What's cookin' in Ybor City?

[cwsiggy]

Plan have changed and I will be in Ybor with a friend instead of Sarasota - what's recommended? lower budget would be ideal so no "The Columbia" recs. lunch and dinner.

cheers all.

[TampaNativeThatLovesNYC]

El Puerto on 5th and 17th, best food in Ybor! This place is great for lunch and dinner, they are closed Monday's for dinner.
Demmi's Market on 7th is good for dinner, they are closed on Mondays. Samurai Blue is good sushi and depending on what you order pretty cheap. I agree that The Tampa Bay Brewing Co. is ok, the cheese & ale dip is tasty. Tony's on 22nd is supposed to be really good home cooking(buffet) for lunch but I have not tried it yet.

[kentski]

I'm sorry, and I love to support my neighborhood places, but Gaspar's Grotto is one of the worst places where I've eaten recently. Had the "Maine Lobster Roll", where they didn't take out the gristle/tendons, so couldn't even chew through it. The service was atrocious (I ate at the bar and I honestly wondered if the bartender was just out of it) and the place was empty, while Carmine's across the street was absolutely packed (where I originally wanted to go).

The homemade potato chips were good, but having gone there twice now with awful results, I won't go back. Many places in Ybor that are good for lunch (Columbia, Rock N' Sports, Laughing Cat, Carmine's, Tampa Bay Brewing Company, Teatro's, Green Iguana, La Tropicana) but Gaspar's isn't one of them.

Maybe go to Gaspar's for drinks, but definitely not for food.

[andy huse]

The Columbia is quite reasonable for lunch. I can make a meal out of a bowl of their soup and toasted cuban bread $5. many entrees for $10 or less.

Tropicana is okay, but I really don't find their food that special.

[NCPhil]

Lunch in Ybor? La Tropicana Cafe. Best cubans in Ybor, period, and the place to people watch as well. Cash only, and cheap.

[TampaAurora]

I love La Creperia's Romeo y Julieta (normally after my husband smokes a RyJ.) Anyone tried the new sushi spot on the main drag? Are there any worthy gems off La Septima (7th)?

[devin8351]

Colombia!

[gypsyrose]

Laughing Cat for lunch buffet!

[garlicvampire]

Second that! We went for dinner back in May. The food was freshly prepared, the staff (and other customers) friendly. We loved the casual style, but if you're expecting dining with a capital D, look elsewhere.

[dmfnole]

Tampa Bay Brewing Company isn't bad
www.tampabaybrewingcompany.com

[DonnaFL]

There's Carmine's, the Acropolis, Gaspar's Grotto.