but better!! The pho' was delicious... it was served with all the accoutrements in the soup already - the mint, the meat, bean sprouts but everything was still very fresh! I had the lemongrass beef "bun" noodle bown which is wonderfully seasonned strips of beef served over a bed of rice vermecilli, lettuce, and bean sprouts with a tangy sauce. The decor was very modern contemporary. Huge wine and specialty drinks menu. I saw some ladies order the Vietnamese rum punch which looked delicious but I didn't have one since i was driving. Service was okay. only reason I gave it four instead of five stars is that it was a little overpriced. $12 for pho? $8 for duck dumplings which were delicious but there were only two pieces... We're still glad we went, and will go again.. but we won't order the dumplings.
(4)
Mark S.
We went there on a Thursday evening. The place was packed and we were glad we made a reservation. The place has a very nice modern interior on par with what you would find in NYC or SF. The waitress' snottyness was also on par with these places. The food was pretty good, but in our opinion did not represent enough value for the relatively steep price tag. We had some rather unimpressive (but pretty decent) fish filets. Another dish, made from raw beef mixed with peanuts and spices/herbs was quite delicious on the other hand. Bottom line: If you want to feel like in a real city for one night (and pay through the nose like in a real city), this is the place.
(4)
Danielle S.
The customer is never right in this restaurant and BT just lost some amazing ones this evening! The absolute worst treatment ever in any restaurant by owner/chef BT herself as she so rudely treated us. Out for a beautiful evening, my hubby and I ordered a $90 bottle of vino, an appetizer followed by two soups and two entrees, one being the pho soup and the other the pumpkin soup, which we have both enjoyed several times prior, a typical evening at BT's. After one spoonful of my pumpkin soup, I immediately called the server back, it was not only watering but very sugary and simply tasted terrible and unbearable. It was definitely not up to par! I simply asked to trade my pumpkin soup for the pho soup, two minutes later BT comes storming out of the kitchen and confronted us with several other tables watching. Very rudely she says" there's nothing wrong with the soup, I tasted it and it's exactly how we make it all the time!" then stomped away with her nose up in the air. We couldn't even believe it! We sat there stunned at her rudeness along with all the others seated around us. I asked to speak to her again and out she comes with fury in her wake, stands at our table with her hands on her hips and says, "Yes?"...I said," I cannot believe how rudely you just spoke to us, your soup is not as it always tastes. I'm sorry you don't agree with me but whatever happened to the customer is always right? What's the big deal with swapping out a soup and having my opinion? We have been dining here and bringing our family, friends, etc here for years, I can't believe you would treat us like that!" BT unapologetically fires back with, "Thank you for your business but there's nothing wrong with my soup!" Unbelievable, unprofessional and completely rude! We told her, "cancel our dinners, bring us our check and you just lost some of your best customers!" She says,"fine!". Completely unapologetic and could have cared less. We will not be returning ever! Way to ruin your business BT! BT The Soup Nazi! No Soup For You!
Exquisite. Exceptional. Expensive. This is a sophisticated way to enjoy authentic Vietnamese cuisine. There's no sharing a communal bottle of siracha or hoisin sauce with other diners here. It's served in a small ramekin, perfectly portioned just for you and your pho, which costs about double what you would pay at most Vietnamese noodle shops. The chicken is organic though and it's served in a beautiful extra clean looking bowl. I still had trouble swallowing the $13 price tag for the soup along with a $3 split fee for my husband and myself sharing it. We paid $16 for soup. Vietnamese store owners everywhere must be looking at them with awe and envy. Teas and limeade beverages range from $3.50-5. Restaurant BT and its dining experience are unlike other Vietnamese restaurants though. For one, it's not in a strip mall. This is probably the most overlooked restaurant on Mac Dill with most drivers' attention steered toward the neon orange Datz sign across the street. Enter the small building and you'll feel the upscale atmosphere - white linen table cloths, clear plastic French bistro chairs, calming environment, professional service, and nice tableware. Outside is a serene patio with bamboo, orchids and a small garden that helps you forget the construction and traffic just steps away. Parking is very limited as they only have a small lot behind the building with spaces so narrow I recommend letting your passenger out before squeezing into the space. My last recommendation is the duck burrito. It's like a Peking duck pancake roll but beautifully wrapped and presented for you to enjoy with no effort on your part other than consuming. The pork bun entree was also superb. Shrimp rolls were fresh. I don't believe there is anything on the menu that isn't prepared well. It's authentic Vietnamese, just presented in a sophisticated manner. This is how distinguished diners enjoy the flavorful dishes of Vietnam without dining at a strip mall joint.
(4)
Candice L.
Came here for my boyfriend's birthday (Oct 7, 2014). We were on a vacation to Orlando, but found this place on yelp on the way back from Clearwater. I made a reservation a month in advance just in case, then I called 5 mins before arriving to request if they can put "Happy Birthday" on the dessert. They offered me to write my boyfriend's name on the menu. When we arrived, my boyfriend was really happy to see the menu. We ordered Tuna Tai Chan, Salmon Ravioli, their special that night (forgot what it was called, but it was with steak and potato), and of course the bread pudding. Everything is good, we were delighted by the food esp the bread pudding!! We will def come back if we go on another vacation near there.
(4)
Yolanda C.
Wow! Taste, Service & Atmosphere all come together to make an amazing dining experience. Very modern with a slight global farm to table look. The service is some of the best if not the best in the city. Attention to detail in everything. The food doesn't fall short either. I've tried so many different things it would be hard to pick a favorite but definitely try the bouillabaisse! And save room for dessert- they are exquisite! Highly recommend for just about any occasion requiring something intimate and impressive!
(5)
Kerri M.
I was hesitant to go here when a friend proposed our girls night location. Reading the description of French/Asian seemed like a crazy marriage of cuisines. But, I went with it and was pleasantly surprised!! All of our food was delish and I even got to try authentic papaya salad that I saw one year on Top Chef! Yummy.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Nada R.
Lovely presentations, subtle flavors, killer beverage menu, and a nearly impeccable staff. There were a couple minor gaffes and they were pretty funny: sriracha was described as "Japanese Tabasco," and upon being seated, we were warned that any photographs we might take are of copyrighted items, and we could be held legally responsible for copyright infringement. Giggles were suppressed. The lime leaf and lemongrass martini was delicious, if a little on the sweet side. By all reports, the classic bloody marys (served with generous sprigs of basil) were delightful. The order of 2 vegetarian summer rolls, packed full of cilantro, mint and smoky tofu, were served with a side of hoisin with sriracha. They were so tasty, they didn't even frighten the guy who ordered steak-frites. I had a vegetable dish (Monk's Ragout) that was superb- pretty well loaded with fresh vegetables and wood ears, but also plenty of gluten and smoky tofu, so it was definitely on the rich side of vegetable dishes. The coolest aspect of it was the seasoning that, though mild, had surprisingly complex flavor. I can't wait to return, but it will probably be for drinks and snacks, or maybe lunch, since I find the dinner entrees rather steep, though the quality is hard to beat.
(5)Woods R.
exquisite food. professional service , nonpareiile in Tampa
(5)Michele R.
disclosure-- i live 7 blocks away and consider BT's one of the best insofar as victuals are concerned. she is an amazing chef. service is iffy. DO NOT suffer. FLAG down someone. NEW MENU--- 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 dollars option. ASK for it. Cost of drink IS HIGH. Be ready or drink water, tap. do not be embarassed to query PRIOR to receiving that amazing natural fusion something or other. Some of the waiters are FANTASTIC. SOME of the hostess staff SUCKS. DEMAND politely what should be. She pays 14K a month for that space. Dinner is worth it. Before 7 specials. Late bar menu makes it affordable. Decor is Asian modern yet interestingly inviting. Something for everyone.... even my yankee chicken and potatoes man! To your memories! michele
(5)Anonymous P.
Very good. Some flaws. The high points made up for them. Cucumber/aloe martini was very interesting and pretty tasty. They obviously put a lot of thought into the recipe (cucumber + Hendricks gin is a great combination). Unfortunately, it was far too watered down by the "cucumber water." Otherwise successful. Appetizers were good. The roasted sea eel was a little tough for some reason, but otherwise excellent, not ruined by an over-sweet sauce as it is elsewhere. Vegetarian spring rolls and tuna sashimi were superb. Salmon in dill and white wine sauce was almost perfect, just slightly overcooked, but beautiful flavor. Vegetables along side were delicious in the sauce. The lemongrass-infused rice was out of this world. Ginger prawns were good but the three of us felt they were clearly overcooked. This was by far the biggest mistake of the kitchen. Dad loved his special of venison with black truffles--I didn't try it. Good selections of beers, teas, wines, and spirits. Dad and I shared a large Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale, which was very nice with the food. Service and atmosphere were excellent. I was disappointed by the dessert menu, wishing it had some more exotic options (there are amazing SE Asian desserts). Maybe the best dining experience I've had in Tampa. With drinks but without splurging, $60 or so per person + tip.
(5)Felipe G.
There needs to be more restaurants like Restaurant BT in Tampa. With its location in the very cute Old Hyde Park Village and the great upscale minimalist and classy ambiance inside-- for a little while you can actually forget you are in Tampa. It seems like way too many places around the Bay Area are just so plain/predictable, casual, and touristy so it is a breath of fresh air to go to a place that feels hip, urban, and best of all features a modern interpretation of French/Vietnamese food that sounds as exciting on the menu as it is delicious. I think the highlight of my meal had to be the great Yum Pra-Hmik (Squid) salad appetizer. I frequently order this at Thai restaurants, but this dish redefined how amazing and good this dish can be. The ginger, lemongrass, scallions, cilantro, and red chili peppers just came alive with flavor perfectly complimenting the tender pieces of steamed squid. It is a simple dish but the preparation and presentation of the ingredients was executed in such way that made it really stand out. My wife's appetizer of vegetarian pumpkin soup was also very good. With both expected a thick puree but instead rich tasting chunks of pumpkin were floating in a coconut milk broth. It tasted great, but was almost served a little too warm and had to cool down a bunch. My entree of a yellow-tail snapper was flash fried and in a curry based sauce. I remember it being very good, but not quite as amazing as my squid starter. My wife had their vegetarian stuffed tofu pockets. It tasted OK, but she felt like it was a little lacking in flavor. I think it was a case where the ingredients on the menu ( tofu pouches filled with tree ear mushrooms, lily buds, taro root, tomatoes, and glass noodles with a pineapple tomato ginger sauce) sounded better than the end result. With that being said, I am happy that menu features a vegetarian section as it seems like Tampa fine dining often overlooks dietary restrictions and just relies on steak and more steak. I am sure that on subsequent visits we will explore the other 2 vegetarian entrees and see how they fare. They all sound delicious. Just to touch on a few other odds and ends. The wine, beer, and cocktail menus are great and feature some new, unexpected flavors and options. The service was top notch during our dinner and as I stated at the beginning of the review the ambiance and decor of the place is both modern and classy. If the street parking is hard to come by there is a garage directly across the street for all of Old Hyde Park Village that is free. I look forward to future visits and more great food at Restaurant BT.
(5)robin l.
Don't get me wrong, I've never gotten a bad meal here, but I have to comment on their tapas menu. I've been dying to try it so I finally went w/ 2 other people. The food was very good as usual, but for the price the portions were extremely small. The soup came in this cup that was nearly the size of a thimble. They even had to give you a baby spoon. It's soup, come on, it could have at least come in a rice bowl. The escargot were 3 small snails in a cream sauce, the scallop was one scallop. I will definitely go back but not order off the tapas menu.
(4)Adam N.
Fantastic food, ate there two nights in a row on business. Fantastic food, great service, highly recommended.
(5)Elizabeth G.
My boyfriend and I took a quick weekend trip to Tampa to escape the cold and snow in Chicago. We wanted to try local cuisine and settled on Restaurant BT based on numerous reviews. I would like to preface this review by saying that price sets expectations. I could easily have overlooked many flaws at a lower price point. First impression was not good: dimly lit parking lot and the entrance next to the kitchen and garbage can. The hostess was friendly but seemed flustered and disorganized - this was the theme of the service in general. We were seated in the vacant side room with my chair next to the office door. The entire meal was marked by waiters, owner, hostess repeatedly going in and out of the office, door swinging in my face. We began to notice a war going on over the music volume. One person would walk into the office and turn the music up; one person would walk into the office and turn the music down. Our waiter was friendly but also disorganized and scattered. He could not remember the one special and had to dig for his notes. Repeat this scattered behavior for 90 minutes. Cocktails were the only truly great part of the meal. The herbal saketini was fantastic. Our appetizer of samosas was not good: tough dumplings wrappers filled with flavorless edamame and potatoes with a side of sour cream. My boyfriend had the pumpkin soup which he described as far too sweet to finish (this is a man who never lets anything go to waste). My caprese salad was good, but overwhelmed by way too many cherry tomatoes. It was also an odd menu item compared to the rest of the theme - perhaps my bad for ordering. My boyfriend ordered the shaken beef. The beef itself was good, but overwhelming since there was only a whole, sliced tomato and bed of soggy greens on the plate. My choice of tofu and edamame was a truly poor one: totally flavorless and swimming in a bowl of tomato broth. This was the single time I complained to the waiter who said, "oh well, sorry 'bout that." After trying to satiate myself with rice, we decided to go for a dessert of croissant bread pudding. This was delicious, but nothing out of the three star restaurant variety. Then the bill arrived. During the entire meal I had patiently and optimistically hoped each next course would be brilliant and bring the experience home, despite a door constantly swinging in my face. I appreciate the tenacity of local, interesting restaurants. However, the sum total just left me feeling hoodwinked and angry.
(1)Rommie J.
Always love this place, but tonight I had an awesome duck confit and cassoulet that I don't remember seeing on the menu before. BT gets a lot of notice for its Vietnamese dishes (and the Bo Thai Chanh is worth every bit of praise it receives), but a lot of people forget how well they do traditional French-style dishes, too. The duck was actually the leg *and* sliced breast, so it was a hearty portion and served with the humble cassoulet (white bean stew), haricots verts and washed down with a fragrant Van Duzer Pinot, it felt like comfort food from the deep south -- the south of France, that is. A great meal. (3/16/2009)
(4)RD E.
good food, but average service
(4)BB T.
We came here for a romantic date night and the atmosphere and ambience delivered. We split the duck burrito, sounds strange but is delicious and I would go back for just this. Also had the summer roll, which was good but nothing to write home about. We also had the grass fed loin special and stuffed squid. Both dished were unique and very tasty. Menu is fun and adventurous. Only bad thing I can say about this establishment is their chairs, they are really uncomfortable.
(5)Ed S.
Loved BT. Very calming, intimate space. Good was delicious, service attentive. Had the duck rolls, and the banh mi. Both were excellent. The hot sauce on the side was legit! Took one star away for being a little hard to find, kind of behind datz's, and being a little pricey.
(4)Kattie H.
What a delightful gastronomical experience! Everything was prepared with great attention to detail and presented beautifully. Every bite reminded me that a creative genius was working behind the scenes. We had: the duck pho, Vietnamese spring rolls, Salmon a la Plancha, trio of creme brûlée and croissant bread pudding. We shared a very nice white burgundy that was a great accompaniment to our meal and was very reasonably priced. Needless to say I will back as I am already contemplating what I will have next!
(5)Hank F.
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and am a real foodie. I have dined at many excellent restaurants, and am happy to report that Restaurant BT is as fine as any restaurant near home. The Peking Duck burrito is phenomenal, the Salmon soba bowl is exquisite, and their Jasmine iced tea is the best beverage I've ever had. I'd give Restaurant BT ten stars if I could.
(5)Charles R.
What a fabulous place! My wife and I were there last Saturday evening and my wife has continually been talking since then about what a nice time we had and how good the restaurant was. My brother-in-law was with us and he's typically a very hard marker and he had nothing bad to say about the restaurant. Just a great experience with really good food and it's clear the chef pays attention to detail.
(5)B N.
Food was very good. Service was excellent. That said, it was way overpriced and portions were small. If prices were a little less than half of what we paid, it would be worth it.
(2)Lauren C.
I came here for what was a very impressive dining experience after receiving a suggestion from my fellow yelpers via the Talk thread. I was looking for an upscale Asian restaurant near south Tampa or the malls and many people had fabulous things to say. I chose this as our dinner destination to bring some of my "foodie family" who was visiting from out of town. We arrived around 7 PM on a Thursday night. The maitre d' greeted us and asked if we had a reservation, we did not, but it was not an issue as there was plenty of seating available. The very first thing that impressed me about Restaurant BT was the decor and upscale, yet relaxing & hip ambience. The feeling of being inside the restaurant was enough to make me want to stay all night! I was promptly greeted by more than one server within a moment of arriving as they came by to take my drink order. I was waiting for the rest of the party to arrive, but they were kind enough to bring me water in the mean time. Shortly thereafter, the entire party was seated and we began to browse the menu. For starters, we chose the vietnamese mini spring rolls, escargot and bo tai chanh (beef tartare). I enjoyed the spring rolls and the escargot (which was served in a bowl with a large puff pastry atop all of the escargot, rather than individual puffs). I didn't care for the bo tai chanh much, but that's just my personal preference as I'm never a huge fan of anything tartare. Next came the difficult decision of deciding what to have for our entree. The server presented 2 different specials, but I opted to stay classic and go for the fresh rolls and an "appetizer" sized bowl of pho. The pho had a phenomenal flavor and was loaded with goodies. Good thing I opted to not get the large dinner sized bowl as it would have been far too much food. Fresh rolls were tasty and the accompanying peanut sauce complemented them well. My family tried a variety of seafood entrees and were very impressed with everything. The service continued to be stellar throughout the entire experience in every way, I cannot stress enough that the service is what brought this review to 5 stars. In my opinion, the food was 4 stars, but the service was nothing short of top notch. The only thing I would comment about is that I do wish they had a few more options on the menu, as the choices seemed somewhat limited to me. However, I suppose this is a case of quality over quantity in regards to ingredients and care taken with each entree. Finally, we wrapped up the evening with dessert. I chose the banana tapioca pudding, served warm with coconut milk and nuts on top. Absolutely delectable. I had the pleasure of sampling with coconut panna cotta that one of my relatives ordered and let me just say it was out of this world amazing. Unlike anything I've ever had. In fact, I'd go back again just for that. Regardless, all 4 of us were very satisfied with restaurant BT from start to finish and we all agreed we'd like to return again in the very near future. Two thumbs up to BT & staff for serving up perfection in Vietnamese - French cuisine.
(5)Joey M.
Fabulous food and experience, just overpriced. Perhaps if they had a liquor license, it could contribute to lower food prices. The meal itself was absolutely wonderful. The staff seemed very team-oriented in that we had just about everyone employeed by the restaurant visit our table, or so it seemed. Loved the outdoor patio. It was interesting walking through the kitchen though to get to the restrooms. This is a dog-friendly restaurant, and it was a nice touch that they asked and then provided water for our dogs.
(4)Kat E.
Five stars. This was my surprise birthday dinner spot, and my boyfriend couldn't have done any better. Restaurant BT is a hidden treasure in South Tampa and I cannot wait until we return. The inside is pristine and dimly lit. The Chef personally comes around to check on your meal and also runs food. Incredible, amazing, delicious....there aren't enough words to describe the experience we had. I only took one picture throughout our meal because I was too caught up enjoying every aspect of our meal. -Tuna tartar app, the flavors are so unique and fresh. Next time we will try the beef carpaccio. -Salmon entrée, I had to refrain myself from drinking the leftover sauce on the plate through a straw -Beef entrée that every other review raves about is excellent -We never get dessert, but we did and it was a delight (bread pudding) Everyone deserves to dine at BT at least once. For me, once wasn't enough!
(5)Odion B.
BT continues to impress with her cuisine. Most recent trip I tried her Kobe beef dumplings- deep fried with soft well flavored steak on the inside. What a treat!! Her croissant bread pudding desert remains one of the best I've ever had. Excellent service, wine and drink menu, great ambience. Great to have the chef working the room, saying hello to customers and ensuring service is above par. Looking forward to her new expansion and what she will deliver with world inspired tapas.
(5)Erica M.
Restaurant BT was very good, but I'm not sure if it is worth the price tag. We came with another couple on a very rainy weeknight. We were greeted warmly and shown to our table. Throughout the meal, we had different servers coming up to us and asking us the same questions. One server came up and asked if we wanted water. 15 seconds later, another server came up and asked if we wanted water (this server gave us options of different flavors...too bad we had already "ordered" regular water from the first server). This continued throughout the meal...at least 5 times. There is obviously a lack of communication among employees and while we appreciated the attentiveness, there is such a thing as overbearing and annoying service, especially when they are asking us the exact same questions. I don't remember what drink I ordered, but I know I didn't like it. We started with the duck burrito appetizer, spring rolls, and lobster bisque, all of which were very good. For an entree, I had the shaken beef, my husband had the tuna sashimi, and our friends had a double portion of the appetizer pho ($26!!!!) and another dish that I am forgetting. The food was very good...my shaken beef had excellent flavor and my husband's tuna was great quality (though a bit bland in my opinion). I definitely want to return for lunch and try the duck pho (I'm a sucker for duck and pho so the two mixed together sounds like heaven). But I'm not sure I'd rush back for dinner, unless another person suggested/requested it.
(4)Claire K.
Duck Burrito (YUM!) Shaken Beef (Good!) Bread Pudding (Too Small!) Rose Champagne (are you kidding? A Plus) The experience at BT for dinner was lovely for all practical purposes. I dined with great company. The service was great the first half until our server became super busy. I've waited a few months to review this restaurant because of a conversation I had with BT that left me a bit perplexed. I decided to sit on it, but now it's time. After the app was served (Duck), the waiter offered to box the half I had remaining on my plate. I said yes! Please! And so a box was delivered with my duck tucked safely inside. The main course was served and then again, cleared and collected. This was around the time that the establishment was cranking. I clearly divided half of my plate. The server took the plates without discussion. We ordered dessert. Our Checks arrived. My leftovers never came back. I was going to inquire about them (I'm not afraid to speak up) but BT beat me to it. I had enclosed a "You've Been Yelped" card in with my check and payment, as I always do. BT came to the table and asked if someone was unhappy. I raised my hand and said I wished for my leftovers. She informed me that they do not box or ask guests unless the guest specifies. Um. BT made me a leftover half order to take home but then testily said that we should not give negative reviews on Yelp. To the whole table. Um, what? I didn't have any real issues until that came out. She was mad and counteracted the correction. The 9 other guests were offended by the way that part was handled. I really don't know what to think.
(4)Maryana A.
I had been dying to try this place, but ended up pretty disappointed. Although the space is lovely and the presentation was excellent, the food was seriously underwhelming. Besides the duck burrito and lamb stew (a featured entree that evening), the dishes we ordered were bland and flavorless. My pho tasted like unseasoned, store-bought beef stock with some noodles thrown in. One of our party ordered the vegetarian pumpkin soup and it was watery and sugary. The coq au vin was tender but completely lacking flavor. One of our party ordered the shaken beef that others have raved about, but it was totally dry. Since the ambiance was great, the service was friendly enough, and a couple of the food items were good, I'm giving this place three stars. On the whole, however, I felt like the menu was beautifully imagined but poorly executed. My fellow Yelpers rarely lead me astray, so I'm confused as to why our experience was so different from everyone else. Maybe it was just a bad night.
(3)Shuné D.
I was here during the day time for lunch. This has been a phenomenal experience. I ended up getting the pink salmon soba and trio of crème brûlée for dessert. The flavors were fresh and pure and I fell in love immediately. You can taste every herb, every detail of each meal. The wait staff was friendly. The restaurant overall is a relatively small, but cozy place with a trendy atmosphere. I would highly recommend this place to anyone with a taste for Vietnamese/savory food.
(5)Greg P.
Excellent service, excellent food, relaxing and quiet atmosphere. The owner always comes by at some point during dinner to ask about the meal. The portions are large....I'm not sure how one could argue otherwise. Highly recommend for an upscale meal. I'd say without a doubt among the top 3 restaurants in Tampa.
(5)Nick W.
I came into this evening at Restaurant BT with such high expectations. Recently, my wife and I relocated to central Florida from the Seattle area. At the risk of sounding a little bourgeois, the food scene in Seattle is pretty amazing-- farm to table everything, creative, consistent, never dull, and rarely disappointing. That hasn't necessarily been consistent with our experiences in Tampa, however, Restaurant BT came with great reviews, and sounded like a fresh take with ingredients to follow suit. Hence, my excitement when we booked a reservation for date night on a Friday night. That's where my expectations unfortunately weren't completely consistent with our experience. The design of the place is great-- understated, bright, simple, and modern. The clear plastic chairs weren't really my thing, but didn't detract from the design, that was pretty great. By far the worst part of our experience was the service. We were greeted in good time, however when we tried to engage about drink options, and starters, we were met with short, uninspired responses about our options. Once drinks were ordered and dropped, we tried to engage once again, and it seemed that we had become an inconvenience to the server. The food that came out was pretty spectacular for the first couple courses-- short ribs that were tender and flavorful, and a papaya salad with fresh herbs that was the highlight of the meal. Our main courses (I had the stuffed squid, and my wife had steak nuggets over fresh spinach) weren't bad, but weren't particularly inspired. I capped the evening off with a Vietnamese drip coffee, which was good, but again, a little underwhelming. By Tampa standards, this really should get 4 stars, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. We will for sure be back, to try a couple different things, and hopefully score some better service and dishes that we can't wait to text our friends about.
(3)Loretta Z.
Being of Vietnamese descent myself, I was really rooting for Restaurant BT to be out of this world, fantastic. After all, it is not often that you see Vietnamese food and fine dining coupled together. My hubby took me here for my birthday. Valet parking is complimentary and was a nice but necessary touch because the dedicated parking lot is very small. The restaurant is set up in two separate sections which makes the larger space seem quite intimate and small. There are no booths that I could see, just table tops in a modern, clean, minimalist type of decor. My kids had the Beef Pho and I have to say I was not a fan of the flavor. My parents are Southern Vietnamese and that may account for the difference in palate as I believe the pho here is Hanoi style. My husband ordered the duck burrito as an appetizer and that was delicious! Loads of flavor and tons of duck meat. I ordered the special which was monk fish in a coconut curry sauce. It was very tasty but probably not any better than what I can get from the Thai restaurant right across the street from my house. The best part of this restaurant was the outstanding service. We were meticulously taken care of and nothing was overlooked. I was trying to decide between 3 or 4 stars. The service is excellent. The decor is clean and modern. But if my Vietnamese parents came to visit, would I take them here for excellent Vietnamese food? Because my parents are way more interested in authenticity and flavor than impeccable service and fine dining, I probably would not. While this restaurant is good, it isn't great yet to me. I think it has the potential to get there and I will be back to give it a second try.
(3)Chris I.
I need to state upfront that this restaurant is every bit of 5 stars with regards to the food. Every dish I had there was some of the best food I have ever eaten. That being said, I highly doubt that I will ever return. As wonderful as the food was, I hated my experience there. I found the atmosphere to be uncomfortable. I believe there was a Gordon Ramsey's BBC Kitchen Nightmare's episode that covered the same exact scenario. Very formal, classic service, multiple waiters taking care of your single table, nearly as many waiters as there are customers, not much room to relax and enjoy. I understand there are some groups of people who do enjoy this type of service, but for me the more relaxed and informal the better. I find that to be more friendly and pleasurable. It has been a few months from my visit, so I can't go into too much details on the food other than to say that it was fantastic. Order the Bo Tai chanh and the croissant bread pudding - maybe order two, they are that good. If i could only enjoy this food under a different setting, I would be a frequent customer.
(4)Angela D.
Open on Christmas Eve. Holy crap the food is pure bliss. Tampa should be freaking grateful that BT chooses to have her business here and not cut corners American style. Glad to see it busy for lunch on Christmas Eve.
(5)Katie S.
We just ate here on Tuesday. I am SO in love with this restaurant. From the moment we walked in to the moment we left, we were treated like royalty. BT is a phenomenal chef with a creative and delicious mind. Everything we had was amazing (the lobster claw and avocado appetizer, the chicken entrée and the prawn entrée)! Each dish was unique and incredibly full of flavor. Our server - who also appeared to be the bartender - was a great bartender (I had a delicious sake cucumber martini) and fantastic server. Well knowledged when it came to the food and drinks. Not to mention, a joy to talk to. There was also a younger gentleman who helped seat us and bag our food - he was very pleasant as well and always made sure we were enjoying ourselves. BT stopped by our table which was a nice surprise as well. We cannot wait to go back!
(5)Chris F.
Is there anything better anywhere? I answered that question last night. Went for my anniversary and was awed by how good the food and experience was. If you are within 100 miles of this restaurant you should go. Right away. Splendid.
(5)Lynnette S.
Love that it's trendy classy and different. The food was exquisite and exotic!!! The staff were wonderful and went above and beyond to give you a wonderful experience! Will return back!
(5)Ann M.
Our meal was absolutely amazing and the service was spectacular! The many layers of flavor with each bite.... Unreal! Rich and fresh!!! I highly recommend you try this establishment out.... You will not be disappointed! I look forward to my next visit.
(5)Isabelle R.
Great service, ambience, and food. Recommend lunch, the salmon soba noodle bowl was excellent.
(4)Josiah G.
This was a great experience! What an amazing, diverse menu that delivered on every item we ate. The star for me was the kobe beef stroganoff. The beef just melted in my mouth and the homemade egg noodles soaked up all the sauce and juice. I doubt I will ever have stroganoff anywhere, like I had here. Everything that came out of the kitchen was just on a different level. The only complaints would be that the waiter didn't seem to know much about the menu or the wine. We asked about a wine and he said another person would answer that better and he sent over their wine expert, which happens and is totally fine, but when we asked questions about the menu, he didn't seem to know much. He didn't know what noodles came with the stroganoff or what was in the sauce for the escargot. This was a bit frustrating, but we looked past it. Also, the tables were very small and the plates were very big, so for the four of us with a couple appetizers, we literally had the hold the plates in our hands a couple times and there were a couple close calls with wine glasses that were constantly being moved out of the way. I'll be back for sure and I don't care if a drunk monkey serves the food on a paper plate on a TV tray.
(4)Terra I.
This place is really underrated on the Tampa food scene- great atmosphere, fresh flavor a, unique dishes, great well priced wine list. Definitely a new fav of ours after just moving back from Manhattan.
(5)Patricia B.
Fantastic little restaurant on MacDill. I went for lunch with two girlfriends and the food was great, the portions were large, and the service was very attentive. I had traditional Vietnamese pho and it was really good. One girlfriend had the spring rolls and they were super good. The other friend had a tofu sandwich on a delicious baguette, and it was a massive sandwich. Definitely going back again.
(5)Tina R.
Absolutely wonderful! So many delicious flavors. The spring rolls were tasty! My shrimp was perfectly cooked and loaded with flavor. The fresh herbs and edible garnish made the presentation especially nice. The steamed artichoke with mushrooms and crab meat was delicious and unexpected. Wonderful service with very friendly knowledgeable staff.
(5)D K.
What a gem of a restaurant! Everything we had to eat was delicious and fresh, infused with unique and tasteful flavors. The service was personable and attentive. Highly recommend the homemade Jasmine Iced Tea (wish they sold it by the bottle so that we could take some home), the fresh shrimp roll, tuna Thai chanh, Vietnamese shredded cabbage with steamed organic chili chicken, salmon soba and the croissant bread pudding!
(5)Abe J.
Excellent food. Love the tuna app and entree. Snapper Saigon is fantastic. Great selection of wines by the glass, as well as sake. Service has been perfect on recent visits from beginning to end.
(5)Kelleigh M.
Carlos posting on the talk thread that Restaurant BT was being featured on Emeril's show, stirred in me the desire to try this place. It's been a Tampa favorite for as long as I can remember, yet I've never been. Friday changed all that. I called early that afternoon and requested a 7:30 reservation. The lovely French maitre d informed me that 7:45 would be best-no problem. As 6:30 approached, my stomach started growling. When mama's hungry, my darling husband knows I must eat now. He gathered his car keys and off we went to Restaurant BT. We arrived at 7:15, 30 minutes too early for our 7:45 reservation. The French maître d (in case you couldn't tell I'm infatuated with anything French....French baguettes, French desserts, French cooking techniques, French accents) was very charming in person and told me he could seat us early. The restaurant itself is very minimal-modern and clean lines. The chairs are a clear resin like material and the tablecloths and color scheme is a muted beige. We were promptly sat at a table and the server brought us water-sadly this is where the service ended ;( throughout the entire night I felt like we were ignored. It seemed as though they were short a server so everyone was pitching in. It wasn't their fault, but it did hold me back from awarding 5 stars. After sitting there for a good 10-15 minutes the maître d asked if we would like a glass of wine. My husband ordered a glass of Sauvignon blanc. After the wine arrived we probably waited another 5 minutes before BT herself came by to tell is the specials. Fast forward another 5 minutes and BT could tell no one was serving us so she took our order. I do appreciate her stepping in and trying to rectify the situation. Like I said, no one was being lazy. I just think they were short 1 person. I decided upon the tuna tai Chanh for my appetizer and my husband ordered the special-her version of a clam chowder. Both were exquisite. The tuna tai Chanh is like a tuna tartare served with an accompaniment of hearts of palm nicely diced on the side. The chowder was unbelievable. It wasn't think but incredibly flavorful. So good in fact it inspired me to make soup the next day (my soup is NOTHING compared to hers). For our entrees, my husband ordered the shaken beef thanks to yelpers' suggestions. For mine I ordered the salmon entree that was served on a bed of succotash and a side of lobster ravioli. Mine was out of this world. My husband's shaken beef didn't even require a knife. The beef was so tender that it literally melted in his mouth. For the value, we decided this is a great restaurant in Tampa. For our evening, out the door with tip, it was $115. Very reasonable considering the quality, presentation and creativity that went into this meal. We will definitely be back.
(4)Nicole F.
I have to give this place 5 stars all the way. Down to the food, ambience, and service. We will definitely be returning for some more of the delicious food. I am glad we found this place
(5)Isabelle L.
Oh my god, it was soooo good! Exactly what I wanted for my birthday... Thanks to yelp review. We had the beef tartar to start, was so amazing and on the generous size too. Papaya salad also so good to share a boullaibase seafood (a little small portion though) but again amazing! We had room for desert, the creme brûlée trio is the best I never had, ginger was my favorite. My husband had the chocolate mousse which was delicious! We definitely going back... The chef herself even came to see us at the end :-)
(5)Patrick K.
Fantastic, hidden gem in South Tampa. Luckily, they are now on Open Table and hopefully, this makes their existence better known so that more people can experience the beautiful Vietnamese-French fusion dishes that BT serves up. The restaurant is on MacDill with a rear entrance not facing the road, near Datz. Not the most ideal location for visibility, but this has worked in my favor as I have never had trouble getting a table. Menu items to try are: Vegetarian Pumpkin Soup - very pumpkiny and delicious Crustacean Bisque - very generous with lobster pieces Global Salad Salad Composee Salmon A La Plancha Shaken Beef - WOW! Cote Basque Prawns Pork Tenderloin Sous Vide - phenomenal They also serve very good sake-tinis and many wines by the glass. In all, I don't think you can go wrong here. Just go. Update 2/15/14 - Still awesome. Got the croissant bread pudding for dessert and was blown away (thanks for the recommendation, Brett).
(5)Brittany L.
Dined here for Valentine's Day lunch 2015. Partook in the Bo Tai Chahn, lobster bisque, ginger prawns, salmon & brie croissant and French press coffee; all of which I award a 5 star rating for both taste and presentation. The ambience is elegant yet comfortable, and the staff is pleasant and appropriately attentive. Thanks for being part of our first Valentine's Day together :)
(5)David H.
Came here with my girlfriend to celebrate our anniversary and had a really nice meal. Started with the Tuna Tartar and Peking Duck Burrito. I got the Red Snapper a la Saigon and my gf got the dinner special, lamb and prawns. My snapper was well cooked and had a nice crisp at the bottom of the fillet. It was seasoned well and I really enjoyed it. The snapper was served over a bed of coleslaw that was dressed with a fish sauce based dressing, all surrounded by slices of cucumber. The special was decent, the shrimp was served with a tomato based sauce and was cooked well. The lamb chops on the other hand were a tad bit undercooked. I believe lamb should usually be served medium rare, but this was pretty much rare. Must have just been seared for a minute or two. Overall the food was good and I would go again to try other dishes.
(4)Chris T.
Just want to start off by saying I'm Vietnamese, so when I heard about this place visiting Tampa I was some what excited to try it. I had the Beef Pho and eggrolls. I don't understand how you can make both of those and be soo bland and flavorless. BOTH were so bad, and honestly my friends can make these both better at home. So when finding out how much everything was it was even more disappointing. I'm sorry folks but this is not a good representation of Vietnamese food. There is WAY better places to eat that's much cheaper as well. I guess if you want pho or eggrolls don't come here. Best meal was the coconut ice cream. For sure never coming back.
(1)Brett N.
Why 5 stars? Because it's an instant classic. --- --- --- It only happens from time to time, but I'm reviewing this place the same night that I ate there. The reason for this is that it was such an amazing meal, I couldn't wait til Yelp my face off and spread the good word. I had BT on my "to-do" list for a while, but hadn't been able to get around to trying it out. Then one day, when putting together The Weekly Yelp on Bayshore Beautiful, I noticed Rich D's review of BT and I knew that I had to expedite the process of dining there. His review said something along the lines of, "I've traveled all over the world and eaten at some amazing places over time, but my meal at Restaurant BT is in the top 3 I've ever had the pleasure of eating." How do you possibly read that and not immediately feel a magnetic pull to Macdill and Bay to Bay? He ordered the Shaken Beef, so I obviously wasn't going to be needing a menu upon my arrival. One bite in, I understood exactly why his comments were so strong. The beef was incredibly tender and flavorful....my only wish is that the portion was six times bigger, because I would have been able to eat it for hours. My friend ordered the Stroganoff, which was incredible as well. I liked my order more, but hers was 5-star quality as well. Her noodles were the best I've ever had. For dessert she went with the bread pudding and I had the banana pudding. Hers was made of bits of heaven clouds. Mine was solid, don't get me wrong....but that bread pudding was not to be ignored. And it never will be again. Restaurant BT - one of the best restaurants in Tampa Bay. And the area of "Bayshore Beautiful" is easily the class of restaurants in Tampa Bay.
(5)Chon N.
Had a great meal here last night with my brother. Highly recommend everything we ordered : tuna appetizer, escargot, lobster avocado, duck burrito, shaken beef, scallops, tapioca pudding, and chocolate mousse. Ambiance and decor was perfect and the staff was very attentive. Will absolutely be back with my wife for a date night.
(5)Randi H.
Good food, good service. Expensive. Uptight setting. Just don't think about how your meal costs as much as the average Vietnamese person makes in 1 month.
(3)Yuri W.
Cafe BT is awesome!! Love the beef Pho here as it is probably the best I have found anywhere in the country so far.
(5)SH K.
Really really enjoyed my meal there. Definitely 1 of those places you would have driven past 50 times and not thought of patronising until you hear about it. I got the peking duck burrito for starters, and the shaken beef as mains. The beef was definitely top class, and the lemongrass rice amazing. As for the peking duck burrito, I thought it was "normal" and in fact a bit too sweet as peking duck in the US tends to be. Excellent choice of wines too. Price wise, definitely on the high side, but I also think the quality of the food justifies it. Just not a place I can go to on a whim...
(5)Gabrielle D.
I was looking for a restaurant to celebrate a birthday of somebody special. I had found about it through Open Table by running a search of French restaurants in the Tampa area. We read several menus and were intrigued by the combination of Vietnamese and French dishes proposed by BT. Being from San Francisco, we are hard to please and harder to impress. The experience was outstanding. The food is very fresh, complex, creative, delicious. There is an attention to details, from the presentation of the dishes to the selection of teas or wines. The service is discreet and knowledgeable. There are many traditional dishes that have been reinvented. We tried the coq au vin and the escargots. They were a joy and we enjoyed every bite. We will be back! Merci beaucoup, BT! This was a memorable meal and the most interesting experience this year!
(5)Adrian M.
One of my new favs - the food was innovative, refreshing & absolutely delicious! We tried several dishes on the menu & also the specials of the evening - we were thrilled with all of them. The modern minimalist decor is very Zen like & the service was great too! Book a table & go now! We LOVE this place!
(5)Marya C.
This is my FAVORITE restaurant in Tampa! I have always gravitated to Vietnamese cuisine, but this unique restaurant takes it to another level. Every dish has intense flavor, and the presentation is exquisite. This is a restaurant where you want to take your time and savor the atmosphere and your meal. My favorite dishes include: pumpkin soup, duck pho, pork bun, and jasmine green tea. Do not miss this restaurant!
(5)Kevin F.
Nice small place with great food. I'm a big fan of the Bo Tai Chanh. It's not like a typical steak-tartare, but if you're coming here to eat, you probably aren't looking for "typical", right?
(4)Dion L.
Delicious, amped up, modernized, super local and fresh interpretation of Vietnamese...but some things fell short when my husband and I dined here for lunch. The bahn mi featured really nicely seasoned, tender pork and plenty of vegetables inside, crispy fried onions, and a tiny, nicely sweet and acidic cucumber salad on the side. My husband even noted the bread was extra fresh and perfectly toasted. The bun was also quite delicious, featuring melt-in-your-mouth pieces of beef, along with peanuts, cucumber, shredded greens and the traditional fish sauce on the bottom. While delicious, the temperature of the cold noodles and hot beef, and fish sauce already on the bottom of the bowl made for a less-than-lukewarm temperature, and too liquidy dish. I also would have liked to see a combo bun with grilled shimp, chicken *and* beef with maybe some crispy rolls. Drinks: Obviously a restaurant has to make money, and I did a story once on how restaurants do this by marking up beverages. However, the jasmine iced tea...which tastes like many jasmine teas, costs $4.25! That's $8.50 for two people! That's almost the price of a cocktail. Service: Mixed. Maybe it's all the lunching ladies with their Louis Vuitton, but warm isn't the word I'd use to describe the servers. They're friendly, but you can tell they're not particularly charming or chatty...which is fine...but would have helped us justify $11 for dessert or $4.25 for an iced tea! Note: Parking can be a little tricky since the restaurant was packed at lunchtime. Be aware some residential parking is only 5 minutes long so watch for the signs!
(4)Linda N.
EVERYTHING: FIVE STARS. All of the food here is traditional Vietnamese food with a modern and delicious twist with global influences. You will not find another place like BT's. And if you do, it won't be as good as it is here. Although the food is super pricey, it is well worth every dollar! I say go for the bo tai chanh or tuna tai chanh, 'bun' noodle bowls, salmon soba, banh mis, or BT's infamous Hanoi Beef Pho for lunch. As for dinner, get any of the specials, amazing tuna sashimi or... actually, EVERYTHING on the lunch or dinner menus will not disappoint. Ask your server or BT for recommendations on cocktails (Sake-tinis or homemade bloody marys are great) or wine pairings from her extensive wine list with your meal. You will definitely fall in love. Bon appetit!
(5)Christa B.
I absolutely love the Food Karma! One of my favorite lunches. We normally order take-out for lunch and that is why I'm giving it for stars. I have not been inside to have the whole experience but when I am I'm sure it will bump up to five stars!
(4)Chi P.
Food was delicious!! Had the vegetarian samosas to start and the vegan version of the snapper for my main dish. Both were cooked perfectly. The entree was amazing; it was as if the dish was supposed to be made with tofu. We asked for their hottest chiles on the side, and were pleasantly surprised when they gave us a little bowl of green Thai chiles. We were expecting the standard Sriracha or Sambal Olek...both of which add tanginess as well as heat. Thai chiles were perfect.
(4)Jane E.
I went again with my friends and have to say that this one of the best restaurants in the Tampa area. I do not understand why this does not show up on lists all over the place. The food impeccably prepared and presented. The ambiance is one of the best. I don't know why it has taken me two years to come back here. I am going to go more often in the future.
(5)Amanda L.
Asian fusion at its best. One of my top choices for a special occasion. Refined atmosphere and sophisticated food profiles. This restaurant could "make it" in a big city, and that's not something I would say for many Tampa restaurants. There's nothing not to love about this place. Delicious, creative cocktails, wonderful sommelier, amazing food, and friendly staff. An excellent choice if you're looking for a fancy dinner at a restaurant in a formal, but not pretentious setting.
(5)Grace M.
BT was fabulous - so glad we found it! The menu was unusual, fresh and delicious. We loved the fact that BT, the owner, was attentive to each table, recommending wine and making sure your experience was great. Was visiting daughter in Tampa and will put on the top of my list on my next visit!
(5)Rob B.
Good luck finding this one!! Parking is in the back and a very small sign on the front. Look for Subway. Beautiful modern interior, the bar has a wonderful cocktail list and thanks to yelpers I had the lemongrass martini. I also had the beef Bahn mi. The sub was wonderfully fresh unlike neighboring Subway, the bread here was a delight. It was served with a cucumber salad that I put squarely on the sub. While a nice asian beef salad on a roll, I miss the mayo and pate that is often found on more traditional versions.
(4)Beth S.
I'm officially obsessed with this place. I've eaten lunch twice and both times the food has been amazing. Both times I've eaten out on their lovely patio and it's been so nice sitting outside during the workday that I would eat there every day if I could. The restaurant is basically French/Vietnamese and having eaten at a similar eatery in Orlando, I was just as impressed. The first meal I tried was the beef pho and it was perfect. Delicious vermicelli noodles in a warm broth with light veggies and perfectly cooked beef taking a nice little bath. The second meal I had was the beef bun noodle salad. It was even better than the pho! Again, delicious sliced beef served over the "bun" noodles with lettuce and peanuts and a light dressing I want to drink. Instead of drinking that though, I had Jasmine tea. It's slightly sweet and served nice and chilled over ice. I can't wait to eat here again and order a Vietnamese sandwich. I implore you all to eat here and help make this place a local favorite! Pho real!
(5)David F.
Ginger Ginger Ginger. This place tries to fuse Vietnamese with French and ends up with inedible dished that are heavy handedly flavored and over priced. The service is terrible and there are at least 10 better restaurants within walking distance. Don't waste your time.
(1)michelle l.
After months of thinking about checking this place out, we finally did, and I'm glad we did. The wine, beer and mixed drink list is impressive. The decor is subtle. The waiters are attentive and courteous. We started out with the spring rolls and one of the appetizer specials, the steamed pork dumplings. Both were lovely and very tasty. The spring rolls reminded me of ones I had at fantastic restaurants in Los Angeles. The dumplings were tender and perfectly cooked. For entrees, my husband had the squid stuffed with pork. He enjoyed it, although he didn't like the coconut in the fragrant black rice. I had the cassoulet. The duck confit's fat wasn't as rendered as I would have liked, and the pork belly didn't quite melt in my mouth, but the flavor was good. We didn't try the dessert because we were full, but I liked the dessert beverage list and would like to try some of the desserts in the future.
(4)Clayton L.
You can do worse than BT, but you can certainly do better too. The best thing BT has going for it is the service which is quite possibly some of the best service I have ever had at a restaurant. We literally had 3 people waiting on us at one time. The food was very good, but not great, which is what I would expect for BT prices. And the venue was very small, and although nicely decorated, it was nothing special. The biggest drawback was the price. It was definitely on the expensive side. And the food did not live up to the price. I was hoping that it would, but it just didn't. Would I go here again? Maybe. But it wouldn't be my first choice for a fancy dinner. Bern's, Charley's, and Salt Rock Grill all have great food, nice atmospheres, good service and they all provide a better value than BT.
(3)Mike S.
Best in class for Viet cuisine. Ate there years ago at the original Gandy location. Very elegant, extremely smooth service, and wonderful food. I served in Vietnam but mainly ate C-Rats, LRRP rations or other GI cookery, rarely eating Viet food except when invited to a memorable Tet family dinner. Then after the war, we hosted some Viet refugees who shared their recipes with us as we exposed them to grits, hot dogs, gumbo, sauerkraut/brats, and similar eclectic Yank cuisine. So I know good Viet food. And their higher prices are merited by quality of the experience. Wish they were closer to my West Tampa neighborhood. Unless you work at MacDill, South Tampa is not "on the way" to anything. My test dishes for evaluating Viet restaurants are Pho soup, nuoc mam sauce and unfried Spring rolls. BT excels in all and the servers are delighted to have a customer that relishes and asks for nuoc mam sauce on the side....the fermented fish sauce also used in Thai cookery but not always disclosed to squeamish American guests. BT also offers some dishes blending basic Viet cuisine with French elements. The French may have gotten run out of Vietnam, but they left a culinary legacy. We yanks had a "strategic withdrawal with honor (!?!)," but no particular influence on cookery. However, we have now prevailed economically as the nominally socialist Viet government mightily competes to get more US sneaker and T-shirt assembly plants. C'est la guerre.
(4)Jamie K.
We had another great experience at BT last night. The food is unique and delicious. We shared the vegetarian samosas and the Lincoln Lawyer salad, both top notch. For my entree, I had the Monk's Pot au Feu, which was heavenly. My partner had the Bouillabaisse special, and he said it was the best Bouillabaisse he has ever had. Our server recommended a fantastic red wine to pair with the Bouillabaisse (I don't remember what kind). I also order the white pear saketini every time - it is so good!
(5)Sarah B.
We stopped in for lunch while visiting family in Tampa and had a really great experience. All of the food was executed perfectly and had amazing flavors. I had the pumpkin soup with a beef tenderloin Banh Mi sandwhich. Both were cooked to perfection and I couldn't get enough of the light french bread used on the sandwich. I would come back on another trip.
(5)Mr N.
BT has done it again! The food was nothing shy of fantastic. I can't say how much we love this place... Best to make a reservation.
(4)Lisa R.
From start to finish Restaurant BT was a sublime experience. We went around 1pm on a Tuesday and had an absolutely stunning meal. The surroundings are cool and modern but comfortable. The waiter was friendly, helpful and unobtrusive (and gorgeous!) We enjoyed a couple of cool infused waters, one lemon and one cucumber, while struggling to decide what to try. The fresh roll starter was like a spring oll but not deep fried and it was honestly the best I've ever had. The peanut sauce was thick and rich. A generous portion. We had the Aromatic Chicken Pho and the Salmon Soba. I had a taste of the pho and the flavors were delicate and complex, enhanced by the sriracha and hoisin on the side to add as desired. The chicken was tender and not watered down by the broth. The Salmon Soba? Oh. My. Gosh. I ate every morsel. It was so fresh and flavorful, I can hardly explain how good it tasted but also how good it made me feel. Chef Nguyen is a genius. I can hardly wait to go back. Try this place, support local fresh healthy food!
(5)Virginia G.
We were thoroughly pleased with our dinner here. Started with the escargot en croute ($13) which had an excellent sauce in it and the pastry was nice and flaky. Moved on to the squash blossom soup ($11) which was just loaded with flavors. The mushrooms in it were amazingly good and a nice twist to the traditional squash blossom dishes I've had. Dinner consisted of Chipriones Richard ($23) which is baby squid stuffed with shrimp, pork, mushrooms. It was so good! I don't know where they get their exotic mushrooms when their theme is eat locally cause you sure can't find them around here! Hubby had the Duck breasts ($28) served with Goji berries and figs with a compote with a side of lemon risotto. It was delicious. We could hardly keep our forks off each others plates! The service was spot on and they have a great drink selection. Definitely a repeat place for us!
(4)Leo K.
One of south Tampa's best restaurants!!! The atmosphere is very beautiful and relaxing. The service is as good as it gets... Lots of recommendations from the waitstaff who knows the food. How can you go wrong when everything in the menu is spectacular?! My recommendation is always order the special. I had the rack of lamb and it was the best I have had,,,juicy and perfectly cooked. My wife had the salmon which was delicious. The owner made contact with everyone in the restaurant !! Awesome!!!!!
(5)Nancy E.
Fabulous, innovative restaurant - we were in from out of town and wish BT would come to Atlanta. The food was flavorful, presentation was over the top, and service was spot on. We started with appetizers - I have to say the Tuna Tai Chanh is something not to be overlooked. I could have had two of those as my meal and been very happy. Others at our table had the Deconstructed Beef Stroganoff James - tender beef, fantastic flavors - and the Coq Au Vin - some of the best I have ever had. And if you like to complete the meal with a coffee, the Vietnamese drip is a must try - sweet cream and a strong chicory coffee - the perfect finish. Their wine list is ok - good selections of Burgundy and Barolo - but we did find it a little over priced. Being from a city that does not discourage bringing in your own wine, we found the $30 corkage a little intimidating - but after seeing the make up on their wine, I am sorry we didn't just bring our own and pay the corkage.
(5)Mark V.
I live in NYC and have a generous pick of good restaurants there. This my MUST go to restaurant when I am in the Tampa bay area! I have never been disappointed or let down in any way!
(5)Louis A.
BT has always been a family favorite. I can remember going to one of her earlier restaurants, Exodus, on Arminia many moons ago. She has done it again and with the same flair and finesse. Her place on S. MacDill is absolutely scrumptious. Even though there are many mouth-watering choices I'd probably have to say her tuna is beyond compare. The seasoning, whatever it is, is to die for. If you are a foodie and you have not tried BTs you don't know what you are missing.
(5)Eric S.
This is the kind of food that makes you want to slow down and observe everything that's going on on the plate. Amazing, with high prices.
(5)Shanna D.
This is the best "fancy meal" I have had. Restaurants can really win me over by impressing me first with atmosphere and it was love at first sight. BT is white washed, with wood block tables and mini bromeliads in small glass globes. A large floating shelf features hundreds of unique spices in the dining room, and the chef will actually come pull one off the wall for use. I am a tea snob, but I knew there was a Vietnamese influence so I took the advice of the waiter (he was very charming and attentive) and ordered the house Jasmine tea concoction even though it was "pre-sweetened." It was AWESOME. I tried to get my palette around it, green jasmine pearls , lime juice, honey... maybe? My happy meter was nearly full before even eating. Then the eating began and the whole experience got surreal. I had the Deconstructed Beef Stroganoff James after being a little indecisive. All regrets melted away upon tasting. Beef--so tender and juicy, green beans crispy and spiced for flavor, noodles in a sweet reduction sauce. I can't ask for a better entrée. Oh, here comes desert. I wanted all of them and chose the bread pudding, telling the menu I would come back to taste the others so they wouldn't feel left out. Ate it all and wished I had more even though I was full. The namesake chef/owner was at the door as we departed. We gave her a ton of praise and she was very thankful and pleased to hear we had enjoyed ourselves so immensely. Restaurant BT represents the gold standard.
(5)Noelle L.
I hadn't dined at Restaurant BT since it moved from it's Hyde Park Village residence on Snow. For starters, the server was awful. He was non attentive. After he brought us our first round of libations, he didn't come back and ask if we would like another for about 20 minutes. My cucumber martini was refreshing and executed quite well. Our appetizer was the tuna tai chanh. It was beautifully presented and the flavors were spot on. For the main course I got the Magret de Canard Trina (duck). It was very rubbery and overcooked. I was really looking forward to crispy duck skin :( The flavors weren't bad, but they weren't good either. For $28, I expect a little more. My boyfriend got the Snapper a la Saigon. It was a very generous portion, but lacked any sort of flavor. Needed salt, pepper, amongst other flavorings. Overall, I was very disappointed with the service and the food. I used to love Restaurant BT in it's old location! But from what I've heard, BT has all new kitchen staff, which could be a result of the overcooked duck and the flavorless snapper. We will perhaps give it another try sometime in the future...
(2)Devil M.
Vietnamese Duck Pho - Good, not great. French press coffee....mmmmmmmm tasty! Mini spring rolls - awesome Lemon grass beef "Bun" bowl - awesomer Roasted batata & Dungeness crap soup - awesomest! Went for lunch on my birthday and had a good time. Even gave me a complementarity dessert that I would have never expected. Nice touch. The dessert was great. Lots to choose from on the menu and it was tough to decide because so much of it sounds SO GOOD. I would give 5 stars, but I need to go back a few more times to decide if it's that good.
(4)April B.
Good food, nice atmosphere. Came during lunch time and really enjoyed it. The waiter was very helpful and knowledgable on what to order. I got the beef bowl. Had more onions that I expected (I don't care for onions) but was good. I will definitely come back and bring a friend next time.
(4)Liz A.
Had lunch & dinner twice. Have tasted half the dinner menu already & the food is suburb! The tuna appetizer is out of this world!! The scallops, duck burrito, shaken beef are dinner menu favorites. Lava cake & bread pudding are a must, the most amazing bread pudding I've ever had. Great wine selection as well. Overall, a wonderful dining experience.
(5)J H.
Love yelp for these kinds of restaurants that I would never find on my own. Great food, mostly organic meat, nice decor and decent wine list. We had the duck burrito (a tad sweet for me, but boyfriend loved it), fresh rolls (healthy and super tasty with great dipping sauce), beef pho (LOVED the broth) and steak. Everything was fresh, healthy and delicious.
(5)Hilary M.
Enjoyed the food, ambiance and the service! The food was fresh and had just the right amount of spice! This restaurant has more of a Vietnamese feel than French for sure: Loved the spring rolls with shrimp, pumpkin soup, pot de feu, banana tapioca and Papaya salad. The details including interesting dishware, flowers and how we were served made this one of our favorite restaurants so far!
(5)Misty B.
What can I say, BT is simply one of the absolute BEST options in Tampa for food lovers. Dishes are beautiful and incredibly flavorful; it's quickly obvious that a talented chef oversees each night's service versus phones it in. It's actually one of the very few restaurants I've been to in South Tampa that puts an emphasis on presentation as well as flavor. The bar is not big, but there's something about its positioning in the restaurant and the surrounding design that transports you out of Tampa and into NYC, West Hollywood or maybe Silverlake (CA). I wouldn't recommend BT for "just drinks"; but I would recommend that you arrive 20-30 minutes ahead of your reservation to grab a drink at the bar first. Decor is refreshingly unique; I remember once congratulating BT for not subscribing to the typical restaurant decor or IKEA fall-back options. On weekends, have cash on hand for valet tip (valet itself is free); it's a necessity unless you want to try and squeeze onto a side street. The BT lot is tiny; it probably fits 10 cars at most. An early-eve reservation mid-week may snag you a lucky lot spot. Service is smart, brisk and efficient. My only (minor) complaint is the chair selection in the restaurant. The chairs are clear acrylic (read: hard), which is chic and airy, but they lose any comfort they had after an hour or so. BT isn't a dine-and-run kind of place; you kind of want to stay for a couple hours. I always find myself squirming toward the end of my meal.
(5)Rich D.
I joined a friend of mine for a meal at Restaurant BT with 8 other acquaintances. My friend (not in the food/restaurant business) has known BT for a number of years and always stops in when he's traveling through the area. I certainly don't know if this affected the level of attention we received from BT and her staff, but my friend assured me she and her crew have treated him the same since day one when he first read about the restaurant in Zagat, went there for a meal and met her. Simply said, the meal was incredible, and the service was first rate. Everyone seemed to try a different dish, so we had a wide variety of entrees to respond to. To the last person, we all found each meal delightful. I chose the shaken beef, which features cubed filet mignon, Courvoisier cognac, Swiss soy sauce, crispy shallots, watercress, tomatoes and jasmine rice. The flavors exploded on my palate, and I could not only taste the flavor of each ingredient and how they mingled, but I could definitely taste the freshness of each of them. I've been fortunate enough to dine in many major cities in over 40 countries, and I can say without question this meal on that night was in the top 3 meals I've ever had. Seriously, it was that good. I had high expectations based on what my friend had told be about Restaurant BT, but I didn't expect the meal to blow those away and exceed them so much. My friend ordered the Vietnamese Bouillabaisse, which includes gulf prawns, baby calamari, salmon, pineapple, okra, bean sprouts, lily stem, and tomato in a tangy-aromatic seafood broth. While his work takes him to most every major city in the US where he dines widely, he described it as "extraordinary". The service by the staff was prompt and attentive, with never a wait for anything we wanted or needed. When many of us commented on the freshness of the ingredients, our waiter took a moment to bring us out several of those ingredients from the kitchen, explained more about each of them, and then showed us how to tell how fresh they are should we ever buy them ourselves. Truly, a very nice touch. I'm anxious to return and try out more of the menu, and that will definitely happen soon. Atmosphere: 5 Service: 5 Food: 5 Value: 5
(5)Mike A.
One of the best restaurants I've found in Tampa, especially for lunch. Particularly recommended are the Spring Rolls, Coq Au Vin, Hanoi Beef Pho, Ginger Shrimp Brochette with risotto, and Garlic Prawn salad. Items are fairly priced given the superior quality of ingredients used. Very good selection of wine by glass. Mint, cumber, lemon and lime infused water is also available. Service is professional and of a higher standard than typical of the area. Outside dining is available facing McDill and is very pleasant despite the high level of traffic on street. A parking lot and the main entrance to the dining room are on the opposite side of the building.
(4)Barry V.
For my out-of-body experience, I'm recommending Restaurant BT. Chef/owner BT Nguyen creates magnificent French/Vietnamese fusion dishes that are beyond my culinary vocabulary. My wife and I shared the Vietnamese spring roll and watermelon/goat cheese/radish salad. I had the Kobe-style skirt steak stroganoff, which was great. My wife had the pumpkin soup...another five star Yelp meal.
(5)Erin L.
A welcome retreat from the ordinary! So glad we finally experienced their new location. The service has soared - it was top notch from the moment we were greeted at the door, to the server, to the sommelier. We even had a brief chat with BT herself. The decor was just beautiful. I felt like we were whisked away to Maui for the evening. Cucumber-infused filtered water was so refreshing on the hot summer night that it was. The Pinot Noir I had was perfect. My husband was eager to have the spring rolls with the rockstar peanut sauce again - it had been years since he last had them. I chose the Tuna Sashimi Charlie Hounchell for my main course, not only because I was in the mood for fresh tuna, but I guess you could say I wanted to celebrate the namesake of the dish. I really don't know what my husband got because I was so enthralled with my plate! It was spectacular, and I'm kicking myself for not taking a picture. I haven't had soba noodles in years, so I was anxious to enjoy those, and they were amazing. What really surprised me was that I found out that I do like ginger and a seaweed salad. Maybe I finally found a place where it was prepared properly?! Overall - absolutely fantastic experience. I would love to come back to explore more of their menu, dine at different times to enjoy their patio and bring friends and family. Great job BT.
(5)Alexandra S.
One of my favorite and one of the best restaurants in Tampa. A wonderful fusion of Vietnamese and French cuisines done in an elegant and refined setting. Classy space that is unique with great food and drink offerings. I am addicted to the saketinis (get them extra dirty) and I have had some very memorable dishes. I still have dreams about the tartar which had one of the most unique flavors I have experienced. Traditional summer rolls are filled with a mix you might find at other places but just taste better here. One night they had dim sum special which included some amazing dumplings and soft shell crabs. This place is worth repeating but don't tell everyone, I would hate to have wait for a reservation, it's just too good.
(5)nancy c.
It's hard to find warm yet upscale ambiance this impeccably executed in Tampa. You can't help but put on your best behavior, which makes it a perfect date spot. We got the Vietnamese spring rolls to start. Otherwise pretty typical, they're served in little lettuce cups. Our server made sure we ate the parcels all together, it's good advice. I'm considering tucking some bibb lettuce in my purse, in case I come across a less well-accessorized plate of spring rolls over the weekend... Next I had the shaken beef. Amazing. The beef cubes were incredibly tender and the dish hit on all the classic notes you expect (sweet, salty, spicy, and sour). My husband had the Vietnamese bouillabase. We both preferred the beef, but there was definitely nothing bad about any of it. The service was perfectly attentive and unobtrusive. The bill broke three figures (with drinks), but you won't find diner's remorse here!
(5)Andrea J.
It doesn't get any better than BT! Amazing flavors, freshly prepared ingredients, a variety of items to choose from and great service. Every time we leave we say, "that was the best meal we've had out since the last time we were at BT!" Thank you BT!
(5)marcie r.
Amazing food! We ate here over a year ago and kept saying we needed to return. Boy- am I sorry it's taken so long to do it. Martinis are wonderful and very unique. We split the Salad Melangee- it had goat cheese, pine nuts and gogi berries on it. I had the quail on soba noodles. Not only divine, but beautifully plated. Hubby had the Filet tournedos. Very tasty as well. Service was very fast, almost too fast. We were still enjoying our martinis and the salad came out. Nice to see a full restaurant as well. It will not be such a long time for a return visit.
(5)Jason R.
A Vietnamese/French fusion affair. I only went there for brunch and the atmosphere was rather pretentious. The food is good, albeit WAY overpriced. The Mimosas were also $9/glass. For a better brunch (both quality and value), head down the street to Ceviche.
(3)Bernardo A.
One of the best lunches I've had in years. The place was empty at 12:30 when we arrived on our way to a meeting. The waiter was very accommodating when we explained to him that we were in a hurry. Points for not using disposable chopsticks. Their rice noodle dishes are phenomenal for lunch. That Vietnamese mixture of mint and vinegar and a little sweetness with the savory meats is one of my favorites. The curried veggies were also amazing. Overall, an amazing experience. Will become a must visit whenever I'm in Tampa.
(4)Kevin M.
Duck, duck, duck. I love it and they had it every which way the evening I dined at BT. Anyway, for those who are not as enamored with duck as I am, the other folks at my table ate equally as well and were deeply satisfied. All of the plates were beautifully presented, the service was warm and attentive without being overbearing, the wine list was decent, and dessert nicely done. A gem in Tampa.
(4)Maria W.
My husband and I are foodies, and Restaurant BT is our de facto lunch or date night spot. It's the perfect combination of food that pleases the eye and the palate, and atmosphere which is modern and trendy but not too loud for a proper conversation. Our top recommendations: the always-fresh tuna tai chanh, the aromatic beef pho, and the addictive lychee saketini.
(5)Joe S.
Restaurant BT is one of Tampa's premier restaurants, from its ambiance, to its service and, most importantly, it's cuisine. Fresh, tasty, exquisitely prepared, with a wine list and bar selection to match. Sounds like a paid Ad doesn't it? Well, it's true. Everything is made from scratch with the finest ingredients. Her blend of Asian/Vietnamese flavors with traditional dishes is truly unique. If you're watching your wallet they have bar specials (food and drink) and lunch. Try the Steak sandwich, awesome! My favorite appetizer is then tuna ti chan, no, the bo ti chan, forget, go with 4 and order both!
(5)Phil L.
4 stars, 5 stars which do I choose? I choose 5. It's close but it is as good as it gets. My wife and I enjoyed a lovely romantic dinner here. The spring rolls were perfect as an appetizer. Light, sticky lettuce cups, just enough for two. A great sauce that paired with the Pinot Noirs we each had. I had the Pumpkin Soup - coconut based so it was a bit sweet but not too much (I think just right). Excellent. My wife wasn't fond of the Lobster bisque (for her it was too "creole" but I liked it). The service was excellent and gave her a salad she enjoyed. For the main course I had the Red Snapper. This can be made into a vegetarian plate (Tofu-based) which I did not do. There were many dishes that could be made into vegetarian plates. I had ginger infused sticky rice on the side. Incredibly tasty. I finished it (I love ginger). My wife had the wild Salmon - she loved it. I think the presentation for all dishes was excellent, the food hit many taste buds without overpowering and the service was prompt. But here's my beef. The service was overdone. This isn't Ruth's Chris Steak house where 5 people wait on you. It was confusing to have so many people to work with. I was hoping for a more intimate, romantic setting without having to remember who did what. Will I come back, absolutely. You cannot go wrong here. It is expensive but it's worth it.
(5)Jen A.
I can't say enough wonderful things about BT. The food is amazing, the waitstaff is attentive, and I love the decor. I love this place. The chicken galangal noodle salad is wonderful, as well as the beef and tuna tartar appetizers. Try the iced tea - it's slightly sweetened jasmine tea with a twist. Delicious and refreshing!
(5)Arpakorn W.
Amazing asian-fusion Vietnamese food. Creative, fresh, complex. Specialty drinks...competes with best bars in New York City. Atmosphere trending asian modern and very social-comfortable. Lunch menu, get the galagal chicken bum with the cucumber aloe martini Brunch chili chicken salad with a uniquely wonderful herb-infused bloody mary Dinner escargot and beef tartar (apps) sea scallops and a Vietnamese herb martini or the Buddha hand martini Ate there 4 days in a row...I dont even like Vietnamese food normally. Only negative...servers a little slow, but not too bad.
(5)Diana L.
I'm definitely a fan. The food, drinks, ambiance, and service were excellent. Went here to celebrate a friend's Birthday. Started with two appetizers...duck dumplings and goat cheese spread. Both were very good! (Though there were only 3 dumplings and 3 pieces of baguettes for the cheese spread. 3 doesn't divide well when you have two people. We actually asked for a few more baguette slices to finish our cheese spread). I tried a Kaffir Lime Lemongrass Martini. Very refreshing with the taste of lime and lemongrass both very noticable...different. For entrees, I had the Lamb Stew and my friend had the Bouillabaisse. Both were excellent! and we were surprised at the large portions. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU TRY RESTAURANT BT. (for 2 apps, 1 wine, 1 martini, and 2 entrees bill was $113.00)
(5)Kristi A.
This is truly a spectacular place to dine at and I would recommend it for a romantic date night or special occasion as it tends to lean more toward the upper scale side. I was blown away by the staff service and their attention to every detail in our dining experience. Also the food presentation was picture worthy...I am not one to ever think about taking a photo of my food but here I was very tempted! They offer a variety of dishes and combine ingredients in a way I have never seen and my mouth has never experienced before...truly phenomenal food! The chef, who I think is also the owner, came around during our dinner to see how everything tasted and how our experience was...I could sense she really cares about creating the best dining experience for those who come. If you have not yet been to this place, it is a must-do in Tampa. Be prepared to spend a little more money than usual as the food does cost a little more, but it is high quality and worth every penny! Love it!
(5)antonio m.
The good is great location, attractive, tasty looking menu. The bad is we went on a Weds night, not crowded. Got nice table and menu. And that is all! No water no bread no waiter - waited 15 minutes while bus boy set up tables next to us and two waiters wkked around. Amazing. Walked out and hostess thanked is for coming . Certainly a difference experience from other reviews.
(1)Becky S.
My fiance and I found this restaurant one day on our way to Channelside. I've only been here a couple of weeks so I had never heard of the Village at Hyde Park. But what a quaint little area!! And this restaurant is AWESOME!! My fiance was just saying that we need to find a Pho' place... and this place served it up!! BT serves traditional Vietnamese cuisine with a modern twist. All the flavor is there but better!! The pho' was delicious... it was served with all the accoutrements in the soup already - the mint, the meat, bean sprouts but everything was still very fresh! I had the lemongrass beef "bun" noodle bown which is wonderfully seasonned strips of beef served over a bed of rice vermecilli, lettuce, and bean sprouts with a tangy sauce. The decor was very modern contemporary. Huge wine and specialty drinks menu. I saw some ladies order the Vietnamese rum punch which looked delicious but I didn't have one since i was driving. Service was okay. only reason I gave it four instead of five stars is that it was a little overpriced. $12 for pho? $8 for duck dumplings which were delicious but there were only two pieces... We're still glad we went, and will go again.. but we won't order the dumplings.
(4)Mark S.
We went there on a Thursday evening. The place was packed and we were glad we made a reservation. The place has a very nice modern interior on par with what you would find in NYC or SF. The waitress' snottyness was also on par with these places. The food was pretty good, but in our opinion did not represent enough value for the relatively steep price tag. We had some rather unimpressive (but pretty decent) fish filets. Another dish, made from raw beef mixed with peanuts and spices/herbs was quite delicious on the other hand. Bottom line: If you want to feel like in a real city for one night (and pay through the nose like in a real city), this is the place.
(4)Danielle S.
The customer is never right in this restaurant and BT just lost some amazing ones this evening! The absolute worst treatment ever in any restaurant by owner/chef BT herself as she so rudely treated us. Out for a beautiful evening, my hubby and I ordered a $90 bottle of vino, an appetizer followed by two soups and two entrees, one being the pho soup and the other the pumpkin soup, which we have both enjoyed several times prior, a typical evening at BT's. After one spoonful of my pumpkin soup, I immediately called the server back, it was not only watering but very sugary and simply tasted terrible and unbearable. It was definitely not up to par! I simply asked to trade my pumpkin soup for the pho soup, two minutes later BT comes storming out of the kitchen and confronted us with several other tables watching. Very rudely she says" there's nothing wrong with the soup, I tasted it and it's exactly how we make it all the time!" then stomped away with her nose up in the air. We couldn't even believe it! We sat there stunned at her rudeness along with all the others seated around us. I asked to speak to her again and out she comes with fury in her wake, stands at our table with her hands on her hips and says, "Yes?"...I said," I cannot believe how rudely you just spoke to us, your soup is not as it always tastes. I'm sorry you don't agree with me but whatever happened to the customer is always right? What's the big deal with swapping out a soup and having my opinion? We have been dining here and bringing our family, friends, etc here for years, I can't believe you would treat us like that!" BT unapologetically fires back with, "Thank you for your business but there's nothing wrong with my soup!" Unbelievable, unprofessional and completely rude! We told her, "cancel our dinners, bring us our check and you just lost some of your best customers!" She says,"fine!". Completely unapologetic and could have cared less. We will not be returning ever! Way to ruin your business BT! BT The Soup Nazi! No Soup For You!
(1)Karen F.
Fabulous little place for a romantic night out. The restaurant is a lot bigger inside than you would guess from the outside, as they have two dining rooms - one large, one small, plus a patio section that was set for dinner. There are cool driftwood sculptures on the walls, and sheer curtains cover the windows and doors. It all works in harmony to create a peaceful, elegant, intimate atmosphere which I loved. Service was outstanding. In addition to our server, there were bus boys, water boys, etc., who constantly made sure our table was clean, our water was topped off, provided new silverware for every course, and that we were enjoying everything. Food was wonderful - after reading all the recommendations we started off with the duck burrito. So flavorful - the duck was so tender and rich. As soon as I saw they had bouillabaisse on the menu, I was a goner - it is one of my favorite entrees, and I have never had the Vietnamese twist on it. And while I liked it, I didn't love it. For one thing, it wasn't served hot. Even though the chef came out to the table and poured the broth on top of my bowl of fresh seafood, it was just was barely warm. And while all the fresh seafood was delicious, the main portion in the dish was salmon, which was just kind of plain. I think they count on the sauce to take everything over the top on flavor, and it just didn't happen. I sampled my boyfriend's seafood avocado salad and his snapper entrée, however, and both were excellent. I will definitely come back here for lunch - I am excited to try their pho and other Vietnamese specialties.
(4)Sara S.
Exquisite. Exceptional. Expensive. This is a sophisticated way to enjoy authentic Vietnamese cuisine. There's no sharing a communal bottle of siracha or hoisin sauce with other diners here. It's served in a small ramekin, perfectly portioned just for you and your pho, which costs about double what you would pay at most Vietnamese noodle shops. The chicken is organic though and it's served in a beautiful extra clean looking bowl. I still had trouble swallowing the $13 price tag for the soup along with a $3 split fee for my husband and myself sharing it. We paid $16 for soup. Vietnamese store owners everywhere must be looking at them with awe and envy. Teas and limeade beverages range from $3.50-5. Restaurant BT and its dining experience are unlike other Vietnamese restaurants though. For one, it's not in a strip mall. This is probably the most overlooked restaurant on Mac Dill with most drivers' attention steered toward the neon orange Datz sign across the street. Enter the small building and you'll feel the upscale atmosphere - white linen table cloths, clear plastic French bistro chairs, calming environment, professional service, and nice tableware. Outside is a serene patio with bamboo, orchids and a small garden that helps you forget the construction and traffic just steps away. Parking is very limited as they only have a small lot behind the building with spaces so narrow I recommend letting your passenger out before squeezing into the space. My last recommendation is the duck burrito. It's like a Peking duck pancake roll but beautifully wrapped and presented for you to enjoy with no effort on your part other than consuming. The pork bun entree was also superb. Shrimp rolls were fresh. I don't believe there is anything on the menu that isn't prepared well. It's authentic Vietnamese, just presented in a sophisticated manner. This is how distinguished diners enjoy the flavorful dishes of Vietnam without dining at a strip mall joint.
(4)Candice L.
Came here for my boyfriend's birthday (Oct 7, 2014). We were on a vacation to Orlando, but found this place on yelp on the way back from Clearwater. I made a reservation a month in advance just in case, then I called 5 mins before arriving to request if they can put "Happy Birthday" on the dessert. They offered me to write my boyfriend's name on the menu. When we arrived, my boyfriend was really happy to see the menu. We ordered Tuna Tai Chan, Salmon Ravioli, their special that night (forgot what it was called, but it was with steak and potato), and of course the bread pudding. Everything is good, we were delighted by the food esp the bread pudding!! We will def come back if we go on another vacation near there.
(4)Yolanda C.
Wow! Taste, Service & Atmosphere all come together to make an amazing dining experience. Very modern with a slight global farm to table look. The service is some of the best if not the best in the city. Attention to detail in everything. The food doesn't fall short either. I've tried so many different things it would be hard to pick a favorite but definitely try the bouillabaisse! And save room for dessert- they are exquisite! Highly recommend for just about any occasion requiring something intimate and impressive!
(5)Kerri M.
I was hesitant to go here when a friend proposed our girls night location. Reading the description of French/Asian seemed like a crazy marriage of cuisines. But, I went with it and was pleasantly surprised!! All of our food was delish and I even got to try authentic papaya salad that I saw one year on Top Chef! Yummy.
(5)