The Refinery

Editor's pick

5137 N Florida Ave., Tampa, FL 33603

(813) 237-2000 Reserve now

http://www.thetamparefinery.com/

Categories: Restaurant

Cuisine: American upscale

Features: Date night

Cost range: 10.01-20.0

Payment options: Credit cards accepted

Alcohol: Beer and wine only

More in this neighborhood: Seminole Heights

The Refinery is certainly Seminole Heights' most exciting culinary development since the opening of Ella's Americana Folk Art Café. Committed to sourcing local, seasonal and sustainable, they've got a weekly changing one-page menu of dishes that explore pretty much untrammeled ground in the area. Dishes show real moxie, with a decadent (read: caloric) streak running throughout. The restaurant itself is a sweet two-story house saved from demolition in 2000 when Hillsborough Avenue was widened. The menu's small-plate/large-plate prices, in the $2 to $20 range, make it an affordable Tuesday night impulse, especially if they're holding a "cheap date" wine night with select bottles for about $15. And the service staff — high funk factor and quick with the riposte — keep the proceedings far from formal.