The Rusty Pelican Has Lost Its Soul My entire family has been coming to the Rusty Pelican for decades -- weddings, birthdays, and countless anniversaries -- but after our visit last night for an anniversary dinner, I can sadly say that era is over. The restaurant we once adored has been completely ruined by its so-called "renovation" and baffling management choices. What was once an elegant, welcoming space with gorgeous views and an atmosphere worthy of special occasions is now overcrowded, noisy, and stripped of any warmth or charm. They've packed tables so tightly together that we could not even hear each other over the noise. Even the servers struggle to navigate between cramped tables and frustrated guests. The chaos might have been forgivable if the service had been attentive or the food remarkable -- but neither was. Two female managers drifted around aimlessly, doing little more than surveying the crowd. When one finally stopped by our table, she mumbled something I couldn't hear; when I asked her to repeat herself, she actually started to walk away. Only when another guest at our table stopped her did she casually inform us that this location would be closing and "moving." That dismissive attitude perfectly summed up the night. The food arrived lukewarm, the prices were still sky-high, and the ambiance resembled a noisy low-end cafeteria -- not the refined waterfront dining experience Tampa locals have come to love for generations. It breaks my heart to say it, but The Rusty Pelican we knew is gone. Unless you enjoy paying premium prices for a subpar experience in an overcrowded room, do yourself a favor and go elsewhere. Our family's decades-long tradition has come to a very sad end. The only highlight of the evening is when we popped into the room where we have had many receptions and management sent Micheline to escort us out. Micheline was a charming woman who obviously cares about the guest experience. Unfortunately, she only manages the banquets so you likely wouldn't see here if you are in the dining room. Whatever they are paying her....she deserves a raise! read more

The food was amazing. The service was outstanding. The drinks were eclectic and excellent. Wonderful place for special occasions. read more

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Perfect service, amazing sunset view and incredible food!!! Took the family here for Valentine's Day dinner. I can only describe our experience as perfection. The prix fixed menu was amazing and we got the wine pairing. We had our 6yr old son with us who wanted to participate and forgo the typical chicken tenders children's option, where as a parent you can imagine my hesitation given the $$ and thinking he would take 1-2 bites and tell me he wanted chicken tenders instead.. regardless we opted him in for the adult menu (minus the wine pairing) and I have never seen him inhale everything on the dinner table (minus the salad which was delicious btw) before. We will definitely be back soon. read more

I love breast of pelican was one of the first fine dining restaurants. I went to in Florida like 30 years ago we my fiancé and is still open that just shows a lot of character and how this place is and how the good food is. I always get to see Diane and by the water service is always good. I still love this place to have. They used to have an excellent brunch, but I don't know if they still have that anymore and it's a must try if you're in the Tampa Bay area and the ambience is wonderful the fireplace when you first walk in the view of the water, they even have the U-shaped crushed velvet couches as the table area as well to Eden. read more

Beware. 2 of the 3 of us got food poisoning 2 nights ago. I'm currently at my second visit to ER. $500 dinner and drinks not worth this horror. More antibiotics and IVs on the way. Yay me read more

They just reopened after last hurricane. Nicely restored. Food like always amazing. Great atmosphere, beautiful ocean view. read more

Rusty Pelican - Beef Carpaccio - Seafood Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Nice water view. Got a table by the windows without even having to ask. Food was excellent. Very pricey but was worth it. The server was also excellent. My only complaints- forced to pay for valet service, no open handicapped spots, and the background music was too loud and inappropriate pop rock music. Should've been something more upscale like crooners or jazz or classical or nothing at all. Would happily go again if I had the money. read more

This restaurant is a really good one if you're in the Tampa area. Located right on the water, it has a wonderful view from the tables nearest the windows. The ambiance is truly the first selling point of this place. But there's also really good food coming out of the kitchen. I ordered the hangover hash and it was Devine. The hash browns were super crispy and added a nice texture difference to the eggs and cheese and meat. I would happily order this again. The service and ambiance were also great. The waiter took care of all of our needs. As mentioned above, the view out onto the water is a great addition to your meal. The only thing that needs mentioning is that the self parking is a tad further away from the restaurant. If you want to be close, you have to valet. read more

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

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Nice restaurant wigth excellent location and tasty menu options. A bit pricey but still worth visiting.

Grace seated us and took good care of us. We got our requested window seat. Music was the perfect vibe. I ordered the coconut shrimp appetizer and the crispy snapper as my main. The shrimp was perfection! Hot, crispy, coconutty, and a very generous portion of 8 shrimp! The orange ginger marmalade was more orange than ginger but still v good. I could have made a meal of that dish. I wish I had some now:) Snapper was also good and fresh. Service excellent. Highly recommend. Hope to get back. read more

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We were excited to return to the Rusty Pelican, however I'm sorry to say it was NOT what it use to be Our waiter was outstanding, spot on, and he was great on all parts. The food for the most part was very good. The surf/turf was wonderful, however the mashed potatoes were cold. The cream corn truffle was very good, so that was nice. The caesar salad was huge and very good also. The grouper was flaky and deliciousg but the risotto was very mushy. The conch fritters were okay, they had a good flavor but they were rubbery, so which means over cooked. Now, that leaves the ambience, sadly this was a very much ONE Star! They put us in the very corner and the lighting did NOT work, so need to say very dark and very hard to see. We could not see the beautiful fireplace, and all the sound of the whole place was bouncing off the area. They did sit us 30 minutes early because the traffic was almost nothing, so that was a plus, the ballet staff was outstanding super nice and so was the front desk. Service was not a problem. For the price point, over $330 four 4 of us with two of us sharing a entree, we were slightly disappointed. read more

Amazingggggg views, vibes, ambiance, and good service! This is such a beautiful spot for birthdays or any celebrations!! We came here with a group of four. We were able to get a window seat which was nice! We got there at 11am on a Sunday morning. The food: The chicken and waffle - 8/10 The portion for this was HUGE!!! I wasn't able to finish all of it. It came out on a whole charcuterie board style plank. The chicken had fairly good seasoning and the waffle was soft and delicious. Hangover hash 8/10 Really yummy!! Fairly filling and good portions. Drinks were good and refreshing. They have a bottomless mimosa option They have an entire banquet hall for birthday celebrations. read more

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I really wanted to like this place but I'm always disappointed when restaurants hesitate to seat a single diner when there are plenty of seats available. Taking that into consideration I should have just left, but I didn't. The salad was fine but the Calamari was way overcooked. The Conch Fritters were also sub standard. Sadly this was a one time try out and while this restaurant certainly won't miss a single diner, I won't miss them. read more

Beautiful restaurant with a great view. However, we've been twice and the service is awful, food never comes out as you order it. Last time we went it was sunset and we were seated in the middle of the restaurant so we asked the male manager if they could lower the blinds just a little to get the sun out of our eyes and he simply said "no, the customers that sit by the window are picky about that" as if our money and experience at the restaurant wasn't as important so we wore sunglasses indoors of an expensive restaurant. A little later another female manager walked by cussing, real professional. For the money you spend at this restaurant, I expect great service & hospitality and excellent food. Neither exists here the 2 times we went. I'd say skip it and go somewhere else. read more

A restaurant with a stunning waterfront view and a vibe that makes you want to come back. The service was excellent, the drinks were delicious, and the bread they serve as an appetizer was outstanding. However, the food itself wasn't the main highlight. The calamari was amazing, with a generous portion, but the rest of the dishes fell short of expectations. We tried the snapper and the lobster risotto; while the presentation was flawless, the flavors were underwhelming, and the portions were small for the price. I'd definitely return for the drinks and the view, but the food would need to improve to match the rest. read more

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Food was excellent. The lobster Benedict was amazing and highly recommended, so was the chicken and waffles. Great experience overall read more

Rusty Pelican - Lobster Benedict - Seafood Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Food is good so far first time here bartender is friendly he helped me to choose the good foods and ambiance is nice too service is pretty fast so far they have nice drinks too pasta should've been better but starters are pretty nice and oyster is really nice read more

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

I'm actually disappointed as I write this review. Rusty Pelican has been around for a long time. They probably have some of the best views around the Tampa Bay Area. The past few times I've gone in the past, food has been solid. But this time around, execution was just not there. Service is still solid. Servers are friendly, quick to take your order, and good at keeping your glasses filled. What was disappointing was the food. I had gone for their Christmas special that was a 4 course set menu. However, with 4 people at our table, it was very strange that various appetizers came in sets of 3 or 1. It became very awkward to share. But the most disappointing was the Crab Cake Benedict. The crab cake still had some flecks of shell in the crab cake. And the hollandaise sauce was completely broken. Instead of being fully emulsified, you can clearly see the butter and eggs had completely separated. The poached eggs themselves were also over cooked. Instead of runny yolks, they were borderline hard boiled. I hope this restaurant can reorient itself. The cooking and execution left a lot to be desired this time around. read more

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Beautiful dining room and amazing food. It's been ten years since I've dined at Rusty Pelican and tbh I kind of wrote it off. There are so many restaurants popping up in Tampa Bay that it never made it back on my list. Then I attended a Yelp Elite Event here and was blown away by the food, so I decided it was time to return. A friend asked where I wanted to go for brunch and I said Rusty Pelican. They have valet, but there's also free garage parking (you can ask the valet where to go, but it's basically when you're facing the water it is to the far right of the restaurant before the parking lot. They must have updated the dining room. I don't know when that happened, but my other friend made that comment too, that it used to feel like you were in a dark lodge, but now it's beautiful and light. The full windows looking out onto the water (you are on top of the water) is absolutely breathtaking. I got the Lobster and Shrimp Mango Salad and it was delicious. The server even brought me out extra dressing on the side, because there didn't seem to be a lot on the salad (this was without me asking). There was enough dressing (most of it was on the bottom), but I would ask for additional dressing, just because the dressing is amazing. It is a citrus, sweet dressing. There were huge chunks of lobster and shrimp. I think it is well worth the $32 price tag. The one knock I have is our service was extremely slow. But I think this was a one time thing and the server was giving my friends and I time to chat. It looked like other tables were in and out quicker. There were two graduation celebrations happening when we were there. This does seem like a fantastic place to hold special events (there are separate dining rooms.) I will totally come back and thanks to the views of the water I'd even put this on my list to bring people to when they're coming from out of town. read more

Rusty Pelican - Seafood Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Rustic cabin on the outside, but modern coastal interior. We went for happy hour (only available at the bar & lounge) but the hostess kindly let us sit in the dining room. They served this amazing jalapeño bread (only available during dinner) and I'm not even a bread fan, but it was fantastic. The appetizers were so good we decided to stay for dinner, and wow, what a great call everyone was so happy with their dinner entree. The whole crispy snapper was light, practically deboned for us, and delicious. Can't wait to come back! read more

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VIEWS! Came here for my birthday lunch. Food was fine, nothing out of this world, this place feels mostly about the ambience. They have full glass windows overseeing the water, which is nice as you're eating. I recommend you ask explicitly to be seated by the window as it is not as good of an experience without this view. Unfortunately, there is no type of outside seating, which I think they could greatly profit from if they did provide that. I recommend to dress a little more elegant and not so casual. There is a free parking garage right near the restaurant. read more

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Everything about this evening was top notch! This was located next to our hotel and after long day of wedding dress shopping, we stopped in here for dinner. The interior was coastal and understated class. The food was outstanding the service by Kyle was perfection! My daughter and I shared a bottle of Lassegue Grand Cru and the complimentary corn bread with butter and then shared the Rusty Board for 2. Wow! First off, it was beautifully presented and secondly, it was delicious. A whole crispy yellow snapper over coconut rice, Lobster and Shrimp Risotto, a New York Strip Steak, Mashed Potatoes and Salad. Needless to say, we ended up taking half back with us to enjoy later. After telling Kyle we were celebrating finding "the dress", he brought us both out a glass of complimentary champagne and dessert. The toffee pudding with ice cream was rich and a perfect end to the night. read more

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Wow!! food was so good! We had the Brussels sprouts, filet, mashed potatoes. The cornbread was also good. The drinks from the bar were nicely presented and tasted amazing as well. Will definitely go back because we were too full for dessert. The hostesses were nice and accommodated us by the water as asked. Everything was amazing and definitely recommend!!! read more

Came in at 12:00 without a reservation and they got us right in. They put us on the window overlooking the bay however there were so many tables packed against the window we literally could not move so we asked to relocate which they thought was odd, I got the chicken and waffles and that was good however the syrup was too unique and sweet. Just give us regular syrup... the others in my party enjoyed their food. The service was good and our waiter was very attentive and nice. read more

Brunch on Sunday with bottomless mimosas. The waffles were a miss but spoke to server and they made it right. It was a miss on the kitchen. Huge portions and great view!! read more

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

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I was really worried pulling up to what looked like a financial area but found a hidden gem. Walking in I discovered a beautiful bar with elegant seating. We arrived for lunch and were quickly seated. The menu had some great options for a light lunch. The portions were large and flavorful. The views- what an amazing view. Water is visible from every seat in the restaurant. Definitely want to come back for happy hour and dinner service. read more

Rusty Pelican - My simple plate. Key West Conch Fritters with jalapeno vinaigrette and pickled vegetables. - Seafood Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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It is good food, nice atmosphere but organized chaos. I keep going back though. I go back for good food and can live with the chaotic atmosphere. read more

Great venue for private parties I attended a sorority brunch here. The views of the water are amazing I really enjoyed my food too. I ordered the lobster Benedict. It's served with lobster on the side and classic hollandaise and poached eggs on an English muffin. 10/10 would definitely get this again. Considering we had such a large party. This service was good. read more

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The food was great and good quality seafood and food comes out pretty fast. The service was really nice too and the views are amazing. read more

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The look of a cafeteria with the sound of a sports bar. If your looking for a quiet intimate diner, this is not the place. While booking a table online I saw it had valet parking and a fancy menu, I was expecting a much more upscale restaurant. You could clearly hear the noise from a party in the next rm; so much so, that I could hardly hear my waiter. This wasn't the atmosphere that I was expecting so I walked out. read more

I used to come here for their brunch buffet, and sometimes for dinner. They usually always outdo themselves! Ill never bypass the botmless drinks! Service is pretty fast and friendly. Ambiance is relaxing and casual. Def worth a visit! read more

An absolutely lovely spot to enjoy dinner. The location is well-suited for an older crowd (great for dinner with parents or in-laws, for example). The location is on the water and has gorgeous views, but there isn't any outdoor seating. Nevertheless, the food at Rusty Pelican is great. I've never had a bad meal (the scallops are my fave). Service has also been top notch each time I've visited. read more

Went here for Easter brunch. Very nice aesthetic. Lovely view of the water. Wide windows in dining room so a lot of natural light which was nice. Our waiter was very nice and attentive even with it being a busy holiday. Food was good. The starters were served family style. Loved the salad with goat cheese. One disappointment were the oysters were not fresh. Other than that great brunch! read more

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The food is not fresh . Oysters is not fresh. I request 2 times service to bring me the lemon he forgot . Only the environment is great ! When you seat there you can see the water make you feel relax ! read more

Celebrating a night with my beautiful wife was perfect tonight. Denise truly made our night so enjoyable by taking great care us. Her hospitality and knowledge of menu items helped us navigate and order exactly what we wanted. The carpaccio was Devine and risotto is amazing. Thank you for making our night special Denise. We will be back to ask for you. read more

Have visited now a few times and each time has been really good. The food is delicious and the service always friendly and timely. A friend hosted their wedding reception here and the food was so delicious. It was also very nicely decorated and comfy. read more

I used to love this place! Their lobster and risotto dish is my favorite, but I love to substitute it with their seabass. It's cooked perfectly. But I went again last night, and unfortunately they changed their risotto recipe, and it was hardly edible. It was soooo salty and seemed to be more tomato-based. I brought out-of-town guests here and they were disappointed in the food, I was so embarrassed! They totally ruined my favorite dish here. I attached a pic from one of my first times vs last night, you can even see a color difference. The risotto last night was not good at all. Our service was ok, we were there for a birthday and weren't even offered dessert. I think our server wanted to leave. Also a little disappointing, This was one of my favorite spots in Tampa, but I'm not sure I'll be back. It breaks my heart to leave this review! read more

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

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The food is fresh and delicious. The service is professional and accommodating. I would highly recommend this place. I order the salmon sandwich minus the bacon and it was excellent ! read more

Very over priced brunch omelette and tater tots. you pay for the atmosphere of being next to the water. Brunch was horrible equivalent to a Fairfield inn hotel breakfast. read more

We went here with 7 guests to celebrate 2 birthdays. We did make reservations. Valet is $8 and mandatory on Sundays. The location is beautiful on the water. Lots of windows so just about everyone can enjoy the view. I feel like we ordered one of everything and passed the dishes around. We started with shrimp cocktail and chilled oysters. The shrimp were very large and succulent. The oysters were good but a little on the smaller side. For entrees we had one three egg omelette Denver style. Eggs were cooked perfectly and the bacon was crisp. The hash browns were one of my favorite things. We also ordered the fruity pebbles pancakes and if you are looking for something sweet and satisfying, look no more. Didn't even need syrup. My absolute favorite brunch entree was the French toast! Omg! I have never experienced anything so delicious! Crispy thick toast with soft fluffy insides on top of Nutella and topped with marshmallow cream and berries! Definitely a show stopper. The tables favorite savory dish was the hangover hash. It was devoured before I could try it. The French onion soup was also a favorite. Our service was superb. We didn't feel rushed which is important with a larger group because we are talking and catching up with everyone. They also cater to weddings and parties. Seems like a beautiful location for that. I definitely recommend brunch and I will return. read more

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