Bryce Bonsack: Rocca (Tampa, FL)

The Southern Fork

Rocca, located in the Tampa Heights neighborhood of Tampa, FL, is Chef Bryce Bonsack’s love letter to the family who he worked for and lived with during his tutelage and pilgrimage in Italy. Showcasing fresh handmade pasta, mozzarella pulled tableside, and dry aged meats, Bryce creates an ever changing menu influenced by both classical recipes and modern techniques. A Tampa native, his culinary background includes multiple years of experience working in two Michelin-starred New York City restaurants -- Blanca and Corton -- and Rocca is his first restaurant as chef and owner. It received the first and only 10/10 rating from Tampa Bay Times’ restaurant critic, and most recently, Bryce followed in his mentors’ footsteps when Rocca received a highly coveted Michelin Star from the Guide in 2023, as well as a Bib Gourmand. The vibe is lively, the seasons and the local bounty are always represented on the plate, and the service is some of the best I’ve ever had. But the pasta? The pasta is magic.