HARBOUR ISLAND. Set away from the downtown bustle, Jackson's Bistro serves fabulously eclectic fare (dinner options from hand-rolled sushi to oak-grilled NY strip) in a distinctly upscale setting. Stained mahogany and candle-lit tables make for an attractive scene in the dining room, and the views afforded by the floor-ceiling windows allow diners to see just how pretty the Tampa skyline can be. Sunday brunch at Jackson's takes the buffet route, offering a turkey, ham and roast beef carving station, pasta station, sushi station and waffle bar. Seating on the patio is available ­ weather permitting, of course.

CARROLLWOOD. This small sushi place draws rave reviews from its regulars, mainly because of the impeccable freshness and quality of the ingredients. The chef prepares classic rolls but creates new combinations as well. The staff is friendly and helpful, and the whole place has a comfortable, welcoming feel. Eel and squid are both popular, and there are even non-seafood selections for those friends who will never know the pleasures that sushi can evoke.

YBOR CITY. Samurai Blue gets high marks from savvy diners for its outstanding lunch choices. Their bento boxes, for example, carry everything from beef short ribs to sushi. If you're looking for something more visually familiar, their panko-seared crab cakes or teriyaki-salmon wrap sandwich pose tasty alternatives. Though prices elevate some at dinner, this fun-loving joint continues to pack folks in, thanks to both its sleek design (the sushi bar, after all, is shaped like a tsunami) and its fantastic nigiri, sashimi and maki creations.

SOHO. Stylishly appointed, this modern Asian bistro, named for founders Tak and Chan Choy, certainly plays to desires and appetites of the hip, young clientele who tend to patronize trendy Tampa's SoHo area. The fare, while predominantly Cantonese, does issue forth a few delicious surprises like sushi, jellyfish salad, Japanese buckwheat pasta and clay pots. Those yearning for a bite of Chinatown should plan to stop by T.C. Choy's for lunch, when they feature marvelous dim sum specials.

SOHO. Conceived by the culinary tour de force behind Tampa Palms and Daily Eats, this ultra-contemporary eatery fits in well with the SoHo mentality ­ it's got "big city" style, it's sexy and cosmopolitan, and it's the type of place where folks like to be seen. Bright, fanciful cocktails and a cool, underwater motif recall the Pan Asian haunts you'd find in a place like South Beach, and the menu gives the concept of sushi a few surprising twists and turns. For example, the rolls are "clear" ­ that is, everything is rolled in thin rice paper ­ and each truly emphasizes perfect pairings of fresh fish and seafood. NB If you're trying to cut down on carbs, their rolls are available without the sticky rice.