Gaspars Grotto

NEVER EVER AGAIN!

by seh at Citysearch

Okay, so if you are going to party and drink and don't care about anything else - this is the place. However, when it's Father's Day AND you have out of town guests AND you have built this place up.....STAY AWAY!! There were six of us and I looked up their "Booze Cruize Brunch" online. Sounded fantastic and we were all excited about going. Brunch starts at 1130 and continues until 3pm (according to the website). So, we all head on down to Ybor at about 1pm starving and ready for those Bloody Marys. We get there, the hostess is very friendly and accommodating asking if we are there for the Brunch to which we reply "yes". At no point did she mention anything about the brunch or the selections or the fact half of it was missing. We sit down, the waitress comes over and immediately starts making excuses for why we only have two menus (which oh by the way, she never brought us any additional). She then went on to inform us that the "raw bar" was empty and no plans on replenishing it. She never suggested maybe we look at the full menu or that the Brunch "Buffet" may not be such a good choice at this point. Some of our party got up to check it out and when the question about replenishing the rest of the items was asked, we were told "yes, they bring fresh out. What exactly needs to be replenished?" NOT TRUE! No additional food was EVER brough out - to include what we asked for and were told, "no problem". When one of our guests (a father I might add) asked about the "drink bar" to accommodate our 3 oz caraf of vodka, the waitress was irritated and started her reply with "As I stated....."

To make matters worse, the manager, yes I said the manager, came to our table and apologized only for the empty raw bar, but nothing else and stated....are you ready for this? He wasn't going to have the kitchen make additional food for the brunch "buffet" because it would be a waste just for us! ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW??? Did the manager just say the customers were a waste? To top it off, he didn't even bother to bring us a regular menu and substitute or comp anything. The waitress came back over and thought they were doing us a favor by taking $5 off each person's buffet price. Wow, I still paid over $70 for 4 people (2 adults and 2 kids) for potatoes, sausage and a pastry - oh and two extremely warm drinks because we were never given any ice and the outside "juice bar" that customers are to use with their vodka was ignored and the "ice bowls" that juices sat in had turned to warm bath water...but that IS what happens when a table sits in the middle of the sun for hours with nobody maintaining it!

Gaspers Grotto

by AndyRichards at Citysearch

Good place to hang out with friends.

Superb Destination, The Galley @ Gaspar's Grotto

by Chef Bruce at Citysearch

The iconic Notorious Ybor City Pirate Bar has a wonderful new addition. The Galley @ Gaspar's Grotto is a golden buried treasure.

How many times have I heard friends say, "I didn't know they had food."? Well I’ll tell you. Quite a few. Friends, they have magnificent food and nothing on the menu is over $20, most of it far below that.

Chef Craig Smith has put his own spin on his friend and mentor's, the notorious and (in)famous Jeannie Pierola, recipes. The new Galley menu is replete with Cuban, Caribbean, and New Orleans flavors.

Smith doesn’t stop there though; he lends a lifetime of world travels to a unique cuisinography that truly tantalizes the palate. One of my personal favorites is his Fish & Chips. A healthy fillet of fresh Halibut is battered and fried to perfection by the expatriated Brit. My experience with fish & chips is legendary. I’ve sampled this dish from Aberdeen to Anchorage, taking the Eastern route. Smith’s is the best yet.

His crème de la crème has to be the Snapper Mojito. Fresh from Florida’s Gulf waters and served in a mint, mango and crab sauce infused with Coconut flavored Rum (Pirates love their Rum) this dish will have you running back for more.

The patio at Gaspar’s Grotto has evolved too. Now it’s delightfully covered with three huge, European styled, umbrellas and handsomely landscaped with a variety of tropical plants. The ample outside bar and stage are both scenes of great performances. Live music is a staple on any given evening and for pleasant Sunday Brunch.

Brunch merits a review of its’ own. It is outstanding. Service has improved markedly and now is comparable with any fine dining establishment. The server’s “Pirate Costumes” are pleasantly appealing.

Given it’s evolution from a bar to a full service bar & restaurant The Galley at Gaspar’s Grotto serves the expertly mixed drinks you’d expect. From a hammer time $2 shot & beer, to the best premium Margarita (Mixed with Partida Tequila and Partida Pure Agave) I’ve ever had.

And best of all, I can bring my dog with me. Gaspar’s Grotto is pet friendly all the time.

The first Saturday of every month, it’s a great time with Pets On The Patio. An off leash event that will absolutely bring a smile to your face.

Be sure to visit their website for a complete menu and some great pictures of fun and food at Gaspar’s Grotto.

Best Brunch In Tampa

by Chrisr at Citysearch

Brunch on a beautiful patio couldn't be better. A friendly and efficient staff made for the most enjoyable brunch ever. The fantastic lobster cakes were cooked to perfection with a truly delicious Hollandaise. The unlimited champagne and three bloody marys didn't hurt either. It was so much fun listening to good misic and watching some people who had brought their cute dogs too. I'm going back soon. My new favorite place in Tampa. Great atmosphere. We even met a pirate.

• Pros: Absolutely Delicious
• Cons: Not one

Looking for a fun, indigenous experience in Tampa Town--Check out this place.you won't be sorry.

by traveler2world at Citysearch

If you were only to visit one eating and drinking establishment in Florida this would have to be the one. It's super fun, it's inexpensive, it's real Tampa. Supposedly the menu was created by a famous chef. The food is fantastic. The bar staff is drop dead gorgeous and about as friendly as any I have found ANYWHERE. The best part is that this place is in the very center of Tampa's Historic Distric, Ybor City. So after a few pops you can walk up and down the main street and enjoy the sights. And there are some sights!

We had their PORK SHANK CHILE with some cold house beer named after a cat they used to have there. None better, no fooling there, and we do know our Chile in Texas. Like I told the Ol Lady," never go to a chain restaurant when your traveling unless you want chain restaurant food".

If it's wild, Zany and Fun they do it there at Gaspar's Grotto. Beer Pong, Beer olympics, pet friendly events. Bachelor Auctions, shoeshines, souvenirs, bike events.

My wife liked the place because it was super clean. She can't sit on a dirty can. How bout your's?I don't know how they keep a place that busy that spiffy?But they do.

I had my laptop so I got on their website. In itself, that's an adventure. I would recommend that.

Someone said they were building a hotel next door. I know where I'm staying next time we get over this way

Thank goodness there's something original left in America

traveler2world.