Date of Visit: 05/24/2026…read more It was Sunday over Memorial Day weekend and we decided to make a trip to the Ellenton Mall for the afternoon. For being the holiday weekend the traffic was mild, made it over the Skyway and to the mall in no time. After our walk around we were hungry and walk over to the cheese steak place, which is awesome by the way, but they are closed on this Sunday. Dang. That's when I remembered the place on the river. We had already been to one of them and wanted something new. And Whiskey Joe's was it. Leaving the mall and getting there was easy. And once you turn it's at the end of the road. First time here so we weren't sure of the lay-out. There is inside as well as a tiki-bar area. We made our way to the tiki bar since it was a nice day with a breeze. After sitting we were quickly attended to. However there was only the one guy running the tiki bar so we knew to be patient. After he made a round he came back and had our drinks and taking our food order. Since I had a burger yesterday, you would know this if your following me, I wanted something different. I chose the blacken chicken w/fries and the wife ordered the Caribbean salad. I really don't know how long it took to arrive, we were enjoying the view and nice breeze. Then our food came, presentation was good. I didn't take off for the fries, I'd rather have them not coated, these were like Checkers fries. Some people like them that's why I didn't take points off I still had some. Though I did like the chicken very much, it was so juicy. And Like others have noted, the blackening here is just the seasoning not the actual act of blackening. I'm still waiting to go somewhere where they actually blacken it. Now the wife just loved her salad. It too came with chicken only hers had Caribbean seasoning and juicy as well. We only stayed for lunch and a beverage. It is a great place to stop after the mall. Peace.

First time dining here and we had a great experience overall! Plenty of parking and the restaurant…read moreitself is huge with both indoor and outdoor seating options. Service was friendly, attentive, and surprisingly fast. The seafood was fresh and delicious. The grilled oysters were plump, well-seasoned, and definitely one of the highlights of the meal. The fish tacos were tasty, and the side of fried sweet plantains was delicious. We also tried the ceviche, which was flavorful, but the portion felt a bit small for the amount of chips served alongside it. The gator bites were tough and chewy. May be more palatable if the size of the nuggets were smaller cuts. The margarita tasted good, though the alcohol was barely noticeable. Overall, a very enjoyable first visit with quality seafood, great atmosphere, and excellent service. Just be prepared for slightly pricey portions on some dishes.

Just a great Florida waterfront entertainment facility with a restaurant, bar, docks and private…read moretiki huts. They have live entertainment daily. Wonderful bartenders. Thanks Charles

I've been coming to the Roo for many years and have seen it change quite a lot. The Roo today is…read morethe best I've seen. I've been there twice this week, and every time I go I order what is the best bang bang shrimp I've ever had. The service is always top notch with me never seeing the bottom of my glass and plenty of attention. If it's a hot day try to find a table near a fan or in the shade. If you want to skip rocks, go sit out near the river. You can have whatever dining experience you'd like. Other food recommendations are the grouper sandwich, tacos (both grouper and shrimp).

Very nice casual place outside the pool area with a menu that has a lot of options & friendly…read moreservice. This place is open to the public......for now. We've enjoyed the crudite, salads, etc. Everything has been pretty good. They have heaters for when it gets cold out & no mosquitos!

Food was delicious. I had the taco dish. It was nice they had an option that could be vegan. The…read moreservice was great! Our server was so personable. The ambiance of the restaurant was very chill, warm and relaxing.

This is a beautiful fun spot, located on the water with great views. A great place to have drinks…read moreand food while watching the sunset. There is a lot of seating. Drinks and food are good but can take some time to order and recieve. Despite that, this is a must in Sarasota!

This is such a fun spot with amazing frozen drinks and food. We had the Elvis (peanut butter and…read morebanana) and mud slides and wow so delicious. The outdoor spot is cute and they had great music playing. We ate around the bar which had more shade, great staff too. We loved the buffalo cauliflower and sloppy Joe was perfect texture and flavor. Rueben was solid with plenty of meat and sauce. The area around this spot is so fun with lots of art to look at. The cute little green space out front had corn hole and seats. Would definitely recommend checking this spot out in Sarasota!

Great food and drink. Good wine menu especially reds. Plan…read moreon returning. Had the double pork chop...wonderful!

I'm giving 4 stars because it's new and I'm giving some of the missteps a pass…read more Over all the food was good but could improve. Will add more when I try again

Cool vibe and drinks. Great ending to a dinner downstairs. Loved the Stashed Fortune drink in a…read moretreasure chest. The unboxing was an experience.

Ok I understand this is a speaktiki so technically a SECRET. But it's just too fun to keep it…read moreshush. Adults only. Their menu is unique to their bar (so not the same drinks you get downstairs in their sister property Agave Bandido. To get in go to the back left corner of the dining room where there is what looks like a bar wall storage. Ta da! Staircase access! Small and intimate upstairs. Tiki vibes and drinks. So fun for a night out or a special get together. The bartenders are all lovely, kind and know their drinks.

Ohhh yeah, I'd been looking forward to this. Turns out you don't need a Delorean to go back in…read moretime. You just need to point your own car toward Sarasota... to Tamiami Trail, just south of University. Step inside the Bahi Hut and you're back in 1955... plus one. This local landmark dates back to 1954 and bills itself as Florida's oldest tiki bar. I'm all in for it! Outside, it's a small, cement block building with retro font lettering, right next to a vintage motel. (Perfect, if you'd had too many mai tais!) Inside, it's tiki perfection... with dim lighting, Polynesian decor and that swanky feel you can only get from mid-century modern. In my head, an instant mashup of "Bali Hai" and xylophony lounge music. When I opened the door, everyone blinked-adjusting to the sudden light-and instant realization: it's actually 2025. Well-outside, anyway. Right away, I was greeted warmly by the bartender. It was about 2pm on a Friday and fairly empty, but I know this joint is jumpin' later on. The bartender recommended the mai tai... allegedly Trader Vic's original recipe from 1944. Oh, it was good... and strong. I appreciated the presentation, history and the taste. But I opted for something different for my second drink (the laminated drink menu was a joy to behold). I went with the gorgeous blue "desert flower," which is tequila based. Ooo, that was good, too... and so pretty. Two will definitely do ya, here. I had already eaten, so didn't try any of the food offerings. But I did sip slowly and chat with the other time travelers and tropic seekers who wandered in. It was exactly what I wanted it to be. Besides bar seating, there are tables in two different areas and a great merch collection that I need to go back and study. There's also a giant thatched tiki roof (not as vintage) and patio. They need the space, since there's karaoke on Thursdays, live music on Fridays and Saturdays and drag queen bingo on Sundays. There's also a happy hour, Monday thru Thursday, from 1-6, I believe. And later this year, the Tiki Fever Convention will be held at the Bahi Hut and next door at the Golden Host motel. (November 2025) I'm not sure I can make that, but I will definitely be back. There's plenty of parking-and that big menu to work through. Cue the xylophones... and I'll see you there!

Had a nice happy hour at the Bahi Hut. Great drinks and great Old Florida atmosphere. The service…read morewas top notch. Looking forward to coming back soon!

Enjoyed a fantastic waterfront dining experience at Swordfish Grill. The sunset views over the…read morewater made for the perfect backdrop to a relaxing meal. We started with stone crab claws, oysters Rockefeller and ahi tuna nachos--all fresh and flavorful. For entrées, the shrimp tacos were delicious, and the award-winning shrimp and grits definitely lived up to the hype. The Greek salad was also fresh and tasty. Our server was very polite and attentive. Great option for families too, with a kids menu featuring crowd-pleasers like chicken fingers and fries. There's also a fun little gift shop inside to browse, and plenty of parking, which makes the whole experience easy and enjoyable.

Ordered a blackened grouper Ruben which was a little soggy and I could not taste that it was…read moreblackened. Otherwise good. The Pineapple slaw was room temperature vs chilled but again otherwise ok. Great Marina views!! Service was ok.

What a DOPE, PIRATE THEMED, speakeasy to go to grab some delicious drinks! Totally blown away!…read more Tucked, downtown Tampa you enter through a secret bookcase door and you enter a very low key pirate bar! Lighting is dim, which is part of the concept. (Auto flash is needed for pics) The joint, is VERY CLEAN! The staff is awesome and very attentive! They understand process. The drinks are SOOO WELL MADE! I had a Zombie as my first drink, and it is very well presented and STRONG! I prefer,my first drink at an establishment to be strong cause then I can lighten it up later. Then I had a Rum Barrel, not as strong, but well presented and delicious! Note: Prices for drinks are worth every dime! They have a small food menu, but everything on the menu looked delicious, but I did not eat there. This speakeasy is attached to a British pub which I went for food after. (Review to come) All-in-all great spot to come and have a drink you are well treated, appreciated and just a fun experience! I will DEFINITELY come back here for a delicious drink and DEFINITELY will try something off the food menu. I'll just make sure next time I won't go there after a big breakfast lol! Five stars alllllll day long!!!

These are the coolest places in Fla. Secret cryptic entrances with a speakeasy like ambiance…read more Hidden passages and a clear throwback to the days of prohibition. With all that was going on, it's a wonder we could find the exit after all the drinks. The pirate theme was the caveat. A perfectly dimmed atmosphere and willing performers that can conjure up delicious delights. The red light and point on music only enhanced the experience. Plenty of signature drinks, a dozen different beers and even a few dishes are offered. They stir a nice whiskey sour. It's really what suits your fancy. Fear not. They have mocktails, too! 12/25

Ambiance: If you're visiting downtown St. Pete, this is an absolute must-stop. You come here for…read morethe vibes. The views of the water and downtown St. Pete are stunning, especially at sunset. There are tons of seating options, including couches, high- and low-top tables, bar-style seating around the perimeter, and even tiki huts that I believe can be reserved for groups (I'm not entirely sure how reservations or pricing work). This would be a great spot for friend groups or for pre-dinner drinks on a date. Instagram-worthy: 100%. This is a fantastic spot for photos. Drinks: We ordered a piña colada and a spicy margarita. Both drinks were very cute and very strong. My margarita was a bit cucumber-forward, which wasn't my personal favorite... but to be fair, it was listed on the menu. Food: We didn't order any food, so I can't personally comment, but the menu looked like typical bar food. Getting there: The bar is located at the very end of the pier, above a small gift shop. You can get there via stairs or elevator, and you can either walk to the end of the pier or take the free trolley that runs along it.

Come for the views!!…read more I would not make a special trip to this bar, but if I was down by the pier and felt like a fun drink, I would stop in. Getting a table or getting service in general is always chaotic. The drinks are pretty good but expensive, and the food is just ok too (we had wings and flatbreads). Like I said, come for the views and the photo ops because the St Pete skyline is lovely at sunset!