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    Friendly Tarpon Tavern

    4.3 (24 reviews)
    InexpensiveDive Bars, Sports Bars
    Open 11:30 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)

    Friendly Tarpon Tavern Photos

    Business Info

    FRIENDLY TARPON TAVERN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Live music
    Divey
    Happy hour specials
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Friendly Tarpon Tavern

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    Reviews With Photos

    Orlando M.

    Great Friendly Tarpon atmosphere. Definitely one of the best pizza I've had in Tampa. Nice a crunchy. Service and beers are great!

    Lori S.

    Wonderful, laid back atmosphere, nicely decorated, friendly owners and server, great chips and queso, delicious rum and juice concoction, really good music

    a can of lagunha lite
    Brad S.

    Maybe youve passed by this place on Gandy Blvd in South Tampa a million times. Next time, stop in. Its a great fun bar. Not exactly a dive, but with a similar feel. Its very clean and smoke free. The inside is warm and woody. There is a cool back patio where you can relax and watch games, if thats your thing. Not mine. The bartenders are all old school. The drinks are strong and prices are low. Restrooms are clean. Parking in front is tight. But apparently you can park next door at ABC Liquor and not get towed. There is live music on weekends to enhance the overall vibe.

    Sharing a good time watching college football with family!

    LOVE... small, local bars! This one has promise... it thankfully changed owners and now is getting a makeover. Reasonable beer and wine prices... bar bites as well! J.j. and Katie (bartenders) are super sweet and fun!!! Pool table, darts and a small stage in back for live music.. and of course T.V.'s ... inside and outside.... Go by and check it out... you may want to be one a regular... I do!!

    a can of beer and a surfboard

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    Photo of AJ S.
    89
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    4 months ago

    Business owner information

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    Friendly Tarpon T.

    Thank you for coming by!

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    Photo of Joe C.
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    6 months ago

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    Friendly Tarpon T.

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    7 months ago

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    Friendly Tarpon T.

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    Photo of Lori S.
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    1 year ago

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    Friendly Tarpon T.

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    2 years ago

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    Friendly Tarpon T.

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    3 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    Friendly Tarpon T.

    Thank you, Laura! We are glad you are one of our regulars :)

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    Photo of Ea T.
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    2 years ago

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    Friendly Tarpon T.

    Thank you! Glad to hear you will be back. Come see us anytime!

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    6 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    Friendly Tarpon T.

    Thank you so much for coming!

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Great place to drop in, hang out and watch football! Indoor has a fun vibe and outdoor porch with tvs and a stage for local live music.

    Business owner information

    Photo of Friendly Tarpon T.

    Friendly Tarpon T.

    Thanks, Laura Jane!

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    Photo of Todd C.
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    5 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Awesome owner and staff, reasonably priced drinks, great music and sports on all TV's...my favorite!

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    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
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    7 years ago

    Helpful 8
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    6 years ago

    Great place to watch football. You can sit outside and watch the games. Good prices and friendly people and excellent service.

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    9 years ago

    Friendliest beer joint in the Gandy area. Rays game is always on. Cold beer and pet friendly. Cheers to that!

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    8 years ago

    Great bar, excellent staff that will take care of their patrons! A must go if you like dive bars with character.

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    8 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    Ask the Community - Friendly Tarpon Tavern

    Review Highlights - Friendly Tarpon Tavern

    As first time customers at Barefoot Billy's, we cannot say and thank you enough for showing our group a great time and making us feel right at home.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

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    Dead Bob's Too - Wings

    Dead Bob's Too

    4.0(112 reviews)
    2.2 miWestshore

    Your name alone brings a smile on my face…read more I had a month where I would just end up spawning here. No rhyme or reason but with I'm not upset about it, I just happened to stumble through the door. But name a better place to do so at? At late hours, yeah, you can't buddy. First go around here really rocked my world. Almost scared me. You are telling me I can get a chicken corndon blue sandwhich as well as a miller highlife and deep fried tots? Ok yeah sure let's do it. But that's not the end. The menu is extensive, the bag is deep and filled with tricks. Daily specials, yup. Dessert, yup. Full bar, yup. It's a fun spot. Inside/outside seating. Green iguana next door. Yeah a dangerous duo. Kobe and Shaq vibes. Vintage Bron and D-wade. Give it a go. Get off that Water St. pedestal you are on. Visit a real dive bar and live your life.

    Told All-Star Elite Dave W about my recent lunch at Dead Bob's new location in St Petersburg and…read morewhen he discovered that there was a Tampa location our next lunch get together was unanimous. This location isn't as swamped as the St Petersburg location. There was plenty of parking and lots of room to sit down. We chose to sit at the bar. Dave W ordered a fruity mocktail (Bartender's choice), and I ordered a fruity cocktail (Bartender's choice). The drink I got was 'Sex On The Beach' ($3.25). The cocktail was tasty with a slight kick. Later I ordered another and told her to make it a double ($5.25). The second drink had a big kick! I ordered the Shrimp Dinner ($14.77) choosing to have the shrimp grilled and it came with broccoli and yellow rice. I substituted fries for the rice. Dead Bob's fries are special. The shrimp didn't look grilled to me. That cost them a star. Other than that I have no complaints about the service or atmosphere.

    Photos
    Dead Bob's Too
    Dead Bob's Too - Nat's Double D's chicken sandwhich

    Nat's Double D's chicken sandwhich

    Dead Bob's Too - Cheesy Bob Burger

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    Cheesy Bob Burger

    1983 - Loaded Waffle Fries

    1983

    3.2(97 reviews)
    2.0 miPalma Ceia
    $$

    The food here is just ok and a little overpriced for the execution…read more The service is inconsistent but we've been few times since its near by and we love the ambiance

    Overall, I enjoyed the experience, but I wish I liked the food more…read more We came on a Saturday morning for brunch. I was really worried about parking because I remembered what it was like with that early on, but it seems like their parking has expanded. I think it's because it's now right next to a fitness studio that together they realize they needed a lot more parking, so there is quite a bit of parking in the parking lot behind it. That being said the restaurant wasn't that crowded so I don't know what it's like when both the restaurant and the fitness studio is crowded, but for a Saturday brunch, we had no issues finding a parking spot. We primarily came because the kids wanted to try the arcade. We got super lucky that the kids went into the arcade before a birthday party started. Once the birthday party started, they put out a sign that said there was a private event so it was completely closed to the public. That would've been such a disappointment so if you are really looking forward to the arcade like my kids are, I think it's worth a call ahead of time to make sure there is no private event that has booked that space. Overall, I wish I like the food better. The pretzel board was delicious and definitely a highlight. I got a mint tea that was absolutely amazing. At first. I felt like it was a little too sweet, but I really warmed up to it. Next time I should ask though for the sweetener on the side for me to control the sweetness level. I got the steak hash, and I wasn't a big fan. The steak was slightly over salted, although it was cooked perfectly. The potato hash was huge chunks of potatoes, so I just felt like it was a major potato overload. Overall, for the price of the dish, I thought it would be much better. I think fewer potatoes would have made it better, because the meat if it wasn't over salted would have been quite good. I got my eggs sunny side up and they were cooked perfectly. I really appreciate their kids menu, it has pictures of all the food so the kids were able to look at the pictures to choose. They both wanted their own pizza, one with fries, the other with fruit. The fries were delicious my son love them, the fruit was also good. They both only ate one slice of their pizza so we definitely could've gotten them one pizza to share. I got them both gummy bear lemonade, and it was actually quite sour to my surprise. We asked to switch out one lemonade for a Coke when my older son wouldn't drink it. I was surprised that we ended up being charged for both the Coke and the gummy bear lemonade when he didn't drink it. However, overall, our service was fantastic so I'm not going to let that small thing dampen my review of the service. My husband got the Caesar wrap, he really enjoyed it. He got truffle fries, which ended up being a good call because my older son ate all the fries. My husband got a margarita and really liked it. Overall, I think they do drinks well here. We sat outside and it was gorgeous. It's fully covered. We didn't feel that hot and they do have TV so you can watch sports. I do love the decor of this place overall. This isn't a place that we are running to come back to you, but I do believe we will be back in the future.

    Photos
    1983 - Stunning interior

    Stunning interior

    1983 - Buffalo flatbread

    Buffalo flatbread

    1983 - Stellar sign outside ft the moon

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    Stellar sign outside ft the moon

    Friendly Tarpon Tavern - divebars - Updated June 2026

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