I've eaten here for decades! It's waterfront, good food, great service and always a drink made the old fashion way. You can't beat the ease in location just off the Courtey Cambell tucked back on the water front! Sit back and dine in leisure as you relax watching the ebb and flow of Tampa Bay!!! read more

Okay, so to start with why I'm giving this 3 stars. We came here for my best friends Bach party and they made a reservation for 8:30 pm. They say us 30 minutes after our reservation time and were extremely unorganized in seating our party. The other reason I'm giving 3 stars is the outrageous prices. I got it, it's seafood and a fancy restaurant but it was still I'd say 5-10$ over priced per dish. We waited at the bar, which thankfully was friendly and served us all while we waited. The berry mojito was delicious! So we were sat at a table by the water in a separate room that held larger parties. We sat at a round table and they were able to accommodate splitting the bill between our party of 11. Our waitress was awesome! To start, we had calamari and the seafood tower. The seafood tower came with shrimp, crab, lobster, and oysters with dipping sauce. There was no melted butter for the crab legs. It was $85, which to me seemed extremely overpriced - you got about $50 worth of seafood maybe. The calamari was delicious. Their cocktail sauce was also really good. Everyone who got the swordfish ate it all, it was the favorite of the table. The vegetable platter was a big no, they said it would have been a good side dish but not for a main meal - great presentation though. The shrimp risotto was okay, it was kind of like fried rice not really risotto underneath and the shrimp still had a fishy taste. The steak was good and of course the 50/50 potatoes were amazing - can never go wrong with those. Overall wouldn't come again due to the pricing but we had a great night! read more

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This was a very pleasant experience. The drinks are phenomenal! Not only are they beautiful they are tasty. The food is pretty good. The only thing that I sent back was the calamari I feel like the calamari is too small to fry because it's overdone and when I received it and it was cold. Either way the taste was good I just didn't enjoy it. The conch fritters are a must they are so good and I got a grouper sandwich that was delightful. The West Coast oysters were shucked and clean very well and the champagne mignonette was great. Overall, I did enjoy my experience here. The service was good. The restaurant is very pretty and big. I will return. read more

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My wife and I made a reservation for the Rusty Pelican for a nice anniversary dinner next to the ocean. The greeter saw that we were celebrating our anniversary and asked us to wait just a couple additional minutes, she was able to secure us a window seat so we could have a wonderful view of the sunset, great service great food! read more

No reservations made so we just happened to select Rusty Pelican to celebrate Mother's Day. Sometimes happenstance is a good thing! The restaurant.is gorgeous with views of Tampa Bay from every window. We were greeted and seated right away. Our server, Julianna was very nice, attentive and patient, explaining the Mother's Day menu. We passed on the bottomless mimosas and glad we did because the food was plentiful, rich and flavorful. Juliana was extremely helpful in that my husband has shellfish allergies so she made sure he didn't eat anything by mistake so his lips didn't swell. No Epipen needed today! Make sure you ask to sit in Julianna's section. read more

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This is place was amazing! The food was top notch and service was great! We got the grilled octopus and oysters for an app. Dinner was the blackened swordfish and whole snapper. We will be back. It was busting and hopping on a Friday. read more

Rusty Pelican - Whole snapper! Amazing! - Seafood Near Me - Tampa, Florida

This was my second time visiting this place. I came back specifically for the Hangover Hash and it did not disappoint. Service was excellent, our server didn't make us feel rushed and was very personable. Got seated right along the window so we had a fantastic view. I'm biased with this dish. It's essentially pot roast with the good kind of hash browns (crispy, not soggy). Parking is a little annoying because it's only valet, but the food is delicious. read more

Rusty Pelican - Hangover Hash - Seafood Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Mixed experience. Ambience and service were excellent. We came with a party of 10, seated exactly at our reservation time and most of dinner was prompt and attentive. View/ambience 10/10 Craft cocktails 8/10 - well made and creative Apps 8/10 - octopus, calamari, roasted brussels were all delicious Entree - 3/10 - sea bass was perfectly seasoned and cooked well. However, the forbidden rice bed was vastly under cooked with crunchy texture (the chef did not know how to cook rice) and excessively salty to the point of inedible. Dessert 7/10 - we had the toffee pudding, key lime pie, and chocolate lava cake. All were delightful. Most likely will not come back due to the availability of so many other options in the Tampa Bay Area with a more refined food experience for similar pricing. read more

Rusty Pelican Tampa: The location is amazing as it sits right on the water. Upscale bar and restaurant decor. Our waitress, "Jari", was attentive and welcoming. I had the Lobster and Shrimp Mango Salad. It was fresh and delicious. Lobster can be hit or miss in general, but this was super fresh and prepared perfectly. Steak Frites was a big hit with our party as well. Definitely would recommend read more

Rusty Pelican - Seafood Near Me - Tampa, Florida

The ambiance, views, service and food were 5 stars all the way! It was my husband's 70th birthday and it was a perfect evening. We have been to this restaurant for special occasions over 25 years and it really doesn't disappoint! We loved the new interior designs, just lovely! read more

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We had a wonderful and romantic Valentine's dinner at Rusty Pelican. They had a special menu that was delicious along with relaxed, well-timed service. Typically Valentine's Day is a hurried dinner rush with crowds at most restaurants but we didn't experience any of that during our visit. Our salad of fresh tomatoes, grilled peaches, and Burretta mozzarella was flavorful. For appetizers, we selected grilled octopus and wagyu beef short ribs - both were absolutely amazing! The octopus was perfectly grilled and tender. Our entree of crab stuffed lobster was yummy and served with huge asparagus. My bf's steak was perfectly seasoned and grilled. We were stuffed but found the dessert tower beautifully prepared and decorated. The Rusty Pelican never fails for romance and a perfect evening out! read more

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If you want wonderful seafood with beautiful water views, this is the place to be!! Pros: Sheila took amazing care of us. Never felt rushed, but water was always filled and needs were attended to. Seafood was fresh and delicious. Oysters were melt in your mouth, and I swear I'll be eating that lobster tail for days. Cons: bathrooms were not very clean, veggies and rice slightly over cooked. Definitely will give it another try. read more

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I do not recommend this place if you are handicap requiring a wheelchair ramp or handrails to walk up an incline. We went for Mother's Day brunch. We valeted our vehicle, we were a few cars back from the entrance. As we got to the front, we noticed there was no wheelchair ramp. (Due to a neurological condition my mother cannot walk for long distances). I asked where the ramp enter was and the valet guy said oh, we don't have a ramp to which I replied, ok so how do we get in??? Another valet guy advised we had to go around the building to another entrance. Ok, fine. We go to the designated location, however, we cannot reach the ramp. Cars were parked in the handicap parking spots, on and over the lines. The wheel chair could not fit between the cars because they were all so closely parked. I walked back around to the front and asked that they move the cars so we could get through. I thought by law, those spaces were supposed to be kept free and clear?? As we reached the top of the ramp, it was not a good looking sight or smell. The handicap entrance is by the garbage dumpsters. It was not pleasant. Opened the door to walk inside and unfortunately, that was not pleasant either. It was poorly lit, dirty and walls were all scratched up. I've included pictures as reference. I didn't get the car parking situation. For all of these reasons, I have 1 star. Food was pretty good, no real complaints there. The server was nice, but he was confused / flustered on many things. One person in our party ordered café con leche, the server said you wan now, with a confused look, then stated it comes with desert. We advised we wanted it now. What arrived was a plain latte. Then at desert it was a café con leche cake like desert. Two other people ordered cocktails, wrong drinks arrived, they were for another table. We asked for water a few times, didn't come until midway thru the main course. Perhaps he was new, IDK. Again, he was very nice and polite, didn't want to fault him for trying to do his best on a busy day. Overall, we were simply not pleased with the experienced and will not go again. read more

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What a beautiful place and great service and food to boot! I booked a work dinner for my team here based off of Yelp reviews and could not be happier with the experience. Nothing was rushed, but the meal kept moving. Drinks were very good. Appetisers a good and not overwhelming portion and the desserts were also very interesting. Everyone has some kind of fish and no one had much left on their plate!! Beautiful views - just make sure you go early because it gets loud in here! read more

Rusty Pelican - The snapper! - Seafood Near Me - Tampa, Florida

It had been a while since I had been at a Rusty Pelican, so when it came go visiting Tampa for my stepdaughter's college graduation I couldn't pass on the opportunity. It didn't disappoint for sure! Food was amazing and we had the best service from our star waiter, Kyle! We were a group of 6 and decided to share oysters and octopus to start and then an Imperial Seafood tower along with a board that had meat, lobster tail bad many other things. Two of the guests also had the onion soup and were very happy. But above all, the service! Thanks Kyle. Gracias totales! read more

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Great view. Food is fabulous. Make a reservation. Prices $$-$$$ The Bellini flavors are magical. read more

Rusty Pelican - Delicious steak. Classic Eggs Benedict- chicken and waffles Fingerling potatoes - Seafood Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Great food. Went there for brunch on a Saturday and did not disappoint. Bartender was friendly and conversational Great view of the water. Would definitely recommend. read more

Great location. Horrible food. Smoked cocktails are tasty but restraint is needed with the amount of smoke. The table was wobbly. The scallops tasted only of SALT and "crispy"potatoe strings around the scallops were cold. The crab cake, YIKES. Let's send the cooks back to knife skills 101. Uneven chops on the RAW onion made this cake inedible for me. I informed the hostess of no soap and no towels in the handicapped bathroom and when I returned to that room 40 minutes later the situation had not been resolved. They did take the take the crab cake charge off our bill which I think is good business practice. read more

Rusty Pelican - Blackened Scallops - Seafood Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Since we moved to Florida, we have not experienced a better meal. We both had the $55 3-course "special." Appetizers were excellent, fresh calamari and most creative conch fritters. Then we enjoyed the real "taste of the bay" entrees; my husband had crispy snapper and I devoured grilled grouper. The sauces and side vegetables/salads were just as scrumptious as the seafood. The topper was the desserts: amazing coconut cream brulee and outrageous key lime pie. Our server, Nidia, was knowledgeable, fun & kind. Everyone from the hostess to the valet were lovely. And the view is absolutely fantastic. Go, if you can! read more

Rusty Pelican - Seafood Near Me - Tampa, Florida

First and foremost I will give credit where it's due. It's a very nice place, open dining area nice bar and scenic views. The staff from hostess to server and management were very good at their jobs. Helpful, friendly and accommodating. Now the food ( here it comes) as other posted for the price it's mediocre at best. The "complimentary" corn bread was good. A tad bit dry but the honey and butter served with it was welcome. The oyster platter (6 for $24.00) was the 1st disappointment. They were extremely tiny and almost non-existent. To their credit the server tried to get me another order but can back with the original plate telling us the chef told her their all the same size. Next the French Onion Soup! It was French it had minimal onions and almost no cheese on top. Overly watery and tasteless. We had the shared platter Rusty Pelican Board for Two. Well it was almost a 75% disappointment again. The steak was dry and tasteless, the lobster tail over done, chewy and cold. The shrimp risotto was fair and the snapper was actually done very well. We received mash potatoes but not was listed and again the manager stepped up and brought us out a bowl fresh and hot. Got a free slice of cheese cake for my birthday which we took to go with the candle. Again to the managers involvement he credited us for the oysters. It's a nice place service is good but the food game needs a step up. Earlier management responses promise to better educate staff and improve I guess the message hasn't been received. read more

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Came here for my birthday dinner. We had made a reservation but turned up early trying to avoid traffic. They were very accommodating and we were able to be seated shortly after right by the window overlooking the bay. We loved that they have a new bread every week included with your table, this week was a jalapeño cornbread and it was warm and delicious. We also ordered the salmon tartare which was a lovely light dish to start the appetite. For a special event, we got the pelican board for two which was not only visually appealing but very delicious. There was so much food we couldn't eat it all but it made for amazing leftovers later in the night. Overall, this was a great night and I would definitely recommend! Everything from the view and service to food and drinks, it was amazing. read more

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This was my last reservation for my birthday celebration this week and they DID NOT disappoint!!! From the very first steps into the establishment it's dripping with pure elegance. From the beautiful chandeliers to the brightly lit fireplaces, everything was pleasing to the eye. There was a small wait for our table as we were a bit early for our reservation but we were seated within 10 minutes. We decided to stop at the bar and wait for our table. The aromatics from the smoked bourbons being made drifted my senses off to a lakeside cabin in the mountains. Our sever tonight was Lizette. She was so knowledgeable of all of the specials and suggested we try something a little different. We decided on the elevated surf and turf which consisted of a tender juicy 36 oz tomahawk steak and an enormous luscious 24 oz lobster tail. It was served with a fresh made crisp Caesar salad and a light drizzle of dressing. I paired it with the smooth and creamy 50-50 mashed potatoes and the gorgeous green grilled broccolini. Absolutely scrumptious. The view was absolutely amazing while I ate. We were seated next to a huge window overlooking the water and it was absolutely breathtaking!! We decided to go out on a limb and shoot for dessert daring to pop with just one more morsel of flavor. The dessert was a white chocolate lava cake served with cookies and cream. Everything was amazing guys! FIVE STARS!!! read more

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Jake, our server, was amazing. Great service. Everyone left satisfied and had a very happy ending. Views were amazing. Had the conch fritters, wedge salad and florentine omelette. All were tasty, food came quickly to if you're rushing for flight or to go somewhere you're good to go here. The rusty nail is a good choice all around. read more

Rusty Pelican - Mary - Seafood Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Came here for a late lunch thinking they had outdoor seating but unfortunately they don't. The picture windows give you the impression you are outside so we decided to stay. Needless to say it was a great choice. Service was helpful with suggestions since everything looked good. The salmon tartare was our favorite with a little bit of spice from the peppers. The lobster mango salad was delicious but needed a little salt and pepper. Brussel sprouts were good but we were too full to enjoy them. read more

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Sweet escape on top of the water in Tampa! First the ambiance is unmatched - it look out onto the water. The parking is difficult but they have valet for $6 which we opted to do. The inside is nice - definitely on the older side but has charm. We went for brunch. The service was great and prompt! The food was delightful - we got a brunch board, some apps and the Benedict's. My personal favorite was the crab cake Benedict. It is very expensive for brunch but you pay for the ambiance. We're glad we came during our vacation and would recommend to others! read more

Rusty Pelican - Rusty Pelican Brunch Board for Two - Seafood Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Arrived in Tampa to meet my friend and was starving. Saturday night no reservations so we ate at the bar. The bartenders were friendly and they make a great margarita. Not a huge menu but all the entrees sounded amazing. My friend ended up with mahi mahi over black rice with some asparagus. I decided on lobster and shrimp risotto. Absolutely delicious. Didn't have room for dessert sadly. Recommend if you plan to go on a weekend night, be sure and make a reservation. read more

Rusty Pelican - Shrimp Lobster and Shrimp Risotto - Seafood Near Me - Tampa, Florida

What a great place with a beautiful view out into the open water. Great sunset place to have an exquisite meal. Grouper with stuffed crab was delicious. Drinks were on the smaller side and calamari was good, but tiny. Service was fun and very attentive. Very nice atmosphere for a date, anniversary, relaxed friends getting together. Not a super casual place. A bit more refined. Really enjoyed my dinner experience. read more

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I want to give this place a 5 so bad, but we came during an odd time (half of their location was under construction). We had made reservations and were seated in an odd room. It was very spacious, but not many tables so it was an odd feeling sitting in this room. BUT, the service was amazing and the oysters are a MUST TRY! They were like butter. So very smooth. Plus, they have a great happy hour to check out when you're in the area! read more

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The view was nice. Food was okay. Service was not great. Upon arrival, the hostess was not very welcoming. We were sat at the time of our reservation with a window seat with a very nice view. Our server Sandy (I believe) continued the unwelcoming experience through brunch. She was not accommodating when asked to recommendations and was condescending on the occasional interactions during our dining experience. We were there for the weekend but would not recommend based on the prices, service and food quality. read more

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The views were just wonderful. What a great place for everything from lunch for 2 (like us) or a full blown wedding. The French toast was so good! Charles V, our server, was very attentive. We will be back. read more

Food quality:3/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Value: 5:5 Overall experience:4/5 I have ordered salmon Benedict and my partner ordered crab Benedict. Salmon was fresh, crab was fishy. Potatoes tasted pretty bland. Eggs were excellent. View was the best part. read more

Rusty Pelican - Seafood Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Since having lived in Florida for many years, I had never had the opportunity when living there to try out this Tampa eatery, I'd only often frequented their location at Key Biscayne. Low and behold, not bad. Their replication of service, atmosphere, and foods are very good. We decided to stop in for a late morning brunch and we were glad we did. Our brunch eats began with their rendition of Conch Fritters with a very, very good Piña Colada Sauce along with Lime and Cilantro - I should have had two orders! Then we went on to our breakfast end and my Wife's well put together Eggs and beautifully browned Sausage, and my incredible serving of their Hangover Hash... which was terrific! They braised super tender strips of Prime Rib with nice buttery mashed potatoes, a perfectly poached egg and some very good Hollandaise sauce. Did I mention we were sipping on delicious Screwdrivers' all the while? Yeah! Overall, they seem to carry the baton from what I remember them to be. Enhancing one's meal is the remarkable view of Tampa Bay, the surrounding skies, and billowing clouds making the atmosphere exactly what you come to Rusty Pelican for. Ahoy Mates, don't spare the yard arm! read more

Well where to start... Beautiful spot on the water. The view is phenomenal. The bread was delicious. My Sea Bass was also very tasty. It could have been a bit more flavor packed. A few things got us to a three. We didn't call ahead bc we weren't sure on timing. The host staff was really snotty about us not having a reservation. We sat next to a drip There was a vent in the ceiling next to the table. Thankfully it dripped into a flower bed. After we got our food we mentioned we needed the check soon as we had a flight to catch. Our server disappeared for 20 minutes. Thankfully we were able to flag someone down. read more

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This was my husband and I early Valentine's Day outting. First timers . We were lucky and sat with an amazing view. Food was amazing. We out tendered the chefs board. Ate everything.. did not enjoy the snapper, we felt it didn't have any seasoning Our waiter was friendly and great. He was covering a few tables so it seemed like we were waiting for him to come back. The smell in the bathroom was not the best. Not sure what chemical they used but not great. Floor was very sticky. My husbands shirt stuck to his chair when he tried to move. Definitely will come back... We learned they have a great happy hour deal as well read more

Rusty Pelican - Seafood Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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The staff here were super nice and welcoming. We came in for a quick bite to eat and the food was fabulous. I am not much of a seafood person, and I do have to say this restaurant is primarily seafood. The corn was great and all the seafood the remainder of my party had they loved. The veggies were also very good. read more

Rusty Pelican - Roasted Half Chicken - Seafood Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Gorgeous setting, incredible food and cozy fireplaces on the chilling 60degree day. Jaden our server did a fabulous job attending to our afternoon. read more

Rusty Pelican - Dining room view. - Seafood Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Went here for a graduation lunch, easy to make reservations, beautiful view of the water! Server was polite and very attentive. Food was fabulous, just wish they had their regular menu including brunch on the weekends. read more

Rusty Pelican - hangover hash, Steak 'N' Eggs Benedict - Seafood Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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The Basics: Rusty Pelican is a classic Tampa establishment located in the Rocky Point area near the airport. It is a seafood restaurant, but the big draw to this spot is the view. It is right on the water and has a large window that shows off the water while you eat. Things I like: All the food I have had here is great! I really enjoyed the French Onion Soup, the seafood was fresh, and the desserts were delicious. We also got a complimentary Jalapeño Cornbread for the table, which was nice. I like taking people from out of town to Rusty Pelican because it really feels like a great "Florida" experience being on the water. I also LOVE being able to easily make a reservation on OpenTable (but they do take your credit card info and will charge if you don't show up). Things I didn't like: We visited on a Saturday night at 7, so it was certainly a prime time and busy. There were weddings happening in ballrooms in the back and a lot of people were inside the restaurant. It got pretty loud at times and hard to hear those at your table, but that wasn't too surprising. Additionally, I think because of how busy it was, the service was a bit slow. Overall, a great spot to keep in mind when you want great food and beautiful Florida views! read more

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This restaurant was definitely a highlight of my trip. Everything was exceptional - including our waiter (I think his name was Ramone?)! He knew the menu like the back of his hand and he was really passionate about cuisine. Their wine list is gr read more

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Very elegant Sunday brunch menu and awesome water front patios . steak and eggs were cook perfectly and the Bloody Mary was perfect