This spot has quickly become my after-work happy place--and honestly, it's hard to imagine a better one. The view alone is enough to make you stay, but the happy hour? Absolutely worth it for both the quality and the experience. Every single visit, the bartenders and valet team have been beyond amazing--welcoming, attentive, and just genuinely great at what they do. It makes such a difference. I've been working my way through the starters menu, and not a single appetizer has missed. Everything has been delicious so far. If you stop by between now and the end of the year, tell them Olivia sent you and that I've been bragging about them--because they've truly earned it read more

Great ambiance and service. The ocean views make for a great meal vibe. The conch fritters were disappointing. It comes with tajin lime and a piña colada sauce. I felt like the sauce was too sweet for the fritters itself. You couldn't really taste the conch it felt like it got hidden by the dough flavors rather than complimented by it. loved the French toast though!! Super fluffy I loved how everything paired well with one another the apples, blueberries, Nutella and marshmallow topping. The hangover hash was also quite enjoyable. The prime rib pulled apart easy and was super flavorful. Save yourself the money by not getting the florentine omelet. The others on the menu carry because this omelet was bland. read more

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We met up with friends while in Tampa for the weekend recently who recommended that we go to the Rusty Pelican for lunch. I will say that the views of the Bay are breathtaking as you enjoy brunch cocktails and dine on other fare that made us feel solid and strong, strong and solid. When you walk up the boardwalk to the outdoor coveted waiting area where there is a fireplace, you are greeted by a selfie wall before going inside to the colonial like reception area with atrium like ceilings and sofas for waiting to be seated. The white bar area is good for happy hour and pre dinner cocktails if you are included. For food, I ordered the Fruity Pebbles pancakes with this berry like butter and maple syrup that I felt was very good. The side of bacon made me jolt with life like I was on the back of a motorbike. The "Pear"fect Pour radiated with greatness as it was served on a tree with bourbon, belle pear cognac, cinnamon bark syrup, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, in a milk bath with cardamom. It made me feel like I was a lumberjack in a forest ready to chop petrified wood. All shiny and smooth, smooth and shiny. The Finest Hour was smoky genius with vanilla brown sugar, walnut bitters, and whiskey. I would come back again for more brunch brilliance so I could be placed in a world of spiritual culinary brunch purity. read more

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I've been to this restaurant a few times and they have never disappointed. My family took me here for my birthday dinner this year and once again I was s impressed. We had a table by the window which had great water views. The drinks and meal were all outstanding with a nice birthday dessert at the end. Our server did a really good job at keeping things at the right pace and taking care of our parties needs. read more

Rusty Pelican - Birthday wishes. - Seafood Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Awesomely Amazingastic!! The ambiance was beautiful, fireplaces and the ocean it fits on cool days. The service was impeccable and the food was delicious!! read more

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Went with my mom for a throwback visit. Last time there was 25 yrs ago! And while the whole restaurant was renovated due to Hurricane / storm damage, it was nice to see a couple of odes to the previous design. Now it's completely modern with a fantastic water view for a soothing bright ambiance. The food as service were definitely high end and enjoyable. Mother has the most delicious lobster and shrimp mango salad ever! Tasted so much better than I thought it would. Next time, I'm getting that myself lol! I had the Atlantic salmon BLT, and was also happy with my entree. So the magic question is... would I go back? Absolutely! Would love to bring some of the northern family here for a nice seafood with a view lunch. And please please keep that amazing salad just how it is on the menu, my mouths already watering read more

Rusty Pelican - Mom and lobster shrimp mango salad. Yum! - Seafood Near Me - Tampa, Florida

One of the best spots for happy hour in Tampa. The bar team is so friendly and hospitable, they made us feel welcome from the start. Happy hour is 4-6:30 and we tried literally everything and were impressed with it all. The coconut shrimp and crab cake especially. The orange marmalade for the shrimp was just delicious and perfectly complemented. Cocktails were delicious and you just can't beat the view, it feels like you're truly on a tropical getaway at sea. We can't wait to be back soon! read more

Rusty Pelican - View from bar - Seafood Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Was excited to revisit a favorite of mine ... pre-Covid this was one of my favorite brunch spots. As with most things, Covid missed this up! No more all-you-can eat buffet and they're a bit stingy with the bottonless mimosas - but to be fair they individually made each mismosa rather than make them by the pitcher. Having said that, the favored mismosas were good, especially the watermelon and lime ... a new favorite! The hangover hash could have been seasoned a bit more. The chicken and waffle was ok, nothing to write home about. The price point was a bit high which is why I will end with the following comment: All in all, perhaps a nice date place but not a foodie paradise. read more

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Five stars for the fabulous Kyle, who more or less became the ninth member of our group of eight colleagues tonight. He was friendly, outgoing, attentive and genuinely hospitable in a way that elevated the entire meal. It's rare to feel that well taken care of in a busy, high‑end restaurant, but he managed it with ease. Rusty Pelican is both spendy and fancy, but you're paying for fresh seafood and a waterfront setting that feels special the moment you walk in. We started with appetizers for the table: calamari, coconut shrimp and brussels sprouts. All three were excellent, though I'm not exactly looking forward to sitting in a conference room with these people tomorrow after the sprouts. The calamari in particular were tender and flavorful. Two of my colleagues ordered the whole fish, which arrived beautifully presented. I had already dressed in solid colors to protect myself from any splashy pasta mishaps, so I chose the squid ink bucatini. It was delicious, generously filled with pieces of lobster and shrimp, and the pasta was perfectly al dente. My only complaint is that the spice level was a bit too aggressive. I enjoy heat, but this crossed into overwhelming. Drinks were excellent across the board. They offer two varieties of smoked Old Fashioneds, and I'm grateful I'm not the one signing off on the expense report. Overall, this is a great choice for a fancy meal, whether you're planning a date night or simply want to treat yourself to a memorable splurge. [Review 26 of 2026 - 2217 in Florida - 25217 overall] read more

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Sunday brunch at rusty pelican is always a good choice! Perfect waterside views + bottomless mimosas. We wish they'd bring the bottle to the table so we could make our own mimosas but TRP has their own rules lol. Fresh oysters; French toast (big enough for our party of 8) and the most amazing server - Sheila! read more

Rusty Pelican - Seafood Near Me - Tampa, Florida

I came with my family and friends to enjoy a nice brunch, but the experience took an unexpected turn. We hadn't been to the Rusty Pelican since they reopened, so we were really looking forward to it but this was not the experience we were hoping for. When we arrived, Jackie the host took a while to seat us and eventually led us to a back room, even though the main dining area was only half full. It seemed like an odd choice. Once we were seated, we noticed that nearly everyone in the back room was Black. I don't like to assume the worst, but the situation felt intentional. We were there celebrating my dad's birthday, and he being someone who serves on the NAACP board for the Tampa chapter agreed that it seemed deliberate. To make matters worse, we waited about 10 minutes without anyone coming to take our order. Ultimately, we decided to leave. read more

Pretty good place. Had a party of 8 and they put us in a back room, which was not as nice as their main dining room. Service was OK, though a bit slow. Tried a variety of things - crab cake was OK; Conch was good, dipping sauce was weird. Fried snapper was pretty good, though the rice they served it with was sweet. Valet parking only, the attendant felt the need to remind me that they work for tips.... OK. Overall, just an OK experience. read more

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I immediately felt welcomed at Rusty pelican. The valet staff was nice and friendly as well as the wait staff. I love the lounge area where you can wait until your table is ready and the huge bar area. There are also great views in the restaurant. I will be back to try a plated dinner experience. read more

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Absolutely gorgeous place!! Beautiful rooms and views! Food was simple but good. Staff was great! read more

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Fresh Seafood Good Service Good Location Shrimp Cobb Salad Fried Cod and Grouper Also good Cocktails read more

Service was great and I really enjoyed the experience. Doing 4 stars because I feel the price didn't meet the food. We started with the jalapeño cornbread which was very good. We followed with 6 easy and 6 west coast oysters, east coast were wonderful the west were very small and not much flavor. We decided to do the board for two as the main. It was impressive. The fried fish was cooked perfectly, but the coconut rice was much too sweet for me. lobster was very sweet and cooked well- thought a bit over but not bad. The risotto was not risotto at all and was closer to jambalaya. Steak was good but the potatoes were lack luster so get the truffle butter and mix it in! Salad was a nice palette lifter but was overly dressed. read more

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This has been everything that I've dreamed of. I've always wanted to go to this restaurant. I wanted to check out the one in Miami, but I just haven't been in Miami for a while, so I was decided to check this one out and found out they're all under the same umbrella. The view was absolutely astonishing, but you get to see the bridge and some parts of downtown Tampa. I would be going on and on and on and on about how good the food here is. However, the most knockout part of the meal was definitely the tartar. That was full of flavor and so good that once they brought crackers to the table, we demolished that as well. Very flavorful. I don't think anyone complained about their meal, even though I don't remember the name of everyone's meal. However, I will be back for sure because this is a top-tier restaurant with some top-tier service along with top-tier food. read more

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I've been wanting to try this spot for a while and just landed at the airport and decided since it was so close we'd give it a try! So glad we did! Just a few miles from the airport, makes the location easy! The view and atmosphere were awesome! It was dark so the view was the lit up bridges and skyline! The atmosphere was upscale and elegant, as you would imagine! The service was fast and super friendly! The cocktails were well shaken and on point! The rusty fries - so good with parm, parsley and rosemary! Yummmm! We enjoyed the steak progression - I enjoyed the different cuts and compliments - salt, garlic and a red wine tapenade type thing! LOL We also got the corn bread service which was amazing! Warm, sweet and spicy! We will definitely be back - it was on the higher end price wise - but worth it! read more

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I really wanted to like this place but I'm always disappointed when restaurants hesitate to seat a single diner when there are plenty of seats available. Taking that into consideration I should have just left, but I didn't. The salad was fine but the Calamari was way overcooked. The Conch Fritters were also sub standard. Sadly this was a one time try out and while this restaurant certainly won't miss a single diner, I won't miss them. read more

We recently visited for Sunday brunch with a group of six, and unfortunately, the experience was quite frustrating due to repeated service issues. After ordering our first round of drinks, everyone at the table received theirs except for my husband. We waited approximately 15 minutes before bringing it to our server, Jacob's attention. He acknowledged that he had forgotten the order, yet it still took another 10 minutes for the drink to arrive. When we ordered a second round, the exact same issue happened again. Once again, everyone received their drinks except my husband. After waiting another 15 minutes, we had to involve a manager, at which point the drink finally came out. While the manager did comp the drink, the situation should not have needed escalation--especially after the same mistake had already occurred once. Unfortunately, the issues continued with the food. Everyone else at the table ordered hot dishes, while I ordered the lobster salad. All of the hot meals were delivered together, but my dish was completely overlooked. After waiting about 10 minutes, I had to ask about it, and it took an additional 5-10 minutes to arrive. Although the staff was polite, the repeated oversights and long delays throughout the meal made for a very disappointing and frustrating dining experience. read more

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Service and view are excellent. Food is good and they have these interesting craft cocktails that you just order - we were drinking but saw one delivered to the table next to us - yeh presentation was very cool! Close to airport so it's a great location to meet friends from Tampa when flying in or out of TPA read more

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The Rusty Pelican Has Lost Its Soul My entire family has been coming to the Rusty Pelican for decades -- weddings, birthdays, and countless anniversaries -- but after our visit last night for an anniversary dinner, I can sadly say that era is over. The restaurant we once adored has been completely ruined by its so-called "renovation" and baffling management choices. What was once an elegant, welcoming space with gorgeous views and an atmosphere worthy of special occasions is now overcrowded, noisy, and stripped of any warmth or charm. They've packed tables so tightly together that we could not even hear each other over the noise. Even the servers struggle to navigate between cramped tables and frustrated guests. The chaos might have been forgivable if the service had been attentive or the food remarkable -- but neither was. Two female managers drifted around aimlessly, doing little more than surveying the crowd. When one finally stopped by our table, she mumbled something I couldn't hear; when I asked her to repeat herself, she actually started to walk away. Only when another guest at our table stopped her did she casually inform us that this location would be closing and "moving." That dismissive attitude perfectly summed up the night. The food arrived lukewarm, the prices were still sky-high, and the ambiance resembled a noisy low-end cafeteria -- not the refined waterfront dining experience Tampa locals have come to love for generations. It breaks my heart to say it, but The Rusty Pelican we knew is gone. Unless you enjoy paying premium prices for a subpar experience in an overcrowded room, do yourself a favor and go elsewhere. Our family's decades-long tradition has come to a very sad end. The only highlight of the evening is when we popped into the room where we have had many receptions and management sent Micheline to escort us out. Micheline was a charming woman who obviously cares about the guest experience. Unfortunately, she only manages the banquets so you likely wouldn't see here if you are in the dining room. Whatever they are paying her....she deserves a raise! read more

Beautiful restaurant with a great view. However, we've been twice and the service is awful, food never comes out as you order it. Last time we went it was sunset and we were seated in the middle of the restaurant so we asked the male manager if they could lower the blinds just a little to get the sun out of our eyes and he simply said "no, the customers that sit by the window are picky about that" as if our money and experience at the restaurant wasn't as important so we wore sunglasses indoors of an expensive restaurant. A little later another female manager walked by cussing, real professional. For the money you spend at this restaurant, I expect great service & hospitality and excellent food. Neither exists here the 2 times we went. I'd say skip it and go somewhere else. read more

Perfect service, amazing sunset view and incredible food!!! Took the family here for Valentine's Day dinner. I can only describe our experience as perfection. The prix fixed menu was amazing and we got the wine pairing. We had our 6yr old son with us who wanted to participate and forgo the typical chicken tenders children's option, where as a parent you can imagine my hesitation given the $$ and thinking he would take 1-2 bites and tell me he wanted chicken tenders instead.. regardless we opted him in for the adult menu (minus the wine pairing) and I have never seen him inhale everything on the dinner table (minus the salad which was delicious btw) before. We will definitely be back soon. read more

Brunch on Sunday with bottomless mimosas. The waffles were a miss but spoke to server and they made it right. It was a miss on the kitchen. Huge portions and great view!! read more

Rusty Pelican - Chicken and waffles - Seafood Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Stopping here for lunch ordered the groupers sandwich and fries. The grouper was heavily battered and not evenly cut and the fries were soggy and no seasoning. The staff is very friendly and restaurant is located in a very nice place and the designer set up is very nice as well. read more

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The food was beyond amazing! I started with an oopsie daisy drink, the calamari and then the steak frites. OMG! The steak was so juicy and tender and well seasoned. It came with a chimichurri sauce that complemented it very well . Our server was great and friendly . The hostess was delightful. I came for my birthday and it was perfect . read more

Rusty Pelican - Seafood Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Wow!! food was so good! We had the Brussels sprouts, filet, mashed potatoes. The cornbread was also good. The drinks from the bar were nicely presented and tasted amazing as well. Will definitely go back because we were too full for dessert. The hostesses were nice and accommodated us by the water as asked. Everything was amazing and definitely recommend!!! read more

The food was great and good quality seafood and food comes out pretty fast. The service was really nice too and the views are amazing. read more

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We had reservations at 3:30 PM on a Sunday. Unfortunately, we were stuck in traffic, got lost, and arrived at 3:36 PM. The hostess said we can have drinks at the and wait until 430 the kitchen reopen for dinner. He said sorry the kitchen closes at 3:30. We asked why did it let us make reservations at 3:30 PM? He responded that it was a glitch. We have a concert to attend and didn't have time to wait until 430 for the restaurant kitchen to reopen. we didn't get to experience the restaurant. I wanted to warn those that make reservations around this time in the day for restaurants that closes briefly between lunch and dinner. We were only in Tampa for a couple days and really wanted to try this restaurant. I had my whole schedule planned out and had a great time in Tampa until this incident. read more

Came in at 12:00 without a reservation and they got us right in. They put us on the window overlooking the bay however there were so many tables packed against the window we literally could not move so we asked to relocate which they thought was odd, I got the chicken and waffles and that was good however the syrup was too unique and sweet. Just give us regular syrup... the others in my party enjoyed their food. The service was good and our waiter was very attentive and nice. read more

I love breast of pelican was one of the first fine dining restaurants. I went to in Florida like 30 years ago we my fiancé and is still open that just shows a lot of character and how this place is and how the good food is. I always get to see Diane and by the water service is always good. I still love this place to have. They used to have an excellent brunch, but I don't know if they still have that anymore and it's a must try if you're in the Tampa Bay area and the ambience is wonderful the fireplace when you first walk in the view of the water, they even have the U-shaped crushed velvet couches as the table area as well to Eden. read more

The look of a cafeteria with the sound of a sports bar. If your looking for a quiet intimate diner, this is not the place. While booking a table online I saw it had valet parking and a fancy menu, I was expecting a much more upscale restaurant. You could clearly hear the noise from a party in the next rm; so much so, that I could hardly hear my waiter. This wasn't the atmosphere that I was expecting so I walked out. read more

They just reopened after last hurricane. Nicely restored. Food like always amazing. Great atmosphere, beautiful ocean view. read more

Rusty Pelican - Beef Carpaccio - Seafood Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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We were excited to return to the Rusty Pelican, however I'm sorry to say it was NOT what it use to be Our waiter was outstanding, spot on, and he was great on all parts. The food for the most part was very good. The surf/turf was wonderful, however the mashed potatoes were cold. The cream corn truffle was very good, so that was nice. The caesar salad was huge and very good also. The grouper was flaky and deliciousg but the risotto was very mushy. The conch fritters were okay, they had a good flavor but they were rubbery, so which means over cooked. Now, that leaves the ambience, sadly this was a very much ONE Star! They put us in the very corner and the lighting did NOT work, so need to say very dark and very hard to see. We could not see the beautiful fireplace, and all the sound of the whole place was bouncing off the area. They did sit us 30 minutes early because the traffic was almost nothing, so that was a plus, the ballet staff was outstanding super nice and so was the front desk. Service was not a problem. For the price point, over $330 four 4 of us with two of us sharing a entree, we were slightly disappointed. read more

I have lived and worked close to Rusty Pelican for many years and had lunch there many many times as well as Happy Hours.... It had been a while so I planned a birthday dinner....BUT..dinner was another story last week. My husband's steak was ok..nothing special and only a steak..on a plate. Only other choice side was fries pretty much for potato side. .and they forgot them. I had Grouper Rosotto and it was good. Other couple had grouper platter and short ribs and said they were good also. Two Belle drinks were fun presentation. All in all not what I had expected for over $400 dollars. I may go back for lunch but not dinner. Was not impressed. They seemed to focus on the artistic plate presentations then quality food. read more

This restaurant is a really good one if you're in the Tampa area. Located right on the water, it has a wonderful view from the tables nearest the windows. The ambiance is truly the first selling point of this place. But there's also really good food coming out of the kitchen. I ordered the hangover hash and it was Devine. The hash browns were super crispy and added a nice texture difference to the eggs and cheese and meat. I would happily order this again. The service and ambiance were also great. The waiter took care of all of our needs. As mentioned above, the view out onto the water is a great addition to your meal. The only thing that needs mentioning is that the self parking is a tad further away from the restaurant. If you want to be close, you have to valet. read more

Rusty Pelican - Hangover Hash - Seafood Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Food is good so far first time here bartender is friendly he helped me to choose the good foods and ambiance is nice too service is pretty fast so far they have nice drinks too pasta should've been better but starters are pretty nice and oyster is really nice read more

Rusty Pelican - Pasta - Seafood Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Grace seated us and took good care of us. We got our requested window seat. Music was the perfect vibe. I ordered the coconut shrimp appetizer and the crispy snapper as my main. The shrimp was perfection! Hot, crispy, coconutty, and a very generous portion of 8 shrimp! The orange ginger marmalade was more orange than ginger but still v good. I could have made a meal of that dish. I wish I had some now:) Snapper was also good and fresh. Service excellent. Highly recommend. Hope to get back. read more

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Amazingggggg views, vibes, ambiance, and good service! This is such a beautiful spot for birthdays or any celebrations!! We came here with a group of four. We were able to get a window seat which was nice! We got there at 11am on a Sunday morning. The food: The chicken and waffle - 8/10 The portion for this was HUGE!!! I wasn't able to finish all of it. It came out on a whole charcuterie board style plank. The chicken had fairly good seasoning and the waffle was soft and delicious. Hangover hash 8/10 Really yummy!! Fairly filling and good portions. Drinks were good and refreshing. They have a bottomless mimosa option They have an entire banquet hall for birthday celebrations. read more

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