—Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, Cipresso and The Rez Grill Among the World’s Best Restaurants for Wine—

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa has been honored for its outstanding wine program in Wine Spectator’s 2022 Restaurant Awards, which celebrate the world’s best restaurants for wine.

Three of Seminole Hard Rock Tampa’s fine-dining restaurants, Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, Cipresso and The Rez Grill, have each won the prestigious Award of Excellence. Council Oak Steaks & Seafood also secured the coveted Best of Award of Excellence (since 2020). The Award of Excellence recognizes restaurants whose wine lists feature a well-chosen assortment of quality producers along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style.

Council Oak Steaks & Seafood was commended for its wine list which boasts a menu of over 400 fine wines from more than 13 countries, while Cipresso was recognized for its impressive 175-bottle wine menu and The Rez Grill for its admirable 95-bottle wine menu.

Each restaurant has staff trained in all the exacting nuances of proper wine service in order to meet the high standards and qualifications for these prestigious awards.

“We’re proud to share that Council Oak, The Rez Grill, and Cipresso have been named among the World’s best restaurants for wine, by Wine Spectator, for their world-class selections,” said James Manuel, Director of Fine Dining at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa. “Our team members are on a constant mission to seek out the finest selection of wines that will cater to the palates of our distinguished clientele.”

Council Oak at Seminole Hard Rock is Tampa’s number one destination for prime steaks, fresh seafood and an award-winning wine served in a contemporary upscale atmosphere. It’s considered fine dining at its best. Cipresso is a contemporary twist on Italian-American fare, with a menu of time-honored classics based on old world traditions complemented by a diverse selection of fine wines and signature cocktails. The Rez Grill is an award-winning American wood-fired grill with southern soul featuring a wide variety of elevated classic and comfort food favorites.

“I want to congratulate all 3,169 restaurants that earned one of Wine Spectator’s three awards for their devotion to all things wine,” said Marvin R. Shanken, Editor and Publisher, Wine Spectator. “These awards not only guide our readers to dining establishments with impressive wine lists and outstanding service but also serve to honor restaurants for their achievements and commitment to maintaining pristine cellars. We are thrilled to reveal our 2022 Dining Guide, which points to places where wine drinkers are warmly welcomed.”

Wine Spectator began its program to recognize the world’s best wine lists in 1981. There are three levels: the Award of Excellence, the Best of Award of Excellence and the Grand Award—with 1,782; 1,290; and 97 winners this year in each respective category.

Wine Spectator’s special Restaurant Awards issue is now available.

Follow the Restaurant Awards on Instagram (@wsrestaurantawards), with the hashtag #WSRestaurantAward, and at Restaurants.WineSpectator.com, where all winners can be searched by location and sorted by attributes including name, proximity, award level, cuisine and pricing. Winners are also profiled in the free Restaurant Awards app, available for iPhone and iPad users.About Wine Spectator

Wine Spectator is the world’s leading authority on wine. Anchored by Wine Spectator magazine, a print publication that reaches around 3 million readers worldwide, the brand also encompasses the Web’s most comprehensive wine site (WineSpectator.com), mobile platforms and a series of signature events. Wine Spectator examines the world of wine from the vineyard to the table, exploring wine’s role in contemporary culture and delivering expert reviews. Parent company M. Shanken Communications, Inc., also publishes Cigar Aficionado, Whisky Advocate, Market Watch, Shanken News Daily and Shanken’s Impact Newsletter.

About Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa

Owned and operated by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa is one of the largest and most successful casinos in the world offering award-winning gaming, hospitality, and entertainment. The casino features nearly 5,000 of the hottest slot machines, 179 table games and a state-of-the-art Poker Room featuring 46 tables. Additionally, the casino offers a smoke-free Mezzanine Level Casino. The hotel is AAA Four Diamond rated and proudly offers ten restaurants, including the upscale dining venues Council Oak Steaks & Seafood and The Rez Grill, as well as the new elegant Italian restaurant, Cipresso. Recent openings include a new hotel tower, an elevated arrival experience, the Hard Rock Event Center and Rock Spa® & Salon. The resort is located off I-4 at North Orient Road and Hillsborough Avenue, about 10 minutes east of downtown Tampa. For more information, please call 866-502-PLAY or visit us online and via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.​

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