If you're looking for a foodie worthy restaurant to try this weekend, put Pulpo Kitchen + Lounge in…read moreSt. Pete's Grand Central District on your list! The menu is filled with fresh, creative Latin and Peruvian inspired flavors that feel both elevated and fun. The smoked croquettes were crispy little flavor bombs, the tuna was incredibly fresh, and the charred octopus was beautifully tender with smoky edges and layers of bright, herbaceous flavor. And give me a cocktail with a silky egg white foam and I'm happy! The Lavanda blends pisco, Aperol, hibiscus, lavender, ginger, and lemon into one gorgeous, beautifully balanced sip. Everything was spot on, and dessert was absolutely worth saving room for. Pulpo knows how to make dinner feel like an experience!

I recently discovered Pulpo Kitchen & Lounge through an Instagram food influencer. Apparently…read morethey've been around for at least a year, so I'm not sure how I missed them. The food looked fantastic, so I decided to give them a shot. There's a lot to like here. The space is attractive, with the circular bar serving as the centerpiece. The menu is thoughtful, there's a solid wine selection, a few trendy non-alcoholic options, and a beer selection that feels a little like an afterthought. Unfortunately, the food was a mixed bag...and the biggest problem was execution. We started with the Local Gems & Cabrales Blue Cheese Fritters. Two fritters for a shared dish felt a little stingy, and one of mine was fried so thoroughly that the blue cheese had basically packed its bags and left the building. The accompanying salad, however, was excellent. The vegetables were incredibly fresh and beautifully prepared. The Mixed Skewer Asado was better. The steak was tender and flavorful, and the chicken was good. The shrimp, however, was significantly overcooked. Good flavor throughout, but again, execution was inconsistent. The Crispy Pork Belly came with a nice sweet-chili glaze, but the pork itself was overcooked and dry. Pork belly is basically the culinary equivalent of a layup. It's supposed to be rich, juicy and indulgent. This one missed the rim. The Caramelized Acorn Squash was enjoyable, although I wanted considerably more yogurt. The acidity and creaminess would have provided a much needed counterpoint to the sweetness. And then there was the water. The tap water was awful. I don't know what was going on with it, but after one glass I was ready to move on to something bottled. Service was another weak spot. Things started out fine enough, but after our plates were cleared, we waited an absurdly long time for the check. Once you're done eating and sitting there staring at an empty table, five minutes feels like ten...and this was considerably longer than that. Pulpo is a good example of a restaurant where I really wanted to like it more than I did. There are clearly some smart ideas behind the menu, and I appreciate the effort to create something a little different. But thoughtful dishes only get you halfway there. Execution is what separates a good restaurant from a memorable one. And in a downtown dining scene that's increasingly full of restaurants doing similar things, there are plenty of other options nearby that I'd choose before coming back here. Pulpo has potential. I'd just like to see the kitchen tighten things up before I give it another shot.

Red Thread is definitely a vibe! ‍ Great location in St…read more Pete Downtown with convenient parking nearby, delicious food, creative cocktails, and an awesome garden patio that makes the atmosphere feel extra special... The hookahs, great DJs and awesome music, and overall energy make it a St Pete GEM The venue has a great balance of beautiful design, amazing ambiance, and a fun, elevated vibe. It feels perfect for a night out, special event, celebration, or simply enjoying a great experience with friends. The bartenders were amazing, and the customer service was friendly and attentive from start to finish. Great ambiance, great food, great drinks, and great people--definitely a place worth checking out

Finally got the chance to check out this place, and it didn't disappoint! The décor has a beautiful…read moreMiddle Eastern-inspired aesthetic with modern, sophisticated touches and eye-catching patterns throughout. The bar is spacious with multiple bartenders, so getting a drink was quick and easy. There's also a large outdoor patio with a variety of seating options, making it a great spot for larger groups. They serve food, and I believe they also offer hookah, though we were there for one reason only...the dancing! We will definitely be back!

Overall rating: 4.0 Price: $44 w/ tip…read more Visiting from NYC I stopped by here while across checking out the banyon trees. Super fancy but just needed a cool down from the hot weather. Items I ordered: - 1/2 Caesar salad 4/5: good for $8 - Cherry on top (Honey Mascarpone Mousse, Bleeding Black Currant & Cherry Cardamom Compote, Bulgur Tuile, Chocolate Soil): 6/5 delicious - A cocktail I can't remember: it was very sweet Steep price for lunch but I'd go back for the dessert. The seats were uncomfortable though. Don't sit in a booth!

We visited from Lakewood Ranch and had an absolutely wonderful experience! Geoffrey and Italia were…read moreexceptional bartenders, friendly, attentive, and full of personality. They truly made our day trip memorable and made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived. The food was superb, the drinks were excellent, and the service could not have been better. We'll definitely be back and highly recommend stopping by!

10/10 don't sleep on this one. We got the Oyster dozen where you get 1 oyster from each region and…read moreyou eat them in order based on salty level. One may think how do they taste so different? Well THEY DO! They were super clean, fresh, and so much flavor you can eat the right out of the shell with no "additions." The owner is also very passionate about the quality of his food, community, and bringing the local neighborhood pub feel to Central Ave.

WORST bartender I've experienced…read more.. I had an AWFUL experience at Oyster Bar. The bartender Christina was absolutely the worst. My wife ordered a Coastal Crush cocktail and Christina walked over to another customer and loudly complained about having to made that drink, and the took her time making it, it was so very rude. Then after we put our order in she never checked on us again. I watched how she neglected us and several other customers except for one gentleman at the bar that she spent all her time with. I also saw her and the other female bartender with long dark hair doing shots in the corner of the bar and it looked like they were sneaking them, she also seemed a little drunk. I come here often but now I don't want to come on days that she works which is a bummer because she is there often and always this horrible. The other customers at the bar next to us were complaining about her being rude and unattentive to them as well. Finally I got the attention of the other bartender with the long dark hair to close our check which took a bit of effort because she just stood in the corner of the bar not doing anything when she wasn't making drinks for the servers. We really love the food here but cannot stand this kind of service and treatment by the staff and we only like sitting at the bar. We will definitely come more often if she does not work here anymore. This is a real bummer, please do something about it.

Incredible service and ambiance for our group of 15!…read more We did the food family style and were stunned by many of our options. The items that stood out were: whipped feta, ceviche, and pork belly. The wine itself was good but nothing crazy. Although I'm not much of a wine.

I've been dying to try this place and I went on a Saturday night. Lolita's definitely lived up to…read moremy expectations. Our server was super nice and very helpful. I can't wait to come back for brunch

Such a wonderful experience. We decided to try this restaurant as part of Tampa's Restaurant Month…read more It offered 4 courses for 60 dollars. As a first course, I ordered the Mediterranean seared ahi tuna on a grilled crostini. For the second course, I went for the white wine steamed mussels; that sauce was to die for. My third course was the grilled lamb chops, with potatoes, carrots, and mint sauce, also delicious. And finally, I had the chocolate pot de crème, a chocolate mousse to finish off a perfect lunch. Service was great, and those drinks were phenomenal.

Will return. Four…read moremoon explorers touched down yesterday, something moonish would be super appropriate. We have four small plates: - Ahi tuna - Calamari - Flame gilled octopus - Turkish seared Scallops They're all delicious, except that the portions are large. For wine, we have two delicious reds: - Big Bad Cab - Silk n Spice They use Chef Sommerlier stems and FOH tableware. Maybe upgrade the water glasses -:) The decor is subtle, and the service is attentive.

While the food is delicious, the location wonderful, and the view superb, the prices are just too…read morehigh. Enjoy a meal along Beach Drive and leave a few extra minutes for parking or walking and you will find a dozen other restaurants that will give you a better culinary experience.

We had dinner here before a show, and you really can't beat the convenience since it's right inside…read morethe Mahaffey Theater - you go through security, scan your tickets and you're right there. The space is gorgeous! Huge windows with bay views and a massive moon art installation hanging from the ceiling set such a cool atmosphere. Our table was right next to the moon, which made the whole experience feel extra special. Because it was a show night, they were running a condensed menu. I had the grilled Caesar with blackened chicken, but it fell flat. The romaine wasn't chopped, the dressing wasn't tossed and the chicken lacked that bold blackened flavor. My spicy margarita also needed more heat. One of my friends had the fish special and loved it though, so maybe I just chose the wrong dish. Service was slow - our 6 p.m. reservation had us rushing for the 8 p.m. show. Loved the vibe and convenience, but the food and service didn't quite live up to the one-of-a-kind ambiance.

The entire experience here was wonderful. Our server Mario and the manager Javier were so…read moreaccommodating and helpful with recommendations. They really went above and beyond. The ambiance was a vibeeee I absolutely loved the decor. What we ordered: - Conchas al fuego (scallops with a flame the plating was exceptional) - Aji explosion ceviche (HUGE and also insane presentation) - Pork belly ceviche (pork belly fanatics so this was a must for us) - Acevichado roll (the sauce on this roll WOW) - Inca roll (this roll was fried & so unique) - Pulpo a la parrilla (perfectly cooked and the plating was unreal. Potatoes paired perfectly) - Parrilla marina (one of my favs of the night we devoured this) - Pasta en tinta de calamar en salsa a lo macho y mariscos (beware of the squid ink pasta making your teeth back HAHA we didn't realize but delish)

I visited Aji Ceviche in St. Pete and really enjoyed the experience. The restaurant itself is very…read moretrendy, clean, and inviting. I ordered the Arroz con Pato, which features tender duck braised in a cilantro-beer sauce served over green rice, along with papa a la huancaina and criolla sauce. The rice was rich, flavorful, and had a nice level of spice to it. The creamy yellow sauce on the side was absolutely delicious and added a great balance to the dish. The portion was hearty and filling, making it a satisfying meal. My only critique is that I would have liked a bit more duck, as i feel the carb to protein ratio wasn't well balanced Overall, a very enjoyable meal in a beautiful space. I'd definitely come back to try more of the menu.