If you have been looking for a family-friendly, yet upscale, casual restaurant with some of the best prepared food you have set your taste buds on, dining at Stonewood Tavern & Grill in Tampa Palms is a must.
Stonewood offers excellent food choices to complement a healthy lifestyle with outstanding service and a “private” restaurant feel — a perfect opportunity to enjoy a great experience in your neighborhood.
This restaurant does not cut corners when it comes to the preparation of their food. They use only local seafood, the produce comes right from Land O’ Lakes, and the new menu takes it one step further by only using the top 15 percent of steak cuts in the country — USDA Certified Private Reserve Angus.
The food is always prepared fresh from scratch in their kitchen, and can be tailored to your specific needs for any order. Believe me, you will know it is fresh.
May I suggest the oak-fired wings for a starter? Unlike most wings, they are grilled — so a big “Yea!” from your personal trainer. The perfect blend of sweetness, juiciness and crunch makes it hard to save room for the main dish after you have enjoyed this appetizer.
For those who prefer, there were other inviting appetizers on the menu as well. A few examples: calamari, smoked salmon, seared ahi tuna and crab cakes.
For my entrée, I chose the special offered that evening: Beef & Reef, which included a perfectly cooked-to-order filet mignon, buttery lobster tail and a side of your choice. When you do not need a steak knife to cut your steak, wow, you know it is perfect. I am a firm believer that saturated fat is actually good for you; it’s what people ate for thousands of years and didn’t really get heart disease.
If you want to learn more about this, watch a movie called “Fat Head.”
We also tried the cedar plank roasted salmon, and the flavors in this dish were also outstanding. The quality of the meat, fish and produce were evident in every bite. Just as with this meal and having a few wings to start with, I had plenty of leftovers to practice that self-control.
Stonewood has 15 locations in Florida. However, we have one local at 17050 Palm Pointe Drive in Tampa, less than a mile southwest of Interstate 75 off Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.
Stonewood Grill & Tavern is a memorable dining experience and provides genuine service every time. They always go beyond my expectations, and each time I cannot wait to go back.
By Samantha Taylor, Pure Health Studios
