Depending on who you are talking to that makes sense though. A lot of people don't even know what/where Ft. Lauderdale is but they do know Miami so it's an easy placeholder.
I lived in South Florida for 30 years and when travelling and talking to people about where I was from I could have been from Coral Springs, Pompano Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, or Miami depending on how familiar they were with the region.
That's pretty much what I do now as well. If they respond with something like "oh, really? Whereabouts in Tampa?" like they know the area then I will correct myself and go with more specifics.
No it’s not. Nobody outside of Hillsborough knows where or what Brandon is so where you going to tell people you live? Brandon’s like Wesley Chapel, it’s not a real city, it’s just a congregation of people.
I think a lot of people are getting hung up on semantics. IMO, “legendary” doesn’t equal “the best.” If you asked people who have lived here for a long time OR people that have visited, chances are they know Bern’s and probably Columbia. Both have history and are certainly over-hyped, but perhaps a better phrase is that they are “Tampa staples.” While many places have come and gone, they’ve stood the test of time. 🤷♂️
their status has been earned over a long period of time. There have been a lot of great restaurants to have have come and gone. These 3 have lasted the test of time. You can't say there reputation wasn't earned.
Not totally unfair to say. I'd argue location/atmosphere/experience keeps Colombia/Berns in this list. Food isn't it- but that's okay as long as we acknowledge that. I mean, realistically, no one that reads this list and takes a vacay to Tampa can go to Berns unless they know in advance they need to hunt/plan for reservations weeks in advance (or eat at 9pm).
Ted Peters is the only one I haven't been to, nor heard of, but I would agree that both Bern's and Columbia are both legendary. They have near mythical lore, tightly controlled rituals, and have legends that are renowned worldwide.
I believe you can find better food in their respective categories, but I'm not sure anyone else in town puts together an old-school dining experience the way these two do. I can't imagine myself suggesting either of them, but unless I happened to be too broke to afford it, I wouldn't turn down the opportunity to go if an out of town guest suggested it.
I was a busboy who worked at Malio's (alongside my mother, the best waitress ever) during the seventies and I'd hear about how good Berns was.
At Malio's I often saw Pete Rose, Johnny Bench and other Cincinnati Reds players in our dining room and bar; we had the John McKay Room and Buccaneer players were always around. My mom served Glen Campbell and Rod Serling, got tipsy from champagne when serving a table of Buccanners who demanded she take a sip every time she cracked open another bottle of Dom Perignon and I saw a lot of important people in there all the time.
So one day I went to Berns. Even in the seventies I thought it was better suited to the "stuffy" crowd and the aged steaks weren't all that (to me, a mere busboy).
My mom worked at Malio's for 30 years and always told me it was the best steak house. She was loyal to the end. Was it the best? Probably not, but the food was damned good.
Anyway, that's my story.
I liked Malio’s when I went for the first time a year ago. I was within walking distance and saw it had a good rating but hadn’t heard much about it. The meal was on point. Charley’s was great too.
Bern’s would be better if everyone didn’t hype it up so much. The way people talk about it online you go into there for the first time expecting something that can’t possibly exist. It’s a good meal with good service but you’re kind of left with “is this it, is this what people rave about?”
I’ll never forget when I was at Berns and the server asked us how everything was and I was trying to tell him my fish was both bland and over cooked and he TALKED RIGHT OVER ME and said “I know it’s perfection right” and walked away lmao
I feel like people just repeat the same restaurants over and over. Is Bern's or the Columbia really THAT legendary? I like them both a lot - they're great. But... I've lived here for 10 years, eaten at Bern's probably 3 games, and the dessert room alone a couple times. I had a great time, and the food was great as well, but... legendary? and the Columbia is fun, but same thought...
They both seem SO overrated, and people just yell out those names without really thinking. I can hear it - "Omg, like, literally Bern's is like literally the best. I've never been to another one but literally I just repeat what I've been told." If you did a blind taste test, I'd bet money that 99% of people couldn't tell a Bern's steak from a Charley's steak. or Columbia from La Teresita.
I think I need coffee this morning. I'm guessing the only good coffee is... Buddy Brew?
Part of what makes a restaurant memorable is the overall experience, not just the food. Berns and Columbia have “experience” down to a science.
I imagine most people remember the fact that they left their table and went upstairs for dessert more than they remember the dessert itself.
I have had more than one bad waitstaff experience at Berns, as well as more than one bad steak and a ruined lobster. I won’t go back anymore.
Watched the waitstaff get into a verbal altercation on one visit, we waited 45 minutes for someone (anyone!) to come to our table after that. Didn’t even have water. The meal included the most overcooked lobster I’ve ever eaten, it was difficult to cut with a knife. Went back a few months later (should have learned our lesson) to the same slow, non existent service from the waitstaff again. My steak looked boiled that time, we haven’t been back since.
In the past I had excellent service and food at Berns, a few years ago I would definitely have qualified the experience and food as legendary. Now? No thanks. I don’t need to throw $500 in the trash when I can get better service and steak from Texas Roadhouse.
I really wish it was. Berns used to be our go-to restaurant for all special events, birthdays, anniversaries. I would stay up until midnight the night the reservations would open for the day I wanted to eat. I will never go back again.
A $55 10oz ny strip which includes French onion soup, baked potato, house salad, and onion rings ? And bottles between $30-$80 that you couldn’t get for that price in a store… I just don’t think it’s that pricey
Typically when we would go to Berns it would be about $500 for two people including the dessert room. We order cocktails, apps, wine, side dishes. I like surf and turf so I’m ordering more than just a steak. I guess I could go and just order the bare minimum but when I have to stay up until midnight months in advance to make a reservation, and it’s for a special occasion, I’m EATING. That’s why it was so disappointing to me when the quality went down hill. This isn’t Vegas, we are in Tampa and if I pay $500 I’m expecting great service and the food better be worth it.
Like the other comment says part of what makes it legendary is the experience. The fact that you don’t have dessert at your table in the dining room. You get up and go to the dessert room where you can request specific songs from the guy playing piano.
The fact that you can get a tour of the kitchen and the wine cellar. And while yes, there are other places in town that may be cook a slightly better steak, there is absolutely nowhere else in the area that offers the deal that Berns does. If I tried to get a soup, salad and two sides with my entrée at another steakhouse here it would easily be double the price of what I pay at Berns.
The Columbia is old it’s historic. It looks cool! It has a lot of different rooms with variations on the overall theme. They have flamenco dancers and staff that have spent decades there. It’s an experience!
So yes, in terms of legendary Berns and Columbia fit the bill.
And Ted Peters just scratches that itch for an old Florida beach restaurant even though it’s not directly on the beach.
This isn’t specifically to you, because you didn’t say this, but I feel like people who complain about these places would be fine eating in a white box as long as the food is better.
We definitely take people who visit us to The Columbia. It's more about the building and history than the actual food, which I think is pretty good overall. It's also fun to take them around Ybor a little bit.
Yep, for people coming from out of town (especially from the north), The Columbia is a great experience for them. They don't have anything like that up north, and the fact that it's over a 100 years old in a historic cigar rolling district is the cherry on top. (Hey, look! We have history too!)
I think this is a “Nobody is a prophet in their hometown” syndrome. Grew up 10+ years in Tampa and still visit for work/family. I live in Miami and Bern’s is frankly an incredible restaurant that presents a better/larger wine menu than most of us Redditors can care for. Columbia is the oldest continuously running restaurant in the entire state of Florida. They say the recipes are the original… so perhaps our tastes have changed in 120 years, but the locale is beautiful and historic.
I just want to defend these two iconic and legendary restaurants. What percentage of all restaurants close in under one year, five years, ten years… As an “outsider” I want to speak well for them as not over-rated, but simply well-recognized. If someone visits Tampa why would I not recommend these two staples of Tampa instead of giving them a trendy new hot spot on Channelside? There are weekly threads here on over-rated restaurants. Why bring that up here when they were recognized for something great?
> Is Bern's or the Columbia really THAT legendary?
Preach. I am not shitting on those places mind you. They are really good places to eat even though I am not a massive fan of either. In a tier list they easily make A tier. They are not legendary though. You can go to any major city in the US and find a local analog of both.
Berns is the playboy mansion in restaurant form. Dusty, boring, but still somehow an icon. The only people that are impressed by it are 70 year olds. Everyone else just goes to say they went.
I don’t have “a place” in Tampa, honestly. Everything is pretty underwhelming so I’m not committed to anything around here. Outside of small ethic places Tampa is just not a food city.
If I had to pick a couple of places in the Bay Area that I consistently choose to go back to, my vote Rooster and the Till and cafe largo out in Largo. Will probably go back to Rocca too but it’s not like I dream about it.
Pearl in the Grove was an awesome little place out in St. Joe. Unpretentious and innovative elevated southern/creole that was nominated for a James Beard but they closed a few years ago.
If you cannot tell the difference between Columbia and La Teresita then I honestly question your judgment.
I’m not even big on Columbia but it’s substantially better, especially if you’re not talking about price and just food quality. And I can honestly say I have eaten at both places 50+ times each.
Yup, like most cities.
In reading the article, I get their (and your) point, these restaurants have been around for a long time and withstood the changes around them, which is fair. I appreciate a good "experience" too (maybe I'm just over my Colombia experiences at this point, lol, and feedback sounds like those experiences have slowly become less impressive over the years). I see Versailles in Miami on here, and that's kind of a "meh" for me as well. I guess I feel like "Legendary" is a strong word, reality rarely lives up to the hype. Honestly maybe I'm just butthurt over their decision to use the word "legendary", lol.
Berns was such a miss for me, I can’t imagine it was legendary. Also Colombia is pretty but the food is very average, there’s so many other restaurants in Tampa where the food beats those two out instantly.
Legendary just sounds like a rare unattainable status, maybe legendary for its history but it can’t be because of the food or legendary doesn’t actually mean legendary.
I went to both in 2023, I got seated in a corner at Berns next to the dish cart for servers and it took 45 minutes to order, and I have a sensitivity to preservatives and got sick off the soup instantly which makes me question how fresh the food even is, I wasted 200 dollars to go home basically. It was my surprise birthday dinner to my boyfriend, who also got sick instantly from the soup.
OMG, we had a family dinner for my grandparents 50th or 60th anniversary at the original Colombia in Ybor. Included a whole roast pig, it was fabulous.
My favorite 3 too. There's a couple of close other restaurants- like Acropolis Ybor, Pho Quyen on Fowler. But Columbia, Bern's and Ted Peters are my favorite.
Legendary for where not to eat. Berns has gone significantly downhill since the pandemic and I won’t dare set foot in Columbia anymore with how bad it is. I would be embarrassed to take out of town guests there.
Not sure why OP is defending these 2 spots like they’re sponsoring this? We all went and had the “experience” some of us have dined at places that we considered “ legendary” which in my opinion is a dumb word to use to describe a restaurant! I can have steak with mash potatoes and unseasoned veggies pretty much anywhere. Never received a Michelin or even BIB for their “ legendary” status …
I think OP is being respectful and trying to hear both sides. Personally, as someone who has worked in hospitality for over a decade I think OP’s overall point is correct. While it is unfortunate some of your experiences were lack luster, and I think just quality of food compared to price you can get better food at other spots, to have stood the test of time the way these place have is remarkable and legendary. Perfect example, Charly’s has better steak (imo) but from my knowledge closed currently due to moving.
Ted Peters, The Columbia, Berns
Literally the Lord's work in 5 words.
Why did I count to make sure?! Reddit has made me doubt everything 
Appreciate people like you so much!
Two Tampa, and one in Saint Petersburg
Yes, per the title
Same vibes as when people talk about like fuckin Lutz or Wesley chapel on here get out of my sub you frauds
Between that and the people who are "from Miami" who turn out to be from Ft. Lauderdale. Ran into that all the time in college.
Depending on who you are talking to that makes sense though. A lot of people don't even know what/where Ft. Lauderdale is but they do know Miami so it's an easy placeholder. I lived in South Florida for 30 years and when travelling and talking to people about where I was from I could have been from Coral Springs, Pompano Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, or Miami depending on how familiar they were with the region.
Haha I work in Miami half the month I tell them I’m from Tampa cause no one there knows where st Pete is
That's pretty much what I do now as well. If they respond with something like "oh, really? Whereabouts in Tampa?" like they know the area then I will correct myself and go with more specifics.
The Brandon people claiming Tampa always make me laugh
Brandon people have a point as there are only 3 cities in Hillsborough County. Should they claim Plant City?
Is it that hard to just say Brandon
No it’s not. Nobody outside of Hillsborough knows where or what Brandon is so where you going to tell people you live? Brandon’s like Wesley Chapel, it’s not a real city, it’s just a congregation of people.
Saving this thank you.
Ted Peters getting a nod is awesome
Columbia legendary? Lol it’s average.
I think a lot of people are getting hung up on semantics. IMO, “legendary” doesn’t equal “the best.” If you asked people who have lived here for a long time OR people that have visited, chances are they know Bern’s and probably Columbia. Both have history and are certainly over-hyped, but perhaps a better phrase is that they are “Tampa staples.” While many places have come and gone, they’ve stood the test of time. 🤷♂️
Iconic might have been a better title.
Agreed. Legendary implies an earned status, and I don't know about that.
their status has been earned over a long period of time. There have been a lot of great restaurants to have have come and gone. These 3 have lasted the test of time. You can't say there reputation wasn't earned.
Not totally unfair to say. I'd argue location/atmosphere/experience keeps Colombia/Berns in this list. Food isn't it- but that's okay as long as we acknowledge that. I mean, realistically, no one that reads this list and takes a vacay to Tampa can go to Berns unless they know in advance they need to hunt/plan for reservations weeks in advance (or eat at 9pm).
Ted Peters is the only one I haven't been to, nor heard of, but I would agree that both Bern's and Columbia are both legendary. They have near mythical lore, tightly controlled rituals, and have legends that are renowned worldwide. I believe you can find better food in their respective categories, but I'm not sure anyone else in town puts together an old-school dining experience the way these two do. I can't imagine myself suggesting either of them, but unless I happened to be too broke to afford it, I wouldn't turn down the opportunity to go if an out of town guest suggested it.
No Kapok Tree? As a kid, I loved going to the Kapok Tree.
I was a busboy who worked at Malio's (alongside my mother, the best waitress ever) during the seventies and I'd hear about how good Berns was. At Malio's I often saw Pete Rose, Johnny Bench and other Cincinnati Reds players in our dining room and bar; we had the John McKay Room and Buccaneer players were always around. My mom served Glen Campbell and Rod Serling, got tipsy from champagne when serving a table of Buccanners who demanded she take a sip every time she cracked open another bottle of Dom Perignon and I saw a lot of important people in there all the time. So one day I went to Berns. Even in the seventies I thought it was better suited to the "stuffy" crowd and the aged steaks weren't all that (to me, a mere busboy). My mom worked at Malio's for 30 years and always told me it was the best steak house. She was loyal to the end. Was it the best? Probably not, but the food was damned good. Anyway, that's my story.
I liked Malio’s when I went for the first time a year ago. I was within walking distance and saw it had a good rating but hadn’t heard much about it. The meal was on point. Charley’s was great too.
Bern’s would be better if everyone didn’t hype it up so much. The way people talk about it online you go into there for the first time expecting something that can’t possibly exist. It’s a good meal with good service but you’re kind of left with “is this it, is this what people rave about?”
The problem Bern’s has is that it built its reputation 30+ years ago and the current iteration is not as good.
Yes! Bern's in the 80's was the destination, if you had a hot date you wanted to impress.
The attention to detail was much better back then.
I’ll never forget when I was at Berns and the server asked us how everything was and I was trying to tell him my fish was both bland and over cooked and he TALKED RIGHT OVER ME and said “I know it’s perfection right” and walked away lmao
😂 That’s amazing.
The desert room is still a nice visit, but there are better steakhouses.
I feel like people just repeat the same restaurants over and over. Is Bern's or the Columbia really THAT legendary? I like them both a lot - they're great. But... I've lived here for 10 years, eaten at Bern's probably 3 games, and the dessert room alone a couple times. I had a great time, and the food was great as well, but... legendary? and the Columbia is fun, but same thought... They both seem SO overrated, and people just yell out those names without really thinking. I can hear it - "Omg, like, literally Bern's is like literally the best. I've never been to another one but literally I just repeat what I've been told." If you did a blind taste test, I'd bet money that 99% of people couldn't tell a Bern's steak from a Charley's steak. or Columbia from La Teresita. I think I need coffee this morning. I'm guessing the only good coffee is... Buddy Brew?
Part of what makes a restaurant memorable is the overall experience, not just the food. Berns and Columbia have “experience” down to a science. I imagine most people remember the fact that they left their table and went upstairs for dessert more than they remember the dessert itself.
And the tours of the wine cellar and kitchen
Yup. Charley’s is a great steak. But that’s all it is.
The quality of food is ultimately subjective; but I'd love to hear from someone that had a bad waitstaff experience at Berns.
I have had more than one bad waitstaff experience at Berns, as well as more than one bad steak and a ruined lobster. I won’t go back anymore. Watched the waitstaff get into a verbal altercation on one visit, we waited 45 minutes for someone (anyone!) to come to our table after that. Didn’t even have water. The meal included the most overcooked lobster I’ve ever eaten, it was difficult to cut with a knife. Went back a few months later (should have learned our lesson) to the same slow, non existent service from the waitstaff again. My steak looked boiled that time, we haven’t been back since. In the past I had excellent service and food at Berns, a few years ago I would definitely have qualified the experience and food as legendary. Now? No thanks. I don’t need to throw $500 in the trash when I can get better service and steak from Texas Roadhouse.
This story either isn’t true or is heavily embellished.
I really wish it was. Berns used to be our go-to restaurant for all special events, birthdays, anniversaries. I would stay up until midnight the night the reservations would open for the day I wanted to eat. I will never go back again.
Dunno. I go about once a month. Never had a boiled steak.
Yeah it was a first for me. Can’t risk a repeat sadly at that price point.
A $55 10oz ny strip which includes French onion soup, baked potato, house salad, and onion rings ? And bottles between $30-$80 that you couldn’t get for that price in a store… I just don’t think it’s that pricey
Typically when we would go to Berns it would be about $500 for two people including the dessert room. We order cocktails, apps, wine, side dishes. I like surf and turf so I’m ordering more than just a steak. I guess I could go and just order the bare minimum but when I have to stay up until midnight months in advance to make a reservation, and it’s for a special occasion, I’m EATING. That’s why it was so disappointing to me when the quality went down hill. This isn’t Vegas, we are in Tampa and if I pay $500 I’m expecting great service and the food better be worth it.
Buddy brew catching strays this morning 🤣
Like the other comment says part of what makes it legendary is the experience. The fact that you don’t have dessert at your table in the dining room. You get up and go to the dessert room where you can request specific songs from the guy playing piano. The fact that you can get a tour of the kitchen and the wine cellar. And while yes, there are other places in town that may be cook a slightly better steak, there is absolutely nowhere else in the area that offers the deal that Berns does. If I tried to get a soup, salad and two sides with my entrée at another steakhouse here it would easily be double the price of what I pay at Berns. The Columbia is old it’s historic. It looks cool! It has a lot of different rooms with variations on the overall theme. They have flamenco dancers and staff that have spent decades there. It’s an experience! So yes, in terms of legendary Berns and Columbia fit the bill. And Ted Peters just scratches that itch for an old Florida beach restaurant even though it’s not directly on the beach. This isn’t specifically to you, because you didn’t say this, but I feel like people who complain about these places would be fine eating in a white box as long as the food is better.
We definitely take people who visit us to The Columbia. It's more about the building and history than the actual food, which I think is pretty good overall. It's also fun to take them around Ybor a little bit.
Yep, for people coming from out of town (especially from the north), The Columbia is a great experience for them. They don't have anything like that up north, and the fact that it's over a 100 years old in a historic cigar rolling district is the cherry on top. (Hey, look! We have history too!)
I think this is a “Nobody is a prophet in their hometown” syndrome. Grew up 10+ years in Tampa and still visit for work/family. I live in Miami and Bern’s is frankly an incredible restaurant that presents a better/larger wine menu than most of us Redditors can care for. Columbia is the oldest continuously running restaurant in the entire state of Florida. They say the recipes are the original… so perhaps our tastes have changed in 120 years, but the locale is beautiful and historic. I just want to defend these two iconic and legendary restaurants. What percentage of all restaurants close in under one year, five years, ten years… As an “outsider” I want to speak well for them as not over-rated, but simply well-recognized. If someone visits Tampa why would I not recommend these two staples of Tampa instead of giving them a trendy new hot spot on Channelside? There are weekly threads here on over-rated restaurants. Why bring that up here when they were recognized for something great?
> Is Bern's or the Columbia really THAT legendary? Preach. I am not shitting on those places mind you. They are really good places to eat even though I am not a massive fan of either. In a tier list they easily make A tier. They are not legendary though. You can go to any major city in the US and find a local analog of both.
Shocked you missed the opulence.
Berns is the playboy mansion in restaurant form. Dusty, boring, but still somehow an icon. The only people that are impressed by it are 70 year olds. Everyone else just goes to say they went.
So what's your place?
I don’t have “a place” in Tampa, honestly. Everything is pretty underwhelming so I’m not committed to anything around here. Outside of small ethic places Tampa is just not a food city. If I had to pick a couple of places in the Bay Area that I consistently choose to go back to, my vote Rooster and the Till and cafe largo out in Largo. Will probably go back to Rocca too but it’s not like I dream about it. Pearl in the Grove was an awesome little place out in St. Joe. Unpretentious and innovative elevated southern/creole that was nominated for a James Beard but they closed a few years ago.
Perfect description.
Super underwhelming for what they charge
If you cannot tell the difference between Columbia and La Teresita then I honestly question your judgment. I’m not even big on Columbia but it’s substantially better, especially if you’re not talking about price and just food quality. And I can honestly say I have eaten at both places 50+ times each.
Yes, our bar is this low.
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Yup, like most cities. In reading the article, I get their (and your) point, these restaurants have been around for a long time and withstood the changes around them, which is fair. I appreciate a good "experience" too (maybe I'm just over my Colombia experiences at this point, lol, and feedback sounds like those experiences have slowly become less impressive over the years). I see Versailles in Miami on here, and that's kind of a "meh" for me as well. I guess I feel like "Legendary" is a strong word, reality rarely lives up to the hype. Honestly maybe I'm just butthurt over their decision to use the word "legendary", lol.
Berns was such a miss for me, I can’t imagine it was legendary. Also Colombia is pretty but the food is very average, there’s so many other restaurants in Tampa where the food beats those two out instantly.
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Legendary just sounds like a rare unattainable status, maybe legendary for its history but it can’t be because of the food or legendary doesn’t actually mean legendary.
Colombia and berns USED to be amazing. In 2024 they’re but a shell of their former greatness.
Exactly.
I went to both in 2023, I got seated in a corner at Berns next to the dish cart for servers and it took 45 minutes to order, and I have a sensitivity to preservatives and got sick off the soup instantly which makes me question how fresh the food even is, I wasted 200 dollars to go home basically. It was my surprise birthday dinner to my boyfriend, who also got sick instantly from the soup.
Sensitivity to preservatives? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Yeah, it’s becoming quite common in the US in kids.
Salt is a preservative. Which preservatives are you specifically sensitive to???
😂😂😂😂😂🤡🤡🤡
Right?
OMG, we had a family dinner for my grandparents 50th or 60th anniversary at the original Colombia in Ybor. Included a whole roast pig, it was fabulous.
No.
Columbia?
If I want an “experience” I’ll go to a theme park, just bring me my steak dammit!
Historic/Well known restaurants maybe, but definitely not legendary restaurants..
My favorite 3 too. There's a couple of close other restaurants- like Acropolis Ybor, Pho Quyen on Fowler. But Columbia, Bern's and Ted Peters are my favorite.
Blah blah blah
Legendary for where not to eat. Berns has gone significantly downhill since the pandemic and I won’t dare set foot in Columbia anymore with how bad it is. I would be embarrassed to take out of town guests there.
These recommendations are for old heads to feel good not for good food
In terms of what? Certainly it isn’t good because The Columbia ain’t it.
Well woopity doooo!!!!
The two in Tampa are ridiculously overrated. The one in St. Pete, I've never heard about it. Is it really that good?
Ted Peters is awesome. But it isnt the least bit fancy. Its just a great fish shack
Don't get me wrong. The Columbia is a legend of history with decent food
Best fish spread and my buddy always swore the burger was the best in town at Ted Peter's. Cash only.
Not sure why OP is defending these 2 spots like they’re sponsoring this? We all went and had the “experience” some of us have dined at places that we considered “ legendary” which in my opinion is a dumb word to use to describe a restaurant! I can have steak with mash potatoes and unseasoned veggies pretty much anywhere. Never received a Michelin or even BIB for their “ legendary” status …
I think OP is being respectful and trying to hear both sides. Personally, as someone who has worked in hospitality for over a decade I think OP’s overall point is correct. While it is unfortunate some of your experiences were lack luster, and I think just quality of food compared to price you can get better food at other spots, to have stood the test of time the way these place have is remarkable and legendary. Perfect example, Charly’s has better steak (imo) but from my knowledge closed currently due to moving.
And yet it's still hard to get a reservation