Myself and three other colleagues had dinner at the Rusty Pelican on October 3, 2023. The venue was very nicely appointed. We were greeted and seated promptly with a beautiful view of the bay. The dinners we chose were served with a flair for presentation. The prices were a little steep but, the portions were quite large. Overall: It was a nice venue with friendly staff and good food. Unfortunately, I neglected to take pictures. The presentation of the dinner was stellar. read more

Totally out of balance The entrance shows a lot of promise, but then you get seated in rooms that look like hotel conference rooms, including the horrible chairs and carpets that go with them. It's great to look out at the water, but not when you feel like you are at a corporate hotel dinner. Apps came before the drinks. Mains came before the wine. Waters were often left unfilled. The waitstaff was friendly, but they seemed quite overwhelmed (2 waitresses + 2 helper servers serving a 10 top should be more than adequate, but that was not the case) Apps were relatively good, but almost everything was sweet and/or fried. Mains were lacking. Grouper with mushy one-note risotto and one-note stuffing (felt like an offense to the quality of grouper that you should be getting in FL) and a sauce to cover it all up, overcooked rock lobster and the same mushy risotto, dry swordfish, etc. And the prices were high considering the quality of food and service. Maybe the quantity of food and the view is supposed to justify the price, but that's not the right equation in my book. read more

My family of 4 dined here on Christmas day and had a wonderful experience. We shared calamari as an appetizer and had Chilean Sea Bass (the best we have ever tasted), Swordfish (excellent), blackened scallops (also excellent) and Filet Mignon (well prepared). The food was superb, the drinks were well tended but the service was Outstanding. Jade (our waitress) was one of the best I have ever had in my 60 plus years of dining out. She made the experience so pleasant and memorable. Kudos to the management and staff for a wonderful evening. read more

I sat at the bar and had the coconut shrimp. They were perfectly done crispy and rye sauce was very nice. Service was attentive and friendly, I would definitely go back. Tip they even have real fireplaces. read more

Rusty Pelican - Seafood Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Pros: views were great and the ambiance of the restaurant was beautiful. Cons: service was just ok, ordered a white wine, got a red, and wish we were told the dessert would take 30+ minutes before we ordered it. The food was just ok also, but still pricey... the conch fritters were very bland, RP dinner for 2 was extremely salty and over seasoned in every dish, and I typically over salt things. Dessert was good. If it was just based on food it would be 2 stars, but with the view I'll give it 3 stars. read more

This is a hidden little gem of a restaurant in Tampa. It hits all the marks; spectacular view, wonderful service, specialty cocktails and best of all, delicious food. read more

The food, view and service was spectacular. Recommend getting a reservation before going. I went for a birthday brunch and what a treat!! read more

Rusty Pelican - Lobster Benedict and Crab Cake Benedict - Seafood Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Definitely coming here again! Food was good. I had the Crab Stuffed Grouper and it was so g flavorful and amazing . I'm just drooling thinking about it lol. My husband had Crispy Whole Snapper and he liked it BUT the waiter told him there were no bones but there were with every bite. The service was ok. Our server Dylan wasn't very attentive. After we placed our order we didn't see him again until he came to take our plates. He didn't ask how the food was or if we were done he just started grabbing plates. Then my husband told him about the bones and he said he was going to get the manager but didn't just came back with the check and that was it. We were there celebrating my birthday which was put on the reservation and there was no complimentary anything which is fine but why ask if there's nothing special. The decor is nice and definitely picture worthy inside and out . All in all food was GREAT service not so much read more

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Friday evening. Fairly busy, and booked table ahead. Seated on time and great bay view. Standard range of drinks - and pricy. Service somewhat lacking and for a place like this I don't really expect a sticky table. Good food - little bit cold, but good choice range and very enjoyable. Nice touch if the management staff speaking with guests. Overall my wife enjoyed more than I did. Quite pricey - I guess paid for the view. But convenient for where we staying and had a good evening. read more

Great food and views. Even at night you can see the water. The service and waiters were nice.

Would give this negative stars if I could. We ordered the lobster Benedict. The lobster was over cooked and was very rubbery. The corn bread was crumbling and dry and not tasty , supposedly with jalapeños but did not even have a hint of spice and the whole meal served cold. We also got the burger which was extra dry and the bread was not fresh. The French fries was certainly not fresh. The con fritters were uncooked in the inside you can see the raw batter and burnt on the outside. Would not go again and would nit recommend this place. read more

They have revamped their menu and updated the decor of the restaurant. It's In an absolutely ideal location with wall to wall window views of Tampa bay. If you are lucky to have a table right by the windows, it's mesmerizing. We sat at the bar for a drink before being sat at our table. They feature a smoked old fashioned which was delicious .We made a reservation for 730 and our table was ready a couple minutes after that. The bar staff was friendly and helpful with a great cocktail and wine list. We were sat at a table right by the window with the beautiful view. They bring out jalapeño corn bread which had a drizzle of honey but a couple of the bites were very spicy so if you don't like spicy you might want you pass on this. We started with the Crab Cake: Grilled Sweet Corn, Fresh Chives, Bell Pepper, Chipotle Aioli which was very tasty but nothing out of the ordinary. For my main meal I had the Miso-marinated Chilean Sea Bass: Forbidden black Thai rice, Grilled broccolini, Sweet Chili Sauce. The fish was nicely cooked but for some reason it had a burnt flavor along with the broccolini. I'm not sure what went wrong but unfortunately I did not love this dish. I usually order sea bass when I go out because I never cook it at home. Service and ambience definitely 5, just wasn't blown away by the food on this dining experience. They have plenty of parking available as well. Great for having parties or events, I've even been to a wedding reception here. read more

Appetizer: Calamari. It says it comes with tempura peppers & onions. Those are just fillers to your "tempura" calamari and your calamari is just a breaded crumble mess. We couldn't find any whole rings, just half rings of calamari & absolutely no tentacles. Mostly, tempura onion & pepper strips. I ordered the "lump" (pay attention here) crab meat stuffed grouper. I asked if the crab was really "lump" crab meat. Our server said that it was lump but they shredded it. If I wasn't so set on having that, I should've known better. You never shred lump crab meat! The shredded crab was fishy tasting & grouper was dried out. I took one bite & asked for it to be taken away & luckily we were compensated for it. My partner got a filet (under seasoned & cold) with one small roasted onion & 50/50 potatoes (also cold). Otherwise, 50/50 mashed were really good. As they say, they're 50 part potato & 50 part butter & cream. What could be wrong with that? Lol. They were seasoned well & quite creamy. Drinks are overpriced and my fountain Coke was flat. Overall, I think there are plenty better seafood restaurants around. We will not be repeat customers. read more

Amazing! From the kment we walked in. Nice greeting. Nice ambience and the staff we very accommodating and what a view. Thank you for a great visit. read more

I honestly think this was the weirdest dinner of my life. Pro: Beautiful view Easy parking Great waitress Apologetic manager who came around twice Con: Horrible food. So so so so so bad I ordered the fresh catch of the day, salmon, flown in from NZ and splurged on a date night on a vacation with my husband which is rare for us. I love salmon and eat sushi all the time and was stoked for Brussels sprouts because they're my fave. My first plate, the salmon was cold. It tasted like it came from the fridge. Not luke warm, cold. Didn't have a lick of seasoning on it, no salt, nothing. It was so strange. Like they forgot to cook it. The Brussels sprouts were awful! Tasted and looked like they'd been boiled and had bac'n bits sprinkled on them. Soggy and really bad. I really really wanted to have a good night and was so stoked to be there, I downplayed it and told the waitress who was nice about it and they brought me another one, made by a different cook. Also, the mango salsa side was the worst salsa I'd ever had. Tasted like someone cut some onions and just dumped tequila on them. So it was fine, chalked it up to honest mistake. They brought me another and it was seasoned and the outside tasted great. Then I cut into it and it was completely raw inside. My fork couldn't even cut into it. The inside was completely chilled still and not cooked. It had been seared on the sides and that was all. I've never had that happen at any restaurant before. The waitress saw it and agreed and was very nice. The manager came out and looked embarrassed and also said, I'm so sorry we served you raw fish. I saw it and it was completely uncooked. They gave us free dessert but what a weird experience. I think quite possibly the worst food I've ever had at a restaurant. I can't think of a worse one anyways. I am so sad, I wanted to love this place because it's so beautiful looking. It's ripe and ready for Gordon Ramsey to come work his magic on. Fingers crossed I don't get food poisoning. read more

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We reserved a dinner for a party of five to celebrate my daughter's birthday for a 5pm reservation 20 January 2024. - We arrived early - we were sat at a folding table with a Table cloth, accommodated with banquet chairs - we verified the table was a collapsable table when my wife hit her knee on the metal folding mechanism - we were sat in a banquet room in a corner - techno /house music playing throughout dinner - lighting was bright while primary dining area carried the expected ambiance - server mentioned they would bring a slice of dessert for my daughter to celebrate, the server brought the desserts for the rest of the table except for the person celebrating her birthday. - management did not visit the table at all - disappointed we paid the $6xx.xx dinner bill. read more

Located on Rocky Point off of the Southside of the Causeway bridge, I've been coming here often on throughout the years. I was here typically for professional events in the larger room and other venues. More recently, visited here with a small group in the main restaurant area. The interior decor has an old-school rustic look to it in the main restaurant area the whole eastern "wall" is actually a large glass window that overlooks the intercoastal bay water (Towards east). On our most recent visit, our waitress has been very helpful and honest when giving us advice on any selection that's on the menu. She was awesome, but I wish I could remember her name (regrets). The visit here was during the weekend at the time. The restaurant had a few people seated and everything was nicely set and clean. The lemon garlic shrimp risotto (had recently) was delicious, but definitely a one person serving so I would recommend at least one side dish. The cocktails are good quality here also. It's a nice stop for lunch, dinner, or personal life event celebration. read more

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Came for an unconventional Thanksgiving brunch and not only was the menu and food amazing. The service with Sandy made our day, she was a part of the family this year! read more

food was very good, i really enjoyed the chilean sea bass, not sure about the rice, our waitress was very nice, kept coming back to check on us if we needed anything. didn't have to wait too long for our food to come. i felt the music was a little too loud. read more

I went to this place for brunch, Very nice view, food was delicious, drinks was amazing service is great, perfect for a date

My fiancé and I went last night for a hosting and our server Shannon was awesome. The funniest part was her bringing the Belle cocktail as a gift from the manager and me telling her I was about to order the same thing! We got the seafood tower and board for 2, both of which left me thoroughly satisfied at the end of the visit. Thanks Shannon and management! read more

The food was amazing! Had the fish special, and have never had anything like it. It was so delicious. Great location right on the water.

Nice ambiance with great views of the bay. Our server was attentive and pleasant. Conch appetizer was delicious. I ordered dry age rib eye that was extremely underwhelming. It reminded me of an outback type steak. Didn't taste dry aged and wasn't anything special at all. My wife had the turf and surf which was very good. Specialty drinks were fun. Overall overpriced for quality of food . read more

Came here for the first time to meet up with a family. The decor was beautiful. The view of the ocean and sunset were a plus. Our server was very nice and efficient. She spent the time explaining the menu to us. The food were great. The seafood entries were very fresh and tasty. The dessert menu was extensive. My creme brulee was excellent. The restaurant is pricey, but you get what you paid for. If I ever had a chance, I will stop by the restaurant for special occasions. read more

I visited this past weekend for brunch and was treated to one of the best meals I have had in years. I had the unlimited mimosas with the chicken and waffles. It was so good. The chicken was some of the most tender and delicious fried chicken I've ever had and the waffles had this unique orange cinnamon taste to them. My girlfriend had the French toast sticks and they were wonderful as well. Overall this was a fantastic place and I highly recommend it. read more

Rusty Pelican - Chicken and waffles - Seafood Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Best birthday dinner ever! I was so delighted and impressed with my first ever visit to the Rusty Pelican. We just moved to the area and this restaurant was recommended by a local as a great place to eat. I'm so happy my boyfriend brought me here for my birthday. The space is absolutely beautiful, but first and foremost I have to say that THE VIEW IS EVERYTHING!!!! Our window seat had us feeling like we were in the water. Tampa Bay literally comes up to your window. There was a storm with alot of lightning outside and it was amazing to watch from our dinner table. A pelican rested on a rock for a while and eventually got back in the water and caught a fish for dinner. Pretty entertaining if I do say so. Ok- let's get to the food and drinks: Cocktails... on point! Blackened Scallops appetizer- Amazing! Shrimp Cocktail- so large and so fresh! Surf and Turf- Perfectly cooked to temperature and seasoned to perfection! Birthday Cake- slice of chocolate cake was a nice touch! I truly enjoyed this experience and I would definitely recommend this place for someone else's special occasion or just any old day! I'll be back! read more

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Been meaning to come here since we moved to Tampa 8 years ago. It was well worth the wait. Beautiful setting and very romantic. If you can get a table by the window around sunset, there's prob no better place to be anywhere in Florida. Just gorgeous. We had reservations at 8pm and got seated just around sunset (7:47). The food and service were equal amazing. The jalapeño cornbread is outstanding. The west coast oyster were perfect. Very impressed by the Rusty Pelican board for two with whole snapper, NY Strip, mashed, and shrimp risotto. We were very happy to have celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary here in such a beautiful setting, and enjoying some outstanding food. read more

Food and service was great. Highly recommend the ribeye and lobster. Our server, Shannon was great!

My family and I came out to celebrate my mom's birthday last night and it truly was a spectacular night from start to finish. Our waitress Grace was marvelous, super attentive, and charming. The food was superb and the service Grace provided us was even better. Will most certainly be coming back again and requesting Grace to be our waitress. read more

Xmas brunch yesterday, was very Very good. Huge portions of good, fresh food! All servers a d managers top notch, friendly and accommodating. read more

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They have done a little bit of remodeling and the place looks great. The service is always impeccable and the food is first class.

Nice for a special occasion! Certainly can't beat the view. We didn't have a reservation, but it was early enough to get a seat by the window. That is the place to be! They have a couple of fireplaces and dark wood interior that makes the place look very elegant. I ordered from the Sunset menu, although it says it's available 4:30-5:30 I came outside that time and it was still an option. Crab and Corn Chowder was really hearty, the daily catch, and a flamed creme brulee. It was a lot of food though! Definitely enough to take home a heap of leftovers. My sister got the Pistachio Crusted Scallops, which were pretty great having that orange flavor. We both got fruity cocktails. When the bill came, it did end up being fairly expensive, but the quality food, atmosphere, and good service make it great for an anniversary or birthday. read more

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Worst food ever. Crab stuffed grouper was so over powering with sauce. You need a whole loaf of bread to eat with. And they don't even give you a plain loaf of bread. Red snapper dish was mediocre at best. Honey topped Castella bread that was served before the main dish was not edible. I also ordered two different cocktail that was so sweet that I could not finish halfway. $115 bill +15% tip was such a waste of money That I would never want to go back again. I complain to the manager on my way out that I will never come back again. There's nothing that can do to make up for it. I almost did not want to give eight dollar valet parking fee. read more

I have been in this place at least 10 times and finally I'm writing a review.... Things I like in this place: The view, service, drinks, parking, live music, beach side. Things I do not like : No live music in main building , not enough bartenders( taking awhile ), carpet lol Otherwise I recommend, I take friends out of town here when the fly in.... read more

Had the best experience at the Rusty Pelican. Grace was our waitress. She was amazing. I had a few questions and she made excellent recommendations. Loved the Chicken and Waffles! My daughter had the crab cakes Benedict and she said it was delicious! The food, view, drinks and atmosphere was perfect! Can't wait to bring others to my new favorite place in Tampa. read more

Rusty Pelican - Chicken & waffles and crab cake Benedict. - Seafood Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Stop by if you're looking for a nice restaurant and a great evening. Get a reservation by the by the big windows and wait for a table to open up. Watching the sunset from our table was amazing. The smoked old fashion was really good. Unfortunately, I forget where the oysters were from, but they were phenomenal. I recall the service was a tad slow, but we were enjoying our evening so not a huge issue. Overall, we would definitely go back. read more

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I hate pretentious restaurants. Beautiful location, beautiful interior and exterior...but awful food. The shrimp cocktail, crab cake and corn bread where ok. The $124 board for 2 with the dry snapper, over seasoned risotto, rare NY stripe steak that wasn't seasoned, was not good at all. It comes to your table all fancy but once you take a bite of anything on that board, you start to wonder why you wasted your money. The manger did not charge us for the $124 board at the end but his attitude was not great. Our waiter was very kind. We came for our honeymoon expecting amazing food. What we got were ok appetizers and an awful meal. Also, they were out of the Seafood Tower as well which we really wanted to try. read more

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Much like the other reviews, I had an overall great experience at The Rusty Pelican. Although their brunch is now plated instead of a buffet, a visit is well worth it. We had a party of 10, and our service was excellent. We were seated in a room with two other tables and an excellent view. Our food was fresh, delicious, and well timed for the pace of the table. The mimosas by the bottle were also a great option. read more

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Just OKAY! Not the worst, but nothing special. CONS---- The temperature of our food could only be described as semi-warm. Our server did not visit the table as often as we felt she should've, but she could've been dealing with a lot of tables at the time. PROS---- Our server had a good smile and she was very nice. My shrimp cocktail was delicious and nicely served. Our drinks were good as well. read more

Food was amazing and so was our server Paulina. She was very professional and helpful. She greeted us right away and had great recommendations. I 10/10 recommend read more

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