Tazza Turkish, Mediterranean Grill Tampa

We’re so excited to be back at this charming little spot! Every time I take my kids to Tampa for a fun and adventurous day at Busch Gardens Amusement Park, I always make it a point to swing by this hidden gem that we love so much. It’s such a cozy place, with just four regular-sized tables and one adorable little round table, which makes it feel so homey and inviting. On this visit, it was just me and my daughter, which made for a special outing. We both love spending quality time together, exploring new flavors and enjoying delicious food. Even though this restaurant is labeled as Turkish/Mediterranean, their menu is so diverse; you will find American comfort food, some Italian, Mexican, Indian dishes, and some Middle Eastern options and more... To start our meal, she decided to go with the comforting "Lentil Soup," which she said was one of her favorites, while I couldn’t resist ordering the warm and hearty "Chicken Soup." There’s something so satisfying about a good bowl of soup. For our main dishes, we got "Curry Chicken" and "Beyti Kebab." For drinks, we opted for "Ayran," a refreshing yogurt drink and homemade mint lemonade that perfectly complemented our meals. It's always fun to try something a bit different, and this drink really did hit the spot! After savoring our main courses, we were both pretty excited for dessert. We decided to share a plate of "Kunafa," a sweet and gooey pastry with Turkish Coffee. We truly had the best time, enjoying the food and each other's company in this lovely little place. I hope we'll have the opportunity to visit again during our next trip to Tampa. It’s become a lovely tradition that I look forward to every time!

Surrounded by chain restaurants can be so blah. When I have a choice which is most times, I spend my money at local independent establishments. Tazza’s has the type of quality and uniqueness which makes you feel like you’re truly visitng Turkey 🇹🇷. I’m a stickler for clean plate ware and ambiance. They never disappoint. Shop local and small! It’s the heartbeat of our nation. 💙🩵🌺

Six of us had the place to ourselves New Years Eve, except for several pickup orders. Owner abd son could not have been any nicer or more accommodating. We all loved our meals. Everything was delicious! We started with a mixed cold appetizer plate with warm grilled pita that was so yummy we needed a second basket! Main courses included kebabs, salmon, salad, and chicken. Everything was beautifully presented and portions were generous. Happy to highly recommend!

This place is a family operated outlet, possibly run by the Second/Third generation owners and is one of the unique selling propisitions in Tampa. The place is small and had limited seating if you are a large group in excess of 15 or more people, its better you call the owner check if he could accomodate you and then visit. You better ask the owner for his recommendations before ordering, as he knows best on what tastes good. We ordered Hummus with Pita bread, Falaffel Appetizer, Cocconut Shrimp Appetizer, Imported Feta Traingles. We also tried their Mixed Grilled Kebab, Chillie Lime Thilapia, Cream Chipotle Veggie Plate, Cream Curry Veggie Plate, Chicken Skewer, Followed by Kunafa and Ginger tea(No Caffeine). Ofcourse we did added a mint lemonade. Most of their dishes were above average, with a few disappointments. Our folks liked the Kebabs the most, from amongst Veggie options, the Chipotle Veggie plate was the stand out. Most of their dishes were freshly prepared and it takes time to get serviced. Their Kunafa was the most standout. Spoiler alert, The owner was moody and appeared a little cold to us, when we visited. It felt a bit indifferent to me, with an occasional cold stare which one could not comprehend if it was his way of respnding to everyone. Though the response to your queries would come from the person who is serving you(could be his son) and not from the Owner himself.

Woke up with a craving for Turkish Coffee. Tazza’s didn’t disappoint. On such a remarkably beautiful day I are a small appetizer of falafel and sipped my coffee. Exceptionally clean plate ware, thank you! 😍 All is right with the day. 🌞

I was went to the plaza for a study snack from the place next door, saw this place, and wondered in. It is so small and cute. The menu is electronic and filled with pictures which was super neat for someone not familiarized with certain menu items! I got appetizers and dessert. The fried ravioli was amazing. The hummus was a healthy portion. I’m excited to bring my mom who is a picky to try the lamb chops. They look amazing!

This place is a hidden gem like literally it's hiding in plain view. I was in Tampa for work and wanted to go out ro dinner the only criteria were no fast food and something that felt homemade. I just knew thatvI wanted good, wholesome food! I was not disappointed at all! I came across this place and was enamored by the photos, and my eyes were being led by my stomach. I had the Bang bang Chn & Shrimp ex spicy, and I love spicy . Next time, I'm getting the extra extra spicy, but don't be like me if you can't handle the heat. I asked for some fajita peppers to be added to my dish, and they were a great addition. Everything was cooked to perfection. I ordered the dish because it came with two pieces of coconut shrimp. What I didn't realize was that it didn't come with  pita. Do yourself a favor and add the pita bread to your order and use it to scoop some of that amazing sauce and chicken up. Fajitas Platter (not pictured but it comes out like the photo on the menu) was ordered by my aunt, and she loved it. It was full of flavor, and the portions were generous, so she did not finish her food, but she's definitely looking forward to having it for lunch tomorrow. Chicken Nigella (not pictured but it comes out like the photo on the menu) was ordered by my uncle, and he really liked it. It smelled amazing, so I've confiscated his leftovers for my lunch tomorrow. Dessert: The Baklava Wallnut was DIVINE. Do you hear me? Listen to the baker/owner/woman who works there she said she makes it daily, and it's the best in the area, and I have to say it's the best I've had period. I took the first bite and shot my hands up to give her a thumbs up before I could finish chewing. I feel like everyone can not make this right because there are so many layers and steps, but when you take your time, it is just the best dessert. The flaky layers, the generous but perfect amount of pistachios, the perfect level of sweet. Oh my goodness is all I can say thinking about this treat! It was suggested to enjoy with the Turkish Tea, and that gave the perfect balance. This gem will not disappoint. It's delicious homemade Mediterranean food in a quaint establishment. The location looks small, but it's full of flavor! I can't wait to visit again!

I would give this place 10 stars if I could. All of the food here is absolutely delicious and the staff is so nice. It's like a small little piece of turkey has been tucked away here. You won't be disappointed!

Every once in a while you get lucky with great restaurants while visiting from out of town. This restaurant is one of them. Tucked away in a strip mall was this very special place. It's a small space but the owners made use of it well and can seat 15-20 people. We were greeted by Tom who is the owners son. Well versed in all food offerings, he explained everything and answered our quirky questions. He was very accommodating and polite. We started with hummus vegetables plate, tatziki, and grape leaves. All were on point and delicious. Our main courses were: chicken curry, gyro salad plate, chile lime tilapia, Adana lamb kabobs. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their dinners and remarked on how authentic the food was. We will remember this restaurant and will definitely be back. My family members who live here say they will definitely make the drive up from Bradenton to eat here. Be sure to order extra bread "triangles" because they are wicked good! Well done!

Absolute amazing service food and atmosphere! The baklava was fresh out of the oven. 100/10 recommend

Food is fantastic. Great, clean environment and the seating was really cool. This place is definitely on my list to visit during my business trips to Tampa

*Edit: just received a call from the person I had spoken to on the phone earlier & he apologized & told me DoorDash had just called him back & are sending them a new tablet. He also said DoorDash was going to refund my money. Hopefully this will fix their issue & I appreciate the call very much. I tried this place because it is close tot he hotel where I'm staying & had a quick delivery time w/DoorDash. I also paid $2.99 extra for "fast delivery". They ended up sending the food out an HOUR after I ordered - picked up but not delivered. I called & the person who answered the phone gave me some story about the DoorDash tablet not working & they cannot get it fixed. THEN GET OFF OF DOORDASH!! My chicken served over basmati rice w/taziki & hummus was very good. I would order it again. The Tiramisu however was FROZEN, covered in chocolate sauce which was not pictured on the menu or I would have asked them NOT to do it. This was supposed to be a "house made" dessert & it tasted commercially made to me in addition to the fact it was frozen & not fresh (@ $8.50!). Anyway I tossed it. Such a shame because my main course was very good. I would have loved more sauce. If I decide to try them again I'm definitely NOT ordering from a delivery service & they need to get off of DoorDash if they cannot get the orders out properly!

In full disclosure, I wasn't sure where I was going to go for dinner tonight. I decided that tonight was old standby, Tazza Turkish and Mediterranean. I had something a little different tonight -- the Lamb Kofte. Marvelous! So much flavor -- juicy and perfectly cooked inside. Ticket time was under 14 minutes. For made from scratch organic halal, with this level of excellence, that's amazing. Such a wonderful place and very comfy outdoor seating! As always their unsweetened iced tea is the best around. You can't go wrong, highly recommended!!!

Food is authentic. Owner on site is from Turkey. Delicious and reasonably priced. Family business.

So I was hesitant to try Tazza's due to a menu that does so much - pasta, curry, etc., etc. a person at another restaurant told me that in her opinion the have the best Kunafe, so I put my biases to the side and decided to try it. Had my order already thought out - Chicken Swarma and Kunafe. When he asked what I wanted I said Lamb Burger? Happy I did / fantastic burger! Highly recommend it. The Kunafe? Excellent! Service, friendliness and cleanliness were all spot on! This is a very small restaurant so recommend checking with them to ensure you can get a table, or do what I did and take it to go! Either way highly recommend you try it,

As someone that eats Turkish food often and has visited every Turkish restaurant in Tampa Bay, I am not a fan. The food is the most expensive in the area, and the portions are the smallest and not fresh. We easily spent more than $100 for 2 people for lunch, trying various dishes, and left not satisfied with the freshness of the food. The dining area is very small and uncomfortable, difficult to even have a conversation. I would have no issue with any outlying issues if the food was delicious.

Food has always been excellent. We used to live in Tampa and this was our favorite spot for Turkish food. Every time we're back in Tampa we find ourselves back at Tazza at least once every time. Service is exceptional. The owner is super sweet and kind. Their Kunafa is the best!!! Must try!

In the words of my husband: "I've never had something from tazza that doesn't taste good" Another yummy meal from here We got the Louisiana pasta and chicken shawarma

Very cozy spot, service was very prompt. Food was good, but surprisingly the kids mac & cheese was absolutely amazing!!! Worth the drive just for that! The kunefe wasn't as cheesy as pictured in their menu and it also looked more like a phyllo dough or puff pastry outside, but it was still good. Their menu is also on a tablet, which was surprising and the staff was very welcoming...oh! and the Turkish coffee was very good.

Really good Mediterranean! Inside is small with a few tables outside. So do not be surprised if you have to wait. Non stop flow of take out as well. Menu is on a tablet. Lots of choices! We had a schwarma wrap, Adana wrap and a kebob platter for 2. Sandwiches were very tasty. Nothing else came with them so order a side if needed. Platter for 2 had 4 different kebabs, rice, hummus, pita and tzatziki. Kebabs were very good. Lots of rice to share. For dessert we had kunafa. This was great. If you never had you must try. Sweet, savory, creamy, crunchy, cheesy. Worth the trip. One of the better Mediterranean restaurants in the area.

Food was amazing. The service was fantastic. It had a nice cozy atmosphere with good ambiance.

Great server and food. Never had Turkish food but it was amazing. Clean place but small inside. No complaints and will be back.

Tazza has been around for many years. I've been coming here ever since my college days. I hadn't been for a while, but decided to go randomly with a friend. I just say nothing has changed. It is a small family owned restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. The service is great and you feel right at home. The food is top tier! The mozzarella sticks were yummy. Their hummus and pita are some of the best I've ever had. The pita is cooked to perfection. I had to ask for more! My favorite dish is the New Orleans pasta with shrimp, chicken, and their homemade cajun Alfredo sauce. Chef kiss!

Fabulous and fresh every time I eat here! Get a few things so you can enjoy later. Even better if you go with a group and share!

Wow, talk about a hidden gem of a restaurant! Tucked away in a plaza close to USF, you would never know of this place if you didn't actively look for it. But I'm so glad I found them, because they have some amazing food! The spiced chicken was excellent. Perfectly seasoned, it pair perfectly with the rice, hummus, tzatziki sauce, and pita bread. The owner is super friendly and the restaurant makes you feel like you took a trip to a quaint shop in Istanbul. I love the decorations all around the restaurant. It really does give off the most perfect vibes. Just know that seating is very limited. On a busy day, it will fill up fast! But other than that, definitely looking forward to coming back here again! :)

This restaurant is a small whole in the wall near Busch Gardens. It may be small, but it is quaint. The menus are tablets, which the kids thought was so cool. They have a pretty great variety of appetizers, soups and salads, entrees, kids menu items, and desserts. They carry only non-alcoholic beverages. We ordered a lemon chicken soup, chicken curry and rice, and a gyro platter. We also ordered the knafeh dessert. Everything, absolutely everything, was delicious. The food came out pretty quick, the service and attention were on point, and the food was divine!! Oh, and that dessert, you'll have a hard time finding a knafeh anywhere, but they have it here, and it's a delicious secret. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone in the area.

Well like a previous reviewer said , "Everything is delicious at Tazza. However, the kunafa is the best we have had in quite a long time. Amazing ! Worth any drive.

Tazza has one of the best baba ganoush's around. This place gives you quality, and quantity for a good price. They have a family feel, and very friendly staff. The chicken nigella was also a high point. I'd recommend coming for lunch during the week as this place definitely gets busy during the weekend.

I visited Tazza yesterday for the first time with a friend. It was very small but cute and clean. The staff is friendly and attentive. The menu was interesting. It had confusing items like Louisiana pasta, Barbecued Ribs, Italian Pasta dishes...which took away from the authenticity to me a bit. We ordered Stuffed Grape Leaves for an appetizer. They were delicious. My friend had the Chicken Nigella ..that was mildly spicy and had good flavor. I had the Adana Chicken. The meat was tasty. It came with only one piece of onion and very little tomato. Loved the tzatziki sauce though. This restaurant was fine. Not super impressed ...especially compared to other Turkish restaurants in the area. I would rate it a 3.5 if I could rate with halves.

Food was good. Service was not. There's very limited seating inside so we had to sit outside where we were basically forgotten after we ordered.

Honestly didn't think of much, went inside and it was a bit dark and cramped. We sat outside and once we got the food our expectations were beyond passed. The lamb and chicken nigella was presented beautifully on alluring plates. The mint lemonade was handmade and fresh. Falafel, lamb Adana, chicken nigella, mint lemonade, Turkish coffee and kunefe was almost under $60 which is so much cheaper than I would have thought. Food was so unexpectedly I'm an writing this review which I never do. Definitely will be going here again.

My first shwarma! Won't be my last. Everything was delicious. Wife is a big baklava fan. She said they had the best ever

Absolutely delicious. You cannot take a large crowd. The restaurant small, maybe five or six tables and that's it. The food is fresh and tasty. I haven't had anything that I don't like.

We have gone here a couple times, the service is always great, the food is delicious and I love the mint lemonade. They cook so many different cuisines, even if you have a picky eater in your group this place will have something for them. They sang a song for my daughters bday, and she had a delicious red velvet cake. It is a cozy space, but they do their best to accomondate. 10/10 recommend!

Very delicious food and great ambience !! Welcoming vibe and attention to detail is shown in the dishes. Nice music and staff :)

Was in the area, and was "jonesin" for a freshing drink n snack. Dropped by Tazza Turkish for mint lemonade n tried their falafel. Great!..just as before. Absolutely great service. Ambiance- clean n quaint.

Stopped in for a sandwich and soup, Martin greeted me and was extremely kind and welcoming. The restaurant is very cozy and inviting, I would absolutely come here for a date night. I would recommend reservations for dinner as they are a small shop. Food was very fresh, be prepared to wait a little but it was worth it. The lentil soup was the best I ever had. I would absolutely be back

The food here is superb. Very high quality. It's a small intimate location so be sure to come during slower times otherwise you may to wait a bit. The taste is amazing and authentic- a new staple for us!

I went here every week of my college years, they are memorable! The owner is a genuine human.

Best baklava I've ever had. Service was great and everything ordered was delicious. Super cozy ambiance.

Awesome food served and prepared by owners who care. Fantastic authentic foods and flavors of Turkey. Thank you. A must stop every time we pass thru Tampa. Thank you.

Tazza is a great place to go eat when craving authentic Turkish dishes the food is amazing

The dining area is small, but it is very cute and cozy as it has a unique twist with the indoor furniture at each table. The ambience is quiet and relaxing and the servers are kind. You can tell as soon as you step in that the owner and his employees are truly hardworking and put effort into everything they do. The food is made to order and comes out delicious every time. The hibiscus lemonade, mint tea, and mint lemonade are lovely drinks to try. I would definitely come back just to enjoy some hot tea. The chipotle chicken platter is amazing I get it every time I go and the bread pairs perfectly with it due to its spice level. The chicken lemon soup and the buratta caprese salad is also delicious. If you are looking for something new or want to try a different mediterranean/turkish restaurant this is the one to go to!!

Ordered a lot but the main item I wanted was the kunefe. First time I've had a kunefe was Qatar and it was delicious. South Tampa has a good spot but Tazza was on a different level. Service was great. Music was relaxing but didn't quite match the Turkish theme. Ambiance was still relaxing. Made fresh! Try it won't disappoint.

Great Authentic Turkish Cuisine. Everything was homemade and with custom preparation- nothing pre-pared like so many restaurants these days. Will definitely revisit on my next trip to Tampa!

Great food and nice dining room. My wife and I had an excellent lunch and tried some interesting food. Owner/proprietor was nice and helpful with recommendations.

Attended a commencement at USF and went here afterwards. Setting: cozy Hostess/Owner: cordial/attentive Food: delicious - Chicken Nigella: good - Curry Chicken: better Get the cold plate appetizer, whatever entree you want (everything is good), and the frap for dessert!

Absolutely delicious. This will be our new go-to when we're in the USF area. Fresh, homemade, delicious food and friendly service! The hummus and baklava are MUSTS, everything else was delicious as well. The fresh mint lemonade and Turkish coffee were also exceptional!

Absolutely amazing meal. The suggestions for the homemade appetizers, entrees and dessert were amazing. Their homemade baklava is amazing!!!! Cannot wait to come back!

As authentic Turkish and Mediterranean as you can get anywhere in the Tampa area. The Kunafa and Turkish coffee is out of this world. We stopped in on a whim and were very pleasantly surprised. Had one of those lunch experiences that we will remember for a long time.

Great food and service. Small and quaint. Never disappoints. The Kunefe, a sweet cheese pastry is a must try!

So far the best Mediterranean food I ever had in USA . The services was fantastic and the place is perfect. Thanks for the wonderful experience, we are thrill to visit Tampa again just for this spot : )

Very nice place with excellent healthy food and service! Highly recommend. Desert was great also

A very authentic mideastern place in the USF area on Fowler Ave. Even though it's a very small restaurant we usually manage to get a table for lunch in the early afternoon. Often times we have a veggie platter as an appetizer, which comes with hummus and baba ghanoush and some excellent homemade pita bread. My wife, who's a vegan, almost always orders a falafel wrap while I go for something with lamb and yellow rice with, both dishes being rich and flavorful. I strongly recommend this place if you are in the area and have a yen for mideastern food.

Stopped by before going to Busch Gardens. Loved the aesthetic of the little restaurant with nice chairs and setting inside and out. I got the falafel platter and loved it. Good price. I also got a Turkish cappuccino. It was good. 9/10. The server was polite and chill. Very chill vibe in the place. Mom and Pop kind of restaurant. Great place to sit down and enjoy a meal before a Busch Gardens adventure :)

Another Helal friendly fan favorite, but the folks at Tazza cafe are doing something special with their spin on this creole classic in order to take it to the next level. I had the opportunity to speak with the owner/head chef who also demonstrated his compassion for the customer by hand delivering plates to the table. I commented on the sauce of this Louisiana chicken pasta pictured below as being like the piece of this complex jigsaw puzzle plate that homogenized the overall image into something of pure beauty. Much like the sounds of sweet jazz ringing through the streets on New Orleans on a cool summer night. I cannot accurately describe the spices used, but I believe the chef said it best himself. Noting that my group was all in our scrub work attire he commented on he himself sometimes feeling like a doctor in the kitchen who has to navigate shifting waters to best be able to put together a harmony of ingredients each a little different every time but still producing an end result that leaves everyone involved better for it. He is a spice doctor and I respect that. The outdoor seating is a new addition, which I for one appreciate during these Covid times. When we arrived we actually called ahead and ordered for dine in as the kitchen can sometimes take a little extra to get the plate just perfect. Unfortunately we were in a rush, and I was unable to adequately assess the ambience of the small indoor restaurant. Let it be known, that on food alone I would certainly return and explore additional menu items. With that being said my friend who has been here several times stated that each time he always orders the Louisiana chicken pasta which I understand is their most popular dish and for good reason. The chicken is moist and has an excellent char on the outside which provides an excellent contrast to texture of the creamy pasta held together by an elegant sauce as described above. I also enjoyed the toasted slices of bread to help acquire the last few drops of this heavenly sauce. My plate was cleaned in an instant and I was immediately disappointed that I did not order a second plate. In essence, the practice of Helal quality meats is new to me and likely does not add flavor in it of itself, but fortunately I can trust in good people like those at Tazza to continue to craft their art; saving stomachs everywhere from experiencing subpar food by providing high quality eats. On my next adventure I will be sure to also try the Turkish tea as I hear the energy it provides it is like riding a bolt of lightning through a thunderstorm.

This is my second time eating here and overall it was pretty consistent. It's a cute and small establishment but both times we ate pick up Food: 5/5 The food is delicious and is the main reason we went back. No complaints here, it was amazing Interior: be careful The interior is fine but it is very small so you may or may not get seating during busy times so pick up may be best Service: 3.5 both times we went to pick up the food it was late, the second time was 20 minutes late which was a little frustrating and after the 20 min wait I asked for some extra sauce and they only gave me 1 which was fine but I felt like if they gave me 2 or 3 it would been a good way to make up for the 20 min delay as each container was very tiny and only enough for one person