Iconic Tampa Restaurant Honored with Wine Spectator’s Grand Award

Wine Spectator’s Restaurant Awards celebrate establishments with wine lists that offer diverse selections suited to their cuisine, appealing to a wide array of wine enthusiasts. Bern’s Steak House in Tampa has proudly earned the prestigious Grand Award, joining an elite group of only 96 restaurants worldwide to achieve this distinction since its initial recognition in 1981.

To qualify for an award, a wine list must provide comprehensive and accurate information, including vintages and appellations for every selection. It must also demonstrate a breadth of offerings, featuring 1,000 or more selections that showcase top producers, mature vintages, large-format bottles, and seamless integration with the menu, as outlined by Wine Spectator’s rigorous criteria for the Grand Award. These establishments are recognized for delivering the pinnacle of wine service.

Nestled in the heart of Tampa lies a monumental wine cellar “What began as a modest strip mall bar has evolved into a testament to dedication,” declares Wine Spectator. “Boasting the largest collection of any Restaurant Award recipient in the United States, Bern’s cellar houses wines by the glass dating back to the 1970s. Owner David Laxer continues the legacy of his late father, Bern, a pioneer who first opened the restaurant’s doors in 1956 and was among the inaugural Grand Award recipients in 1981.”

Beyond its renowned wines, Bern’s Steak House is revered for its exquisite steaks, perfectly aged to culinary perfection. Chef Robert Irvine captures its essence in three words: perfectly aged steaks. “They elevate steak to an art form, staying true to their mission,” he writes. “This is a place that has maintained a dress code since the ’50s — and believe me, the experience is worth dressing up for.”

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