It's been a few year's since my last visit, so I thought I was well overdue to come back. I think…read morethe challenge for me is two-fold. 1) they close at 3:00 pm and I'm a night owl, and 2) PPPPAAARRRKKKIIIINNNGGG. Please note that most of the parking around them is owned by 717 parking, and if you don't have the app, you may need to find alternative parking. Thank goodness I did, not too far away from the shop. It's a Saturday afternoon, and I think that played a reason why I managed. The owner tells me that the parking outside the seafood shop is legit too, and I'm keeping that in my pocket as well. Anyway, enough about my soapbox about parking, because this review is not about that. Cafe Hey's aesthetic and style speaks to me about indie coffeehouses from back in the day, as back in my day as a college student. Worn aged bookshelves with paperbacks and games. Brick walls. Off-beat artwork for sale adorning said walls. Comfy chairs scattered around the space giving it an intimate yet private feel. It reminds me of a time when restaurants and indie shops had more character and were unique with their own identity, before corporate took over and homogenized and sterilized everything. This place screams me, and I'm so thankful to be able to come back. The owner was very gracious and kind and listened to me vent about the parking for a little bit before giving me that tidbit about the other legit spots. For my drink I got the Gorilla Hug, which combines flavor of hazelnut, almond, banana and chocolate, lots of foam, and is drizzled with more chocolate. I got this hot with whole milk. Oh man, the flavor is a big WIN for me. Cozy, yet almost refreshing with the almond and banana flavor, which works very very well. The day wasn't too hot at all, so it really hit the spot. The last time I was here, I remember getting Turkey in the Grass. This sandwich as the name suggests as turkey, cucumber, greens, and cream cheese, nestled together in perfectly tender yet crisp Cuban bread (from La Segunda???). This sandwich was very satisfying, yet incredibly light and wouldn't weigh you down. The turkey is tender and fresh, and the cucumber and cream cheese combo gives it a flavor that is reminds of the Tasty Turkey sandwiches I used to love at Einstein Bros bagels when I was a college student. Even the shop ITSELF is worth a visit, as I came for food and drink, but stayed for art. Once again, the cool independent art vibe taking me back when I was younger. The folks here are friendly, too, and I felt welcomed and at home. Hopefully I won't wait another 9 years go come back.

First off, I want to recognize that this is one of our few remaining restaurants that offer a large…read morevegan selection!! So pleaseeeee go support them! We stopped in here while biking and had some light bites. The inside was so much larger than I expected it to be! I especially loved all the art that was for sale. Such cool pieces! There is plenty of seating inside and some additional tables outside. I would recommend sitting inside if coming in the morning because the sun is wild out there until it gets overhead. My wife and I both got matcha which was absolutely delicious! I also got cuban bread with vegan cheese and loved it. Perfectly crispy and the vegan cheese was really good. One of our friends got the Turkey in the Grass sandwich and it was incredibleeeeeeee! I want to go back just to grab me one of those sandwiches. The cucumbers made it so fresh, I can't wait to have one of my own. Parking isn't the best because of the location but if you bike, no need to worry about that! I will definitely be back! That Turkey in the Grass has my name on it.

Listen here. This is the place…read more Love this spot. So so so so much. I was even in their anniversary video on IG, heck yeah. All jokes aside. I worked downtown and this was a weekly place. Order online, set pickup time and boom. Easy as you like. No line, easy days. Warm food. Come on. All items are great. Sadly I don't have pictures of everything but it's all 5 stars dude. I don't care what you get, you will love it. Brought so many people here, all happy customers at the end of it. Oh the doughnuts, yeahhh need a full fleet of those. Early bird gets the worm situation by the way. You wake up hungover, better get out that door. They go quick and rightfully so, they bang. Like come on. Let's be serious. They have it going on here. Get on down there.

A go to morning/lunch option…read more Their vegetarian options are delicious! Can only imagine what the regular items taste like. Make sure to stop by and grab a donut.

The corned beef sandwich tasted good and service was excellent. I will eat there again !read more

Came here on my last day in Tampa after it was recommended by someone who used to live in the area…read more There's an ample amount of parking, which is always a plus. I went with the Cuban since I've heard it's a staple, and for my first time trying one, it was a solid introduction to the sandwich. Everything came together well. Lucky for me, I'll be calling Tampa home soon, so I'll be back to try more of their sandwiches. I've also heard good things about the chocolate cake, not usually my go-to, but I might have to give it a try.

Great atmosphere and food is phenomenal! We make a special trip to Ulele from Orlando.read more

We've been fans of Ulele for years because the food and atmosphere are always incredible, but after…read morethis weekend it became a place that will forever mean something deeply personal to us. I reached out while planning a proposal to my now fiancée at the nearby park, hoping to arrange a small photo shoot area with champagne before dinner. After one quick email, the General Manager personally called me and spent time talking through ideas and helping make the evening special. Even with that conversation, I was completely unprepared for just how extraordinary they made everything. When we arrived, we followed a trail of rose petals to a beautifully decorated private table waiting for us with flowers, a handwritten card, champagne, and glasses already set. It honestly felt like something out of a movie. The attention to detail and genuine care from the entire team was unbelievable. The manager working that evening and our server were both absolutely wonderful -- warm, attentive, and sincerely excited for us. And on top of all of that, the food was phenomenal as always. I'm still in awe of how special Ulele made the night feel. I truly cannot imagine a better place to have proposed. This restaurant will always hold a special place in our hearts, and we'll definitely be back for many anniversaries and celebrations to come. Highly, highly recommend.

Boulon is by far one of my favorite restaurants in Downtown Tampa. The ambience is 10/10. The…read morerestaurant has something for everyone. If you want a relaxed time, a weekend brunch or week night dinner is for you. If you want an eventful night out, Friday or Saturday night is for you. The service is always 10/10. Similar to the vibes, the food is above and beyond and there is something for everyone. Boulon is constantly refining their menu with fresh and creative new menu offerings so you are bound to find something you like.

Came here for a girls' dinner and had a really nice time overall, but mixed feelings about the…read morefood. I ordered the steak frites and honestly, it didn't hit for me. The steak was a bit dry and pretty chewy, and it lacked flavor. The sauce (some kind of brown pepper sauce) was actually really good though, and the fries were solid. One of my friends ordered the same dish and felt the same way, even though she still cleaned her plate. My other friend got a Caesar salad with shrimp and crab cakes -- both were really good. I'm usually not even a crab cake person, but theirs surprised me in a good way. She said the shrimp was cooked perfectly too. The ambiance is definitely a highlight -- we sat outside on Water Street with nice lighting and a great vibe. Service was good, and the bottle of wine we got was great as well. Overall, we had a great time, I'd just probably try something different on the menu next time.

Get the croissant viral!!! You will not be disappointed!…read more Awesome service and great food!

Went for brunch with several friends and my partner. I…read moreordered the California Bowl and my partner got the Bagel and Lox. The food was okay - my partner liked her bagel but my bowl was not great. The bacon was not crispy and hard to chew - the home fries were the majority of the bowl and did not feel worth the $14 price point. I was going to order a chai latte, but I requested that it be iced - the waiter said that it was made with powder so adding ice would not be possible. Otherwise, the service was great. The atmosphere was nice - a classic small diner vibe. I would come here for cheap eats if the food was cheaper.

Staff here is amazing! Before I placed my order, my waitress brought out a bunch of items for me to…read moretry since this was my first time at the restaurant. I liked every sample but I ended up with the Efo Riro (pronounced eh-faw ree-raw) or the "vegetable soup" with goat and a side of fufu. It comes from the Yoruba people of Southwest Nigeria. "Efo" means greens/spinach, and "Riro" means to stir. So, it literally translates to "stirred greens." I choose this because it has a deep, savory, earthy, and slightly pungent flavor, that is the secret ingredient called Iru (fermented locust beans). It acts like umami (similar to how soy sauce or miso works in Asian cuisine). The greens are cooked down in a rich sauce made of red bell peppers, Scotch bonnet peppers (for heat), onions, and Palm Oil. The palm oil is what gives West African food its distinct richness and often a reddish-orange tint. Instead of rice, I got the Fufu (The "Swallow"). It's a white ball made from real yams, not sweet potatoes or fermented Cassava. In Nigeria, this category of food is called "Swallow." It isn't meant to be chewed on its own like bread; it is meant to be swallowed along with the soup. My waitress brought out a bowl of water and taught me how to eat the Fufu. She told me to pinch off a small piece of the Fufu, roll it into a ball with my fingers, make a small indentation with your thumb (to turn it into a spoon), scoop up the Efo Riro and meat, and swallow it. Texture is like sticky dough. It is a blank canvas designed to balance out the intense spice and saltiness of the Efo Riro. I wish I had more time but I had a flight to catch. Otherwise, I would have taken advantage of their Sunday buffet and try all the other dishes they have to offer! Oh, did I mention how amazing their entire staff is? Right before I left, another waitress gave me a puff puff to try. It's like a chewy fried doughnut and that was delicious! Will be back for their buffet when I'm in the area.

Beautiful! It was…read moresuch a beautiful experience. Shout out to Sid, our hostess/ waiter for coming through. The service was great - everyone was great! The food was tasty. For me as an American it tastes really close to Caribbean food, just a little more potent or stronger. Not salty or super spicy .. just.. super flavorful. Fu fu taste like mash potatoes with no salt or butter lol. Do I recommend ? Yes. Would I go back? Yes.

We stayed across the street at the hilton and ordered takeout. The food was delicious. We ordered…read morethe mac n cheese, hummus & grilled cheese. We're happy with all.

Walked in this evening without being greeted. 2 employees working behind the counter never…read moreacknowledged us when we sat down at the bar. They both looked irritated. I assumed there was some tension between them but who knows.... The lady finally walks over with an attitude and asked us what we wanted to drink. I kindly asked for a menu and she responded with irritation, "all the beers are listed up here and pointed to the wall..." I have 2 eyes that work perfectly fine to read all of the beer options you have to offer..... I asked for a menu. What if I wanted a soda, or water, or food.... I simply asked for a menu and somehow that inconvenienced her. If you can't work in the customer service field then find another career. Please stop projecting your personal issues on to customers!

Where to start about this amazing yet quaint culinary delight on Kennedy Blvd. In South Tampa?…read more Our dear friends decided we needed an impromptu dinner and that we should visit Paul's as they had a few weeks prior, so naturally when your chosen family suggests-" let's do dinner", you do! Paul's is a truly marvelous establishment and its size ( there are probably 10-12 tables) is very NY. Small and intimate but what comes forth from the kitchen is pure magic. The cuisine is an Asian fusion- that word "fusion" is used a lot these days sometimes a bit much, but Paul's can use whatever words they choose because the food is delicious. We started with the chicken satay, and crispy spring rolls. The satay was delightful and the chicken was tender and flavorful. The spring rolls are def made in house- no frozen spring rolls here, and very tasty. I ordered the Pad Thai- with chicken and shrimp at a medium spice level. All I can say is- WOW, just WOW! By far the best Pad Thai I have had in Tampa in 11 years. The subtle flavors coupled with the mild - yet striking spice was a carnival of excitement in my mouth. The chicken was tender was was the shrimp- the noodles cooked to perfection and the dish was NOT wet- it was perfectly seasoned and was accompanied by a Thai chili vinegar on the side and pepper flakes to add a bit more spice- if I had fancied that. Well, I did. Not because it wasn't seasoned as I had asked, but because I decided to add a little more kick! Our server was just lovely- attentive, helpful and always there when we needed her- always checking to be sure we were ok. The time from kitchen to table is perfect- yet there is no rush, the restaurant just wants to be sure you are enjoying yourself! We topped the evening off with a slice of coconut cream pie- fabulous!! Our experience with Paul's won't be our last. We thoroughly enjoyed every moment...from the happy greeting when we arrived to the sweet farewell from the entire staff when we departed. Paul's is a gem on Kennedy!

I'm honestly surprised this place is rated so highly. While the food was edible, it didn't really…read morewow us. The tom yum soup had a nice spicy kick, but the shrimp had a slight freezer-burn taste. I ordered the sweet potato salmon dish and was disappointed that the salmon was overcooked. The drunken noodles were a bit on the salty side, though not terrible. Overall, it's an "okay" spot, but it wouldn't be my first choice for Thai food. That said, the service was very friendly, the restaurant looked clean and well-maintained, and the Thai tea was delicious.

Popped into WAGAMAMA, a popular WATER STREET restaurant for dinner and it did not disappoint…read more My server Veronica was on her A-game. I started the evening with their chili Margarita. It's a spicy one but adds a nice kick to the meal. Tonight I enjoyed the pork potstickers and for my entree, I had the steak Bulgogi. Love, love, love the dining experience tonight and can't wait to be back!

Yelp lemme do a lil half star…read more I mean idk dude. It's one of those places that's good. It is. Like I enjoyed it. But it's also a chain and like nothing really stands up and out. It's good. But like is that the extend of it. Yeah, prob. I don't want to undermine things. Menu is large. They have a happy hour situation. They have mad options. Thumbs up but my doors stayed intact and were not blown off. Cool location. Sat at the bar, felt comfy. Now what I will say. Had an interesting sugar baby's scenario playing out next to me. That's cool. Water street is good for that - I'll tell you that much. So maybe the key takeaway. Good location. Good food and does the job.