Historic Tampa Restaurant Serves Florida’s Best Soup

It’s soup season! If you're looking for something that's both calming and light, a cup of soup can satisfy both of those needs. You have the option of treating yourself to some heavy preparations such as tomato or bean soups. Or you can go for a lighter broth that is blended with vegetables and lean proteins. Even though many customers consume soup as a side dish or with a slice of toasted bread, exceptional soups can be served on their own as complete meals in and of themselves. Florida’s best soup has been crowned!

Food Network has prepared a list of each state's best cup of soup, which you might find interesting if you consider yourself a soup aficionado. The Cuban black bean soup served up at Columbia Restaurant has been hailed by food critics as the most delectable soup in Florida. This is why that option was selected:

"Adapted from their grandmother's recipe, the owners of Columbia Restaurant serve up an authentic bowl of Cuban black bean soup. The rustic, completely vegetarian soup is made with beans, green peppers, onions and a variety of seasonings, served on a bed of rice and topped with raw Spanish onions."

Columbia Restaurant has seven locations all over Florida. We are partial to the Tampa locations! Florida’s best soup has been named! There are some deep deep roots with this restaurant.

Cuban immigrant Casimiro Hernandez Sr. created Tampa's Columbia Restaurant in 1905. A modest Cuban coffee and sandwich café has become a Tampa tradition. The restaurant has grown and become famed for its Spanish and Cuban food. The Columbia Restaurant, with its historic Ybor City location, beautiful décor, and live flamenco, is a gastronomic jewel and cultural landmark. One of Florida's oldest family-owned restaurants, it proudly preserves its Spanish-Cuban roots.

For the best soup in every state, go to the Food Network website.

Whether you watch these shows or not, it's still pretty cool that local restaurants get national recognition. There have been a lot of Tampa Bay area restaurants featured on the Food Network. From shows like "Diners, Drive-In's, and Dives," to "Man vs Food," and "America's Best." These are are just some of the shows that have featured local restaurants on the national level. TVfoodmaps.com as a whole list of 35 places in the Tampa Bay area that have been on the Food Network. Some of the places are closed now, so we only included the top 15 places.

Being in a melting pot of cultures in Florida means we have so many culinary options to choose from. The food scene in Tampa Bay has always been a focal point in visiting the city. A lot of these places mostly have American food, but you'll find great and authentic Caribbean, Indian, and Greek spots in the list. The Food Network loves to come to the Sunshine State to find hidden gems. TV Food Maps has a list of 292 places that have had a feature on a show. But we're only interested in the ones that are a quick drive away from home.

Shiso Crispy is a Asian fusion food truck that has two permanent spots at Unlimited Games and HOB Brewery. Ronicca was in a 5 week long Food Network Tournament on Guys Grocery Games. The episodes aired this past summer.

Skipper's Smokehouse in Tampa, FL is a popular seafood restaurant known for its delicious smoked fish, which has been featured on Man vs Food Nation and Adam Richman's Best Sandwich

Aguila Sandwich Shop in Tampa, FL is a family owned and operated restaurant specializing in Cuban and Latin cuisine. The shop has been featured on the popular TV show Adam Richman's Best Sandwich in 2012. Find them at 3200 W Hillsborough Ave, Tampa

Columbia Restaurant is known for their 7 locations across Tampa Bay. The Sand Key location was  featured on television shows such as Drinking Made Easy in 2011, and offers a wide array of traditional Spanish dishes in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Datz in Tampa, FL is a popular restaurant serving up comfort food and craft beers. It has been featured on TV shows such as Food Paradise in 2012. The theme of their episode was "meatloaf paradise."

Frenchy's Rockaway Grill in Clearwater, FL is an iconic seafood restaurant right on the beach. It has been featured on several tv shows, including Food Paradise in 2015.

Parkesdale Farm Market in Plant City, FL is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. The farm market serves fresh produce, homemade jams and jellies, and other delicious treats. It was featured on America's Best in 2010 for the Best Drinkable Desert.

Mykonos in Tarpon Springs, FL is a local Greek restaurant that has been featured on the TV show Eden Eats back in 2012. It offers traditional Greek cuisine with a modern flair and was voted best Greek restaurant in Pinellas County.

Nitally's is a Mexican and Thai fusion restaurant located in St. Petersburg, FL. It has become a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, and has even been featured on TV shows such as Food Paradise in 2014.

Tampa Bay Brewing Company is a popular craft brewery with a couple locations in Tampa Bay. It has been featured on the Food Network's TV show, "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" in 2011, and serves a variety of unique craft beers, ciders, sours, and stouts. The brewery also features an outdoor patio and live music.

Mandarin Hide in St. Petersburg, FL is a popular bar and restaurant that has been featured on tv shows such as Drinking Made Easy in 2011. 

Buya Ramen in St. Petersburg, FL is a popular restaurant that has been featured on the tv shows Diners, Drive-ins and Dives in 2017.

Ulele in Tampa, FL is a popular restaurant known for its contemporary take on Florida's native cuisine featuring locally sourced and seasonal ingredients. It has been featured in numerous tv shows such as Best Thing I Ever Ate in 2020.

Everyone in Tampa knows Bern's Steak House for their high quality steaks and wines. It has been featured on several TV shows, including Best Thing I Ever Ate, Drinking Made Easy, Guilty Pleasures, and Food Paradise.

The Original Crabby Bills in Indian Rocks Beach, FL has been featured on the tv shows Heat Seekers and is known for its delicious fresh seafood.