Type Private Owner David Laxer | Founded 1956 Number of employees >300 | |
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Headquarters Tampa, FL, United States Key people Chef De Cuisine: Habteab Hamde
Executive Pastry Chef: Kim Yelvington | ||
Bern's Steak House is a steak restaurant in the SoHo district of Tampa, Florida, founded in 1956. It is currently owned and operated by David Laxer, son of original owner Bern Laxer.
It had a sister restaurant, Side Bern's, which closed down to be remodeled into a bar called Haven. In 2013 Bern's opened a hotel across the street called The Epicurean. Located in the hotel is Bern's Fine Wine and Spirits. In 1996, Wine Spectator rated Bern's in a tie for the best steak house in the United States. Bern's has been a recipient of Wine Spectator's Grand Award since 1981. In 2009 Rachael Ray rated Bern's as the best restaurant in America, having beat out over a dozen top-rated steakhouses across the U.S.[1] In 2010 industry magazine Nation's Restaurant News deemed Bern's a "Top 50 All-American icon."[2]
George W. Bush ate at Bern's twice during his presidency.
Bern's Steak House is famous for not only its food, much of which is organic and grown especially for Bern's, but also for its massive wine list. Bern's has the largest wine list of any restaurant in the world. In its cellars can be found depression-era French red wine, pre-war Sauternes, and Madeira from the 17th century. Diners can take a tour of the wine cellar as well as the kitchen at Bern's after their meal. Bern's boasts the largest private wine collection in the world, and due to this status has quite a following of wine aficionados. Bern's is one of three locations that annually host "Winefest", the second largest private fundraiser for charity in the Tampa Bay area, the first being "Taste of Tampa".
The establishment also boasts a private dessert room, the Harry Waugh Dessert Room.
Another notable feature of Bern's Steak House is that there is only one single window in the entire establishment, although it is not viewable by customers.