Bern's Steak House

What Bern's Steak House does

Bern's Steak House is a family-owned, single-location fine dining steakhouse founded in 1956 by Bern and Gert Laxer at 1208 S Howard Avenue in Tampa, Florida, and currently operated by their son David Laxer as Owner/President. The restaurant operates 350 guest seats across eight dining rooms, serves Sunday and Tuesday–Saturday dinner, and built its identity on three pillars: USDA Prime steaks cut to order and dry-aged in-house for 5–8 weeks before being charbroiled over natural hardwood lump charcoal; one of the world's largest restaurant wine collections (500,000+ bottles across 6,800+ labels) maintained in a 50°F working cellar plus temperature-controlled off-site warehouse; and the Harry Waugh Dessert Room, a 48-booth after-dinner venue built from redwood wine casks. Per-cover prices range from approximately $63 for an 8oz Filet Mignon up to $955 for Beluga Experience Grade 000 caviar, with A5 Japanese Wagyu offerings between $103 and $230, and multi-course inclusions on all steak entrées (soup, salad, baked potato, onion rings, vegetable).

The business model is a destination fine dining experience monetized via dine-in check revenue (steak, seafood, sides) and a beverage program that includes 150+ wines by the glass and a $75-per-bottle corkage policy, supplemented by a 12% service charge on all dinner checks (rising to 18% for parties of 10+ in the dessert room), four private dining rooms for groups of 9+ booked 90 days in advance, and digital gift cards sold through the Givex platform. Reservations are taken directly via website or phone, opening 60 days in advance at 8AM, with a strict no-third-party-reservation stance consistent with Florida's Restaurant Reservation Anti-Piracy Act. Adjacent family-of-businesses revenue lines include Bern's Fine Wines & Spirits (retail, opened 1996), SideBern's, Peddler + Potter, Haven, Whiskey FoxTrot, Winefest, and a strategic partnership with the Epicurean Hotel (Marriott Autograph Collection) across the street, which itself expanded to Atlanta in September 2021. The company employs 101–250 people, holds no outside investment, and operates as a private, family-controlled entity under the philosophy 'We Do Things Differently.'

Name

Bern's Steak House

Legal name

Bern's Steak House

Website

https://bernssteakhouse.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Bern's Steak House is a family-owned, single-location fine dining steakhouse in Tampa, Florida (founded 1956) serving USDA Prime dry-aged steaks, a 500,000+ bottle wine collection, and the Harry Waugh Dessert Room to special-occasion diners, wine collectors, and private event clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fine Dining Steakhouse

NAICS

Food Services and Drinking Places (722)

akta.pro primary industry

Steakhouses & Seafood Restaurants (THAFACAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Chef’s Table & Tasting Menu Restaurants (THAFACAG)

Keywords

• Fine dining
• Dry-aged steaks
• Wine cellar
• Steakhouse restaurant
• Private dining rooms

Headquarters

HQ city

Tampa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Fine Dining Food Sales: Revenue from prime steaks, seafood, appetizers, and entrées. All steak entrées include french onion soup, house salad, baked potato, onion rings and vegetable of the evening. Menu items range from $10 (French Onion Soup) to $955 (Beluga Experience Grade 000 caviar).
2. Wine and Beverage Sales: Over 150 wines by the glass, dessert wines, ports, sherries, and madeiras. Wine cellar with 6,800+ labels and 500,000+ bottles. Corkage fee of $75 per 750ml bottle for approved outside wines.
3. Digital Gift Cards: Digital gift cards sold through Givex platform for use at Bern's Steak House.
4. Private Event Dining: Group dining rooms (Champagne Room, Andre Tchelistcheff Room, Florentine Room, Burgundy Room) with food and beverage minimums and potential space fees for parties of 9+. Corkage fee of $75 per bottle for special wines not on their list.
5. Service Charges: 12% service charge on all dinner checks for service team. 18% automatic service charge on parties of 10+ in Harry Waugh Dessert Room.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bern's Steak House is a destination fine dining steakhouse in Tampa, FL that serves USDA Prime steaks cut to order and dry-aged in-house for 5-8 weeks, charbroiled over natural hardwood lump charcoal. The restaurant pairs the steaks with one of the world's largest wine collections (over 6,800 labels and 500,000+ bottles) and operates the internationally famous Harry Waugh Dessert Room featuring handmade desserts and private booths built from old wine casks.

Product overview

Bern's Steak House is a fine dining steakhouse restaurant offering a unified dining experience centered on premium dry-aged steaks, an extensive wine collection, and an acclaimed dessert room. The restaurant operates as a single establishment with multiple dining components: the main dining room for walk-in fine dining, the Harry Waugh Dessert Room for after-dinner sweets and beverages, private dining rooms for group events (Champagne Room, Andre Tchelistcheff Room, Florentine Room, Burgundy Room), and a wine cellar program. Additional offerings include digital gift cards and group dining services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Haven: Restaurant operated by the Bern's family
• Bern's Fine Wines & Spirits
• Peddler + Potter
• Winefest
• Side Barrel Whiskey FoxTrot
• Epicurean Hotel
• Elevage
• Edge

Products and services

• Fine Dining Steakhouse Restaurant Premium steakhouse offering USDA Prime steaks cut to order, dry-aged in-house for 5-8 weeks, and charbroiled over natural hardwood lump charcoal. Menu includes seafood, oysters, escargot, 22 caviars, and all steak entrées accompanied by french onion soup, house salad, baked potato, onion rings, and vegetable of the evening. Available to individual diners via reservation.
• Wine Cellar Program One of the world's largest wine collections with over 6,800 labels and approximately 500,000 bottles, including 5,500 red wines, 1,000 white wines, 200+ sparkling wines, and an extensive dessert wine and port by the glass selection. Stored in an on-site 50-degree working cellar and a separate temperature-controlled warehouse. Available to diners purchasing by the bottle or glass during service.
• Harry Waugh Dessert Room Internationally famous dessert room featuring 48 private booths made from old wine casks. Serves nearly 45 handmade desserts, 15 flavors of homespun ice creams and sorbets, artisanal cheeses, ports, sherries, and madeiras. Available to diners as a post-dinner experience.
• Private Dining Rooms Four private dining rooms available for group events: Champagne Room (up to 10 guests), Andre Tchelistcheff Room (up to 18 guests), Florentine Room (up to 24 guests), and Burgundy Room (up to 40 guests). Subject to food and beverage minimums and possible space fees. Available to event organizers booking through the group dining department.
• Group Dining Services Large party reservations for 9 or more guests handled through a dedicated group dining department with 90-day advance booking. Includes private room assignment, dedicated service coordination, and special menu planning. Available to corporate and group event organizers.
• Digital Gift Cards Electronic gift cards available for purchase through the Givex platform for redemption at Bern's Steak House. Marketed as an ideal special occasion gifting option.

Quantifiable outcome

• Perennial Wine Spectator Grand Award recipient - the magazine's highest honor
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Epicurean HotelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2021Marriott Autograph Collection property directly across the street from Bern's Steak House. The hotel draws inspiration from Bern's rich history to attract food and wine connoisseurs. In September 2021, Epicurean Hotel expanded to Midtown Atlanta, GA.
• Peddler + PotterminorOthersPart of Bern's Family of Businesses. A related hospitality brand under the same ownership.
• Bern's Fine Wines & SpiritscoreOthersRetail wine and spirits store operated by the Laxer family, adjacent to the steak house. Opened in 1996. David Laxer oversees operations alongside Bern's Steak House.
• Haven RestaurantminorOthersRestaurant named as an ode to the Laxers' first acquisition - The Beer Haven. Part of Bern's family of businesses overseen by David Laxer.
• WinefestminorOthersWine festival event associated with Bern's family of businesses.
• SideBern'sminorOthersAdjacent establishment opened in 1996 as part of Bern's expansion.
• Laxer Family FoundationminorOthersCharitable foundation associated with Bern's Steak House founders. Supports culinary education, hunger awareness, pediatric charitable causes, wounded US veterans, and youth athletics development.
• Whiskey Tampa FoxTrotminorOthersSpirits bar associated with Bern's family of businesses.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Peter Luger Steak House: Iconic single-location fine dining steakhouse in Brooklyn, NY, founded 1887, famous for dry-aged USDA Prime steaks. Closest comparable peer: another destination steakhouse built on a decades-old brand with a single flagship location and old-world approach.
• Old Homestead Steakhouse: NYC's oldest continuously operating steakhouse (since 1868), specializing in dry-aged USDA Prime cuts and heirloom-quality beef. Comparable heritage single-location fine-dining steakhouse with dry-aging specialization.
• Mastro's Steakhouse: Premium upscale steakhouse chain with locations in major US metros, featuring dry-aged steaks, sushi, and live entertainment in a luxury atmosphere. Comparable as a high-end steak experience at premium check averages with secondary market dispersion.
• Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse: Chicago institution (since 1989) combining a USDA Prime steakhouse with an award-winning wine and spirits program. Comparable as a destination steakhouse with deep wine list, large bottle inventory, and special-occasion positioning.
• The Palm Steakhouse: Northeast US legacy steakhouse (since 1926) famous for prime steaks, Italian-leaning steakhouse fare, and an extensive wine list. Comparable as a long-standing upscale destination steakhouse with an older affluent clientele.
• Keens Steakhouse: NYC landmark steakhouse (since 1885) featuring prime dry-aged steaks and an iconic single-malt whisky/pipe collection. Comparable legacy urban fine-dining steakhouse blending a deep specialized beverage program with steak-focused cuisine.
• Sparks Steak House: NYC fine dining steakhouse established 1966, recognized for dry-aged USDA Prime cuts and an extensive wine list. Comparable single-location, premium-priced, legacy steakhouse targeting special-occasion diners.
• Smith & Wollensky Steakhouse: NYC-founded destination steakhouse known for dry-aged USDA Prime steaks, in-house butchering program, and an extensive wine list at premium price points. Directly comparable fine-dining steakhouse experience targeting affluent diners.

Broad incumbents

• The Capital Grille: Darden-owned upscale steakhouse chain serving dry-aged steaks, fresh seafood, and a deep wine list at 60+ US locations. Comparable as a broader upscale steakhouse competitor with wider geographic coverage.
• Ruth's Chris Steak House: Largest US upscale steakhouse chain (since 1965), serving USDA Prime steaks seared at high heat at 80+ locations nationwide. Comparable brand pillar but operates as a scaled chain rather than a single destination.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCErLuQUry-sZ7iAPosbHIwA
• Facebookfacebook.com/BernsSteakHouse
• Instagraminstagram.com/bernssteakhouse
• Pinterestpinterest.com/bernssteakhouse
• Xx.com/bernssteakhouse
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/berns-steak-house

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bern's Steak House