Tampa Fun Restaurant

Jillian

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Sep 4, 1999
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Not sure where to post this - but I'll try here :). We are DVC Members staying at AKL in October. We've opted to fly into TPA as opposed to MCO due to a $800 price difference per ticket!! We always rent a car anyway and it was about $500 cheaper for the five days.

Anywho (sorry I felt the need to justify the TPA decision before the thread went that way) we arrive at 1:00pm or so and would like to grab lunch either on the coast or some place fun in Tampa before we head to Disney. I don't even know if a costal location is doable - but any suggestions? We never are in Tampa and it might be fun to try something new. It's me, DH, and DD (5).

Thanks!!
 
International Plaza at Bay Street is near the airport. Also, westshore plaza is nearby. Both malls have lots of restaurant choices. There is Glazer Children's Museum is about 15 minutes from the airport with restaurants nearby.
 

^^ I was going to recommend the Columbia. It's historical too, good food, awesome fresh baked cuban bread.

Or Spaghetti Warehouse (it's in an old cigar factory building, however the whole area of adjacent cigar factory buildings have been gentrified - it used to be cool shops like an eclectic antique mall).

Spaghetti Warehouse is also in Ybor City (pronounced "ee-boar" not "why-boar"). There is a trolley/street car inside the restaurant (at SW). They have good sourdough bread and amazing garlic butter.
 
There are so many places within 5 min of the airport here it's almost hard to pick just one. I will again say Columbia on 7th street in Ybor. It's about 15 min from the airport.
The coast is do-able but it's about another 30 -40 min from the airport (this is where I am). If you mean fun as in kitchy bar food places, head out towards Clearwater on Rte 60. Hulk Hogan has a bar/restaurant right on 60 on the Courtney Camble bridge on the left as you are headed towards CLWTR. This is about 15 min from the airport and easy access back to the highway.

You could also go to the Hard Rock casino as they have really good places to eat there including the Hard Rock cafe. Easy access from I-4 on and off as well.
 
Thanks guys! This is very helpful.
 
I'll third this place. There is also one in Celebration town center area, if you have been to that one.

I was going to suggest this, too. Get a little closer to the parks and have a glass of sangria.
 
Yeah, if you've never been to Tampa and would really like to get a taste of the history - I would recommend Ybor, as well. If you opt for the Columbia, you should be able to make a reservation at www.opentable.com

Or, you could try the Oxford Exchange, which is across the street from the University of Tampa - which is part of the old "Tampa Bay Hotel" built by Henry Plant in 1891, after he brought the railroad to Tampa. The "Plant Museum" is in the old hotel portion of the university - great history there, too. (And the grounds are lovely, as well - lots of photo ops!)

UT and Ybor City are reasonably close to each other - you could theoretically do both, or at least drive down 7th Avenue on your way back to I-4, before heading to Disney.
 
If you're coming from the airport, and want somewhere 'fun' to eat, I always enjoyed Whiskey Joes (http://www.whiskeyjoestampa.com/whiskeyjoes/default.aspx). It's a short drive and right on the water. The food is good, nothing to write home about, but the atmosphere is definitely fun. I usually sit outside and watch the stingrays and fish swimming around.

Although if you want another conveniently located restaurant that has, in my opinion, the best food in all of central Florida, go to Datz Deli on Macdill Ave (http://www.datztampa.com/). I can't say enough great things about Datz. Everything is made from scratch, they have a great beer/wine selection and you can go next door to Dough (which they also own) and get homemade desserts that are simply to die for.
 
All good options mentioned so far. Here are a couple more:

Edison Food & Drink Lab. Great food around the corner from Oxford Exchange

OysterCatchers: At the Hyatt right next to the airport. Great food and on the water.
 















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