Intimate, fun, outstanding service, mind bending takes and outstandingly fresh fish course. Please forgive my reduction to absurdity: The chicken soup was a standout, the Steak and Cheese Sandwich was amazing.
To be clear, this was not exactly chicken soup or a steak sandwich, but highly elevated and eminently playful. I was absolutely blown away by the citrus and vanilla Mezcal foam caviar dish. Never had such a bold and eclectic combination worked so incredibly well together.
Top notch.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Howard Moore
Nestled in Tampa Bay, Koya stands as a culinary jewel, offering an intimate and elevated omakase experience. The setting is a serene, immaculate space centered around an eight-seat curved bar, where every guest has a front-row view of the chefs’ precise artistry. It’s both a captivating performance and a gastronomic journey.
The team of four chefs honors traditional Edomae sushi while introducing subtle, exciting innovations. Each piece is a revelation, from a sublime Hokkaido scallop adorned with yuzu and Maldon salt to perfectly seasoned Koshihikari rice and vibrant notes of fresh wasabi and ponzu nikiri. The pacing, the presentation, and the personal interaction all contribute to a truly special evening.
For sushi purists and adventurous epicures alike, Koya delivers a memorable, high-end dining experience where meticulous skill meets creative inspiration. It is not just a meal, but a celebration of the craft.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
alex buric
Wife and I went for an anniversary dinner and it was an incredible experience, food and staff were amazing. I did want to make the business aware that the upselling during the meal was a bit frustrating. It felt like an ad pop-up that kept reappearing throughout the night. I know businesses need to make money, but at $300 a head (without including alcohol) this felt largely unnecessary and detracted from the experience. Maybe find a way to ask ahead of time?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Theresa Thomson
Wonderful!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Keith Marsiglia
I’m not sure where to begin — I suppose from the start…
As soon as we walked in, we were greeted right away with a warm “Happy Anniversary!” as they led us to our table — such a thoughtful touch to begin the evening. We decided to try their new Fall tasting menu, and it was an absolute delight from start to finish.
We’ve been to quite a few tasting menus before, but this one easily stands out as one of the best — if not the best. The combination of incredible food and genuinely warm, welcoming staff made it an unforgettable experience.
Often, tasting menus focus solely on the food, but here, the hospitality truly elevated everything. The team clearly cares deeply about their craft and about creating a meaningful experience for each guest.
The dishes themselves were outstanding — beautifully presented, with thoughtful flavors and impressive depth. We added the caviar, which was a must-have. It was the best we’ve ever tasted — rich, creamy, and bursting with flavor, perfectly complementing each dish it accompanied. We also tried their aged balsamic, which was remarkable — unlike any balsamic I’ve had before, and absolutely worth it.
Desserts were another highlight: a perfect balance of sweet and savory, a refreshing surprise since so many tasting menus end on an overly sweet note. These were just right.
Overall, the evening was truly memorable for both of us. We left feeling grateful and already excited to return — something we’ve never said about a tasting menu before.
Thank you to everyone at Koya for making our anniversary so special. You should all be incredibly proud of what you’ve created — it’s something truly exceptional.
Since this is a new menu, we will add pictures at a later date to not spoil their beautiful menu. Just know it was a 10/10 and well worth the money and time.
Thank you again!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Daniel Dokko
Hello chef and team! Food and service was excellent! One of the best food experiences I had. Congratulations! Really proud of you guys!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Curtis Traveling
Koya’s high-end Japanese tasting menu is worth the splurge.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Eddie Wolf
Koya is an experience not to be missed. The food is a fencing match of flavor and creativity. I would compare the passion that Chef Eric and his team bring to the culinary space to that of Steve Irwin and the way his eyes would light up while talking about wildlife conservation. The minute you walk into the guest dining area, you are wrapped in the warmth of welcoming intimacy as the team greats you by name and gently guides you to your carefully selected seat. Through basic observation, you can tell the Chef purposely designed the space to make the guests the focus of the evening. This is clearly shown in how the illumination in the room is focus on the guest seats in comparison to the rest of the space. The contrast of the natural wood counters against the shadowy background provides an understated grace and refined simplicity without the pretentious nature occasionally found in fine dining. The music is modern, melodic, and upbeat. It aptly fills the room without being overbearing so that conversation can be had at soft levels. The cleanliness of the restaurant is crisp from front entry to rear restroom.
With that being said, the food is the star of the show. Simply put, it is an eye opening and daring journey. Chef Eric takes you through his mind as he lays his very thoughts on the plate in front of you. Each course is assembled with intent and purpose. The dishes expose the guests to gastronomical revelations that will leave you wanting more and forcing you to ask questions like; "What kind of madman created this and how/where do I get more of it?" Chef Eric has a story to tell, and each dish is an enthralling chapter of a book you never want to end. There is a sense of tradition and innovation that accentuates the culinary bravery that is Chef Eric and his team of exceptionally talented and personable chefs. My single, solitary negative is that I can never eat enough.
Chris Carter
An outstanding experience. 15 out of 10
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bella Luna
Expensive. But, you get what you pay for. Incredibly unique and delicious well thought out cuisine with hospitable service. Wonderful experience and all the dishes were delicious. Definitively coming back.
Everything is top notch. The servers are friendly and very knowledgeable. Their passion shows. The food is delicious- it is fresh, with perfect pairings and a beautiful presentation. The ambiance is intimate and comfortable. The wine and sake pairing was intriguing. Our dinner was quite the experience and lovely to celebrate a special occasion (thanks for the card and champagne!).
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
J N
I’m writing this about 8 months late, so please keep that in mind…. It really just wasn’t that great. Nothing stood out, and the portions were absolutely not suitable for a single mouth full (way too big). The atmosphere was amazing, though. I will say, that I will be giving this place another try, and I will update my review at that time. I’m thinking it must have been an off night.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
Sredna
What a fun experience! Went here for a special treat and my was it! We did a 2hr long, up to 15 courses, with only 8 of us total customers and we ate so much food! We were full by the end! Prices are around $300 per person but of course can change with more ad ons. We got to try truffles and caviar, and more dish ingredients that I only ever see on cooking shows. It was very memorable, everyone was so nice and cared about the food and service. Some dishes I will remember forever as being some of the best bites I've had and others felt more experimental but still interesting and unique. Overall, it is a foodie paradise of Japanese and American sensibilities and I would highly recommend coming here!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dena Paris
One of the best dining experiences I have ever had. The food, the presentation, the service were all exceptional.
Intimate, fun, outstanding service, mind bending takes and outstandingly fresh fish course. Please forgive my reduction to absurdity: The chicken soup was a standout, the Steak and Cheese Sandwich was amazing.
To be clear, this was not exactly chicken soup or a steak sandwich, but highly elevated and eminently playful. I was absolutely blown away by the citrus and vanilla Mezcal foam caviar dish. Never had such a bold and eclectic combination worked so incredibly well together.
Top notch.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nestled in Tampa Bay, Koya stands as a culinary jewel, offering an intimate and elevated omakase experience. The setting is a serene, immaculate space centered around an eight-seat curved bar, where every guest has a front-row view of the chefs’ precise artistry. It’s both a captivating performance and a gastronomic journey.
The team of four chefs honors traditional Edomae sushi while introducing subtle, exciting innovations. Each piece is a revelation, from a sublime Hokkaido scallop adorned with yuzu and Maldon salt to perfectly seasoned Koshihikari rice and vibrant notes of fresh wasabi and ponzu nikiri. The pacing, the presentation, and the personal interaction all contribute to a truly special evening.
For sushi purists and adventurous epicures alike, Koya delivers a memorable, high-end dining experience where meticulous skill meets creative inspiration. It is not just a meal, but a celebration of the craft.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wife and I went for an anniversary dinner and it was an incredible experience, food and staff were amazing. I did want to make the business aware that the upselling during the meal was a bit frustrating. It felt like an ad pop-up that kept reappearing throughout the night. I know businesses need to make money, but at $300 a head (without including alcohol) this felt largely unnecessary and detracted from the experience. Maybe find a way to ask ahead of time?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Wonderful!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I’m not sure where to begin — I suppose from the start…
As soon as we walked in, we were greeted right away with a warm “Happy Anniversary!” as they led us to our table — such a thoughtful touch to begin the evening. We decided to try their new Fall tasting menu, and it was an absolute delight from start to finish.
We’ve been to quite a few tasting menus before, but this one easily stands out as one of the best — if not the best. The combination of incredible food and genuinely warm, welcoming staff made it an unforgettable experience.
Often, tasting menus focus solely on the food, but here, the hospitality truly elevated everything. The team clearly cares deeply about their craft and about creating a meaningful experience for each guest.
The dishes themselves were outstanding — beautifully presented, with thoughtful flavors and impressive depth. We added the caviar, which was a must-have. It was the best we’ve ever tasted — rich, creamy, and bursting with flavor, perfectly complementing each dish it accompanied. We also tried their aged balsamic, which was remarkable — unlike any balsamic I’ve had before, and absolutely worth it.
Desserts were another highlight: a perfect balance of sweet and savory, a refreshing surprise since so many tasting menus end on an overly sweet note. These were just right.
Overall, the evening was truly memorable for both of us. We left feeling grateful and already excited to return — something we’ve never said about a tasting menu before.
Thank you to everyone at Koya for making our anniversary so special. You should all be incredibly proud of what you’ve created — it’s something truly exceptional.
Since this is a new menu, we will add pictures at a later date to not spoil their beautiful menu. Just know it was a 10/10 and well worth the money and time.
Thank you again!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hello chef and team! Food and service was excellent! One of the best food experiences I had. Congratulations! Really proud of you guys!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Koya’s high-end Japanese tasting menu is worth the splurge.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Koya is an experience not to be missed. The food is a fencing match of flavor and creativity. I would compare the passion that Chef Eric and his team bring to the culinary space to that of Steve Irwin and the way his eyes would light up while talking about wildlife conservation. The minute you walk into the guest dining area, you are wrapped in the warmth of welcoming intimacy as the team greats you by name and gently guides you to your carefully selected seat. Through basic observation, you can tell the Chef purposely designed the space to make the guests the focus of the evening. This is clearly shown in how the illumination in the room is focus on the guest seats in comparison to the rest of the space. The contrast of the natural wood counters against the shadowy background provides an understated grace and refined simplicity without the pretentious nature occasionally found in fine dining. The music is modern, melodic, and upbeat. It aptly fills the room without being overbearing so that conversation can be had at soft levels. The cleanliness of the restaurant is crisp from front entry to rear restroom. With that being said, the food is the star of the show. Simply put, it is an eye opening and daring journey. Chef Eric takes you through his mind as he lays his very thoughts on the plate in front of you. Each course is assembled with intent and purpose. The dishes expose the guests to gastronomical revelations that will leave you wanting more and forcing you to ask questions like; "What kind of madman created this and how/where do I get more of it?" Chef Eric has a story to tell, and each dish is an enthralling chapter of a book you never want to end. There is a sense of tradition and innovation that accentuates the culinary bravery that is Chef Eric and his team of exceptionally talented and personable chefs. My single, solitary negative is that I can never eat enough.
An outstanding experience. 15 out of 10
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Expensive. But, you get what you pay for. Incredibly unique and delicious well thought out cuisine with hospitable service. Wonderful experience and all the dishes were delicious. Definitively coming back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Everything was stunning.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Everything is top notch. The servers are friendly and very knowledgeable. Their passion shows. The food is delicious- it is fresh, with perfect pairings and a beautiful presentation. The ambiance is intimate and comfortable. The wine and sake pairing was intriguing. Our dinner was quite the experience and lovely to celebrate a special occasion (thanks for the card and champagne!).
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I’m writing this about 8 months late, so please keep that in mind…. It really just wasn’t that great. Nothing stood out, and the portions were absolutely not suitable for a single mouth full (way too big). The atmosphere was amazing, though. I will say, that I will be giving this place another try, and I will update my review at that time. I’m thinking it must have been an off night.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
What a fun experience! Went here for a special treat and my was it! We did a 2hr long, up to 15 courses, with only 8 of us total customers and we ate so much food! We were full by the end! Prices are around $300 per person but of course can change with more ad ons. We got to try truffles and caviar, and more dish ingredients that I only ever see on cooking shows. It was very memorable, everyone was so nice and cared about the food and service. Some dishes I will remember forever as being some of the best bites I've had and others felt more experimental but still interesting and unique. Overall, it is a foodie paradise of Japanese and American sensibilities and I would highly recommend coming here!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
One of the best dining experiences I have ever had. The food, the presentation, the service were all exceptional.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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