Tinatapas and other Channelside restos? (Tampa)

[Covert Ops]

Hi hounds,

Going to a concert at the St. Pete Times Forum in April. We'll be spending a day or two in the area, and will hit the Dali Museum and other downtown St. Pete spots, but I'm not as familiar with downtown Tampa near the forum. We're lookign for a good place to eat before (or possibly after) the show -- it's on a Thursday night.

I saw a post about Tina Tapas and the Web site looks delish -- I've never had tapas before and it sounds great. I've never been to Channelside, are there any other places over there we should try? Been to Ybor years ago, not really my scene, unless there's a place there we HAVE to eat at. I've been to the Columbia in St. Pete, wasn't too thrilled, is the Ybor one better?

[HeatherFL]

Well, I'm not sure what you consider expensive, but I believe you could get out of Mise En Place for under $40 a person excluding alcohol if you don't go too crazy. Their dinner menu is online here:
http://www.miseonline.com/dinner.pdf

You can find the rest of their menus on their website as well, posted earlier in this thread.

The Ceviche' in Tampa and the one in St. Pete are related. The one in St. Pete just opened in the last year or two, I believe. I stand corrected if anyone knows otherwise. The one in Tampa is the original. If you take Howard Avenue toward Bayshore, you will actually hit the restaurant before you hit Bayshore Blvd.. It's sort of tricky. Keep your eyes open because it looks like it's part of an apartment/condo building.

Hope this helps!

[HeatherFL]

UGH, I'd steer clear of Tina Tapas. If you're willing to drive 15 minutes into the Hyde Park area of town, go to Ceviche'. Hands down, best tapas place in Tampa. 2109 Bayshore Blvd
www.cevichetapas.com

In downtown Tampa, near the St. Pete Times Forum is also Mise En Place. Very good food. 442 W Kennedy Blvd
www.miseonline.com

If you want to stay in Channelside, try Grille 29 instead. 615 Channelside Dr
www.grille29.com

I also agree, Jackon's Bistro is pretty good. 601 S Harbour Island Blvd #100
www.jacksonsbistro.com

As for the Columbia in Tampa, it's good food and it's the original, but I don't think it's ***great*** except for that 1950's salad they have. I'd venture out elsewhere. If you can't get into Ceviche' just up the street is Sangria's. They also serve tapas and also good, but not as good as Ceviche'. Sangria's-315 S Howard Ave
http://www.tampasangrias.com/

If you venture into Ybor (ee-bore) try Bernini's Italian. www.berniniofybor.com

Way better Greek/Mediterranean food than Acroplis (sorry, I think it's overrated) is Byblos Cafe' in South Tampa. 2832 South MacDill Ave.
www.bybloscafe.com

Have fun!

~H.

[Covert Ops]

Thanks, Heather. Is Ceviche on Bayshore related to the one in downtown St. Pete? I had a friend who went to that one and raved about it.

Mise en Place is really expensive, right? We don't mind a special dinner (it's a friend's birthday) but we'd like to keep it below $40 pp total, not counting alcohol.

[rhnault]

the original Ceviche is the one in Tampa and it is excellent. I think $40 pp should cover you at Mise en Place easily, excluding alcohol. I am almost positive their menu is online if you want to google it. They recently remodeled for their 20th anniversary so it should be exciting to eat there again.

[rshally]

IN Ybor my favs are Acropolis Greek Tavenera, Laughing Cat Italian. At Channelside, Grille 29 never dissapoints; Jackson Bistro on Harbour Island, in downtown Fly on Franklin, SPAIN on Tampa St, Thai Corner on Franklin are great choices as well.