Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    El Cap Restaurant

    3.5 (598 reviews)
    InexpensiveBurgers, American
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    El Cap Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    EL CAP RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Divey
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials

    You might also consider

    More like El Cap Restaurant

    Recommended Reviews - El Cap Restaurant

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Patricia F.

    Yummy burger, fun and friendly atmosphere at a great price. What more do you need? The fries were just okay. I would ask for a double cooked fry next time.

    'world Champ' Hamburger
    Justin S.

    Like a time capsule, this bar and grill took me right back to my grandmother's kitchen. Their hamburgers reminded me of the ones she used to make; simple, fresh, and real 100% beef. You can tell this place has been around for generations. It opened in 1958, and it looks like it hasn't changed a bit, adding to its nostalgic charm. The "World Champ" burger is a local favorite, and after trying it, I can definitely see why. The service was excellent, and the prices were very reasonable. If you're looking for a classic burger in an old-school atmosphere, this place is well worth a visit.

    Joe C.

    Rare 5 Star Review. An institution, great burger. Saved our lives. I see a good amount of bad pub about the Cap and don't know why. This is the OG burger joint. You to get a burger and fries and nurse off a hangover. Is it the biggest burger, no. Is it executed well, yes. Very nostalgic feel here and the staff is amazing. I felt like I've been going in for years. You can't judge the place against gourmet burger spots like Engine #9. It's not that, it's a flat patty burger with all of fixings with shoestring fries. I suggest getting a double cheeseburger. It's about 15 burgers and very good. Sit at the bar area and grab a crisp draft beer with a burger and I will say I was pretty satisfied. Nostalgia, concept, staff, greasy burgers, beers, and how long it has been open. To me it was close to perfect. Would go back every time we are in the area. Love the CAP! Thanks

    On the patio

    The beef in their hamburgers is SO good! Unlike anywhere else! If you know about In n Out, these are the original, they've been around decades longer!

    'world Champ' Cheeseburger French Fries
    Niki T.

    Such a classic St Pete spot, the burgers are always great as well as the service! Love stoping by this place , it has such a great St. Pete vibes!

    Ken K.

    I used to eat here often when I lived in St Pete. I moved away and now 25 years later I went back. I wasn't disappointed, same great burgers they've been serving for close to 65 years! This place is iconic. It's a bit of a dive bar but if you've never been here... def give it a try. Service was fast and friendly !

    The Ultimate Cheese burger  with bacon, lettuce and tomato
    Bridget B.

    What an amazing burger! No wonder they've been around 60 plus years. If you're in the St Pete aree & want a great old school juicy, perfectly cooked burger El Cap is the bomb I asked for mine medium & it was perfectly cooked. So grateful our nice Server recommended Medium. It truly was so juicy='s messy that my husband said while watching me eat it, I looked like a wild animal eating its prey Worth it as it dripped on to my hands Really friendly and efficient service and delicious onion rings too

    Menu April 2026
    Rob M.

    Great Food, Service & Chill Atmosphere! BEST Hamburger in St Petersburg ! A St Pete Tradition Over 60 Years. Check out the photos they speak volumes. Highly Recommended

    World champ cheese burger
    Destiny H.

    I was in the mood for a burger and wanted to try somewhere new, so El Cap popped up as a recommendation. The inside is very spacious with multiple rooms, which was nice. We started with the homemade mozzarella sticks--crispy and flavorful, and you get six pieces. I ordered the World Champ cheeseburger with the works and added a basket of fries, and everything came out delicious. Our server, Eva, was super pleasant and sweet to talk to, which made the experience even better. Overall, great food at a fair price point. Would definitely come back!

    Linnea E.

    No muss, no fuss at El Cap! It's a charming local spot with a lot of character - it gives diner, mixed with local bar, with a little beach side dive thrown in. Not a wide ranging menu, but sometimes you just need a burger and fries. Now I wouldn't say it's the "best burger" I've ever had but it was pretty good and definitely hit the spot. Everything is a la cart ordering so if you want em don't forget to order fries!

    Cheeseburger with Bacon
    Geoffrey W.

    Had a single cheeseburger with bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion. Burger was great cooked to a medium rare and the bacon had a nice chew to it without being too crispy. Burger was a little hard to eat with the LTO the buns kept sliding around. But the flavor was great and the fries were hot and crispy. Also best price for a pint of Yuengling I've seen in town at $4

    El Cap Restaurant - Neon Sign
    Diane H.

    The El Cap Restaurant is the kind of place that should have been featured on television programs about iconic charmers in St. Petersburg. I think this place has been open for decades and it is clear locals love this restaurant. There is both indoor and patio seating, as well as a bar. We had received several recommendations to try this restaurant. There is plenty of parking in the rear of the property. We were greeted promptly and advised to sit anywhere we wanted. Menus were already at the table. Our drink order was promptly delivered and the service is swift. I ordered the World Champ Hamburger with mushrooms and swiss cheese. My dining companion ordered the World Champ Hamburger with lettuce, tomato, pickles and onions. The burgers were cooked to our preferences. We split an order of fries that were perfectly crispy. This may be one of the best budget meals in St. Petersburg and a long time classic. I recommend it!

    Cheeseburger
    Meg H.

    Flavorful classic cheeseburger that you can't go wrong with. The burger was freshly made with the right amount of the thickness and the cheese was perfectly melted over the patty. We ordered a side of tots and corn dog bites which was a nice complement to the meal. One of the best burger joints in the Tampa Bay region. Service was quick and efficient. Plenty of spaces to sit inside and outside.

    See all

    12 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Katie H.

    Katie H.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Katie H.

    Katie H.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Katie H.

    Katie H.

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Joe C.
    2819
    1621
    814

    8 months ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1
    Photo of P E.
    0
    61
    113

    9 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Katie H.

    Katie H.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Katie H.

    Katie H.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Katie H.

    Katie H.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Katie H.

    Katie H.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Diane H.
    2
    170
    667

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Meg H.
    83
    22
    48

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of S. T.
    0
    32
    11

    2 months ago

    Sadly it's gone to shit! Service is horrible (entire staff is in the 60+ club) Prices are ridiculous now and food is just ok!

    Business owner information

    Photo of Katie H.

    Katie H.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lindsay G.
    389
    285
    753

    7 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of John G.
    0
    39
    41

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of R B.
    0
    92
    1

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Katie H.

    Katie H.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Our burger was good. Service was fast. We ate outside which was a nice option. Recommend.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Classic burgers in Long time local establishment. Major league baseball players used to stop by during spring training.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bill M.
    194
    1846
    14872

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2
    Photo of Myrna B.
    60
    63
    59

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 15

    El Cap Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - El Cap Restaurant

    You might also consider

    Engine No 9

    Engine No 9

    4.4
    (1.6k reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$

    I don't eat burgers often, although I love them, so when I do it's gotta be good…read more We went to Engine No 9 for the 4th of July, and it was outstanding! We arrived at 5:30 and it was packed, but a table opened for us within two minutes. The ambiance was awesome, with each table having its own miniTV! Guests didn't have to choose between watching Wimbledon or the World Cup (or anything else they chose). Such a clever idea and probably great for entertaining kids, too. The server was prompt and friendly, and we got our drinks and app ordered immediately. We split the corn dog as an appetizer (felt right for 4th of July), and my husband declared it was one of the best he ever had. A great ratio of the sweet fried dough and salty hot dog. Definitely a reasonable portion to split as an appetizer and still have room for an entree. We got the tomato and corn salad as a side, which was a nice palate cleanser. I got the bacon cheeseburger (sub a pretzel bun, which you can absolutely do) and my husband got the Van Helsing. Both were excellent. He got regular fries and I got sweet potato fries and a side salad, also fantastic. My meal was exactly what I wanted - a classically delicious cheeseburger (I removed the bacon and put it on my side salad, which I highly recommend). My husband's had perfectly cooked garlic cloves and a nice zest with the jalapeños. They also had a great tap list to go wash everything down! We left stuffed but not feeling like we were going to die. It was a wonderful experience for start to finish and we'll be back!

    Went here based on reviews and recommendations and it did not disappoint. I was lucky to get a seat…read moreat the bar because it was packed at 6 pm on a Friday night. I got the crispy duck wings (and do not know why I didn't take a picture ) but they were very crispy and very good. They came with 2 sauces, which I did not try because they said they were a bit spicy and I don't like spicy, but they were plenty good on their own. I ordered the One Bad Pig with a side of sweet potato fries and of course had to get an extra side of tator tots because I love them. The burger was very good and juice, hard to eat because it's so big, but I managed to do it. The tots were crispy just like I like them and the fries were your typical sweet potato fries but very good. The service was attentive and good and it seemed to be a local crowd and was a nice vibe. It is off the beaten path so not too touristy but the locals know about it so it gets crowded. I highly recommend this place for a burger if you are wanting one!!

    Photos
    Full service bar with frosted mugs for the beer that they have to offer
    Full service bar with frosted mugs for the beer that they have to offer
    Curly Fries
    Curly Fries
    Bacon cheeseburger

    See all

    Bacon cheeseburger
    Tower 10 Burger

    Tower 10 Burger

    4.8
    (36 reviews)
    2.3 mi

    Finally tried Tower 10 Burger and it definitely lived up to the hype! I had the Tower 10 Doubler…read morewith the loaded fries, and both were so good. The burger was juicy with perfectly crispy edges, and the loaded fries were packed with flavor. Everything tasted fresh, and the portions were generous. If you're a smash burger fan, this spot is a must-try. I'll definitely be back! What I ordered - Tower 10 Double: Two house blend patties, Tower 10 Sauce, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion served on a potato bun - Loaded Fries: House fries topped with Tower 10 Sauce, grilled onions, and melted cheese

    My wife and I have been to Tower 10 at least 3 times now because they have a consistent rotation at…read moreCommon Dialect Brewery in Seminole Heights. The first time we were so excited to go and try what looked like they would be out of this world smash burgers... MANNNNNNNNNN they did not disappoint! Hence why we've returned time and time again. The burgers are so perfectly smashed, they're bigger than the bun so you get all that extra crunchy goodness around the edges. The flavor of the sauce is amazing and compliments perfectly. Not only that, but they have great fries! I always get the loaded fries which come with their caramelized onions and cheese sauce. Cue the droolingggg. It's hit or miss if there is going to be a long line but somehow my wife and I have always gotten lucky to get there juuust before everyone else. Service is always very friendly and efficient. As for ambiance, they can't really account for that since they are a food truck but Common Dialect has plenty of seating if you want to stay, have a beer, and eat your food. Now, I cannot wait to try their tacos! Fingers crossed they make it to Tampa sometime soon!

    Photos
    Tower 10 Burger
    Tower 10 Burger
    At corporate ladder.

    See all

    At corporate ladder.
    Brick & Mortar

    Brick & Mortar

    4.5
    (609 reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$

    I cannot say enough good things about this place. This has got to be one of the best restaurants in…read moreSt Pete. We've been here several times for dinner, but they just keep getting better and better. It's the cutest cozsey little place right on central and the service is always on point. Most recently, my husband and I came for dinner. We started with the burrata and plum special as well as the tuna tartare for appetizers. When I tell you I will dream about the burrata appetizer. It was that good. The tuna was delicious as well and we loved the shrimp chips and how they were shaped like little tacos to make your own tuna tacos! For dinner, I got the branzino and my husband got the cheeseburger with truffle fries. Both entrees were incredible. No notes. Then we got three desserts...we had the lemon tart and the donut bread pudding while at the restaurant and we got a chocolate cake to go. All of the desserts were delicious. However, the donut bread pudding exceeded any expectations I had for that dessert when I ordered it. I legitimately am considering coming back next weekend just for the bread pudding.

    Our second visit, we brought family from out of town. Apps-of Roasted Octopus & Truffle Fries…read moreMeals- Braised Shortribs Mushroom cav / W seared scallops Lamb lollipops w/ side of Brussel Sprouts 2 - Braised Shortribs Spicy Crabmeat Pasta dish Drinks - Pelligrino x2 Seated Immediately in one of the back rooms, they appreciate a call ahead although not a reservation it helps them prepare for your party. Service was excellent, this team of "OG's" work together and help each other out, which makes for a great atmosphere of camaraderie and it's fantastic! Food was excellent, our server was quick with menu recommendations and great with upselling a few menu items! This is why we comeback again. Get in here and try them out! Party of 5 with tip ran about 340$ and we were happy to pay it! Bravo. You have made our "Top Five" regular rotation list! Keep up the good work!

    Photos
    Brick & Mortar
    Brick & Mortar
    Outdoor dining

    See all

    Outdoor dining
    Black Cattle Burger

    Black Cattle Burger

    4.0
    (79 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$

    Alright y'all, here we go with another episode of Just How Food Goes!…read more This stop brought me to Black Cattle Burger Co. at 17 3rd St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, and I was excited to see what all the hype was about. The staff was incredibly welcoming from the moment I walked in. Since it was my first visit, they took the time to explain the menu and recommend some of their favorites. After hearing about it, I decided to try The Black Pearl burger with a side of fries. The Black Pearl is perfect if you enjoy mushrooms on your burger. Every bite was juicy, flavorful, and satisfying without being overly heavy. The combination of flavors worked really well together, and I can definitely see why it's one of their signature burgers. The fries were thick, hot, and paired nicely with the meal. The restaurant itself was clean, had a great atmosphere, and made for a fun late-night stop. While I really enjoyed my meal, it didn't quite reach that unforgettable level that earns a 9 or 10 from me. It was a solid burger, great customer service, and an enjoyable experience overall. Overall Rating: 7/10. Would I come back? Absolutely. There's still plenty on the menu I'd like to try, and I always believe every restaurant deserves more than one visit. That's Just How Life Goes... and of course, Just How Food Goes.

    What only made this place okay? I ordered the half calf single add lettuce. There was an up charge…read morefor lettuce and it had just a few wilted shreds of iceberg. Also, the single is not enough meat for the amount of bun. My partner on the other hand got the black pearl double - which he loved. The meat to bun ratio was much better but I personally thought it still lacked flavor. Now the fries, get those. Get a few orders. They're so good! They're like steak fries on the verge of being potato wedges and a large portion . I would go just for those

    Photos
    Entrance
    Entrance
    GTFOH LATE NIGHT BOX
    GTFOH LATE NIGHT BOX
    Signage

    See all

    Signage

    El Cap Restaurant - burgers - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...