Last Thursday, Allan and I celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary at Bern’s Steakhouse.  Although I have lived in the Tampa Bay area most of my life, I have never dined there, but have always wanted to experience it.  Celebrating our anniversary seemed like the perfect opportunity to give Bern’s a try and I am so thrilled we did.

Bern’s unique décor resembles a brothel on Borboun Street, but don’t let its gaudy ornate French Renaissance décor fool you.  Upon entering the dining rooms, the décor changes to a more humble, tavern feel. 

Our server explained the menu and the wine book.  To call it a list would be an understatement!  Housing nearly 7,000 varieties of wines, Bern’s is home to one of the largest wine cellars in the world.

Once considered an overpriced meal, Bern’s seems to be fairly reasonable priced these days.  Your meal is priced according to the type of entrée you choose and every entrée includes Bern’s renowned French Onion Soup, salad, baked potato, Bern’s famous onion rings and the vegetable of the day, which are all organically grown on their privately owned local farm.

For dinner, Allan and I shared the Chateaubriand for two, which was cooked perfectly to our specifications and melted in my mouth.  All of Bern’s beef is dark aged to offer a more tender cut of meat rich in taste and color. 

After dinner, we enjoyed a tour of the restaurant on our way to the Harry Waugh Dessert Room, which are both equally enjoyable experiences in their own right.

In the Dessert Room, we sipped on some tawny and shared a slice of peppermint bark chocolate cake topped with vanilla ice cream.  It was a slice of Christmas heaven. 

After dinner, we enjoyed a pint at the new International Beer Garten near our house.  After thirteen years together, we deserve a drink or two or more.