Tag: Tampa

Along Tampa’s waterfront, Ulele reimagines Florida-inspired dining with thoughtful cuisine, local ingredients, and an atmosphere that balances history with contemporary style. Every memorable meal has a beginning, and cocktails often set the tone. Whether bright and refreshing or bold and spirit-forward, the first sip creates a moment to settle in, connect, and ease into the dining experience before the first plate arrives. The Tuna Benne  is a delicately seared yellowfin tuna crusted with benne seeds is paired with fresh wakame slaw and corn salsa, while chadon sauce and white garlic wasabi cream bring a smooth, flavorful finish. The Calamari  is…

If you’re looking for an Italian restaurant in Midtown Tampa, check out BellaBrava. Sitting at the bar is the perfect place to order cocktails and have fast service. We had an Old-Fashion and a Strawberry Balsamic Martini. The martini was sweet with a little sourness. It included vodka, strawberries, sweet balsamic, simple syrup, and lemon. They brought out homemade Focaccia bread. It was slightly dense but melted in my mouth once it was mixed with the creamy olive oil and roasted garlic. If you like gnocchi, then you must order the Stuffed Gnocchi al la Vodka. The gnocchi were like…

Did you know that Tampa has a bakery that is over 100 years old? La Segunda Bakery has been baking fresh breads, pastries, and sandwiches for generations. Expect a line when you walk in. But don’t worry, you can make use of that wait by looking over their menu and gazing at all the beautiful desserts. There’s nowhere to sit so you’re getting your food to go. If you are like me, you will dig into your food as soon as you get in the car. Check them out if you’re in the area. www.lasegundabakery.com Enjoy! T

If you were in the Tampa area and want a great place to go for brunch, then American Social is the place for you. It is right there on the water, the perfect place for fresh air and a cool breeze. Brunch calls for cocktails. This brunch we went for mimosas, cosmos, and martinis. We decided to get a few small dishes to share. The Soft Baked Pretzels were perfect. They were hot when they came out. They had a light salty taste on the outside. I love dipping them in beer cheese. They also served a honey mustard on…

I love having brunch on the weekends. Having brunch in Tampa, on the water, is amazing. There are several places to check out, but American Social is one of my favorite spots. It is on the water so you can watch the boats go by. There is both indoor and outdoor seating. They have a lively outside bar that is perfect for watching football in the fall. We were there with friends visiting from New Jersey on a Saturday. Good thing we had reservations because this place was packed. To start off brunch, a mimosa is necessary. The fresh orange…

It is National Pina Colada Day and I knew that Hula Bay Club in Tampa would be a great place to celebrate.  Whether sitting inside or on the deck looking at the water, that fresh, Florida air is totally relaxing. And with a cold Pina Colada in my hand, I was in a happy place. If you are in the area stop by Hula Bay for a drink and some of their great Hawaiian inspired dishes. Check them out at: https://hulabayclub.com Enjoy! T

In the late 1930s there was an area in Tampa that was loaded with Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes. This area became known as Rattlesnake, Florida. Today tis is the area of Old Tampa Bay and the Gandy Bridge. This is where you will find Salt Shack on the Bay. This restaurant, right on the water, has beautiful views. The inside area has fire pits, tables and is complete with an old boat. There is an open-air bar that you can grab a drink and sit at one of the many Adirondack chairs. It is a great place to just chill out.…

I love eating at restaurants that are on the water. It instantaneously makes me feel like I am on vacation, even though I might not be. Hula Bay Club is one of those places. They are located next to a marina, right off of Old Tampa Bay. The views are spectacular from the back patio. There are tons of tables so that you can eat outside. The day I was there I even got to see a Manatee swim by. That was the coolest thing. To enjoy the view, I ordered the Conch Fritters. It came with a spicy Caribbean…

In downtown Tampa, not far from the hockey arena, there is a seafood restaurant called Harpoon Harry’s Crab House. The restaurant is very large; there are tables on two levels. They have a great bar on one side of the restaurant. You can sit there and order from the full menu. I have done this a few times. On this visit I was with a big group of friends, and we decided to get a table. We started off with cocktails while we looked over the menu. I got a red sangria. It was not super sweet, so it was…

I have been to Datz in Tampa a few times. Their food is great, and they are always busy. Whenever people come to visit the area, Datz is a fun place to bring them too. This last visit we were there in between breakfast and lunch. I felt more like breakfast, so I ordered the Datz Good Hash. This is homemade corned beef. It was big chunks of tender beef. It was not as crispy as I like it but that could be because of how large the pieces were. They piled shredded hash browns on top of the corned…