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    Friendly Tarpon Tavern

    4.3 (25 reviews)
    InexpensiveDive Bars, Sports Bars
    Closed 11:30 am - 11:00 pm

    Friendly Tarpon Tavern Photos

    Business Info

    FRIENDLY TARPON TAVERN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Live music
    Divey
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Friendly Tarpon Tavern

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    Hot dog and tots
    Chelsea O.

    Friendly Tarpon is a true hidden gem dive bar in Tampa. It's got everything you want in a no-frills spot--pool tables, darts, table games, and just the right amount of grit. The bartenders are always extremely friendly and keep the vibe laid-back and welcoming. As far as bar food goes, the hot dog is a top-tier glizzy--simple, classic, and surprisingly legit. Perfect place to kick back, play a few games, and enjoy a solid dog and a cold drink.

    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.
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    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Friendly Tarpon T.

    Friendly Tarpon T.

    Thank you for coming by!

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    29 days ago

    My favorite local bar! Everyone is so down to earth and different social events each day.

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    Photo of Joe C.
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    9 months ago

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    Friendly Tarpon T.

    Helpful 2
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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    10 months ago

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    Friendly Tarpon T.

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    Photo of Lori S.
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    2 years 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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    4 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Friendly Tarpon T.

    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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    3 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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    3 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.

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    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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    5 years ago

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

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    9 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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    9 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(115 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 - Train whoever cleans this area better.

    Train whoever cleans this area better.

    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 Restaurant, Bar & Arcade - Loaded Waffle Fries

    1983 Restaurant, Bar & Arcade

    3.2(111 reviews)
    2.0 miPalma Ceia
    $$

    I visited 1983 with a group of 8 for the final game in the World Cup. We were able to make a…read morereservation a few days in advance and sit at our wonderful table facing approximately 10 screens for the entire game. The restaurant handled the crowd of hungry and thirsty patrons exceptionally. Food, drinks and checks came quickly. We had two kids under 12 with us and the arcade did not disappoint. 1983 has figured out a way to enjoy food, a game day and occupy kids at the same time.

    I'll give it 1star because it's a beautiful place, they definitely put a lot of money into it and…read moreit has such potential. We went once and it just simply wasn't good, all 3 of us were unimpressed with the food and drink. Service was good though. Then neighbors of ours wanted to go so we gave it a 2nd chance and this experience was even worse. I mean we were literally looking around thinking we were being pranked It's disappointing because it has such potential but it just not hitting the mark. Menu needs to be redone (better options) because the options really don't suit everyone... we were all having a hard time finding even one good option. Chicken piccata should have piccata sauce (capers and such) what I received was bland and flavorless. Sushi was alright, fresh, but very basic (could use some flavor) Martini flight- I don't even know where to start, it's this big metal floral display that they sit in front of you and it completely blocks your view making it hard to talk to who you're dining with (the cosmo was awful, none of us could drink it) the Lychee martini was delish. The dirty martini was so watered down that it just tasted like melted ice and olive juice... it tasted like what was left over in the shaker after an actual dirty martini was poured. Lastly, we all received our meals at different times so there was this awkward feeling of do I eat when others don't have food, but I need to eat before it gets cold.... So I eat and I'm completely finished before two people even have food. The waitress was apologetic and sweet... she felt bad and even looked embarrassed by the food. Also this place is fairly pricey, so I just expected better‍

    Photos
    1983 Restaurant, Bar & Arcade - Stunning interior

    Stunning interior

    1983 Restaurant, Bar & Arcade - Buffalo flatbread

    Buffalo flatbread

    1983 Restaurant, Bar & Arcade - Stellar sign outside ft the moon

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    Stellar sign outside ft the moon

    Riveters Tampa - Riveters at Night

    Riveters Tampa

    4.3(328 reviews)
    4.8 miWest Tampa
    $$
    Outdoor seating
    Full bar

    Great food, atmosphere and excellent customer service. All top notch in my opinion. Me and my wife…read morelike trying new restaurants every weekend and this one was an excellent choice. It's kinda like a sports bar, which is the best way I can describe it but it's not overkill. They have indoor and outdoor seating and a bar inside and out. We had our pups with us and fyi they are very dog friendly. We both decided on a breakfast burger while I ordered onion strings and my wife had fries with hers. I had some delicious sweet tea and my wife had soda water with limes. The had chicken bowls for the pups that came with a lot of chicken. The service was beyond amazing, our server was always there when we needed her and she check on us a lot but not overkill. It was mid afternoon on a Saturday but although it was fairly busy it was loud. The manager came over and talked to us for a few minutes and he was very pleasant. I don't remember his name or our servers name but the entire staff seemed happy to be there. This business is near the stadium surrounded by a lot of businesses, so use your gps to locate it. I'm sure you will enjoy it here and I strongly recommend it.

    The place was really cool. Retro back to the WW II timeframe. There is an old transport Army truck…read moreoutside with a lot of memorabilia inside. Great decor, but the big fans were a bit much. I typically do not get chilly but it was cold to me. The food was really good. I had the bacon wrapped meatloaf. I loved it. My friend hade the pineapple steak. She said it was very good. The waitress we had was very good. Attentive and helped with my beer selection. She did great. The place would have gotten 5 stars if not for it being very chilly and the music was on the loud side.

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    Riveters Tampa
    Riveters Tampa - Lots of TVs

    Lots of TVs

    Riveters Tampa - Inside bar area.

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    Inside bar area.

    Top Shelf Sports Lounge - Top Shelf Breakfast Burger available for brunch in downtown Tampa

    Top Shelf Sports Lounge

    4.3(102 reviews)
    4.4 miDowntown Tampa
    $$

    Happy Hour Monday - Friday 3pm-7pm Late Night Happy Hour…read moreSunday - Thursday 10pm-Close Taco Tuesday - 4pm-Close Wing Wednesday - 25% off wings; All draft beers $5 Wednesday's Trivia night starts at 7:30pm Ladies Night - Monday & Thursday 6pm-close Live music last Friday of the month 6pm-9pm Sundays 50% off your bill for first responders, nurses, teachers, military, & restaurant workers Ok, now I listed off most of the specials on the big sign right before walking in. However, I've been pretty underwhelmed every time I've come here. I really want to love their wings, but Hattricks is just in another stratosphere compared to everywhere else in Tampa Bay. I got 16 wings for $30 - 25% = $22.50 and I had half "soon to be famous" and half garlic parmesan. I thought both were just okay at best. I also tried at $14 dirty martini. It was pretty standard. And I tried the $15 espresso martini. I would not order an espresso martini here again. I enjoyed playing trivia and there are a bunch of TV's to watch a game. I guess I need to try something here other than wings. I don't know every time I come here I always wonder why I'm not at Hattricks instead. Automatic 20% tip added onto your bill if you forget to close out.

    Was expecting a run of the mill sports bar. Far from it, lunch time and not too crowded and very…read moregood service. Seated without a wait, as well as the server was there with menus and drink orders. Had the Cuban and very tasty and toasty bread. I am not a fan of Pulled Pork and what was with Salami? Great portion and price point. Would go back as my friend had a Sloppy Joe and it looked great.

    Photos
    Top Shelf Sports Lounge - Seating

    Seating

    Top Shelf Sports Lounge - Soon to be famous grilled wings

    Soon to be famous grilled wings

    Top Shelf Sports Lounge - Top Shelf Breakfast Burger available for brunch in downtown Tampa

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    Top Shelf Breakfast Burger available for brunch in downtown Tampa

    Bel Mar Saloon - Chips queso pico

    Bel Mar Saloon

    4.2(97 reviews)
    1.9 miSouth Tampa
    $$

    Let me set the scene: it's a Friday night, and the only thing on my agenda is to consume food with…read morea few friends and their kids hanging with the family. So naturally, we decided to summon the mighty powers of Uber Eats and order from the legendary Bellmare Saloon. The moment the doorbell rang, I felt like I just won a food lottery. I've ordered a spread that could feed a small army: Cuban egg rolls and tacos that are about to change my life. First up, the Cuban egg rolls. These little bundles of joy are so good they should come with a warning label: "May cause spontaneous happy dances." It's as if the culinary gods took all the deliciousness of a Cuban sandwich, rolled it up, and decided, "Why not? Let's make it an egg roll!" The crispy exterior gave way to a savory, meaty filling that hit me right in the nostalgia and the taste buds. I grabbed one and suddenly felt like I was at a Miami street party--complete with the salsa music in my head. Now, onto the tacos. These aren't just tacos; they're an adult party in a tortilla. I ordered three different kinds, thinking I could share (who was I kidding?). The carne asada was marinated better than I ever am on a Friday night. And those toppings? Fresh salsa, creamy avocado, and a sprinkle of queso that would make even the dullest of evenings sparkle like a disco ball. I was practically in a food romance; I savored every bite like I was saying goodbye to an old friend. You know the feeling of regret after polishing off an entire pizza alone? Well, I had absolutely zero of that after my Bellmare order. I felt like I'd achieved something beautiful and triumphant, like I just unlocked a new level in the game of life. And let's not forget my delivery hero from Uber Eats, who arrived with a grin like they were my food fairy godparent. If only they could magically whisk away the dishes afterward! So, to anyone contemplating whether they should dive into the deliciousness of Bellmare Saloon via Uber Eats: stop deliberating, hit that order button, and prepare to embark on a flavor adventure that could easily become part of your adulting highlights reel. In the great words of taco connoisseurs everywhere: life's too short for bland food. Treat yourself, and may your weekends be filled with Cuban egg rolls and tacos that don't judge you for not sharing!

    Good sports bar with bar food at a fair price. You can dine in, pick up, or have delivered via food…read moredelivery apps. There are seating options indoors and outdoors with plenty of tvs on at all times. The table shared the Famous Matt's Mix wings, which are wings seasoned with a mix of garlic parmesan, hot (buffalo sauce), and cajun seasonings/sauces. They mostly take like buffalo with parmesan cheese but are good. For my main I had the philly cheesesteak with curly fries. It was alright but not my favorite. The cheesesteak was small and the cheese was hard/ dried out. It left me feeling hungry and I ended up ordering more food to go with my dinner. I've previously had the quesadillas and wraps and would recommend those over the cheesesteak; specially the blackened chicken quesadilla and the chicken caesar wrap. When I arrived and checked in on Yelp I was surprised to find a 25% off offer which was very nice.

    Photos
    Bel Mar Saloon - Exterior Sign

    Exterior Sign

    Bel Mar Saloon - Philly cheesesteak

    Philly cheesesteak

    Bel Mar Saloon

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    Friendly Tarpon Tavern - divebars - Updated September 2026

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