Bored with the “same old” South Tampa restaurant scene, I was pondering some dining choices last week, when a friend suggested trying the “new place” in the spot on Howard Avenue once occupied by Ceviche. Intrigued by his recommendation about the fabulous food served in “private, curtained booths”, I decided to check it out.

 

Ciro’s Speakeasy is the latest venture by Gordon Davis and is located in the first floor of the Bayshore Royal Condominium. I was anxious to see his latest creation, as I loved Le Bordeaux and Ceviche is one of my favorites. The entry to the restaurant is unmarked! Ring the bell and they “peek” before granting entry! Step into the bar and your eyes must adjust to the very dimly lit (pitch black) bar area which features the same high tops as the old Ceviche, but with a fabulous aquarium, as the focal point of the room.

The “sultry experience” and prime seating is definitely achieved via the “private booths” with curtains, so plan to get there early if you want to snag one of those precious spaces. They are first-come, first-served.  Positioned well away from the bar, they offer a very intimate lounge experience.

Draw the curtain, dim the light and press the button to summon the wait staff for your hand made libations. Enjoy some of the “french inspired” items on the menu, which are  more tapas-style than full-course. The menu has some nice options.  The tuna poke was fabulous.  A huge fan of “pork belly”, we also ordered the flatbread but the barbecue sauce was overwhelming and the “flatbread” was really focaccia. Please, Gordon, leave the barbecue sauce over at Smoke, but keep the pork belly.  Overall, I really enjoyed it.  On the plus side, the atmosphere is intimate and romantic.

Nicole

If you want to try something different and get out of the Tampa scene for awhile, head over to St. Pete.

St. Pete is a great place to just walk around and experience what it has to offer.  Everything is super close to each other so all you have to do is park and walk.

Red Mesa (128 3rd Street South) is a stylish neo-Mexican bistro, sleekly dark inside with an amazing outdoor patio that is great to have lunch and margaritas on a Saturday.  If you go for dinner you can walk right upstairs to the bar with live music and great drinks. 

I have to say that the food here is absolutely amazing.  Whether you go for lunch or dinner you can’t go wrong with some of their signature dishes.  Like the duck tacos, sweet with pineapple and spicy with chilies, are delicious; same goes for the simple yet satisfying guacamole.  Someone in the kitchen must have a flair for design because the empanadas were served amidst swirls of sour cream and red sauce.

It can be a little more pricy then your average Mexican restaurant, but so worth the money.  The plates run anywhere from $9.00 to $20.00.  The owners sure know what they are doing with this place because the décor is gorgeous and the ambiance amazing.

Enjoy!

Nicole
Director of Guest Services

    

One of my favorite "date nights" is the Cinebistro in Old Hyde Park Village!  Their website is HERE. If you have never been, you are in for a wonderful, new experience blending the “dinner and a movie“ into one. You walk in and it looks like a modern art deco wine bar feeling with a 1950’s elegant, luxurious twist. 

The experience goes like this, if you have a movie time of 7:00, you show up around 45 minutes prior to the movie time. You can have a glass of wine at the wine bar for 15 minutes, then 30 minutes prior to show time they begin seating for the movie.  When you bought the tickets, (either online or at the theater), you selected your seats at that time.  (Hint: The farther away from the screen the better).  In some of the theaters, the back row or the front row even has foot stools included with the seats.

At seating time, you take your glass of wine with you and a server shows you to your pre-selected seats.  When you walk into the theatre you will notice that the seats are large and leather like a first class airline seat.  Very comfortable for the show. Then you are seated and a server hands you a menu.  You order all courses of your meal together (appetizer, main dish, desert, bottle of wine) and pay at that moment.  An 18% mandatory gratuity is included in the ticket for the servers and bartenders already, so be careful not to double-tip unless you want to. My favorite dish is the Portobello mushroom “lasagna.” Which actually has no pasta in it at all.  It is portioned really nicely and tastes sooo good. Their menu is posted on their website if you would like to see it before you go.  I hear they are about to change their menu, so if you are reading this and it has been awhile, they might not have that dish anymore...

All food is made by a gourmet chef and prepared to order.  Wait times for your food are around 5-15 mins., depending on what you order. You begin your meal and the previews start. They call last call, then the movie starts. You eat your meal at your seat and watch your movie. Should you get a hankering for more, you may leave the theater and order outside of the theatre as to not disturb the other guests.

This experience is only for guests 21 and up and is a little pricier than normal movie tickets. 

Adult

$14.50

Matinee (Before 4pm)

$12.50

Military/Seniors (Sun-Thurs)

$11.50

So, I think that it makes a nice dinner for a special occasion or needed adult night alone.  Grab a buddy or that special someone, and try out this revolutionary new experience!

Enjoy your date!

If your’re looking for a nice night out without the bar seen, I personally recommend an evening in downtown Tampa. 

Starting with dinner at Malio’s then taking in a movie at the Tampa Theatre located on Franklin Street.  This theatre dates back to 1926 offering a unique ambiance with a lot history.  The Theatre presents and hosts over 600 events a year including a full schedule of first run and classic films, concerts, special events. The theatre is one of the most heavily utilized venues of its kind in the United States and one of the few places in Tampa you can enjoy "adult beverages" during the show.   

To end the night, a quiet stroll down by the riverside park next to the museum is very relaxing.

Sushi is a beautiful thing... and tasty too!  Now, admittedly, I haven't tried every sushi place in the Tampa metro - not even close.

But, from my experience, Samurai Blue in Y'Bor City (pronounced by the locals as "E-Boar") is my number one favorite.  Located on the second level of "Centro Y'Bor" (above Improv Comedy Club) this little sushi place is big on taste.

So if you are in the mood for sushi, give it a try... just go easy on the sake!

Nika