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    The Independent

    4.2 (428 reviews)
    Open • 11:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

    The Independent Photos

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    THE INDEPENDENT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Live music
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Classy

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    Recommended Reviews - The Independent

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    father's day ribeye special, Hummus & Veggie Plate with Pita
    Olivia M.

    Went for father's day celebrations and world cup viewing. Service was great, and the selection of beers, ciders, and more is expansive! We sat inside, but their outdoor seating is covered also. Very laidback world cup viewing spot

    Bavarian Brat Platter
    John B.

    Independent Bar and Cafe caught my attention for it's German cuisine. They don't have much but, some, and that's more than most. German food is my favorite food but it's few and far between. My wife and I were in the area selling some records when we decided to stop in for lunch. A refreshing Gaffel Kolsch beer with a Bavarian Brat platter. My wife also got the same thing. The food was up quick. A hot German brat, side of sauerkraut and a Bavarian soft pretzel. Mustard to dip. $13.45. It was all good stuff. The brat was perfectly cooked, slightly crispy. The sauerkraut warm and tart. The soft pretzel decent. We'd come back here.

    Saphir S.

    A great neighborhood spot for a casual hang. They have a selection of beer and wine and different shareable snack options (I like the soft pretzel and pierogies). Their playlist is also diverse and fun!

    Perogies
    Alexandra E.

    It's in a Great location, but be mindful of the minimal parking, though there is plenty around spread out. There is amble seating outside and in, and the place provides a happy laid back vibe. All the staff were incredibly helpful, friendly and attentive that gave plenty of great recommendations for drinks and menu items. The sangria was great and the perigees were to die for, super buttery and the perfect amount of crispiness. They also had a band there planting live music which is a frequent occurrence there. Will definitely return.

    Perogis
    Stephanie C.

    4.5 stars for The Independent which came recommended to us. The potato and cheese perogis were my favorite. Came out piping hot and with generous filling. I still think about them sometimes... My partner got the TLT sandwich which came with very tasty and crispy bread. I didn't love the Leberkase Sandwich. It came with fried bologna that tasted kind of like hot dog. At least the side salad was tasty. I asked for no blue cheese but it came out with blue cheese anyway so the attention to detail is a bit lacking but perhaps to be expected from a pub. It was confusing how to order since their bartender and server was combined into 1 role. Plenty of seating all around and and indoor outdoor space. Overall would recommend checking out it you're looking for a low key pub with good food in Tampa.

    Brat on a Bun
    Lauren G.

    The Basics: The Independent is a beer hall and cafe in Seminole Heights. There is rustic indoor seating as well as an outdoor patio. We visited on a Friday night and it was a fun, loud, bar environment where it can be tricky to find seating when busy. Things I like: I really liked the environment at Independent and it is great to have a beer hall in Tampa with a nice beer selection. Things I didn't like: I was not very impressed by the food. The Bavarian Soft Pretzel was hard in spots and the Brat on a Bun was not very flavorful and hard to finish. I would not order these items again. Additionally, I did not love the seating options. There were not many comfortable places to sit, leading to a desire to leave sooner than we may normally have. Overall, a nice option for beer and a good time in Tampa, but perhaps eat elsewhere before visiting.

    Pork Banh Mi
    John H.

    Stopped for lunch on the way to our hotel from the airport. Mid-afternoon and there were a few people there...2-3 with dogs as this is a very pet friendly place. Bartender provided samples so we could narrow our beer selections. Tons of beers and a reasonable wine selection. For lunch I got the Banh Mi sandwich and my wife got the house salad with chicken salad. My Banh Mi has flavorful mild pork (as advertised), but lacked any kick of flavor. A good pork sandwich, but not as flavorful as others I've had. The salad(s) were fresh and good with a nice poppyseed dressing. Food took about 10-15 minutes to come out. Staff was all very helpful and friendly.

    Stephanie D.

    A cool night time spot in Seminole Heights with live music on the weekends. We visited around Oktoberfest so the theme was definitely German/Bavarian. It was very busy on a Saturday night, and it was seat yourself. Definitely be prepared if coming with a large group. There was some open seating at the bar which is where my small group went. The bartender was extremely welcoming, explaining all the beer selections and letting us sample many. Food- I'm polish and am used to home cooked pierogi. I understood that ordering the pierogi wouldn't completely satiate my craving, moreso "scratch the itch". Nevertheless, the Potato and Cheese Pierogi were crisp, the filling was good, and it was served with a side of sour cream and sauerkraut. The one downfall was that the seasonings on the outside of the pierogi proved to be very salty. We also ordered the Bavarian Brat Platter which was comprised of a German bratwurst, sauerkraut, and Bavarian soft pretzel. The bratwurst had a nice flavor, however, it seemed to be boiled! This proved to be off putting to my group. If it was served grilled or with a pan sear and a slight crisp or char, this really would've elevated the taste and presentation of the dish. I heard from a customer that the Reuben is delicious so would definitely give it a try in the future. Drink- We ordered a Hefeweizen, the pineapple cider, the house sangria, and the vinho verde. The vinho verde was the least favorite drink as it was on the sweeter side which surprised us.

    Justin R.

    Seminole Heights resident. The Rueben's and salads almost match the greatness of the beer menu.

    Great beer
    Shawn L.

    Stopped in here yesterday in search of new breweries and bars that I haven't tried yet. They are more a pub since they don't brew their own beer but that wasn't a problem since they have a great selection of craft and specialty beers as well as wine. The atmosphere was relaxed with several people having their dogs with them. Their staff were friendly and attentive and their beer was local and lovely. My favorite part of this location was the outdoor seating area. It faces the east so in the afternoon the sun is on the other side of the building which is nice. The day we went the temperature was great with a gentle breeze and lovely fall weather. I will absolutely come back.

    Weihenstephan Hefe Weissbier

    What a gem!! First time here but definitely not my last. Amazing selection of beers and the pretzels are awesome. Super friendly folks who know their way around their business and customers.

    Motorworks Hiya Gourdie Pumpkin Ale
    Julie L.

    We stopped here last night to try a place new to us. The weather was amazing, so we sat outside. The seating was comfortable and it was nice to see some people bring their dogs here. We enjoyed a draft beer, but they also have an amazing cooler with a lot of Belgian beers that we may have to try next time. We look forward to coming back soon.

    BLT Sandwich
    Jill G.

    The Independent's sandwich game is strong! This menu never ceases to impress. It's been a while since I've been in, but I always have the toughest time choosing what to order. The sandwiches range from Cubans to chicken salad croissants to hot dogs (yes, I consider a hot dog a sandwich). But the best part is they offer just as many vegan/vegetarian options as they do meat. You can order the Braut On A Bun regular or with Beyond sausage, the Rueben with turkey or corned beef or the Rueben with tempeh. If you're looking for a new lunch spot with some bomb sammies, I highly recommend trying the Independent!

    Weihanstephan Festbier.

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    2 months ago

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    Veronica D.

    We appreciate your kind words! Cheers!

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    Veronica D.

    Thank you for kind words! Hope you come back again soon! Cheers!

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    Veronica D.

    Appreciate your compliments! Hope to see you again! Cheers!

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    9 months ago

    Great German beer and food. The place has a nice vibe to it too. Seating both indoors and outdoors. I visit this place frequently.

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    Veronica D.

    Appreciate the kind words Kathy! Happy Holidays!

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    Page 1 of 11

    Ask the Community - The Independent

    A group of five adults gets together about every 3 months for lunch and around 3 hrs. of conversation. Would The Independent be a good place for us on a weekday?

    Absolutely

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Mr. Dunderbak's - Beer cheese soup

    Mr. Dunderbak's

    4.4(1.2k reviews)
    6.9 mi•USF
    •$$

    This was my first time trying German food, and Mr. Dunderbak's was a great introduction…read more I ordered the Jägerschnitzel with veal, which is a herb-breaded Wiener schnitzel topped with a rich hunter gravy. The veal was incredibly tender, and the gravy was packed with flavor. It was a satisfying entrée that came with two sides. For my sides, I chose the pierogies and spätzle. The pierogies were honestly my favorite part of the meal. They were fluffy, cheesy, and generously filled. So delicious. I could have eaten a whole plate of just those. The spätzle was soft and well prepared, but compared to everything else, I found it a little boring. The restaurant itself is very cute and has a lot of character. I loved browsing the selection of German snacks, candy, and other imported items available for purchase. It added to the overall experience and made the place feel unique. While I'm not that familiar with German food, I thought this was a pretty good restaurant. Overall, I found German cuisine a little more muted than what I'm personally used to, but I still really enjoyed the meal and the experience. I'd be interested in trying more of the menu.

    The atmosphere is welcoming and the decor is classic German kitsch. However, my visit to the deli…read morewas disappointing. I had such high hopes for this place. :( The selection is very limited and perhaps I missed something (entirely possible), but I did not see a price list for the deli case. We did find a unique assortment of other German products- some we haven't seen in many years. The restaurant portion was quite busy and the customers looked happy. We were flooded with nostalgia and left in hopes of dining in on a less-busy day. I ordered two meats, including the German bologna. During the drive home, my family and I noticed a terrible odor-- the kind where we started pointing fingers at one another. We never suspected that the package from the deli was the source. When we opened it at home, a nauseatingly funky, ammonia-type smell came from the German bologna. While the liverwurst smelled okay, I could not trust it after the bologna and decided against keeping it. Wasted time and money. Dang! The staff is super nice and that was truly a plus. However, I doubt we will be back. My family is very bummed over this.

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    Mr. Dunderbak's - Bar area were we ate and well attended to

    Bar area were we ate and well attended to

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    I'm addicted to pickles and I don't care

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    Tampa Bay Brewing Company

    Tampa Bay Brewing Company

    4.1(1.4k reviews)
    2.4 mi•Ybor City
    •$$

    Stopped in on a Saturday afternoon while visiting Ybor. Sat in the open air outdoor section which…read morehas a covered bar and plenty of tables. There is also an indoor space with bar and more tables and the brewing tanks. We were allowed to sample some beers before making our drink choices. A full kaleidoscope of styles is available as well as full bar. One of our group ordered an espresso martini! They have a full kitchen and great menu. After we finished lunch we headed inside to grab some merch. Some cool stuff and had some assistance with picking items and sizes. Will be planning to stop here again next time we are up n the area!

    Tampa Bay Brewing Company in Ybor City offers a wide variety of options across both food and beer,…read moremaking it a solid stop for groups with different tastes. We sampled the local Reef Donkey brew, which definitely lived up to the hype--smooth, flavorful, and well balanced. A great choice if you're new to their beer lineup. We started with the hot pretzel served with queso and mustard. It came out warm, soft, and perfectly salted--ideal for sharing and easily one of the highlights of the visit. The pizza was generously topped and very cheesy, which we appreciated, though the quality of the sausage could use some improvement to better match the rest of the ingredients. We also tried the hot chicken tenders with hot honey drizzle. Flavor-wise, they were decent, but the portion size felt closer to boneless wings than tenders. The fries were hot and crispy, but overall the chicken itself could benefit from a crispier exterior. Worth noting for future guests: the Red Eye cider buffalo sauce comes with a $1 upcharge. Overall, this is a fun spot with a strong beer program and solid starters. Hoping to return in about six months to see improvements and refinements to the food offerings, as the potential here is definitely there.

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    Tampa Bay Brewing Company
    Tampa Bay Brewing Company
    Tampa Bay Brewing Company

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    The Independent - coffee - Updated September 2026

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