Ybor City is a historic area in Tampa, Florida. In the late 19th century, this was home to many cigar manufacturers. Though the area has changed over the years, you can still find a few shops where a cigar can be rolled right in front of your eyes. Now Ybor City is filled with restaurants, shops, and night life. The original Columbia Restaurant that I have previously written about is located in Ybor City.
I was not sure what I was hungry for when I got there, but after walking around I saw Gaspar’s Grotto. The pirate flag caught my attention. The entire restaurant is pirate themed.
The first thing I noticed on the front of the menu was that they are known for their sangrias. They make a homemade red and white every day. Depending on how thirsty you are you can order them by the glass, half carafe or pitcher. I just went for a glass.
I started off with the red. This version was not overly sweet. They used a unique blend of watermelon and honeydew for the fruit decoration. It made the drink feel more tropical. It paired great with the appetizer I started with.
My bartender recommended I try the Tostones with Mojo marinated shredded pork. This pork was served on top of fried plantains with a spicy salsa and a guava sour cream drizzle.
The pork was juicy and shredded to perfection, no need for a knife at all. The salsa had a huge kick but then the heat was softened by the guava sauce. The fried plantains reminded me of potato pancakes, except that they were a little sweet. They tasted amazing dipped in the guava sour cream.
It was time for a drink refill. This time, I went for the white. I knew I had to try their other option. The white sangria is much sweeter than the red.
This one also had the melons on top.
One of the other items that Gaspar’s is known for is the Cuban sandwich. Of course I had to try that. The bread was toasted and the cheese melted wonderfully around the meat. The sandwich was much bigger than I was expecting so I had to take half of it back home.
The sandwich came with fried plantain chips. These chips were slightly sweet and lightly salted. They were extremely addicting. I could not stop eating them. They were better than any kettle chips I have had.
If you want great food and drinks Gaspar’s Grotto is a great spot. Plus with their outside seating area you can enjoy an array of live music. Visit them at www.gasparsgrotto.com
Enjoy!
T
