Chanta

Absolutely amazing experience! Chanta European Cuisine feels like a true hidden gem in Tampa. The food is fresh, flavorful, and reminds me of authentic Eastern European home cooking. The portions are generous, and every dish is made with care – from hearty soups to perfectly seasoned meats and delicious desserts. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, with a cozy family vibe that makes you feel at home. The staff is very friendly and attentive, always ready to recommend something special. It’s a perfect spot if you want something different from typical American fast food – real comfort food with a European soul. Highly recommended for anyone who loves authentic, homemade-style meals!

This place was absolutely delicious! The food was amazing and all of the people were so nice. My boyfriend and I went there for a date and it was perfect! Their exotic lemonade was delicious and probably one of the best drinks I’ve ever had. Their Romanian stew and lamb special was prepared to perfection. I would 1000% recommend this place for the perfect dinner night!

We wanted to try a new place to eat and loved the idea Eastern European food. To our delight we learned that everything is made fresh daily. Everything. They only use olive oil or avocado oil and value making food that not only takes good, but is also nutritious. They have a variety of menu options from Romanian stew, pork schnitzel, fried meatballs, amazing pasta, and so much more. And the daily specials are amazing! We enjoyed learning about the rich family roots of the restaurant from Vanessa. She’s one of the owners of this family run business. We will be back soon as we want to try everything and n the menu!

A little piece of home in Florida. The best Romanian mici and bread in Florida hands down! All the food was tasty, atmosphere authentic, family friendly owned restaurant. Would go back in a heartbeat. All the food is freshly made, and tastes like the ingredients are shipped directly from Europe.

Loved it! The restaurant is owned by a Romanian family and has a diverse European menu. The food was amazing and I had the best food that I had experienced anywhere in Tampa. I loved everything about it. The food, service, cleanliness, decor, etc. were all terrific. It is conveniently located next to the University of Tampa. I highly recommend this restaurant and I will definitely go back.

Delicious dinner with authentic flavors! The burrata was creamy, goulash was phenomenal and the papanashi dessert was warm and flavorful. Inga was a great server and the head chef even stopped by our table to ensure we were enjoying our meal. Will definitely visit again soon to try the schnitzel!

Chanta is definitely one of the best restaurants I have ever been to. There is a wide variety of wonderful European dishes that are full of flavor, and the atmosphere is very cozy, and comfortable, and makes you feel right at home. I tried the octopus dish, some Italian pasta, and the Osso Buco. It all tasted amazing, highly recommend! We got to meet some of the staff and the owners, they welcomed us with open arms, and were very kind and hospitable. Definitely one of the best places to visit in Tampa!

This is a gem of a find! We just spent several weeks in Europe and can attest that the food at Chanta is next level! Our meals were outstanding and the service was very good. The atmosphere is very authentic and pleasant. I got the sea bass and believe it is the beast I've had. I highly recommend this place!!

Parking- street parking but not too bad Ambiance-5+ with white table cloth, charming,flower boxes outside, cozy tables with sheer curtain for privacy. Inside also intimate,cozy Service-again5+-server is attentive, knowledgable. Food- excellent pizza was winderful, try the vinete and chicken paprikas Wonderful evening-will come again and would highly recommend!!

Another great meal at Chanta. This time I had the Linguini with clams which was equally as great as everything else. Of course I had to have the mussels appetizer which is the best anywhere. Our guests had the octopus which they loved. The y also had the pasta bolognese which they also loved. The service is always wonderful and Chanta is one our favorites in Tampa

Tried out this place tonight as we were just walking by. We had the salmon pappardelle, prosciutto pizza, hand cut fries and another dish which was a recommendation (can't find it on the menu). Everything was ok overall, but nothing to blow our mind. The pizza oven is not a wood oven so it lacks a bit of flavor. The pasta was well cooked, salmon not overly done, but tasted a bit bland. The other dish which they made Wellington looked impressive but tasted subpar. The meat inside was dry and for the price, we expected more. It came up to $54 for that last dish and I can't find it on the menu. Donuts for dessert were good! Takes a bit of time to make though. Restaurant is small but cozy and feels authentic. Staff is super friendly and attentive.

Stepping up to the entrance is like being transported to Eastern Europe, and stepping through the door is the embrace of a cozy inviting refined dining room. Decorated simply for a purpose, I imagine. Why distract diners attention with over the top decor as when the food arrives it becomes the focus. Our party of 4 is voracious in appetite, and generally short on patience. We had the bread as a quick appetizer and we ordered a meat board for 2 (for one), the stuffed cabbage, a pork schnitzel, and a mushroom pasta. The meat board turned out to be a great idea because we all ended up trying some. We thought each dish was absolutely delicious. The pasta was melt in your mouth, obviously homemade with love. The cabbage was like grandma used to make. The selection of meats was wonderful. I thought the schnitzel was great, perfectly prepared, although I wish I had ordered the paprikash. I love it when I second guess a meal selection because it just helps cement the idea that I need to go back and try something else. The deserts were exquisite. This is a truly gourmet restaurant which I would highly recommend.

I think this is the most underrated restaurant in Tampa. Very cosy.- real European feel with the decor and the food is just amazing.

Our family had dinner here for our daughter's 22nd birthday. Just walking up to the entrance is beautiful. You feel like you're somewhere else. Then inside you feel as though you've gone back a few decades. And maybe in Europe. We were greeted by 2 very friendly women. Seated right away at our reservation time. We ordered the Placinta and mussels for appetizers. These were the absolute BEST mussels I've ever had. Big, fresh and served in the most delicious broth. Just the right heat! I could have eaten two of these alone. Our dinners included the meat experience for 2, chicken paprika and the ravioli aragosta. We also shared a prosciutto pizza for the table. The pizza was outstanding. Everything was outstanding. The service. The wine. The desserts included the papanashi and the Transylvanian delight. Wow! We will be back! An absolute dining experience right there in Hyde Park.

We will definitely be going back to this place when we are in Tampa. This quaint place is adorable on the inside and outdoor dining. Service was very attentive and top-notch. The food was unforgettable. Very authentic and cooked to perfection. Our server did an amazing job at recommending wine to go with our meal. We highly recommend if you're in the area.

Great restaurant and highly recommended! Love the restaurant, employees and the great Easter European cuisine.. totally didn't expect the food to be so good... please make a reservation and find out for yourself. 5 stars hands down.

What an amazing authentic Romanian restaurant we discovered in Tampa! The menu included such a great variety of Romanian, Hungarian and Balkan dishes. We wanted to try everything so we ate there lunch and dinner. Verdict: overall the cooking is at the highest level starting with the outstanding quality of the bread served with the dishes and palacinta. The bread is served hot, crunchy and freshly baked! The whole meal could consist of only bread! Among the meats, the Osso buco is a gem. It melted in the mouth and the vegetable stew on the side was so good that my husband who is not a vegetable eater normally devoured everything! My sarma, stuffed cabbage rolls with pork, was just like my grandma used to make, means delightful. From the appetizers, we tried eggplant spread ( amazing! ) and frittata mista, the seafood selection ( lightly breaded, crunchy, delectable). To finish the dinner, my husband opted for the apple cake ( very flavorful) and I ordered Transylvania delight ( difficult to describe, but very good, I recommend to try!). This restaurant had such a welcoming atmosphere with an outstanding service where all family members work together to make their dream restaurant a success. I highly recommend! We were very happy to support this small family business. Cannot wait to be back!

Inside or outside dining - both great! The service was fantastic from making menu recommendations to pouring wine, she was great. We had Pappardelle Bolognese (cooked to perfection, the noodle were amazing), Hungarian Goulash (never had before but coming back for more of that greatness)...the other two loved their choices as well. Appetizers, wine to dessert - it was an amazing dinner experience.

That was absolutely the worst dining experience I've ever had. I genuinely regret not taking pictures of the food just so I could attach them here. Every dish that came out looked unappetizing - that's actually why I didn't take photos in the first place. But by the time dessert arrived, I realized just how bad everything was and really wished I had documented it. At that point, I knew I had to write this review to warn others. We started with the Ciuperci (stuffed mushrooms). It was literally three small, sad mushrooms sitting on a little drizzle of arugula. That was supposed to be a $12 appetizer. What a joke. Still, we were excited for the pasta. We ordered the Saccottini Vanessa, which on the menu says it comes with fresh truffle. There were no fresh truffles - maybe a few teeny tiny flakes that could have been truffle, but they were so small and thin you couldn't tell what they were. It was mostly just a drizzle of truffle oil. Honestly, I'm not even convinced the flakes were truffle at all because they had zero flavor. And that dish was $34. Originally, we considered ordering the Bolognese, but it was $28. Seriously? When Il Pastaio in Beverly Hills offers theirs for $25? Okay, maybe comparing it to a restaurant in another city isn't entirely fair - but Chanta's pricing is even higher than Olivia and On Swann, which are among the most upscale spots in Tampa. That's just bizarre. Anyway, back to the pasta we did get - flavorless, disappointing, and not worth the price at all. The pasta itself was cooked fine, but the only reason we ordered it was for the fresh truffle, which was nonexistent. Then came dessert. We ordered the raspberry fluff, which, according to the menu, was supposed to have raspberry jam. It came with blueberry jam. No one mentioned this change. The server didn't warn us, and honestly, she seemed pretty uninformed about the menu overall. When we asked basic questions - like what was in the sauce - she said she had to check with the kitchen. It wasn't like we were asking anything complicated. We quickly realized she didn't know the menu at all and didn't want to bother asking further. The ambiance? Cheap. From the sugar packets to the to-go boxes - everything felt low-budget and careless. Our bill came out to $125 for just one appetizer, two pastas, and a dessert. No drinks, no alcohol. The prices were outrageous for the experience we had. To top it all off, the table next to us had someone who appeared to be a manager casually conducting a job interview - right in the dining area. For a place with fine dining prices, this was unacceptable. And honestly, I'm not surprised that on a Sunday evening - Father's Day, no less - they were almost empty. I thought maybe it was a hidden gem, but after the dining experience, I completely understand why it wasn't busy. Overall, it was a terrible experience, and the menu misinformation paired with the pricing felt like a scam. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone.

Comfortable restaurant and great food. Wait staff are not pushy but are attentive. I've gone in for a drink - my husband had beer, I had iced tea and an appetizer for a much needed mid-afternoon break. No hassles. We've also had dinner there and the meal was wonderful.

Chanta Restaurant 113 S Hyde Park Ave, Tampa, FL 33606 Welcome to a passionate, unique and home made cooking adventure in the heart of Tampa! The Chanta family invites you to thier home, where they will offer you authentic European food, hospitality and warmth! They want to offer you a glimpse into thier European cuisine! But I wanted to share with you guys that Chanta is now offering breakfast and they have some delicious options for you to try. Breakfast is offered from 8am to 1pm. Having home made breakfast sandwiches and pastries from Romania is something else. A definite whole new experience. Come by and visit them in Tampa. There located next to the University of Tampa and Oxford Exchange.

I go to Tampa several times a year on business. I live in Houston, the fourth largest city in the country. There are 0 true Romanian restaurants there. So I was pumped to see that there's one in Tampa close to the University of Tampa's campus. On my most recent visit, I checked out Chanta European Cuisine for dinner. If you've ever been to Romania, you'll immediately notice that the restaurant gives off the vibe of a traditional Romanian restaurant with the wood and traditional decor. On my first visit, I started off with some Romanian wine (not something you have every day!). After chowing down on some complimentary bread (always appreciated) with an olive oil dipping sauce, I went with the mititie with fries. Mititie are Romanian sausages and they're a very popular dish. They did it right here! Perfectly spiced and fresh fries. Everything I could have hoped for. On my second visit, I went with the schnitzel served with mashed potatoes and a mushroom cream sauce. The breaded pork was a generous portion and the mushroom sauce I great compliment to it. The mashed potatoes, on the other hand, were nothing to write home about. Too dry. My dining partner had the sarmale (cabbage rolls) with mamaliga (polenta). Rather than several small rolls as is typical, Chanta does a mega roll. And it's big enough to fill you up. Another hit. The polenta, however, was lacking its luster. While some sides disappointed, overall quality and a unique experience. I was lucky enough to meet the owners and their son. Lovely people!

I'm glad that there's a restaurant in South Tampa that serves Eastern European food. Chanta has been on my to try list for a long time, but I dislike the parking situation in that area, so I'm constantly finding an alternative place to eat instead. However, one day my son expressed the desire to eat German food, and it was the choice between Chanta or driving out of South Tampa to eat in a pub. I figured that since my kids are still pretty young, it'd be preferable to eat at Chanta. Chanta does not have a kids menu, but they have plenty of stuff that is very kid friendly, like pizza and pasta. My daughter had the pizza Margherita. My son had the schweine schnitzel with mashed potatoes and salad. My son loved his schnitzel (so did my daughter, who ate what he didn't finish), but my daughter was unimpressed by the pizza. We also had the frittura misto (the polenta and calamari were good, but the shrimp did not taste fresh to me), and I ordered the Romanian stew. The stew was too salty, and the pork was dry. I did like the egg and polenta. They have an interesting wine list, but sadly the red wines by the glass are all Italian or Spanish (I would have loved to be able to try a Hungarian or Romanian wine). The Italian red I had was very passable for a wine by the glass. My daughter had a Fanta, and Chanta follows the European model of charging an arm and a leg for soda and not offering free refills. Service was fine, and the setting was nice enough. There's plenty of street parking (you do have to pay for parking in the area).

The restaurant was really cozy and small. The service was great our waiter was very friendly and gave us recommendations of dishes to try and wine that goes pairs well with. Some of the dishes were good but some were not my favorite. The dessert would have been fine if they didn't put the chocolate syrup on top of it. The appetizer was oily for my taste and we got extra bread our waiter never told us it was an extra charge , would have been nice to know. Lobster dish was blend didn't really have flavor.

This quaint restaurant in North Hyde Park pleasantly surprised us!! Although service was a little slow, the food was amazing and we met the owner, who came out to speak with us. We had the sourdough cheese bread, muscles (my husband was drinking the sauce) , best chicken schnitzel with mushroom cream sauce, lamb specialty, filet and Hungarian goulash!! We had to run to a show, so didn't have time for dessert, but will definitely be back! Try this for something different!

Chanta was absolutely amazing!!! We sat outside with a perfect weather tonight. The atmosphere was great, food was 10/10 and service was also really good! Definitely coming back. The server Chris was super pleasant and guided us the right way with the foods! What an experience :)

TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE. Made a reservation for 8 - showed up at 8...they had me wait outside for 30 minutes in the rain with with my sick mom for Mother's Day. The staff was extremely rude when I asked them the status multiple times - horrible service and hospitality. The entire time there was an empty table right in front of us. I just wanted my mom to have a great Mother's Day and truly am disgusted. Tori bar around the corner is well worth the wait with excellent service. Don't waste your time on this trash.

Pretty restaurant with a very friendly and engaging staff. I thought the menu was unique and the food was good. I ordered the octopus and the goulash and the profiteroles for dessert. The octopus was tender and flavorful, the goulash was exactly what you'd expect and tasty. The profiteroles were a bit disappointing because you couldn't appreciate the pastry skills since they were covered in ice cream. I'd call that dessert a profiterole sundae instead. Also, the parking is a bit inconvenient in that area the prices were a bit too high for the type of fare.

Service was impeccable. Food was superb! Wine was to die for. Side note: make sure you make reservations.

Family owned business with great staff! They were all so welcoming and gracious. All our meals were amazing and at great price. It was some of the best food I've ever had! We will definitely be back!

The food at Chanta never disappoints. I have been a regular for about two years now, through their menu changes. You can never go wrong with the Hungarian goulash--it is simply the best! Their homemade bread is also fantastic. It's a very homey, family establishment--from the waitresses to the chefs in the back--there are three generations of one family cooking and serving the food! They also recently got an Italian chef and make some nice Italian dishes as well. I highly recommend the three cheese bread. I also enjoy the bresaola starter. The salads are always fresh. Being in the restaurant makes you feel like you are in Europe--it's very atmospheric!

DO NOT EAT HERE. YOU WILL REGRET IT. Food: Unseasoned, bland, and now I have food poisoning. Service: Slow, rude, and downright incompetent. Ambiance: Misleading photos online. This place is a hole-in-the-wall. I've had real Eastern European food. This? An insult to the entire region. Sticky menus, tacky furniture, and a waitress who was more concerned with flipping her bangs than actually working. To top it off, the staff laughed at my boyfriend when he forgot his card. Unprofessional and disgusting. You'd get better food and treatment at a gas station.

Chanta European is a hidden treasure in South Tampa. Entering into the restaurant, you feel as if you've stepped into a cozy European bistro. Chanta is family owned and the love oozes out of every dish. What should you order? That's a tough question, because everything my family and I have enjoyed here is superb. The Placinta is a cheesy doughy delight that is well worth the calories. The Weiner Schnitzel is the best I've ever had! Chicken breast pounded thin and enveloped in a crispy crust. The Pappardelle al Salmone is a bowl of fresh pappardelle pasta topped with chunks of salmon and a light, yet creamy pink sauce. Ravioli Aragosta is filled with lobster and shrimp. Save room for dessert though. Papanashi are Romanian donuts topped with Nutella or house jam. I now crave these daily!

Great family business. The scenery is splendid and you get the impression you are walking into European relatives dining room to eat tasty dinner. Friendly staff and delicious food every time we went.

The Bill - This irritated me. My biggest pet peeve is when they put an auto gratuity on the check. I understand we were 6 people, and it's normal to do this. However, what's not normal is how they push you to give even more (in the picture). I know why this happened, but with no warning, it really baffled everyone at the table. Let me help you understand better. The pre-tax bill for the two of us was $159.00. The tax was $11.93. First off, you never have to post the post-tax amount; however, the 20% they charged us was on the total amount, so it was $34.19. OH WAIT - there's more. They then had TWICE on the receipt attached, asking for even MORE money, another 20-25%. Had I followed their lead and added the other 20%, I would have given her a 42% tip. Watch your Bills, People! Final thought: Is it worth going there? Absolutely. However, you need to know what you are getting. The only reason why I would go back was the food was amazing. However, there are definitely reasons to stay attentive to what you are getting. Note: I was unable to take pictures as it was a dinner party, and I left my phone in my pocket.

Went here for a birthday meal with mixed results. Chanta European Cuisine is located in downtown Tampa in what has to be one of the cutest venues around. Unfortunately, the service and the cuisine fell short of the mark. We were seated quickly enough and the meal started well with exquisite stuffed mushrooms and an order of fries for our grandson. My wife ordered the chicken paprika, and I ordered the Romanian stew. My daughter struggled to order a vegetarian pasta (the server had to speak twice to the chef twice to ok a simple substitution) while my son in law ordered another. We all received our meals quickly enough, then waited 20 minutes before my daughter's meal arrived. Everything was presented beautifully with my stew coming on a lovely eastern European crock. My stew had an excess of polenta and the meat was tough, while my wife's chicken was almost puréed and the paprika more decoration than spice. The desserts were beautiful and I enjoyed the tiramisu though my daughter didn't care for the bold espresso flavor. My wife's profiterole appeared more of a sundae, but everyone enjoyed the desserts. The server disappeared for most of the meal and we waited for the check until I got his attention. Ultimately, our Chanta European Cuisine experience didn't quite live up the exquisite atmosphere's expectations. In my opinion, it was a pleasant evening, but didn't make the grade for Tampa's top tier.

Beautiful little restaurant around the corner from mis en place and Oxford exchange. Service was great, despite getting a last minute table outside on the patio. We are vegetarian and the chef was able to accommodate us and add a primavera pasta. Both our pizza and pasta were delicious. Parking was surprisingly easy near by on the street. So glad we were able to visit.

We have visited Chanta several times, each time sitting outside to enjoy the weather. I cannot speak honestly about the ambiance of the interior but highly recommend dining outside. We have always had great service, not felt rushed as some have commented and welcomed the recommendations from our server when exploring the wines from Romania. The food has always been fresh, properly prepared and fantastic, especially the Lamp Chops. We also always enjoy Chanta's rendition of a Greek Salad. We do not put a lot of faith in reading reviews on any restaurant before making a decision. Every person will have a different opinion on service, food, ambiance and price. I encourage everyone to try everything and form your own opinions but please do not try to influence others or hurt a business based on your one experience.

We had to make a reservation online and they take a deposit $40 and then give you only 10 min grace period to show up and max dining time 1.5 hours. Kind of crazy for such a mediocre place. It's not Per Se in Manhattan. Not sure why such a strict reservation requirement. I am pregnant and specifically made reservation indoors when we showed up they said "we don't have space indoors". Seriously? You require $40 deposit and cannot secure an indoor seat? We had to seat on 92 degrees heat outside because they are not organized enough. Why allowing people make a reservation INDOORs and then tell them you have no open tables. That's just not acceptable, when I came inside to the restroom they had bunch of empty tables so I am wondering if they are saving those for some VIP people. Definitely not acceptable, I don't like seating for an hour in the heat due to restaurant being disorganized. Indoor place is ok, nothing special not very modern or pleasant. Outdoor seats are not good at all, basically seat on the side of the road looking at a parking lot. Very unpleasant scenery to be honest. If you make it so hard with a reservation process at least give people reservation they made. Over the half of the dishes on the menu they did not have. Also no description on the menu, just names. They brought in some type of tapenade with olive oil and pita bread as complimentary. Was pretty good. We ordered stuffed mushroom assuming that as on pictures we would get 6 pieces instead we paid $18 for 3 small mushrooms stuffed with cream cheese. Seriously? They decreased the portion in half and increased a price? So you get a $1 dish for $18. That's a robbery and you debt get a Michelin star restaurant that you are amazed with a cooking and talent. Any person who cooks can make those at home for $1. I had a lemonade which was good. But they had no mocktails. Just a lemonade. Lemonade was good but had no ice so I was stuck drinking warm lemonade in the 92 degrees heat. For the main husband had a goulash and I had chicken paprikash. Both dishes were ok, but chicken shouldn't be $28. It's definitely a rip off. Very simple dish that doesn't even come with a side so we had to order a $9 side salad which was tiny and not fresh or tasty. We still were eating and waitress took our bread away, literally I was eating it as she picked it up and removed a plate. Honestly, find another place. This is overpriced and overhyped. Not sure if the reviews are even real, since I been on Yelp for years and I trust Yelp 100% and after seeing the place I thought at least food will be amazing. But I was wrong. It was not amazing. It was decent food, should be more than half cheaper. You can get scallops and lobster with a view to the ocean for the same price not chicken with bread. So, not recommending and not coming back.

I've always walked by and wanted to try this place, so I finally made a reservation and came on a weeknight. I was told the restaurant is family owned and operated serving traditional eastern European dishes. I ordered the Schweine schnitzel with creamy mushrooms, and the eggplant spread. Everything exceeded my expectations and surprisingly was able to eat most of it. I'd love to come back and order the lamb, which requires 24 hours advance notice. I've been told by my neighbor that it is to die for!

Chanta is my favorite restaurant to visit for authentic European food. Everything is made fresh and the atmosphere is very chill!

Omg I loved this place!! As a resident of the Burg, it takes a lot to get me over the bridge for a meal, but I'm so glad I made the trip. My biggest issue with Chanta was having to make hard choices because everything looked so good. It's billed as European cuisine, which means there's a little German, a little Romanian, a little Hungarian, a little Italian and more. Literally something for everyone. Nevertheless, choices were made and my companion and I were delighted with every single thing! We started with the stuff mushrooms. Loved them. Not too big or too heavy - just the right size and amount to kick start your appetite. For mains, I chose (after a lot of deliberation and second guessing) the Wiener Schnitzel with a side of mashed potatoes. It was so good, right down to the side salad, which was tomato-cucumber-onion. Simple, light, fresh with a fabulous dressing. My companion ordered the Romanian stew. Tomato based with generous chucks of meat and a nice, smoky flavor. Very comfort-food-y. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that the restaurant itself is ridiculously charming. When you walk through the door, you feel like you've been transported to a little place in the old country. Quaint, clean but not overly-bougie. And the young lady who served us was very helpful and attentive, answering questions about the menu, and even suggesting certain combos to help us maximize our money, which was a nice gesture. I always hesitate to give reviews like this because it's like giving away a great secret, but I think the secret is getting out regardless because parking can be a challenge. Plan to arrive 10-15 before your reservation time in case you need to hunt for a parking spot. Most of the parking is street parking and you will need your pay (hint - download the ParkMobile app if you haven't already). All in all, this place is a hit! Can't wait to return and try some new dishes!

I had the lamb (individual portion) and it was absolutely phenomenal so tender and flavorful. My girlfriend had the chicken paprika and it was also very good. (Mine was better)

Wanted to try this place out since I had a trip to Romania. Very authentic and service was great. Food was great as well.

Two years ago, the food was just okay. don't remember much about this meal, except that I wasn't really fond of the flavor.

I love bringing people to Chanta who have never experienced this Tampa Gem! On my most recent visit, I brought my 23 year old nephew because he was craving pizza but I really wanted him to try something a little different. We ended up ordered a bunch of dishing and sharing. We started with the eggplant appetizer which I highly recommend, we got the pork schnitzel and the chicken paprikash which is served with polenta and the Quattro stagionipizza which comes with a slice of mushrooms, ham, olives, salami pizza! Way too much! I do wish the wine menu was slightly lengthy by the glass. Not too many options. We had tons of leftovers because the portions are generous. We sat outside, which is just so nice and it was easy to get a 6:30 reservation on a Saturday evening. I highly recommend and I will definitely be back to try more! So much variety on this menu and everything is good!

Food was advisory delicious and service was great! 100% will be back and would recommend

This is a hidden gem! From the moment you walk in your a transported to a charming and elegant dining experience. From the table linens to the gorgeous furnishings and subdued lighting-everything supports a relaxing and cultured meal. Service was excellent, with guidance on the menu and wine suggestions. Our arugula salads were freshly prepared with a perfect light dressing and lovely slivers of parmesan. The Romanian stew and Hungarian goulash were both served hot and proved to be savory with tender chunks of meat. The Profiteroles and cream puffs with raspberries finished the night for us perfectly. If you're in Tampa and looking for a great dinner experience-this could it

I'm giving it a full five stars due to the entire experience alone. The service was fantastic and the food was delicious. I made reservations on Open Table just in case. No one in my group had ever been, so we weren't sure what the atmosphere or seating was going to be like. We were greeted by the daughter of the owner and walked over to our table. The inside is small and has a very intimate feel to it. Perfect for a date night! The daughter, who's name was Vanessa, ended up being our server for the evening. We started off with a great bottle of wine and a few appetizers. There was one that I didn't get to take a picture of because my boys devoured the stuffed mushrooms as soon as they were placed on the table. For the main entree, I chose the Chicken Paprikas. Wow! This dish hit the spot. The polenta was perfect and not dry like I have had at some other places. It was just like how my mom makes hers. The sauce wasn't too overpowering with paprika and was just the right consistency. The chicken cooked perfectly. I managed to get a spoon full of the Hungarian Goulash before it disappeared. It was a little different than how my mom makes it, but still very good. I think I may actually have this dish the next time I come here. My other son had their pasta. He ended up taking it home to have the next day. I don't eat pasta, so I can't even give my opinion on it. Of course we HAD to have dessert. So, since I am a fan of Tiramisu, there wasn't a lot of thinking about what I was going to order. Their Apple cake was also ordered with a side of vanilla ice cream. Yum! So, all in all, we had a really good experience and I would love to come here again. If the weather is nice, I am sitting outside next time. They have a cute outdoor area. GO and see this gem that's nestled across from University of Tampa and enjoy the cooking of family.

Came here for a friends birthday and discovered a missing piece to the Tampa foodie scene (that I didn't even realize was missing)! Service was pretty solid for our table of 10. Located around the corner from Oxford Exchange and across the street from UT. We did not get the goulash, but heard RAVE reviews. One of the chefs is from (maybe just studied in) Italy and you can taste the Italian influence in a few dishes. Wine selection is ON POINT and I found a number of bottles in a reasonable price range (especially in south tampa)!

We love Romanian and Hungarian food and try to find any when we travel. Everything was amazing. The Transylvanian Mushrooms were incredible. The Goulash was as good as any I have had when I travelled to Eastern Europe. The mititei reminded me of childhood meals. Overall I highly recommend.

We've decided to try this European type dishes, mainly Hungarian and it was wonderful. The atmosphere lends itself for quiet intimate environment. My wife tried the lamb chops and absolutely loved it. I went for a chicken dish with paprika and it was great. We enjoyed a couple of glasses of wjne from their predominantly European wine list. We finished it off with a lovely apple cake .... To celebrate my wife's birthday. A highly recommended restaurant with authentic cooking. Enjoy! Ps excellent service with this fine dining.

Ok, so here is the deal, first time me and my husband went to Chanta, we were enchanted with the restaurant - cute ambiance , nice Romanian wine , delicious Chicken Paprikas and Saccottini Vanessa, we had a great time! We noticed for ourselves that the buratta appetizer was decent but not the best we have had, desert was ok and coffee was overpriced ($6 for espresso! And $6 for small latte ) and tasted just ok. Also, they do not open bottle of wine in front of you but bring you already opened bottle - I think it lessens the experience. So, why the 3 stars.. we loved the food so much that we wanted to come back and try more! We even invited our friends to go - this is where the enchantment grew into disappointment. First, the whole time we felt so rushed - rushed to order appetizers, the main dishes- the waitress brought the appetizers ( mussels, eggplant spread and prosciutto plate - all tasty) and right away asked what do you want for main! Literally - Ok, what do you want ... we ordered Hungarian goulash - OK, had better; champagne salmon - not worth $38 for a small piece of salmon with a side of spinach. Strawberry did not enhance the taste. The other couple ordered papardelle al salmone and a house special - Serbian meat dish. My friend absolutely did not like the papardelle , for whatever reason , she took a bite and that was it, she also did not want to take a box either , as a waitress in a nice restaurant, you ask what was wrong and try making it better but they did not care. I was still eating when they tried to take my side dish... we did not want the desert but we wanted to get more wine but no, once we said no to desert, the check was brought to us , and basically the feeling was you ate, now get out - I still had wine in my glass! And again, we ordered two bottles of wine, and both came already opened - not sure what is the point, perhaps the waitstaff does not know how to open bottles? Verdict: while I might feel the incline to try other dishes one day , I don't think I would go back anytime soon and not with other people. We felt embarrassed to sing the praises and then receive this kind of service

Wow! All the dishes we ordered were delicious, freshly homemade. Wonderful family run restaurant, so friendly! You must order their Romanian donut dessert, fresh warm donuts topped with cream and berries... the best! Thank you Vanessa for such great service! The grandma cooks all these delicious meals... she is so friendly too!

Delicious food and excellent service. Warm ambiance. Chrysanthi- excellent service. Will be back to try Papanashi.

This is my favorite restaurant in Tampa bay. It's family owned by a Romanian family and every dish I've had so far has been cooked to perfection and delicious, The lamb specifically being the best I've ever had. The Romanian wine list is also really good. The staff is very knowledgeable and great people all around. The ambiance of the inside is also very comfortable! Highly recommend for date night, ladies night, or when family is in town!

Cute little hidden gem! Love the traditional European design of the restaurant. The waitress was very attentive and knowledgeable. I did not particularly like the Schnitzel. It was kind of thin and the breading was a bit crunchy instead of crispy. The Chicken Paprikash was dry and tough to chew, but the Polenta and gravy were very nice. We had a bottle of Ricchi Chardonnay, that the waitress recommended and we enjoyed very much.