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The Pearl

4.2 (566 reviews)
Open 11:30 am - 11:00 pm
Updated 1 week ago

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THE PEARL ATMOSPHERE

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Recommended Reviews - The Pearl

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Citrus Salad (GF) (V) with salmon
Kelly T.

My group and I visited Tampa for the BTS concert (of course) and were searching for a brunch place that served oysters. We went on a Saturday, which was bustling with people (always a good sign), so I recommend making a reservation beforehand. The food overall was as good as breakfast foods can get. It was good, but nothing out of the ordinary or anything so unique that made me want to come here again for brunch. The same sentiment goes for the oysters that we had. This restaurant does not do MP and has a fixed price of $13 for 3 oysters. The sizing of the oysters was on the small side, so it was a bit pricey, but our waitress offered to let us organize them by the regions in which they came from, so that was a nice touch. They were extremely fresh and very delicious. Now, we ordered the Thai Curry Mussels as an appetizer, but it stole the show. Easily the best dish in our spread. The curry sauce was seasoned perfectly, with a hint of sweetness from the bell peppers and saltiness from the mussels. It was the perfect combination of flavors. It is paired with a soft, buttery garlic bread that soaks up the curry quite well. The sauce was so delicious that we asked our waitress for some more bread to finish the sauce off! I would solely come back to this restaurant for this appetizer alone. Overall, the ambiance of the area was very nicely decorated, and the restaurant had soft lighting with large windows to let the sun come through. Our waitress, Cassidy, did a wonderful job. She was very attentive and definitely elevated our experience. + GET THE THAI CURRY MUSSELS, Y'ALL!!!

Grilled scallops, beets salad, and Kimchi fried rice with hangar steak
Jisoo B.

Did not disappoint! A great addition to Water Street, less fancy than Bulon across the street. Great variety of fusion American. We had hangar steak with kimchi fried rice, Scallops and Beets salad. They were all great but the kimchi fried rice and Beets salads were exceptional Also recommend the smoked salmon as starters - it's a whole piece of smoked salmon and very very well done.

Every day is a fresh house made dessert!  Brown sugar pie
John S.

Great location and guaranteed celebrity spotting. Good food and strong drinks. Serves are attentive even though it was very busy the Friday night we were there. I loved the feel of this place as it incorporates the bustling outdoors from most seats inside.

Delicious deviled eggs were to good to last long enough for a picture. Lol ‍
Tamara M.

Back again. Still yummy. Deviled eggs were not as good as when the first opened. Just ok. GF fried fish was good. A little salty and a bit greasy tho. The GF buckeye was as to-die-for as always and I couldn't have been happier. Our waitress was awesome, friendly and fun. This restaurant is still cute and fun and smells amazing. We will be back of course.

Harbor Salad (GF)
Chelsea O.

The Pearl has one of my go-to salads, the Harbor Salad, loaded with fresh seafood that's super bright, clean, and flavorful without feeling heavy. Service is always friendly and quick, which I love, and the whole place feels a little more low key than other Water Street spots but still elevated enough to feel like a treat. Definitely a go-to!

Try the "Elvis Cup" dessert!
Steve G.

I at here twice while attending a conference - two different vendor group's. Food was good . I was not blown away by the food at either setting. One very large in a private room with a prix fix menu, one a group of four in the main dining area. Both times the service was great and drinks were good. But my steak the first night was over fine and the braised short rib the second night was good but not great. I did like the desserts and the large tater tot appetizer. Great ambiance.

Thai Curry Mussels (GF)
Rita G.

Had a great time here once we actually made it to the restaurant. Our limo had some mechanical issues, so we called to let the hostess know and see if we can still come in late. She was so unhelpful and un sympathetic. Ended up just making a new reservation on open table...which means she could have just rescheduled us but choose not to help. Once we sat down however, our server Nick was phenomenal. He was funny, helpful and knowledgeable on the menu. I had the harbor salad which was perfect..fresh seafood and a tangy citrus dressing. Pairs well with the spoon cornbread appetizer. My friend had the mussels and said they were the best she ever had. All six of us loved our meals. Margarita was great. Espresso martini was a little too bitter but Nick fixed it with an extra shot of Baileys. Save room for the peanut butter dessert. Fun modern atmosphere. Will be back.

Fish and Great Lakes Fish N Chips (GF)
Heather B.

Love the vibe and the way this restaurant is decorated. Second time at this restaurant and we are always treated kindly by the hostess and server. Ordered the fish and chips. Fish was lightly breaded, flaky and not greasy. The fries were perfection. May I say that the unsweetened, fresh brewed ice tea is perfect. Highly recommend The Pearl for a date night, girls dinner or a stop before the hockey game.

Scallops (GF)
Ally L.

Great experience! We came to the pearl for a group dinner before a wedding party. We ordered different drinks which were brought out promptly, and when we were close to finished they always made sure we had another if we chose. The food was delicious we got the scallops, chicken, harbor salad, and Cuban and everything tasted great. Great spot if you want lighter or heavier options, seafood and a different vibe!

Brunch Chicken & Waffle
Mark V.

I remember hearing that old line -- "location, location, location" -- and it popped into my head the moment we pulled up. Because at The Pearl, you're not just paying for a meal; you're paying for the whole Channelside experience. High‑end spot, high‑end area, and yes... you're paying for parking too. But once you're inside, you understand why. We went for Sunday brunch, and the service matched the setting -- polished, attentive, and exactly what you expect from a place that knows its worth. The food was delicious across the board, but my chicken and waffles were on another level. The chicken was seasoned perfectly, the waffle tasted like it was made from real ingredients -- not that "add water and hope for the best" mix. You could tell someone in that kitchen actually cares about what they're sending out. It wasn't a cheap meal, but it felt like money spent on quality time with family and friends, not just a bill you regret later. Good food, good service, good atmosphere -- and in a spot like Channelside, that combination is exactly what you're paying for.

Corissa L.

Nice spot for a lunch if you are in the area, but not a spot I would choose for the restaurant itself, mostly because of the challenging parking situation. Fried pickles were good. Not something, I usually order these days but my friend had never had a fried pickle. I love tater tots and this was a unique take on them. My Harbor Salad was good, but they initially forgot the seafood so they compensated by giving me a little extra. The best is that we were catching up and never felt rushed even though we were there for a while. The place was comfortable and perfect for enjoying the company of a friend I had not seen in a long time.

The bar
Anh T.

Ordered an after brunch drink at the bar & it was so delish & refreshing. Hard to snag seats here as it's always full to the max at all times, however, was finally able to get seats out of the million times I've walked by to try to see if I could get a spot at the bar. The bar service was spectacular. Very attentive & offer great suggestions on drinks. Really exceptional service compared to anywhere else downtown especially close by. Next time, I'll order food/dessert.

Spoon Bread (V)
Rob C.

Let me start with this: when you walk into a Michelin-star restaurant and the 16-time heavyweight champion Ric Flair is casually posted up at the bar, you know you're in for a night. I half expected him to chop the bartender and yell "WOOOO!" every time someone ordered a cocktail. Honestly, it was the peak of the evening before we even sat down. The Pearl leans hard into its oyster-bar identity--beautiful décor, great lighting, ambience that whispers "classy seafood" rather than "old bay and chaos." Right away, the service was excellent, attentive without hovering, and friendly without slipping into "I'm auditioning for Bravo" energy. Now, the food. Very good... but Michelin? Let's just say I've felt more Michelin after a well-executed airport meal. I started with the beet salad, and let me tell you: they were not stingy with the beets. If you've ever wondered what it's like to be personally attacked by root vegetables, this is your moment. My colleague had the burger, declared it delicious, and gave it that satisfied nod people do when the price doesn't haunt them. Another colleague got the seafood salad, which she rated a confident "good," the same tone you use when someone shows you pictures of their kids that look like other kids. And then there was the colleague who ordered the sea bass over gnocchi special. The portion size? Let's just say I've seen larger appetizers, airline snacks, and possibly communion wafers. I had the redfish, which was seasoned perfectly--chefs kiss. The vegetables beneath it? Cooked until they surrendered. Full soggy diplomacy. Drinks were tasty but priced as if Ric Flair himself squeezed the limes with his championship belt on. Dessert was an emotional roller coaster. * Chocolate cream pie: tasted like something you'd slide into your cart at Publix while telling yourself you'll only eat half. * Cobbler in a jar: One of the best things I've ever tasted. I would happily fight Ric Flair for the last one, and I'm pretty sure he'd win. All in all? Four stars. A very good meal, tons of fun, a random celebrity sighting, and moments of brilliance--just not quite the transcendent Michelin experience the hype promises. But still... WOOOO.

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The Pearl Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - The Pearl

Alter Ego - Bar Area

Alter Ego

3.8(72 reviews)
0.1 miDowntown Tampa
$$$

The vibes are there 100%. Cocktails were pretty okay,…read morenothing super great or crazy but still a solid drink. Fries were delicious with the herb salt on them and of course the dipping! But go for the ambiance.

I really like this spot overall...Alter Ego has smaller, moody dark vibes that feel super cool,…read morewith good cocktails and great music. It's got that all-around fun, energetic atmosphere that makes it a solid choice for drinks. Not sure how it is during the week, but it would make for a fun date night spot to grab some cocktails. That said, I had a real hang-up the last time I went with my girlfriend around Christmas. They tried to hit us with a $10 cover just to get in, on top of $15-20 cocktails. I don't mind paying for a nice spot, but the cover felt absurd, especially since it wasn't even busy. The bouncer said we could make a reservation to avoid it, so I did...and then he made us stand outside forever before letting us in. At that point, we should've just left, but since my friend had never been, we stuck it out to try the themed Christmas cocktails. Once inside, there was a two-drink minimum per person, which is kind of crazy. It feels like they jip you either way...cover or no cover, minimum spend or not. While waiting outside (for no real reason, since it was empty), we chatted with a party of six who came straight from Ash (the sister restaurant upstairs). They'd just spent over $1,000 on their meal and were still getting charged a cover to enter Alter Ego. That's poor business, don't force extra fees to guarantee money when good music, drinks, and vibes should bring people in naturally and make them want to spend. There's plenty of places on Water Street with great (and I'd say better) cocktails where you're not forced into minimums or covers. The Christmas cocktail menu was disappointing too, poor selections and way too sugary. Love the potential here, but the strict policies really turned me off and made me want to go elsewhere next time.

Photos
Alter Ego - Smother fries

Smother fries

Alter Ego - Bramble and Rickey cocktails

Bramble and Rickey cocktails

Alter Ego - Lighting

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Lighting

Hotel Bar - Cocktails

Hotel Bar

4.3(229 reviews)
0.5 miDowntown Tampa
$$

The bartenders really know what they're doing at Hotel Bar! I'm not usually a dirty martini person,…read morebut one of them took the time to ease me into it with just a slightly dirty version! You can tell they're skilled and actually care about your experience, not just making drinks. Oh and they have bar snacks now! It's not included with your drinks like in Europe. You have to order separately and they come in the most adorable tray for $5! The music is always on point, which honestly makes a huge difference in the overall vibe. Also, I love their hours...it's one of those places you can count on when you're not ready for the night to end.

From the moment I walked in, I was treated like I wasn't wanted there. No greeting, no attempt to…read moretake my order, and no basic customer service whatsoever. I tried to be polite and patient, but the staff was rude from the very beginning and made it clear they didn't want to serve me. To make it worse, I was kicked out for absolutely no reason. They claimed I "argued" with them, which is completely false. I never raised my voice or caused an issue--I was simply responding to their hostility. Instead of owning their behavior, they chose to make something up and remove me. I've never experienced such unprofessional, disrespectful treatment at a bar. If you're looking for a place where you feel welcome or even acknowledged, this is definitely not it.

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Hotel Bar - Hotel Bar

Hotel Bar

Hotel Bar - Old Fashioned

Old Fashioned

Hotel Bar - Bottle display

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Bottle display

Morgan’s Cove - Gochujang Wings

Morgan’s Cove

4.4(72 reviews)
0.4 miDowntown Tampa

What a DOPE, PIRATE THEMED, speakeasy to go to grab some delicious drinks! Totally blown away!…read more Tucked, downtown Tampa you enter through a secret bookcase door and you enter a very low key pirate bar! Lighting is dim, which is part of the concept. (Auto flash is needed for pics) The joint, is VERY CLEAN! The staff is awesome and very attentive! They understand process. The drinks are SOOO WELL MADE! I had a Zombie as my first drink, and it is very well presented and STRONG! I prefer,my first drink at an establishment to be strong cause then I can lighten it up later. Then I had a Rum Barrel, not as strong, but well presented and delicious! Note: Prices for drinks are worth every dime! They have a small food menu, but everything on the menu looked delicious, but I did not eat there. This speakeasy is attached to a British pub which I went for food after. (Review to come) All-in-all great spot to come and have a drink you are well treated, appreciated and just a fun experience! I will DEFINITELY come back here for a delicious drink and DEFINITELY will try something off the food menu. I'll just make sure next time I won't go there after a big breakfast lol! Five stars alllllll day long!!!

These are the coolest places in Fla. Secret cryptic entrances with a speakeasy like ambiance…read more Hidden passages and a clear throwback to the days of prohibition. With all that was going on, it's a wonder we could find the exit after all the drinks. The pirate theme was the caveat. A perfectly dimmed atmosphere and willing performers that can conjure up delicious delights. The red light and point on music only enhanced the experience. Plenty of signature drinks, a dozen different beers and even a few dishes are offered. They stir a nice whiskey sour. It's really what suits your fancy. Fear not. They have mocktails, too! 12/25

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Morgan’s Cove - Secret entrance to the speakeasy!

Secret entrance to the speakeasy!

Morgan’s Cove - Rum Barrel

Rum Barrel

Morgan’s Cove - The bar area, tables surrounding it and another little closed off section.

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The bar area, tables surrounding it and another little closed off section.

Boulon Brasserie and Bakery - Oysters, espresso martinis

Boulon Brasserie and Bakery

4.1(516 reviews)
0.1 miDowntown Tampa
$$$

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.

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Boulon Brasserie and Bakery - Interior

Interior

Boulon Brasserie and Bakery - Steak frites

Steak frites

Boulon Brasserie and Bakery - Indoor area

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Indoor area

CW's Gin Joint - Angeled Eggs

CW's Gin Joint

4.2(577 reviews)
0.7 miDowntown Tampa
$$

Ok. For context I'm a foodie and a snob when it comes to restaurants. This place is just plain…read morecool. Little speakeasy. Little high end restaurant. I am also a sucker for egg white drinks. If you've never had one you are not living. Then there is the wine. They have Cade from Howell Mountain. So hard to find and one of the best. I will come back every time I am in town. It is way up there on my lists as I travel.

This post is based on my second visit to this restaurant. My husband and I did enjoy it the first…read moretime around and immediately thought of who to bring for our next visit, which was the reason for this visit. We originally planned on bringing some family here for their anniversary but that plan feel through so we made it into a friends catch up dinner. Right off the back LOVED our server Nimah. She was funny, helpful, and attentive. And they are on top of refilling your water so you will never go thirsty. I'm not much of a drinker, so I don't have much to say on that matter. The ambiance was nice. A lot of eclectic paintings on the walls. And loved the outfits of the servers. Very 20's speakeasy. There is a live jazz band that started performing at 7 pm. They were good but at some points it was a bit difficult to speak and listen to those at your table unless you got really close. My meal hit the spot. We started with a charcuterie board for the table. It had a lot of great options like dried apricots, actual honeycomb pieces, and my most favorite cheese, some Brie cheese. The only thing was there was only 4 pieces of bread, one for each of us, which wasn't enough but I guess it made sense not to fill us up too much. For my main meal I had the sweet potato salad which was very tasty and the sweet potato risotto, which a little spicy kick. The only thing I missed was the Brussels sprouts and potatoes but was told that was from the previous chef. But they serve you enough so you definitely will have left overs. Not a big fan of eating in the lounge areas, those are best just for drinks and maybe desserts. But it's definitely a great place to people watch. You will definitely have a meal and a show no matter what. Hopefully can schedule another time to bring my family because I know they would love it.

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CW's Gin Joint - Corner of bar

Corner of bar

CW's Gin Joint - Oysters with Mignonette

Oysters with Mignonette

CW's Gin Joint - French 75 with Hendricks

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French 75 with Hendricks

Small Giant - Pickle Fries

Small Giant

3.6(126 reviews)
0.1 miDowntown Tampa
$$

Great experience overall. The service was friendly and attentive, and the location is super…read moreconvenient for me to walk to living nearby. Perfect for meeting up or stopping by after work. I just wish the happy hour selection was better and quite small, but the $12 burger and beer deal is great. Expanding the happy hour menu could bring in more business earlier and create a more lively atmosphere before the evening rush. Definitely a solid spot with room to improve.

Lunch with friends at this cute restaurant was lovely. We were going to sit outside, as they have…read moreseveral tables, but it was just too chilly so we ate indoors instead. We were seated at the corner table so we were able to people watch. Our server, Brianna, was super nice and very attentive. I never had to ask her for a refill on my Coke Zero; she just kept them coming! We started with some shareables for the table. Kung Pao Brussel Sprouts which were done just right. We also ordered a half cheese, half pepperoni pizza to share. I've never had a "Columbus-style" pizza before. If you're wondering, the crust is somewhat thinner than most pizzas, but not a thin-crust pizza. The toppings are spread all throughout the pizza to the edge, and then cut it in squares (Tavern style). It was very tasty, with a slightly sweet note. My hubby and I ordered the Cobb Salad (without bacon) which was delicious. I really liked the onions on it. It was very fresh and they served a generous portion. Hubby ate the whole thing, but I had the rest of mine for dinner. So good! Two of our friends ordered the Truffle Mushroom Smash Burger and they loved them. I tried my buddy's tater tots, which he ordered with his French Dip. They were nice and crispy, but could have used some kind of flavoring, like Parmesan or truffle. Doesn't mean I didn't eat them all! LOL. The restaurant looks small when you enter, but in addition to the front dining area and bar, it has two additional dining areas, as you walk towards the back, and another bar. If you find yourself in the Channelside area, you should definitely try out Small Giant.

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Small Giant - Bar area

Bar area

Small Giant - French onion soup

French onion soup

Small Giant - Inside

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Inside

Ash - Fried rabbit

Ash

4.2(122 reviews)
0.1 miDowntown Tampa

Wow - we were in town for the evening and one of our faves - the rooster and the till - was closed…read more So we came here to discover more "pearls" They wowed us at every course! The focaccia, while not strictly conventionally, was incredible and served with our choice of sardines in hot pepper oil - mouthwatering! We moved on to the crudo and carpaccio, both had interesting flavors and twists without ruining the base deliciousness of the dish We also had a salad and snapper for the main. The snapper was a smallish portion served with 2 diff sauce and cabbage. Salad was excellent as well I convinced my partner to try the dessert and we opted for polenta cake - a really stunning ending and just melts in your mouth good (even though we were skeptical) Another "home run " restaurant in my book And no, it's not cheap, but great food rarely is Ignore the negative reviews mentioning price - it's all about the food ! Service was well paced, a little slow but deliberate. We sat outdoors in a lovely garden type environment- inside was classy and refined.

Had a great meal here, walking in early. The restaurant has great high ceilings with a lot of light…read more(almost too much as there was some glare during sunset), and is casually upscale. The service was very friendly and we were recommended that we were ordering too much but we went with it anyway (and they were right). All the dishes were good, especially the prawns. Pastas weren't my favorite. Portion sizes were reasonable which made it easy to share and taste a lot of things!

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Ash - Interior of ASH

Interior of ASH

Ash - This came with the fried rabbit

This came with the fried rabbit

Ash - Girasol ravioli

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Girasol ravioli

The Pearl - seafood - Updated May 2026

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