Last night, Tuesday, August 11, was my first meal at Circles Bistro. It was great, and I look forward to returning! My wife has long loved the restaurant, having been a lunchtime regular at its previous location. The service was excellent. Were it not for my wife--who was in the restaurant business for many years--restaurant-loving patron me was so focused on perusing the many attractive options on the menus (specials and regular), the ambience and decor, and the fine service we were receiving, that I didn't realize just how busy Lynn was. I certainly couldn't tell, as she seemed cool as a cucumber, which was especially impressive considering there was a problem with the AC for a bit there. Praise, too, to the fellow doing a bang-up job keeping Lynn's tables cleared, reset, and watered throughout the evening. I regret not getting his name, and I hope he is made aware of our appreciation. Bettyann ordered the gyoza appetizer for us, which was delicious! We loved the warm rolls they brought out with delicious chilled pats of butter, which are always a favorite of mine. She then selected the lobster bisque, of which I was lucky to get a couple of spoonfuls to try, and it was splendid! The lobster chunks were perfect, and the bisque tasted wonderful! I ordered the jalapeño deviled eggs. Both of us were equally pleased with them! As was the case with the lobster bisque, we are definitely ordering those again. My wife, I was surprised to hear, opted for a flounder sandwich with french fries. When it came out, I appreciated why she selected it. As I said, she's been a long-time patron, so she knows even the simplest of entrées would be great. I opted for the panko-crusted chicken special, and boy, was I pleased! Spectacular it was, especially as complemented by the cooked vegetables and rice that accompanied it. We topped the evening off with desserts. No sooner had Lynn said they had bread pudding than I interrupted the process and said, "Mine!" My wife, being much more civilized, waited until Lynn completed the list of desserts and went with the crème brûlée. I thought my bread pudding was pretty amazing, especially the sauce! The crème brûlée, though, was at least as good if not better, which is a lot to say for a staple of restaurant desertsI We very much look forward to getting back there soon because it will take quite a while to get through all of the entrées, appetizers, and desserts I've yet to try. read more

Always fresh and delicious!! Comfortable and warm!! Gluten free options are always prepared nicely! Thank you Michael!! read more

Michael was BEYOND rude! We arrived late for our reservation due to EXTREME rain & heavy traffic as a result. Instead of welcoming us upon arriving (safely) in spite of all that we'd endured, he told us we shouldn't have made a reservation if we weren't going to arrive on time. He then told us that he needed the table at 7:15 PM. Other patrons even apologized for his horrific behavior. I won't be back! read more

I'm almost embarrassed to say I have lived in carrollwood for over a decade and have only just now tried Circles. My nephew and I went there before a comedy show. The food was delicious and the wine pours were generous! There were many "adventurous" (for my nephew) menu items that I will have to go back to try. I was most interested in the house made country pate that I didn't order because my nephew wouldn't share it with me. Hopefully it's a special often. We started with the potstickers and a potato leek soup. For our meals I had the veal saltimbocca and my nephew had the Cajun shrimp. Everything was great! read more

Had a fine lunch and good service. Small place and you need reservations for lunch and dinner. Full bar and big old wine selections. Carrollwood locals love it here and they meet each other over martinis and talk about HOA rules and who got a new cane. read more

Friday night with friends, we tried Circles -- a cozy little spot tucked away in a small Carrollwood plaza. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and our server, Vaughn, did an outstanding job taking care of us. The menu was impressively diverse with several Asian-inspired dishes. We started with the calamari, fried avocado slices, and dumplings -- all delicious and perfectly prepared. The Southwestern soup was spot-on too. For entrées, we had eggplant parmesan, steak and blue cheese salad, and pan-roasted cod -- every dish was fresh and flavorful. We didn't order drinks, but the restaurant has an impressive wine collection and full bar for those who do. Excellent food, great service, and a comfortable atmosphere -- we'll definitely be back! read more

You can tell the food is made fresh with care. The sauce on the food is next level. Service was excellent and it definitely has bistro vibes. Great wine selection as well. Full liquor! read more

See all

Love it! Scratch cooking. Wine list is the best. Michael and his wife are the best! Hidden gem. Food is reasonably priced. You have to try it. read more

Tuesday night... only 3 tables occupied. Food wasn't bad. We had Veal and Chicken Piccata. The Server was very young and could offer no insight into wine or food, took our order, served food extraordinarily quickly and was not seen again until he came for the check with a minimum 20% tip option. Featured wine was out of stock, alternate suggested was full of sediment. I've been before and this restaurant was great. Something changed...ownership? Restaurant seemed disheveled. Disappointing visit. read more

Simply the best food in Tampa. Wish u were back in south Tampa . Michael, the owner, is always there to provide a great experience. Congrats!!! read more

I visited Circles Bistro on a Saturday night with a group of four. We were able to get a 7:30 reservation when they opened at 5:00. From what I can tell the restaurant does not have a website, does not take reservations online, it definitely operates under the radar. The restaurant is intimate with like 10 or so tables but the menu is extensive. There are many Thai items on the menu as well as traditional "bistro" fare. We ordered the duck liver mousse as an appetizer, my husband ordered the shrimp Pad Thai and I ordered the arugula steak salad. Everything we ordered was excellent though I wish I would have gone with something other than the salad as it was a little boring compared to what others got. The service was good, the wine menu is extensive. They want you to take your time so this is definitely not an in and out quickly restaurant. The prices are reasonable. Definitely a hidden gem in Carrollwood. read more

Circles Bistro - Arugula steak salad - New American Near Me - Tampa, Florida

As much as I like this hidden gem, the wine selection, the owner, the food and ambiance I do have to admit to a couple of drawbacks. First, if the owner is alone during meal service, things can be a bit slow, you will need to be patient and not in a rush. Second, consistency is a hurdle, one day fantastic and the same meal another day is good but not as good. See side by side photos I included of Veal Sorrentino, this occurs every now and again. The owners is very knowledgeable when it comes to wine and has a very nice selection and assortment of obscure varietals. I have found contentment in a glass here on many an occasion. You can buy wine by the bottle to take home during your visit. There is always something luscious to drink by the glass at very reasonable rates. The food more often than not is excellent, a real treat for the foodies out there. Pairing wine with the food is a very good idea, the place usually has a few oenophiles at the bar, I have witnessed wine sharing between patrons on a couple occasions. The menu is an eclectic mix of French/Asian dishes. I had an amazing Cioppino here once. Come get you some. read more

See all

Circles is one of my favorite neighborhood restaurants! Like a lot of places, they are short staffed, but doing their best. Reservations are recommended. We dined wednesday night and they were reservations only. The restaurant was booming with locals. Food was absolutely fantastic. Always consistent. On Wednesday night, Michael (owner), and his daughter, Cathy, were serving. Michael's wife, is the head chef and is truly a gifted in her field. I had the shrimp Czarina, which is no longer on the menu, but Chef is happy to make it. This dish is one of my all-time favorites. It has a ton of flavor and the perfect amount of spice. My friend had the duck and couldn't stop raving about it. Great flavor and cooked perfectly. For desert, we tried the homemade tiramisu and it was fantastic! Make a reservation and enjoy your meal here! read more

See all

Food is excellent with a large selection on the menu. Service has always been great and all the wines are absolutely amazing!!

I love this place. It feels like a good friend's bar counter, with carefully curated spirits and warm, friendly service. It has the most amazing assortment of liquors, especially Bourbons and whiskeys. It's the place to go if you want to sit down, exhale, and have a good conversation with a friend and the restaurant staff. And the food is stellar, too. A lot of authentic Thai influenced foods that are delicious. Ask for the hot sauce on the side :-) There's a difference in Thai spicy and American gringo spicy. If you sit at the bar, I guarantee you'll walk away with a smile and good memories. read more

Circles Bistro - New American Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Absolutely delightful! Small and beautifully decorated excellent food. Warm friendly service Comfortable and a great neighborhood find!

If you take their online menu https://m.zmenu.com/circles-bistro-tampa-online-menu/ Double the price and cut the selections in half, you'll have a better idea of what you're getting into. Granted that all prices have doubled since 2020, so they're not to blame. The food was pretty good with small portion of meat and large portion of rice etc... read more

First time in this place. Intimate little restaurant with friendly staff. Our server Armando was excellent. The food was good and unique. Seafood was fresh and tasty. Their soups were delicious. Seems as many locals come here regularly to enjoy this restaurant. The only reason I am not giving it 5 stars is because their on line menu is definitely incorrect. I understand that these might be the pre Covid prices on line but it needs to be addressed by the restaurant and changed to reflect the actual menu and prices which are at least double now. The menu is also much smaller. read more

Always can rely on getting a good meal here. My fav is the chicken czarina and the pad Thai and I love to check out the daily specials. Sometimes parking is a challenge at lunchtime. read more

Great neighborhood restaurant. Just nice place where you can have a great lunch or dinner, glass of wine, and lots of food selections. You can find so many options of seafood, meat, salads, soups and more. The owners are husband and wife who cook and serves the food. We started with artichoke hearts and it was delicious. Lobster bisque was good, tuna with rice and green beans good and and eggplant parmigiana. read more

See all

Been back several times and food amazing as usual. Going back again tomorrow night for my anniversary. It's like the best comfort restaurant in town. Owner is always there and the best wine selection. read more

It is about 4.5 stars. Not yet 5 stars. This restaurant in my bookmark for a while. We finally make it here to try the restaurant. This restaurant is kind east meet west. They have Laos food, southeast Asian, Asian, Italian, Americans cuisine. I like the ideal of variety. My wife have the grilled chicken with pasta. The chicken is marinated in satay sauce. It is a interesting combination with the Italian pasta. The chicken is well marinated into the meat. Great flavors. My dish is the New Zealand Lamb chop with red wine mushroom sauce. It serve over asparagus fried rice. Another west meet east cuisine. The lamb chop is well cook and soft to bite. Mushroom sauce is nice to be add on. The service is perfect, waiter is well train. Know the customer need and respond quickly. We have great time here. read more

See all

I am a big fan of this restaurant! It's been in this location for so many years and yet I only ate here for the first time this evening. And I will be going back! The place is small so I would highly recommend making a reservation. Service was great! I ordered the seafood cioppino and the flavor was spot on. The serving size was quite generous, fresh scallops, shrimp, crabmeat, lobster. Each entree comes with a basket of freshly baked bread and salad. For an upcharge you can have lobster bisque instead - which I did! I'm glad I made that choice! I can't wait to go back and try their other dishes. read more

Circles Bistro - Seafood cioppino - New American Near Me - Tampa, Florida

The reviews are correct. The food is good BUT a little on the expensive side. Went for lunch and two cups of soup and one appetizer plus two bottles of beer plus a $7.00 tip was $50.00. For me I now think I could have done better elsewhere. Just a choice I made, but won't be going back. read more

Delicious food and many choices on the menu. We like to try something different each time we go. Pad Thai is one of our favorites. Owner is a sommelier, and they have quite the collection. Highly recommend! read more

Loved it!!! Can't wait to go back. Food was delicious and the owner was so welcoming. My husband and I sat at the bar, where we could see that a few people were regulars. It made me want to become a regular of the place. The ambiance was calming and everyone looked to be enjoying their atmosphere. There is a great wine selection. We will be back sooner than later! read more

Great menu and service. Wonderful attention to detail and prices are reasonable. Have gone there for years and never disappointed.

I went for dinner with 4 people on a Saturday at 7:15 pm. Circles is a bistro in a typical Florida strip mall. My first impression was of the sign which just didn't say fancy bistro to me. It was more like a sign a breakfast/brunch place would have. I wasn't going to let that dissuade me, however. We walked inside, and you are literally walking in right by the bathrooms and wine storage. It feels like you are walking in through the back door. It is very strange, and I was honestly uncomfortable walking in that way. Regardless, we were greeted and shown our seats quickly. The restaurant is very pretty inside, a huge stocked bar, one of the largest wine collections I've seen outside of Berns, and very friendly staff. It was a bit concerning that it was literally empty on a Saturday night, and never got busy the entire time we were there. In fact, not a single other customer came into the place. I asked the waitress about that, and she said they are normally busy on Saturdays. So many it was the weather. We were presented with two menus, their regular menu and a specials menu. My regular menu was stained and just gave me the willies. The other people at our table also had badly stained menus (see pictures). The specials menu was put inside one of those plastic sheets that have three holes to put inside a binder. Not classy at all. In fact, I've been to dive bars that presented their menus in a better capacity. The menu itself is super confusing. They have traditional Italian food, they have traditional Thai food, they have Thai fusion, they have American food, it is literally all over the place. In my experience, when a restaurant does lots of things, they don't any of them well. That was the case here as well. We ordered dumplings, Brussel sprouts, cajun shrimp as appetizers. I ordered French Onion soup and shrimp Pad Thai as my main course. The dumplings, which also had an order of shumai, were average. Nothing spectacular, honestly they tasted as they came from a bag. The Brussel sprouts were awesome. Very tender, not bitter at all, and cooked in bacon (yum). The cajun shrimp was pretty good, it had a lot of flavors and it was great with the crusty bread to dip in the sauce. My meal came with a salad that was uninspiring at best. It was iceberg lettuce, 1/4 chunk of tomato and one green pepper ring. Maybe I'm spoiled eating the delicious salads from Berns, but this thing was just a disappointment. Honestly, my 9-year-old kid could have made a better attempt at a salad. But I'm not here for salad, I'm here for real food. I was excited to try their French onion soup. It is my favorite and I was psyched to give it a try. The soup was average at best. The cheese wasn't very brown, the flavor of the broth was ok, but not rich and flavorful. It was something I'd expect to get at Applebees or some chain restaurant. The French onion soup at the Tampa Club is the best around, trust me. My shrimp paid Thai however was quite good. It was lacking spice that I really wanted, nor was I offered a spice level choice when I ordered. But the was still pretty good. Again, not worth coming back for, and certainly nothing amazing, just average or slightly above. All in all, I had a nice time with friends out to dinner, but wouldn't come back to this restaurant nor would I recommend it to anybody. It was just meh... read more

See all

Great people, great food. Atmosphere is outstanding. What a treat. This place is special!!! Can't say enough.

Went to Circles last night for the first time with some friends that live in Tampa, and I must say, OMG! The food here was outstanding!! Their beer selection isn't great, but their wine list was incredible! We started with two different kinds of wings for a starter. Then I had the peppercorn fillet and it was, like I said outstanding!! We had Jordan for a server, and he was excellent. He was on point with his service and attention. Our drinks were never out, the food all came out perfect. I would highly recommend Circles Bistro to anyone!! read more

Dinner with group of 6....food was spectacular, wine that Michael(owner) picked out was a hit...service by Ava was super attentive and on point. Highly recommend the Calamari, Egg Rolls, Brussels Sprouts, Pad Thai & Cioppino!!!! Love this place. read more

Circles Bistro Carrollwood Possibly the worst dining experience of my life ! Finished with the owner saying F you ! Waited a long for apps but they were delicious as usual . Main courses delivered mine freezing cold and Philips crispy duck soggy ! Fabian's okay but beef not very tender . Lamb chops went back to be heated and they came back but all of the sides freezing cold and apparently crispy duck is served soggy! When we spoke to the owner he was very condescending but I am guessing the ten glasses of red wine he had had didn't help and the one he had in his hand swirling around that could have spilled on me . His wife is the chef !! Last experience amazing this one ugh! Never again . My guess is he could be homophobic ? and I will be taking that up by other means . His parting statement was f&@k you ! Stay away . Also he already told us they are short staffed so maybe he should close until you can get your act and your attitude together read more

We had not been to Circles in many years. We decided to revisit it on Saturday evening. We had a 7pm reservation and we're seated immediately. The menu is extensive with all types of food. Our server was excellent. My daughter had a Chicken Marsala which she said was just average. My wife had Ahi Tuna which she said was OK. Nothing great. She said that a problem for her was the lack of wasabi. I ordered the Mushroom Barley Soup - just average. I also had the Chiapino I It was very good. read more

An intimate little neighborhood restaurant with an amazingly varied menu, full bar and extensive wine list. The menu is so varied that the restaurant is hard to categorize and every meal I've ever eaten there has been truly terrific, whether Asian, Italian, seafood or ... The only reason I don't rate this place more highly has to do with the service, and their service is what keeps us from going here more. There are relatively few tables and we have felt pressured to leave so they could turn the table. There is a sense that there are regulars and you are not one of them. I do not see the same staff regularly there, though. You will get an excellent meal. You may not have an excellent overall experience. read more

Circles Bistro is an avant-garde, phenomenal dining experience. The table settings are classy and sparsely decorated, a simplistic aesthetic that keeps the table open. In stark contrast, the restaurant is cluttered and filled with boxes of various supplies, as if there is no stockroom to keep them. Stacked boxes line the walls up to torso-height, forcing you to enter and walk through an uncomfortably narrow space. There is a clear lack of staffing, and there is no dress code as far as I can tell. A man in a t-shirt, shorts, and tennis shoes guided me to a table where there were paper menus lacking any decoration. The menu is a divided selection of Italian and Asian meals. Our waiter was a teenager who was under the influence of something. He lingered at our table and spoke just softly enough to elicit a "What?" from me and my fiancé every few words. He forgot his pen when returning to take our order, and I offered one I was carrying. It was not returned. From the way the other diners interacted with the owners and the staff, it was clear that most of the business is word-of-mouth from friends and family of those working there. I felt out of place, distantly dropped into a hazy, quiet moment in the late shift. Our food came out promptly and without issue, and our waiter was courteous and willing to provide anything needed between telling a story to us as we coughed awkwardly and made motions that we wanted to start eating our food. Amazing food. The Spicy Salt and Pepper Calamari was stunning and flavorful with fresh bread provided after. I had the Crispy Duck Breast and it was beyond all expectations. The rice provided with it complimented both texture and taste as the cranberry-bourbon skin worked it's wonders. Circles Bistro lacked every formality and excelled at defying what I look for in a restaurant. There was no warm and inviting corporate husk, no over the top smiles and "yes of course" answers. It was a quiet, empty restaurant that shattered expectations with some of the best food in the area. It spun me for a loop, pushing me through a strangely arranged dining room to receive amazing meals from the singular high waiter there that brought the food from the singular chef, silently livid as she cleaned her cooking station. I will be returning and will be recommending this experience to others, hoping they too will see Circle's Bistro for what it is: The insane product of Covid-era lackluster management, and the most skilled chef in the area. read more

Been a long time customer from their south Tampa location. Same menu with some different specials and more desserts than I remember. Tiramisu has always been really great! Everything here is great from lobster bisque, spinach salad, any entree (I got crispy duck with Jalapeno raspberry sauce tonight) to the dessert of tiramisu and chocolate walnut pound cake. Wow! The pound cake was excellent! I wouldn't have gotten it but the waitress's recommended it. WOW! Great place for wines! Ask Michael for a recommendation. A must eat place in Tampa. The menu has a good variety. Everything was excellent. Service was really slow but that was ok. I wasn't in a rush. Make reservations. read more

See all

After reading the reviews I was excited to dine here. After eating there I was slightly disappointed. The food was good but it wasn't great. The establishment has a cute vibe with a massive wine and whiskey selection. We ordered: Lobster Bisque- It wasn't a traditional recipe but it was good. Had a spice to it but we love spice. Calamari - It lacked something. Crispy Wings - This was our favorite item we had. The wings needed to be floured to make the sauce stick to them better. The sauce was amazing. Wagyu Filet with Demi Glacé - I was really disappointed in the flavor of the steak. There was an ocean of Demi Glacé on the plate. It was over powering. It wasn't thick like normal. It was watery. Crispy Duck - The rice was very good but the duck was way over cooked. The food had flavor and was good but seemed to fail in the execution. read more

Very delicious food and drinks. Staff was great. I am looking forward to going back! We got the cajun tortellini and salmon and both were amazing! read more

This place tonight was unusually busy. Had 7:30 reservations and nearly every table and all seats at the bar were filled. Either they were short on staff or did not anticipate a crowd this evening, their service was slow. Ken our waiter did a nice job under the circumstance. I had the French Onion Soup, house salad with blue cheese dressing and the Veal Piccata. The soup was very good with the crunchy bread and gooey cheese. Not salty at all, rare for French Onion Soup. The salad was very fresh, but bland. Lettuce, onion, green pepper and tomato. The blue cheese dressing was ok, no chunks of blue cheese. May not be home made. The Veal Piccata was perfect. Tender and very flavorful. Side of pasta accompanied the dish. The hard dishes they did very well. The simple salad was something I did not expect from Circles. I have been eating at Circles for many years including when they were in this area 15 + years ago in another location. Lastly, they have a very nice outside area when the weather is warmer for not only outside dining but a nice place to go for coffee at the end of the evening. read more

Circles Bistro - New American Near Me - Tampa, Florida

See all

Enjoyed lunch here the other day! The food was delicious. The price for lunch was reasonable. We will definitely be returning!!