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The Spaniard Restaurant inside the Hotel Alba is a unique restaurant where you will enjoy some great Latin cuisine as well as good breakfast. Very nice restaurant and attentive host and waiters. They have a good variety of options as well as vegan options. Their cocktail and drinks are trendy and I think anyone would enjoy them. So when visiting Tampa, please check out Hotel Alba and the Spaniard. You would love it.
Came here on Friday night for a dinner. It was pretty empty. It's located inside the hotel. Atmosphere is pretty nice, modern and pleasant.. Service was good and pleasant. We ordered non alcoholic drinks that were ok. I think they could improve their mocktails. We had chicken flatbread, salad, Mahi sandwich. We also ordered a soup but they didn't have it. Food was definitely comfort food but very good. From the name, I though that this place would be more Spanish but it's typical new American. Which is definitely not bad. Mahi sandwich was amazing. Also, it's pretty affordable. Flatbread was pretty tasty as well. Definitely good experience and would recommend!
Great place for a chill date night & awesome spot for Sunday Funday with friends by the pool with Brian! Executive Chef Leigh has carefully crafted a menu filled various tapas ranging from fresh ceviches to savory spare ribs & chicken pinchos. Too bad we filled up on Tapas at dinner - I'm looking forward to coming back and trying the seafood dishes, along with the paella and braised oxtail! Manager Miguel was so nice to take care of us, thank you for the lovely time!!
WARNING: The Spaniard has left this restaurant and all that remains is the name. The menu has changed and you will no longer find the plates you see in the photos here. For example: there is no paella, mussels, or anything else that looks like a chef made it. The new menu looks pretty boring. We came in on a Friday night at 7pm and it was dead. Bringing a wife here for an anniversary-as the reviewer below did- would make for a very insulted wife. The service and menu is what you'd expect at an airport. The food was ok, the service was ok, the ambiance was like dining at terminal C after the last flight.
I would rate this restaurant 4.5 to be more specific. What made my family's first dining experience at The Spaniard worth every penny was our server Jordan D. From the moment I opened to door, he was exuding such charisma that we were excited to dine. Not only was he hosting, he was also serving and bussing the tables...it was a one man show that night but he did is gracefully and kept a smile on his face! Oh! The food?! Oh yeah, the star dishes were the tostones and the mussels; busting with flavor and extremely large portions! Get it, you won't regret it! The soy glazed hen was sold out so we opted for the duck. I prefer my duck to have a crispy skin and tender on the inside, there's was a bit chewy for me. Overall, I really enjoyed the creativity from the chef! I really enjoyed the experience. My only gripe is that the restaurant is located in the lobby of a hotel, near a pool area so plan on seeing people in bathing suits walking back and forth, which could be distracting and took away from the overall ambiance of the restaurant.
Very nice ambiance upon arrival. Tables all beautifully set with fresh flowers and real candles. Daily 3 course meals reasonably priced along with a nice regular menu. Food presentation was very nice and our meals cooked to perfection. The scallops were tender and seasoned with a drizzle of butter. Pasta was a tad dry, but tasty. Lamb chops were perfectly cooked and the roasted veggies made it a perfect combination. The cheesecake had just the right balance of sweetness with a warm caramel apple glaze, small apple bits, raspberries and a dollop of real whipped cream. This would be a great date place. Quiet, intimate atmosphere. Tastefully decorated. They offer a full bar, spirits, beer and wine. Not a lot of space for larger groups. Comfortable for 6-8 though. The waitstaff was welcoming, friendly and efficient service. The restaurant is on the floor level of the Alba Hotel (Hilton) and looks out onto the patio and pool. Adequate parking, reasonable prices and good value.
This is not your standard hotel restaurant. The food was Mind blowing. Every bite, every meal was just as wonderful as the last. The prices were in par with the restaurants nearby. The staff was friendly. On Sundays they do offer a breakfast buffet. We didn't try it because we were trying to get through as much of the menu as possible
I had Ropa Vieja and Fried Calamari. The calamari is crispy with a great batter. If I had known they put sauce all over, I would have requested it on the side. It makes some pieces mushy after a while, ruining the crunch. The Ropa Vieja is tender, well-seasoned meat with yellow rice, black beans, yucca & plantains. Surprisingly the yucca was my favorite thing; it's almost like thick but crispy fries. I didn't know all that came with the meal because they need better descriptions. I can't offer an opinion on the black beans; sorry I can't eat a whole bowl like that, but my friend enjoyed them. The portion was a good size; a friend and I split it and I left very full. I agree with some other reviews about the service. We were there on Thursday late afternoon/early evening. We were the only ones there, yet service was very slow to bring food and even slower the bring the bill. I was ready to leave probably 30 minutes earlier than when I finally received my bill. I think because it's new they are still working out the kinks. I'm willing to try again because our server was friendly and the food was good. It is next door to my job so if my coworkers suggest it for another after work happy hour, I'll go back. However, if it wasn't in a convenient location for me, I'm not sure how likely I would be to revisit.
I'm on vacation for Bucs vs Rams & I'm staying @ Hotel Alba. The server Brian is amazing & personable. Luv his customer services & great employee as well. He recommended blackened grouper taco, man it was gooooodddddd. Shoutout to the cook, that shit was seasoned well. Overall, im loving it so far & Brian is making it worth my while. Yah got good employee.
Ate here a couple times on our weekend stay here. Both mornings we enjoyed the buffet breakfast, which had fresh fruit, eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, oatmeal, biscuits, sausage gravy and a variety of carbs (bagels, bread, pastries). The breakfast was pretty good, the fruit was very fresh and sweet, the hot food was prepared fresh and hot, and I liked the variety. The sausage gravy was horrible, I'm not sure what happened with it, and the biscuits were rock hard and dry - maybe that day something went wrong with them... but other than the gravy and biscuits, everything else was fine. We also ordered food for dinner one night of wings, fries and a Florida Cuban with yucca fries. The Florida Cuban was AMAZING - I loved it and savored each bite. The yucca fries were good. My husband enjoyed his wings and fries. Service was always friendly, especially the morning crew. We always got our bill promptly without having to wait, and our waters and coffee was always replenished fast. Nice on-site restaurant for the hotel, very convenient.
Had the most amazing experience here on Valentine's Day night! We were expecting the best service because it's valentines night and a Friday so we knew it would be busy but the Spaniard went above and beyond for us! First we arrived to our reservation and they were about 25 mins late seating us but we knew it was just busy and the provided us with COMPLIMENTARY champagne just because they felt bad. Second our service was so amazing! The charcuterie board was so good and same with the Paella! I love the atmosphere of this place and we will be back for sure! Thank you for such an amazing evening!
We came here for drinks and they were good and cold! The bartender and manager were really nice! I would recommend staying at the Alba hotel and coming down to the bar! Nice setting
I am a fan of roast pork and that was the main thing ai came here to try. I must admit their roast pork was on point. I am a Tampa native and eat roast pork on the regular. I want a fan so much of the saffron jasmine rice, I would much rather have traditional yellow rice. The seafood dishes are pretty great on the menu. We definitely will be back to try more items. Although they do not have a gluten free menu you can have them check with the chef and to be honest most of the menu is gluten free. I love the decor and all its nids to Tampas Spanish heritage and how the menu does the same. All the dishes we had were plated nicely and we had zero complaints. The hotel is beautiful and you can walk out and sit by the pool with tour drink or in the lounge bar area. There is so much more to this place than just a restaurant! Be sure to check out the art gallery while you are there also. I think prices were pretty fair, for 2 entrees a appetizer and 2 drinks we came out a little over 100$. Thanks for a great evening Hotel Alba/The Spaniard!
23 days ago
23 days ago
Top-notch food, killer cocktails, and amazing service! Desiree is an absolute standout bartender--fast, friendly, and crafts the best drinks around. The whole vibe was fantastic. Highly recommend visiting for a great night or day out! read more
The Spaniard Restaurant inside the Hotel Alba is a unique restaurant where you will enjoy some great Latin cuisine as well as good breakfast. Very nice restaurant and attentive host and waiters. They have a good variety of options as well as vegan options. Their cocktail and drinks are trendy and I think anyone would enjoy them. So when visiting Tampa, please check out Hotel Alba and the Spaniard. You would love it. read more
Came here on Friday night for a dinner. It was pretty empty. It's located inside the hotel. Atmosphere is pretty nice, modern and pleasant.. Service was good and pleasant. We ordered non alcoholic drinks that were ok. I think they could improve their mocktails. We had chicken flatbread, salad, Mahi sandwich. We also ordered a soup but they didn't have it. Food was definitely comfort food but very good. From the name, I though that this place would be more Spanish but it's typical new American. Which is definitely not bad. Mahi sandwich was amazing. Also, it's pretty affordable. Flatbread was pretty tasty as well. Definitely good experience and would recommend! read more
2 years ago
Great place for a chill date night & awesome spot for Sunday Funday with friends by the pool with Brian! Executive Chef Leigh has carefully crafted a menu filled various tapas ranging from fresh ceviches to savory spare ribs & chicken pinchos. Too bad we filled up on Tapas at dinner - I'm looking forward to coming back and trying the seafood dishes, along with the paella and braised oxtail! Manager Miguel was so nice to take care of us, thank you for the lovely time!! read more
WARNING: The Spaniard has left this restaurant and all that remains is the name. The menu has changed and you will no longer find the plates you see in the photos here. For example: there is no paella, mussels, or anything else that looks like a chef made it. The new menu looks pretty boring. We came in on a Friday night at 7pm and it was dead. Bringing a wife here for an anniversary-as the reviewer below did- would make for a very insulted wife. The service and menu is what you'd expect at an airport. The food was ok, the service was ok, the ambiance was like dining at terminal C after the last flight. read more
5 years ago
I would rate this restaurant 4.5 to be more specific. What made my family's first dining experience at The Spaniard worth every penny was our server Jordan D. From the moment I opened to door, he was exuding such charisma that we were excited to dine. Not only was he hosting, he was also serving and bussing the tables...it was a one man show that night but he did is gracefully and kept a smile on his face! Oh! The food?! Oh yeah, the star dishes were the tostones and the mussels; busting with flavor and extremely large portions! Get it, you won't regret it! The soy glazed hen was sold out so we opted for the duck. I prefer my duck to have a crispy skin and tender on the inside, there's was a bit chewy for me. Overall, I really enjoyed the creativity from the chef! I really enjoyed the experience. My only gripe is that the restaurant is located in the lobby of a hotel, near a pool area so plan on seeing people in bathing suits walking back and forth, which could be distracting and took away from the overall ambiance of the restaurant. read more
Very nice ambiance upon arrival. Tables all beautifully set with fresh flowers and real candles. Daily 3 course meals reasonably priced along with a nice regular menu. Food presentation was very nice and our meals cooked to perfection. The scallops were tender and seasoned with a drizzle of butter. Pasta was a tad dry, but tasty. Lamb chops were perfectly cooked and the roasted veggies made it a perfect combination. The cheesecake had just the right balance of sweetness with a warm caramel apple glaze, small apple bits, raspberries and a dollop of real whipped cream. This would be a great date place. Quiet, intimate atmosphere. Tastefully decorated. They offer a full bar, spirits, beer and wine. Not a lot of space for larger groups. Comfortable for 6-8 though. The waitstaff was welcoming, friendly and efficient service. The restaurant is on the floor level of the Alba Hotel (Hilton) and looks out onto the patio and pool. Adequate parking, reasonable prices and good value. read more
This is not your standard hotel restaurant. The food was Mind blowing. Every bite, every meal was just as wonderful as the last. The prices were in par with the restaurants nearby. The staff was friendly. On Sundays they do offer a breakfast buffet. We didn't try it because we were trying to get through as much of the menu as possible read more
I had Ropa Vieja and Fried Calamari. The calamari is crispy with a great batter. If I had known they put sauce all over, I would have requested it on the side. It makes some pieces mushy after a while, ruining the crunch. The Ropa Vieja is tender, well-seasoned meat with yellow rice, black beans, yucca & plantains. Surprisingly the yucca was my favorite thing; it's almost like thick but crispy fries. I didn't know all that came with the meal because they need better descriptions. I can't offer an opinion on the black beans; sorry I can't eat a whole bowl like that, but my friend enjoyed them. The portion was a good size; a friend and I split it and I left very full. I agree with some other reviews about the service. We were there on Thursday late afternoon/early evening. We were the only ones there, yet service was very slow to bring food and even slower the bring the bill. I was ready to leave probably 30 minutes earlier than when I finally received my bill. I think because it's new they are still working out the kinks. I'm willing to try again because our server was friendly and the food was good. It is next door to my job so if my coworkers suggest it for another after work happy hour, I'll go back. However, if it wasn't in a convenient location for me, I'm not sure how likely I would be to revisit. read more
I'm on vacation for Bucs vs Rams & I'm staying @ Hotel Alba. The server Brian is amazing & personable. Luv his customer services & great employee as well. He recommended blackened grouper taco, man it was gooooodddddd. Shoutout to the cook, that shit was seasoned well. Overall, im loving it so far & Brian is making it worth my while. Yah got good employee. read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
Ate here a couple times on our weekend stay here. Both mornings we enjoyed the buffet breakfast, which had fresh fruit, eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, oatmeal, biscuits, sausage gravy and a variety of carbs (bagels, bread, pastries). The breakfast was pretty good, the fruit was very fresh and sweet, the hot food was prepared fresh and hot, and I liked the variety. The sausage gravy was horrible, I'm not sure what happened with it, and the biscuits were rock hard and dry - maybe that day something went wrong with them... but other than the gravy and biscuits, everything else was fine. We also ordered food for dinner one night of wings, fries and a Florida Cuban with yucca fries. The Florida Cuban was AMAZING - I loved it and savored each bite. The yucca fries were good. My husband enjoyed his wings and fries. Service was always friendly, especially the morning crew. We always got our bill promptly without having to wait, and our waters and coffee was always replenished fast. Nice on-site restaurant for the hotel, very convenient. read more
Business owner information
Alexandra M.
Janell, thank you for taking the time to leave us a detailed review.…
7 years ago
Had the most amazing experience here on Valentine's Day night! We were expecting the best service because it's valentines night and a Friday so we knew it would be busy but the Spaniard went above and beyond for us! First we arrived to our reservation and they were about 25 mins late seating us but we knew it was just busy and the provided us with COMPLIMENTARY champagne just because they felt bad. Second our service was so amazing! The charcuterie board was so good and same with the Paella! I love the atmosphere of this place and we will be back for sure! Thank you for such an amazing evening! read more
Business owner information
Alexandra M.
Danielle, thank you for joining us on your special day! We are so…
5 years ago
We came here for drinks and they were good and cold! The bartender and manager were really nice! I would recommend staying at the Alba hotel and coming down to the bar! Nice setting read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
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7 years ago
I am a fan of roast pork and that was the main thing ai came here to try. I must admit their roast pork was on point. I am a Tampa native and eat roast pork on the regular. I want a fan so much of the saffron jasmine rice, I would much rather have traditional yellow rice. The seafood dishes are pretty great on the menu. We definitely will be back to try more items. Although they do not have a gluten free menu you can have them check with the chef and to be honest most of the menu is gluten free. I love the decor and all its nids to Tampas Spanish heritage and how the menu does the same. All the dishes we had were plated nicely and we had zero complaints. The hotel is beautiful and you can walk out and sit by the pool with tour drink or in the lounge bar area. There is so much more to this place than just a restaurant! Be sure to check out the art gallery while you are there also. I think prices were pretty fair, for 2 entrees a appetizer and 2 drinks we came out a little over 100$. Thanks for a great evening Hotel Alba/The Spaniard! read more
While staying at the Hotel Alba, we decided to have a slow morning and try out their restaurant and hang out by the pool. We weren't expecting too much to be honest and boy were we pleasantly surprised! I decided on the avocado toast; sourdough bread, avocado, egg, tomato, and mozzarella cheese. The avocado was flavorful without being overpowering, I opted for scrambled eggs (not a fan of runny yolk), and the tomato/cheese was a nice compliment to the avocado and egg. It was a protein filled breakfast that left me satisfied without being overstuffed. My husband got the breakfast sandwich on a croissant and he thoroughly enjoyed his meal. He was surprised by the freshness and quality of the ingredients. His portion was quite large and he could not finish his sandwich. The fruit on the side was good but not the overtop amazing, just run of the mill mixed fruit. If you are staying at Hotel Alba, give this place. read more
3 years ago
7 years ago
I went here for lunch on a Thursday afternoon and it was completely dead so I should have had very attentive service. The server didn't bother coming up to me for 10-15 minutes even though he continued to walk past, and knew I was there. I wanted a guava colada and they were out of guava purée. I ordered a mango daiquiri instead which was very good. My friend ordered the media noche and said it was flavorless. The salmon burger was terrible, literally was like congealed spam and inedible. I ordered pan con queso to start (aka a cheese sandwich) I will say it was very good surprisingly, so the two stars are for the cheese sandwich, fries, mango daiquiri & the design. The menu sounds good so I would be interested to try it again when they aren't so new and have figured out better service & food. read more
7 years ago
This is truly an underrated restaurant...PERIODT...The food is delicious and fresh. My parents truly enjoyed it...this is BIG as my mom is a chef and she love good food. Trevor (our server) is a sweetheart. I had the Shrimp and Cauliflower grits; mom had the Almond Red snapper and dad had the ribeye and the white bean soup!!! DELICIOUS read more
7 years ago
Really great food and drinks! The service was fast and attentive. The Brussels Sprouts dish is a must try! read more
7 years ago
I just arrived in town on a business trip staying at the Alba, and ventured down to the Spaniard for a relaxing lunch. I wish there were more stars to give!! My server(Tyrone) was incredibly attentive and professional and the Manager Pete was so sweet and inviting. I had the Mahi and Chicharrones. Every bite was better than the last! I 100% recomend the this establishment!! read more
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Good food, especially for a hotel restaurant, but the service wasn't great- the staff was overwhelmed by seVeral large parties which left the 2 of us waiting for a LONG time to refill our drinks, place our food order, etc read more
Business owner information
Alexandra M.
Julia, thank you for taking the time to leave us feedback on your…
7 years ago
7 years ago
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More info about The Spaniard
5303 W Kennedy Blvd
Tampa, FL 33609
Westshore
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(813) 405-1153
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