Tampa: Is The Lodge's fun food any good?

[Miss E]

Got a menu from The Lodge on my doorstep yesterday, and boy does it look fun! Leaving aside for the moment that the crowd I see camping on the patio every weekend night looks, mmm, how shall I say, clownish... is the food any good? Twinkimisu, pulled pork "sushi" rolls, TV Dinners, Mac n' Cheese, Tater Tots served with fancy aiolis--it sounds awesome, maybe awesome enough to brave the clownishness, or go on an "off" night. Have you been?

[rshally]

For what we had I woudl say it is OK, Mac n Cheese with Beef had a very very oniony flavor(too many onions??), and I didnt like the fact that they used Penne Rigati noodles, it came with three sides, i chose the Cucumber salad which was very PLAIN, no flavor at all, Baked Beans were good and thick BBQ/sweet, and the Tator Tots were perfect, crispy and potatoey. We also tried the Appetizer platter that came with Corn Dogs, some Beef Rolls(like a spring roll but with beef and cheese), Calamari which was not enough for the price and was OK. The Omelets were HUGE and fluffy, with a circle of Tator Tots around it, sliders I was told were good(Buffalo Chicken and Philly Cheesesteak)....

[TampaNativeThatLovesNYC]

Even though this post is old I just had to reply.. I ate at The Lodge last week, I thought the menu looked really interesting but I was very disapointed with the food. I had the TV Dinner, sushi was awful, sweet potatoe fries were ok and the chocolate flan was gross. The waiter was really cool but all the patrons were your typical S Tampa striped shirt/Ed Hardy losers, STAY AWAY.

[rikkikm]

Go early enough on a weeknight and you should be able to avoid the meat market. Their mac and cheese is GOOD, sliders: GOOD, sweet potato fries: GOOD, twinkimisu: GOOD (a little sweeter than a traditional tiramisu- but still good), even the garlicked broccoli: GOOD. Had an odd "Spanish-style" sushi roll- cumin, chicken, avocado I think and it was delicious. The menu is large, so you'll have to make multiple trips. Hmm, they have tater tots? MIssed those. They rescued me from a bad experience at Datz Deli, so good all around.

[Miss E]

Thanks, good to know! Early on a weeknight is definitely the way to go in that area. I even like the food at MacDinton's, but wouldn't dream of showing up anywhere near the weekend.

[RBTampa]

I'm really not trying to be a smarta** by asking this, but what exactly do you mean by clownish?

[Miss E]

I was afraid someone would call me out on that! I am guilty of being judgmental: on a Friday or Saturday early evening, it's always a very young crowd, all dressed to party at MacDinton's afterward. Lots of long blond hair being tossed, lots of guys in those Ed Hardy t-shirts, posing for the passing traffic. Nothing unusual for Soho on the weekend. I'm sure they're lovely people. And they deserve good food.

[RBTampa]

Gotcha! Yes, I can certainly relate to that type of crowd that prefers to be seen above all else. That's the main reason I choose to stay in North Tampa, even though the food selection is certainly better down south.

[rhnault]

Some people like to be seen with the food. I like to eat it ; )