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    The Spaniard

    4.3 (53 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    The Spaniard Photos

    THE SPANIARD ATMOSPHERE

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    Shrimp Ceviche & Albas Southside Royal
    Jessica P.

    Great place for a chill date night & awesome spot for Sunday Funday with friends by the pool with Brian! Executive Chef Leigh has carefully crafted a menu filled various tapas ranging from fresh ceviches to savory spare ribs & chicken pinchos. Too bad we filled up on Tapas at dinner - I'm looking forward to coming back and trying the seafood dishes, along with the paella and braised oxtail! Manager Miguel was so nice to take care of us, thank you for the lovely time!!

    Pasta and veggies
    Gerald M.

    WARNING: The Spaniard has left this restaurant and all that remains is the name. The menu has changed and you will no longer find the plates you see in the photos here. For example: there is no paella, mussels, or anything else that looks like a chef made it. The new menu looks pretty boring. We came in on a Friday night at 7pm and it was dead. Bringing a wife here for an anniversary-as the reviewer below did- would make for a very insulted wife. The service and menu is what you'd expect at an airport. The food was ok, the service was ok, the ambiance was like dining at terminal C after the last flight.

    House Roasted Pulled Pork Tostones
    Renelle W.

    I would rate this restaurant 4.5 to be more specific. What made my family's first dining experience at The Spaniard worth every penny was our server Jordan D. From the moment I opened to door, he was exuding such charisma that we were excited to dine. Not only was he hosting, he was also serving and bussing the tables...it was a one man show that night but he did is gracefully and kept a smile on his face! Oh! The food?! Oh yeah, the star dishes were the tostones and the mussels; busting with flavor and extremely large portions! Get it, you won't regret it! The soy glazed hen was sold out so we opted for the duck. I prefer my duck to have a crispy skin and tender on the inside, there's was a bit chewy for me. Overall, I really enjoyed the creativity from the chef! I really enjoyed the experience. My only gripe is that the restaurant is located in the lobby of a hotel, near a pool area so plan on seeing people in bathing suits walking back and forth, which could be distracting and took away from the overall ambiance of the restaurant.

    Scallops and pasta
    Patti K.

    Very nice ambiance upon arrival. Tables all beautifully set with fresh flowers and real candles. Daily 3 course meals reasonably priced along with a nice regular menu. Food presentation was very nice and our meals cooked to perfection. The scallops were tender and seasoned with a drizzle of butter. Pasta was a tad dry, but tasty. Lamb chops were perfectly cooked and the roasted veggies made it a perfect combination. The cheesecake had just the right balance of sweetness with a warm caramel apple glaze, small apple bits, raspberries and a dollop of real whipped cream. This would be a great date place. Quiet, intimate atmosphere. Tastefully decorated. They offer a full bar, spirits, beer and wine. Not a lot of space for larger groups. Comfortable for 6-8 though. The waitstaff was welcoming, friendly and efficient service. The restaurant is on the floor level of the Alba Hotel (Hilton) and looks out onto the patio and pool. Adequate parking, reasonable prices and good value.

    Eggs and breakfast  potatoes
    Brandi M.

    This is not your standard hotel restaurant. The food was Mind blowing. Every bite, every meal was just as wonderful as the last. The prices were in par with the restaurants nearby. The staff was friendly. On Sundays they do offer a breakfast buffet. We didn't try it because we were trying to get through as much of the menu as possible

    Calamari
    Amber N.

    I had Ropa Vieja and Fried Calamari. The calamari is crispy with a great batter. If I had known they put sauce all over, I would have requested it on the side. It makes some pieces mushy after a while, ruining the crunch. The Ropa Vieja is tender, well-seasoned meat with yellow rice, black beans, yucca & plantains. Surprisingly the yucca was my favorite thing; it's almost like thick but crispy fries. I didn't know all that came with the meal because they need better descriptions. I can't offer an opinion on the black beans; sorry I can't eat a whole bowl like that, but my friend enjoyed them. The portion was a good size; a friend and I split it and I left very full. I agree with some other reviews about the service. We were there on Thursday late afternoon/early evening. We were the only ones there, yet service was very slow to bring food and even slower the bring the bill. I was ready to leave probably 30 minutes earlier than when I finally received my bill. I think because it's new they are still working out the kinks. I'm willing to try again because our server was friendly and the food was good. It is next door to my job so if my coworkers suggest it for another after work happy hour, I'll go back. However, if it wasn't in a convenient location for me, I'm not sure how likely I would be to revisit.

    Pineapple margarita
    Joy D.

    I'm on vacation for Bucs vs Rams & I'm staying @ Hotel Alba. The server Brian is amazing & personable. Luv his customer services & great employee as well. He recommended blackened grouper taco, man it was gooooodddddd. Shoutout to the cook, that shit was seasoned well. Overall, im loving it so far & Brian is making it worth my while. Yah got good employee.

    Breakfast buffet
    Janell J.

    Ate here a couple times on our weekend stay here. Both mornings we enjoyed the buffet breakfast, which had fresh fruit, eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, oatmeal, biscuits, sausage gravy and a variety of carbs (bagels, bread, pastries). The breakfast was pretty good, the fruit was very fresh and sweet, the hot food was prepared fresh and hot, and I liked the variety. The sausage gravy was horrible, I'm not sure what happened with it, and the biscuits were rock hard and dry - maybe that day something went wrong with them... but other than the gravy and biscuits, everything else was fine. We also ordered food for dinner one night of wings, fries and a Florida Cuban with yucca fries. The Florida Cuban was AMAZING - I loved it and savored each bite. The yucca fries were good. My husband enjoyed his wings and fries. Service was always friendly, especially the morning crew. We always got our bill promptly without having to wait, and our waters and coffee was always replenished fast. Nice on-site restaurant for the hotel, very convenient.

    The Paella
    Danielle R.

    Had the most amazing experience here on Valentine's Day night! We were expecting the best service because it's valentines night and a Friday so we knew it would be busy but the Spaniard went above and beyond for us! First we arrived to our reservation and they were about 25 mins late seating us but we knew it was just busy and the provided us with COMPLIMENTARY champagne just because they felt bad. Second our service was so amazing! The charcuterie board was so good and same with the Paella! I love the atmosphere of this place and we will be back for sure! Thank you for such an amazing evening!

    Bar
    Tiffany Z.

    We came here for drinks and they were good and cold! The bartender and manager were really nice! I would recommend staying at the Alba hotel and coming down to the bar! Nice setting

    gluten free lump crab salad
    Airamiss L.

    I am a fan of roast pork and that was the main thing ai came here to try. I must admit their roast pork was on point. I am a Tampa native and eat roast pork on the regular. I want a fan so much of the saffron jasmine rice, I would much rather have traditional yellow rice. The seafood dishes are pretty great on the menu. We definitely will be back to try more items. Although they do not have a gluten free menu you can have them check with the chef and to be honest most of the menu is gluten free. I love the decor and all its nids to Tampas Spanish heritage and how the menu does the same. All the dishes we had were plated nicely and we had zero complaints. The hotel is beautiful and you can walk out and sit by the pool with tour drink or in the lounge bar area. There is so much more to this place than just a restaurant! Be sure to check out the art gallery while you are there also. I think prices were pretty fair, for 2 entrees a appetizer and 2 drinks we came out a little over 100$. Thanks for a great evening Hotel Alba/The Spaniard!

    Breakfast Sandwich on a Croissant
    Tranee J.

    While staying at the Hotel Alba, we decided to have a slow morning and try out their restaurant and hang out by the pool. We weren't expecting too much to be honest and boy were we pleasantly surprised! I decided on the avocado toast; sourdough bread, avocado, egg, tomato, and mozzarella cheese. The avocado was flavorful without being overpowering, I opted for scrambled eggs (not a fan of runny yolk), and the tomato/cheese was a nice compliment to the avocado and egg. It was a protein filled breakfast that left me satisfied without being overstuffed. My husband got the breakfast sandwich on a croissant and he thoroughly enjoyed his meal. He was surprised by the freshness and quality of the ingredients. His portion was quite large and he could not finish his sandwich. The fruit on the side was good but not the overtop amazing, just run of the mill mixed fruit. If you are staying at Hotel Alba, give this place.

    Salmon burger

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    Service was good and food was good. Little loud by the pool sometimes. Liked the live music

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    Yelp said it was open. Still closed during day to covid hours. I have not yet dined here but want others to take note the hours are wrong.

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    6 years ago

    Excellent food and service! Carly our waitress was excellent!!! It was her first day and she handled our large group with ease

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    Great authentic Cuban restaurant located right next to my hotel. It's not a fancy place by any…read moremeans. Just a humble restaurant tucked among office buildings. As soon as I walked in, I noticed everyone was speaking Spanish. There is a large Cuban community in Tampa, and this establishment is clearly a favorite among them. I ordered a Cuban sandwich and added lettuce and tomato...not my usual way of ordering it, but I wanted to switch things up. I also ordered a small side of Cuban black beans topped with onions and a large café con leche. The sandwich was very good. It had the perfect ratio of meats and toppings. The roasted pork was flavorful, the seasoning was on point, and the bread was outstanding...soft on the inside with a wonderful crunch on the crust. The black beans were fantastic. They had so much flavor that I was tempted to order a large bowl, but I was already full. By the way, they have a steam table filled with delicious looking dishes. Everything looked amazing. The coffee was strong, flavorful, and perfectly sweetened. It definitely woke me up and got me moving. The staff was excellent. The ladies working there were friendly, welcoming, and provided great customer service throughout my visit. If you're nearby and looking for authentic Cuban food and excellent service, make sure to stop by.

    Food is exceptional and very affordable. If this was close to…read moreMy house, I would eat here once a week minimum.

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    Columbia Restaurant - Fideua de Mariscos - 10/10 could easily share  with someone.

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    Two Nights in a Row and Even Better the Second Time!…read more This was my second night in a row at Columbia Restaurant, and that alone should tell you how much I enjoyed it! I'm attending the Connect Conference and after eating here last night, I told a few friends how good the food was. I even told Casey, the Assistant Manager, that I was going to spread the word. Well... OMG. Apparently I spread the word a little TOO well because everyone showed up tonight! My reservation didn't get made, so I headed to the bar, and it ended up being a great experience. There was only one seat available at the bar, so we made it work with one person at the bar and the rest of us at a nearby table. That's when we had the pleasure of meeting Chris, the bartender. He was AMAZING! Even though we weren't all technically sitting at the bar, Chris took care of our entire group and never missed a beat. He was friendly, attentive, welcoming, and made us feel like taking care of us was no trouble at all. Great food brought me back for a second night, but service like Chris provided is what makes you want to keep coming back. Thank you, Casey I'm sorry I missed you and Chris, for another great evening at Columbia. And apparently, when I tell people a restaurant is good, they listen!

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    La Teresita Cafe

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    3.9(1.3k reviews)
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    **Quick, solid Cuban food right by the mall**…read more Heading to the mall and wanted something better than food court fare -- La Teresita was right down the street, so we popped in. Skipped the sit-down cafeteria side and grabbed the counter seating instead, which had a fun bar-style setup. Service was fast -- they got our water order in immediately, and we followed up with a large café con leche. Plenty of coffee for the price, though the red plastic cup was a letdown compared to a proper mug. Food came out in under five minutes, which is impressive for how good it was. I got the Milanesa -- a breaded steak in red sauce -- with yellow rice and black beans on the side, and it was excellent for the price. My wife had the Ropa Vieja with yucca and Moros rice, and it didn't disappoint: tender, soft beef with rich tomato sauce and just a hint of olive coming through. We also added a side of tostones with their garlic sauce, which were absolutely delicious. For a quick stop before the mall, this exceeded expectations -- great flavor, fast service, and solid prices. Would go back even without the mall as an excuse.

    My tummy is happy!…read more It's been a while since my last visit but oh boy itch scratched! One of the best and very reasonable Cuban food in the Tampa Bay Area. Ordered ropa vieja which isn't available on weekends but they checked with the kitchen and got it for me. Yucca and rice and beans to complement it. Cafe con leche is a must! It was a bustling weekend so we sat at countertop. Still plenty of seats. Good came out very quickly and servers were very accommodating even wi tv my broken Spanish lol

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    Where you go in

    The Spaniard - latin - Updated September 2026

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