WHERE WE WENT:
Ciccio Cali
17004 Palm Pointe Drive
Tampa, FL 33647
WHAT WE ORDERED:
Mediterranean Wrap w/ Greek Yogurt Sauce, Black Beans, Yellow Rice, Hot & Crunchy Tuna Bowl
WHAT WE THOUGHT:
Atmosphere - 8
Menu - 9
Presentation - 8
Taste - 8
Price - 8
Service - 7
Overall - 8
Atmosphere - Ciccio Cali is part of a local Tampa restaurant group that manages multiple brands, all of which are very hip and trendy. The majority of the dining space is a shocking white that makes it appear much larger and fancier than it actually is.The tables are fairly close together which creates a crowded sense of intimacy. There is a lovely patio seating area and a second story balcony area that provides privacy for larger parties.
Menu
- This is one of those places where there is going to be something for everyone...even your picky, fad dieting friends. Sensitivity to gluten? Free range only? There are vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy options galore.They even have naturally sweetened organic sodas. You'll have choices coming out of your ears, but everything can be broken down into a few quick categories: Pizza, Salad, Wraps, Stirfry and Bowls. Pizza and Salad are pretty self-explanatory (at least we hope so). In the other areas, it's all about customization. Choose your base (rice, kale, spaghetti squash, noodles), your protein (chicken, tuna, steak, broccoli mix), and choose your style for sauces and fixings. The possibilities are endless with every taste profile imaginable (Latin, Asian, fusion).
Presentation - The food looks so good that you're going to want to eat it with your eyes. Classic white dishes in funky shapes keep with the trendy vibe of the place.
Taste - If you're a fan of tuna, you'll want to try the Hot & Crunchy Tuna Bowl. We recommend it with Asian noodles and extra sriracha aioli. It is an explosion of your favorite sushi, tempura, and soba all in one.
The Mediterranean wrap is a vegetarian paradise. The vegetables are fresh and crisp, and the white bean hummus is some of the best I've ever tried. The Greek yogurt sauce is amazing. The kind of amazing that would make your Nona proud. Get extra.
Price
-It's priced comparably to other restaurants of its kind and the atmosphere is very nice. Fair.
Service -Our waitress was an absolute sweetheart. She was very friendly and attentive and full of helpful product knowledge and suggestions.
WOULD WE GO BACK?
Absolutely. Everything was delicious. We'd really like to go back and try the brunch menu. They also have $2 Tuesday specials for drinks and small plates. Red and white sangria are included and we're intrigued.
Here's a link to their website:
http://cicciorestaurantgroup.com/restaurants/ciccio-cali.html
WHERE WE WENT:
Frenchy's Rockaway Grill
7 Rockaway Street
Clearwater, FL 33767
WHAT WE ORDERED:
Caribbean Grouper Sandwich, French Fries, Fried Clam Strips
WHAT WE THOUGHT:
Atmosphere - 9
Menu -10
Presentation - 6
Taste - 7
Price - 7
Service - 8
Overall - 8
Atmosphere - Frenchy's is an institution at Clearwater Beach. It's got a really chill vibe. Let's be real, it's impossible not to when you're actually on the beach. It's the kind of place that clothing is really optional, no need to cover up, and it's totally cool if you track sand in. It looks beachy with all of its bright colors. There's indoor and outdoor seating, but they might as well be the same thing. The whole restaurant is breezy and open. It's generally exactly the type of place we would like. The only thing that detracts from the atmosphere is the fact that it always is very overcrowded. The tables are tight together, constantly full. Even though it's a local joint, it seems very tourist-y.
Menu - Seafood! Seafood! Seafood! Being right on the water can have a serious effect on the fare served. The majority of the dishes involve some sort of seafood. They have everything from a Grouper Ruben to Tuna Poke to Calamari. If it's seafood they probably have it, or at least a version of it. You can get other meats. There's turf in the surf and turf after all. Vegetarian options are few and far between, and when you do find one, you better hope that you like fried food. While it's nice that there are some options, it would be better if they were healthy as well, a little something more than onion rings and mozzarella sticks.
Presentation - The presentation was nothing special, just diner
baskets and wax paper. A place this chill can get away with it, but it is a little disappointing. Being such a beachy place and especially with the high tourist population, they have room for really fun presentation, like neon plates or logo napkins. You can even afford to be a little chintzy.
Taste -The grouper sandwich was good, but not the best one we've ever had. It was just a little basic. The french fries followed suit. The clam strips were the best part of the meal. They were light and crisp with a perfect balance of clam and breading, and the breading was well seasoned.
Price
- It was honestly a little bit overpriced. You really can't expect anything else when you're sitting on the beach. That kind of proximity adds a little to the price, just like anywhere touristy. You're really paying for location and atmosphere as well.
Service -Our service was good. The entire section was slammed and it wold have been better of our server had a chance to take a breath. She constantly had a look on her face like she as trying to run through a list of things in her head to remember. And even with that she forgot to fill our drinks a few times.
WOULD WE GO BACK?
Yeah, it's got a great vibe and it's really convenient on a beach day not to have to travel off the beach.
Here's a link to their website:
http://frenchysonline.com/
WHERE WE WENT:
Taco Bus
913 East Hillsborough Avenue
Tampa, FL 33604
WHAT WE ORDERED:
Chips and Queso, Vegan Steak Strip Burrito Prenado, Fish Tacos, Rice and Beans
WHAT WE THOUGHT:
Atmosphere - 8
Menu - 9
Presentation - 6
Taste - 9
Price - 8
Service - 6
Overall - 8
Atmosphere - You
cannot get more laid back than food getting served out of a bus. This
seems exactly like something you would come across on the beach in Santa
Monica. Off to the side, there's some outdoor seating, reminiscent of a
tiki bar, with wooden raised tables and stool with a grass roof
covering. There is a small indoor dining room as well for if the weather
is inclement or if you
just like air conditioning. The atmosphere is
just excellent. It's cool and unique and very Tampa. They have multiple
locations around the city but this one is the best.
Menu - Anyone who likes Mexican food should be able to find something they like at Taco Bus. They have a build your own menu setup where you choose your dish, then your protein, then your toppings, so you can completely customize your meal to your tastes. You can get your protein done up in a burrito, taco, quesadilla, tostada or more. The offer chicken, beef, carnitas pork, shrimp, fish, and (amazingly) an equal number of vegetarian options like tempeh, butternut squash, rajas, tofu and my favorite, vegan steak strips. Of course they have the classic sides like refried beans and rice and appetizers like queso, guacamole and ceviche. They have some awesome, traditional beverage options as well, like Jarritos and flavored waters. (I recommend the cucumber/lime).
Presentation - The presentation is very basic. Black, square,
styrofoam plates and plastic utensils are standard. Honestly though, fine china from a big yellow school bus would be ridiculous.
Taste - The chips were obviously homemade and delicious. It makes a huge difference when the chips are fried up in house. All of the produce is incredibly fresh. The veggies have a fantastic crunch and are a really light, bright addition to the otherwise heavy Mexican dishes. The fish in the tacos had an excellent flavor profile, the only problem was that it wasn't quite firm enough and was a little on the mushy side. The taste however completely made up for it. The vegan steak strips are amazing. It was definitely some of the best soy protein I've ever eaten. It was seasoned perfectly and textured to be just like steak. Someone who didn't know that it was vegan could have easily taken a bite and never been able to tell the difference. One of the little touches that I think really add to the flavor is the large, whole cilantro leaves that they use as a garnish. The flavor just explodes in your mouth.
Price
-The price is really quite good. The only thing I would ask is that sides be included. Other than that, it is very reasonable. The portions are huge, I can pretty much never finish what I order.
Service - With every other aspect being as great as it is, the service is a little disappointing. They were slow, like very slow. And when we went to check on our food, they were super standoffish and made it clear that they did not want us approaching the window with any questions. The first time our food came out, I watched them walk around with it and try to figure out who it belonged to. I tried really hard to get their attention but they ignored me. They went around with our food three times. They had to reheat it, but we did finally get it.
WOULD WE GO BACK?
For sure! The food is no frills, but delicioso. This is definitely going to be one of our regular spots. I hear that the service is much better at other locations.
Here's a link to their website:
http://www.taco-bus.com/#!
WHERE WE WENT:
The Captain's Table
1110 Beck Avenue
Panama City, FL 32405
WHAT WE ORDERED:
Shrimp Po' Boy, French Fries, Cheese Grits, Hushpuppies
WHAT WE THOUGHT:
Atmosphere - 6
Menu - 7
Presentation - 5
Taste - 6
Price - 7
Service - 6
Overall - 6
Atmosphere - The Captain's Table 's one word summation would be "dive." It's an old building, with peeling paint and in great need of renovation. Any little bits of decor are of old Florida photos, preserving the history of the town, which would be cool, if the amount was not so sparse. The idea could be executed really well,
if it seemed like there was any conscious effort to create a theme. It really looks like someone found a few old photos and keepsakes in the attic and just strew them around where they landed. The tables and chairs are old and rickety with torn cushions and wobbly legs that make you pay attention to your balance all meal. In spite of all of these really unappealing aspects, Captain's Table does manage to maintain an air of small town charm. This is the kind of place where the servers know you and you run into your neighbors on a Sunday afternoon. The chairs may be wobbly, but if you're from around here, then they're probably the same ones your great-grandparents sat in. It's located in the fantastic, historic old neighborhood of St. Andrews, surrounded by other quaint pieces of the town's history.
Menu
- There is pretty much all the kinds of seafood that you'd want. Since it's in the Panhandle, you know that anything you order is going to be super fresh. The oysters on the half shell are always the star. There are some standard options available in case you're not a fan of fishy fare. If you are a strict vegetarian though, good luck. You'll be relegated to maybe three choices, one of which is a less than appetizing side salad. While there is an abundance of seafood options, nothing is particularly unique or creative. There isn't any spark of culinary genius that you'd find in the big city.
Presentation - It's exactly the kind of presentation you would expect from a dive caliber joint.
Taste - We'll start with the good. Captain's Table has some of the BEST cheese grits ever. In the South, we take our grits pretty seriously, and these are serious. They are the perfect mix of creamy and cheesy. The hushpuppies are also delicious. They are have a nice after-kick to them. What wasn't so great was the po' boy. There wasn't a ton of shrimp and the bread was kinda stale. Where the bread was stale, the french fries have the exact opposite problem; they were soggy. While it's great that the hushpuppies and cheese were yummy, if you're a seafood restaurant then your main shrimp should be amazing.
Price
-The price is good. It helps that the food comes fresh out of the gulf. It's pretty comparable to any other similar place in the same market.
Service - Our waitress was kind of flighty. It took her a long while to come over and greet us and take our drink orders, and it was not a particularly busy time. My drink sat empty for a while, a couple of different times. She wasn't very friendly either. Not someone I would ask for their section.
WOULD WE GO BACK?
Meh. It's a part of the community and it's at a great location. It wouldn't be our first choice for dinner, but it works.
Ciccio Cali
