Trip's Diner

Located on N. Florida Ave in Tampa, Trips Diner is a bustling spot that clearly draws a crowd. At first glance, I was a little worried about the parking situation—it's a bit limited, and finding a spot was challenging because the place was hopping. However, once inside, I realized the restaurant is deceptively spacious and well-suited for families or larger groups. Despite how busy it was, the staff did an impressive job of seating people in a timely manner. Kudos to the front-of-house team for keeping things moving smoothly! The Food: We started with the fried green tomatoes, and let me tell you, they were phenomenal! Perfectly fried, crispy, and seasoned to perfection—these were easily the highlight of the meal. I could’ve devoured another order (or three) without hesitation. For our main courses, my girlfriend ordered the "Hubcaps," which are aptly named giant pancakes. Her chocolate-filled version was cooked to perfection, fluffy, and delicious. She was thrilled with her choice. I opted for the meatloaf melt, and it was pure comfort food. The meatloaf had that "made from scratch" taste, reminiscent of a classic grandma recipe, and the portion size was generous. Sandwiched between two thick slices of bread with all the fixings, it was hearty and satisfying. The Service: Unfortunately, the service fell short of our expectations. Our server was sweet and welcoming at first, but after that, she was hardly attentive. She didn’t check on us for refills or follow up on our meal, and she spent much of her time chatting in the back or on her phone. Thankfully, other servers in the area stepped in to assist us, even though they were swamped. Their willingness to help salvaged the overall experience. Trips Diner is a great spot for good, homestyle cooking with a welcoming atmosphere. While the food and overall vibe were excellent, the service from our server left something to be desired. We’re optimistic that this was just an off day and plan to return to try more of their menu. With improved service, this place could easily be a five-star experience!

The avocado toast with a side of grilled mushrooms was yummy! I ate it so fast, I forgot to take a picture! I come to this diner several times a year, and I try something different each time... Trip's never disappoints with the food!

Everything was amazing. The onion strings are absolutely delicious. Really, everything was delicious. We had Shrimp and Grits, the Egg Platter, and the String Onions. If you happen to be in Tampa, this diner is a must do. The service is excellent.

My girlfriend and I went here on a whim and accidentally found the best diner in Tampa! It’s our new favorite restaurant in town. Everything from the food to the service to the vibes are awesome. Skylar was our waitress and Veronica helped us check out—both such sweet and helpful ladies. The shrimp and grits I ordered are probably the best I’ve ever had in my life. If you’re in Tampa you need to come here!!

First time visit and they had a lot of good choices for breakfast and lunch. It was hard to choose, and I ended up with breakfast. I ordered the Chicken and Biscuit but was sad to hear they ran out of biscuits. So the option was toast and the meal came with home fries and sausage gravy. I added bacon to it. Overall, it was pretty good minus not having a biscuit. The chicken was tender and crispy and the home fries were decent. I wish they were bit more crispy. The bacon was soooooo good! Toast was good and towards the end I gave up with it and just ate the chicken. I would definitely go back and also recommend this diner to people. I can see why there’s a wait.

Enjoyed the avocado toast with egg white for breakfast. The coffee is okay. The waitress is patient and kind. I loved the atmosphere on a Sunday morning before 0900. The prices are good and match the portion of food. Will return in the future!

I've always gone to Trips on a weekend, usually a Saturday morning, so of course a breakfast place is going to be packed. Well I had taken a random Monday off of work - it's not a holiday, kids are in school, it's the beginning of December so that period between Thanksgiving in Christmas. I slept in a bit and made it to Trips around 10:15ish. I STILL struggled to find parking and they had to clean a table for me because they were just that busy. If that's not a testament to how good this place is, I don't feel like anything would be. The food is delicious. I challenged a hubcap sized pancake - and it's not just advertising, the thing is massive. But for the less adventurous, they have silver dollar ones as well. Their grits are some of the best I've ever had, with all due respect to my Atlanta born grandmother. I've also had their soups and sandwiches before and I've never been disappointed. The service is usually pretty solid, given it's always super busy. Even dining alone I got great, friendly, and fast service. I've never had a really bad experience here. Would absolutely recommend, just be willing to be patient because everyone else recommends, too!

I got a BST sandwich and homemade potato salad. My guy got chicken fried steak and the service as well as the food was amazing!! Very clean, comfortable atmosphere and the caramel pie is to die for!! You won’t go wrong eating here!