Roman Forum, Tampa

For the cooks at The Roman Forum, taste always trumps tradition. So while the menu sports plenty of Italian classics—including housemade manicotti and margarita pizza with fresh mozzarella- it also saves room for creative twists. To wit: beef carpaccio topped with capers and cured cheeses and onion strings served with seasoned toasts or macaroni and cheese brimming with shrimp, fish, and crabmeat.

The eclectic menu reflects the 7,000-square-foot restaurant itself, which comprises four distinct dining areas. A kids' playroom adjoins the casual Piazza Grande, while fine dining abounds in the swanky La Veranda Ristorante section. Over in the sports bar, meanwhile, bartenders supply cold brews and top-shelf liquors while the day's biggest games unfold on myriad big-screen TVs, including an 80-inch one that hangs directly over the bar. Lastly, The Roman Forum's café and espresso bar specializes in caffeinated jolts thanks to lattes and cappuccinos, as well as sweeter options such as house made cannoli's.