Harry Waugh Dessert Room at Bern’s Steak House

Bern’s Steak House has been a Tampa institution for more than half a century. Its dry-aged, cut-to-order steaks and massive wine collection are draws for many, but locals often skip past the main course and head upstairs to a place where there’s always room for dessert.

In the Harry Waugh Dessert Room, cozy nooks with 48 private booths made from wine casks dot the dimly lit space, making for an intimate experience that pairs well with the decadent menu. The dessert room was inspired by steakhouse owners Bern and Gert Laxer’s travels to France. They were so impressed by the hospitality shown by legendary wine merchant Harry Waugh that, when they expanded the restaurant in the 1980s, they called on the experience, and even named the new addition after him.

The extensive menu features all the last-course classics, from Baked Alaska to Florida’s own Key Lime Pie—something to satisfy every sweet tooth. The blackberry cake comes with blackberry mascarpone cream, fudge frosting, and blackberry sorbet. Certain items, like the crispy pear cobbler—crafted with oats, cardamom, brown sugar, and spiced vanilla ice cream—come and go with the seasons.

Other options include a decadent peanut butter truffle and classic tiramisu. Specialty coffees, over a dozen flavors of ice cream, floats, and shakes are also available.