Love the design and statues surrounding the restaurant. The story and mative American motif was both beautiful and inspiring. Maddy was a super wonderful person and the food was amazing. Short rib and potatoes-filling and delicious. Really enjoyed the experience. Right next to the river walk. Would have been great for the digestion but I was ready for bed. read more

I was curious about Ulele because the website describes it as a "native-inspired restaurant" and quite honestly, I don't think I've ever been to a restaurant that is native-inspired. Also, my veggie friend loves this place so if she likes it, the veggie dishes must be good. The online menu clearly marks what is vegetarian and vegan which I always appreciate. The drink menu instantly caught my attention when I saw the word "mango purée" in the Ulele Sunrise. It also comes with tequila, muddled cucumber, lime juice, triple sec, and syrup. It's not as mango-forward as I would have liked but I appreciate the strength of the buzz I was feeling. https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/ulele-tampa?select=_Bnfjn1-SzYsG-hudK0vuA Our friends are fans of the Carrot Ribbons and I can see why. Crisp carrot ribbons, dusted in flour then fried. Very addicting! I avoided the honey aioli but Hubby and our friends are fans of it. https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/ulele-tampa?select=Jjb3HuEdjOzHvJKeJR8J9Q We also shared Okra Fries which have a prominent citrus flavor. I also appreciate that this was unbreaded because I don't always need the extra carbs. https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/ulele-tampa?select=stgWNeVtKZUYNDm0TQBKMg For my entrée, I have the Native Sauté which was big enough to feed me for dinner while still having enough for leftovers. It comes with sautéed portobello mushrooms, red onions, zucchini, squash, green beans, white wine, a tomato sauce, and wild rice blend. I love the freshness of the veggies and the vibrant colors! https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/ulele-tampa?select=nI-FDTXurxWU43-7EEJayw This restaurant is huge! We dined on the 2nd floor. Our waiter was friendly. Love the indoor and outdoor art, including the statues. I also appreciate the complimentary valet parking. This spot is pretty popular and we had a nearly 1-hour wait upon arrival. This gave us an opportunity to walk over to the nearby Armature Works to explore for a bit. All around great experience! read more

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The Seafood Risotto was the star of my show. It was so satisfying and tasted delicious! I highly recommend! The atmosphere is vibrant and it was packed so that was a good sign that the food was a winner winner. We sat at the bar and got instant service. The bar was a great idea because by the time we got there, we were hungry and didn't want to sit outside. Anyway if you're looking for recommendations, I would get the Risotto again because it was that good! The Oysters and peppers were decent but the Risotto wears the crown. read more

4.6* (out of 5) Food: 4* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4* Service: 5* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $50 03/24/2025 While still one of our favorite places to go when we visit our son in Tampa, we honestly thought that the quality of the food has slipped a little since our last few visits. Several in our party of 5 commented about the temperature of their food being a little on the cool side. Our table ordered a variety of dishes (all pictures below): Water Works Meatloaf, SEafood Risotto, Aji Amarillo Ceviche, Barbacoa Shrimp, Water Works Wedge and Fire Roasted Chicken. With the exception of the Ceviche, all of the plates were really liked by each with the caveat as mentioned above (several were barely warm). I'll just say beware of the Ceviche, as it is not your typical ceviche - I've eaten a lot of ceviche and everything about this is different (texture, flavor, sauce vs. juice, etc.). It likely is a different style that I'm just not familiar with, but make sure you know what you are getting before you order it, as it was something that I will definitely never order again. If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. read more

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The food here was just ok. I had the crab cakes and charbroiled oysters. The taste of the oysters was very strong and not what I'm used to in Louisiana. I had the seafood risotto as a main course but actually didn't like it so i returned it and got the short rib which was good but not great. The restaurant has a nice ambiance because it's down on the water in Tampa. The staff were also very nice. read more

Continued our tradition of bringing out-of-town guest to Ulele for dinner. Once again, we had an absolutely fabulous meal and excellent service from Bella. My California friends enjoyed the chili and raw oysters and for the first time I had the Meat Loaf - which was so good!! Keep doing what you're doing because it works... We'll see you again soon. read more

Ulele - Meatloaf - New American Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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The ambiance of Ulele along with the outdoor views of the riverwalk were amazing. Our waitress was accommodating and made us feel "at home." The drinks were great and THOSE CHARBROILED OYSTERS WERE FABULOUS! My husband and I were here on vacation from NJ and we were excited to try the oysters. They did not disappoint. read more

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Tried out Ulele this weekend for the 1st time after trying to go for years. Every time we came down to Water Street area we would try to have lunch or dinner here but ended up the wait was too long for us. Decided to make a last minute reservation at lunchtime on Saturday. The do have a dedicated lot that you can park in and get your ticket validated and is free. This lot was full, so we decided to do valet which was complimentary and super quick. Just had to get the ticket validated before we departed the restaurant. The restaurant itself is situated right off the river walk and has a large courtyard area. It would be great for outdoor dining and there is lots to see/do in the immediate area. They also have lots of restored statues from Fairyland from back in the day at Lowry Park! Got a round of the Froze for drinks which was really good. For apps we got the charbroiled oysters, which were great. Im not an raw oyster fan, so the cooked ones were great. Also had the okra fries which were crispy and flavorful. For meals i had the lobster roll, which actually came with 2 small rolls. They were served cold, which was my preference anyway! Others in our party had the seafood risotto, the pork shank, and the grouper sandwich. All the meals were good! Service started out strong, but got very slow. Food took about 45 min to come out and the server never came to the table until we were done eating. Not good. Checks took a while to come as well, we were on his time not ours! The server did box the entrees for us which was very nice. Overall a good time at Ulele, I would come back on the right occasion and enjoy the beautiful scenery and great food! read more

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Fantastic date night experience. Food was delicious and service was amazing. Would definitely recommend to others!

great place. Customer service is good. Clean. Food taste good,he food so much. The fish, alligator bites, chicken - doesn't matter what protein it is - all taste fresh and delicious. On this visit, we tried the soft shell crab and couldn't get enough! The read more

While visiting Tampa in early October, we asked friends for restaurant recommendations, and everyone seemed to say the same thing: "You have to try Ulele." So, we made a reservation--and we're so glad we did! We were seated outside, and coming from Upstate New York in the fall, the warm evening air felt absolutely wonderful. Our server greeted us promptly and gave us time to look over the menu. Shortly after, one of the managers, Nick, stopped by to welcome us. When he learned it was our first visit, he shared some fantastic suggestions. My husband is a whiskey enthusiast, and Nick's recommendations were spot-on. He also suggested we start with the crab cakes and oysters--both were fresh, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. Everything was off to an incredible start. We were there for a rare date night, which already made the evening special, but Nick made it extra memorable. He checked in several times throughout our meal with more great suggestions and genuine conversation. His warmth, enthusiasm, and attention made us feel like VIP guests. From start to finish, our evening at Ulele was unforgettable--the food, the drinks, the atmosphere, and the staff were all outstanding. Although Ulele is hundreds of miles from our home in Upstate NY, it's a place we'll be talking about for a long time and one we can't wait to return to. read more

Ulele - Crab cakes and Oysters Half Shell - New American Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Got the new item yellowfin tuna. Was 10/10 and perfectly cooked raw as i asked for. Just a very tiny meal and was left hungry, but thats my fault. The seafood risotto is one of the best dishes. read more

Ulele - Yellowfin Tuna - New American Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Had a nice lunch here on a Thursday afternoon with really good service from Red. For drinkers we had the margarita and the smash (margarita was sour and tangy, smash was good not great, lots of fruit). For appetizers we had the charbroiled oysters (incredible) and the corn muffins which grew on us--weren't super flavorful but the jalepeno heat builds. For entrees, we got the 1528 burger and the grouper sandwich blackened. Burger was not as juicy or flavorful as we thought it would be for being a blend of short rib, brisket, and chuck HOWEVER the pineapple jam, crispy onions, and jalepeno made a great flavor profile. The grouper on the sandwich was incredibly well cooked, flaky, flavorful, and delicious. Fries were also the perfect kind of diner fry--crispy, almost like they were battered and were delicious with the homemade ketchup. read more

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Service: Bianca was top tier. She has a great personality and offered good recommendations. She checked on us often. Food: we ordered all the courses. The oysters were fantastic. Very flavorful , fried okra tastes like French fries. Definitely recommend. The risotto came recommended but lacked flavor. 0/10 would not recommend unless you don't like flavor. The steak was overcooked. I requested it medium and it came out cold. My plate was taken back and microwaved which resulted in it being over cooked. The salad was good. Drinks were the best thing. And desserts were ok. The bread pudding was a little dry but the flavor with pineapple was a nice pairing. If it were moist it would have been perfect. The coconut ice cream tastes like chill bros so that's a win. read more

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Mistakenly left out my shoutout and Thanks to my Server, Erica. Very nice, informative, and professional.

The food is fantastic, the service is impeccable, and I highly recommend a seat by the water on a light, breezy evening. The lighting and sound of the water makes the ambiance something you'll remember for life. read more

I visit Ulele right before my trip back to NY. Ulele staff were super kind to me and friend. We sat at the outdoor patio. The outdoor patios are dog friendly :). They have lovely fairytale and Native American decors around the restaurant. They also have valet parking. The food is phenomenal! I shared the seafood risotto with my friend and the chargrilled oysters. We had the highly recommended butter cake. The seafood risotto was delicious. I would recommend the chargrilled oysters. I ate every last bite. The butter cake was moist! It was a very good butter cake! It was also my friends birthday and they gave her chocolate bon bon's! The general manager was the best to us. He is originally from Brooklyn and treated us with so much love! I would go back there as everything was wonderful. read more

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Exquisite food, good vibes and the oysters were to DIE FOR. Kudos to our chef and server of the night. Ulele sits right at the end of the Riverwalk. Ample space to sit outside and you can't go wrong with a Frosé from the outside bar. read more

Excellent food. Seemed rushed. Otherwise, good service. When making the reservation, I put anniversary as I was told they don't make a big deal about it. Just a box of candy. Well, they didn't make a big deal. They did nothing. I'm guessing because we were two men, they chose to ignore it. Don't worry, we'll still be back. read more

I would have left a two-star review based solely on the food, but the atmosphere and service elevated the experience to a reluctant three. This was my first visit to Ulele, chosen for my birthday lunch after hearing countless glowing recommendations. While the riverfront view was every bit as lovely as promised, the kitchen failed to meet the same standard. My server, Bianca, was exceptional--attentive, engaging, and easily the highlight of the meal. Her professionalism provided a welcome contrast to the inconsistencies from the kitchen. The meal began with the Stone Crab special. As a Tampa native who grew up eating stone crab pulled fresh from the bay, I know its natural sweetness needs nothing more than butter--or garlic butter at most. Unfortunately, the heavy mustard sauce accompanying the dish overwhelmed the delicate flavor of the crab. It masked rather than enhanced, and I quickly abandoned it in favor of simple butter. The Soft-Shell Crab followed, and again the crab itself was good, but it arrived with an equally weighty roasted garlic datil aioli. Both dishes would have benefitted from lighter, more restrained accompaniments that let the seafood speak for itself rather than compete with it. The final course, the Seafood Risotto, was adequate but uninspired. The scallops appeared undercooked; when questioned, the kitchen maintained they were prepared as intended. Time will determine whether that assertion holds true. Overall, the setting and service helped salvage what was otherwise a disappointing birthday meal. The hospitality shone, but the food--unfortunately--did not. read more

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3.8 stars: cute vibe/outdoor area, food was solid and highlights local ingredients Definitely need to make a reservation. Our reservation was for peak dinner time, but we came about an hour earlier to see if we could get seated early, which thankfully we were able to. Had we come even 10 minutes later, it is likely we would have just had to wait until our reservation time. The inside is cutely decorated with a more rustic vibe, but they also have an outdoor seating area and allows for pets. It is in the same area as a market/outdoor area near the water. FOOD: ~Soft Shell Crab (2.5/5): Unfortunately, the soft shell crab was not soft enough. I could not bite through the body of the crab cleanly. ~Oysters (3/5): a-okay. Local oysters so the brine was very mild. Main issue is that 2 of the oysters looked like it was butchered when they were opening them, so it looked very off-putting. ~Seafood risotto (4/5): great flavors and seafoods were cooked well. Green beans were excellent, as well. I know a dish like this can be difficult to control, but the temperature of the seafood was not hot/room temperature, and the outside of the risotto was a little cold. So that first bite was surprising, but the center section of the risotto was warmer. ~Pompano (4/5): The fish was so soft! It could have used maybe a grain or two of salt on it's own, but with the sauce it was fine. The sauce, green beans, and carrot chips were so good! Overall, I can see why this place is so popular! Getting a meal here than taking a stroll along the water walkway is ideal! read more

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First time trying Ulele and I can see why everyone loves it! The salad was fresh, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. But the star of the night was the bourbon butter cake - absolutely incredible. Rich, warm, and unforgettable. A must-visit in Tampa! read more

Ulele - Key West Key Lime Stack and Bourbon Butter Cake - New American Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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This has to be one of my biggest Tampa food recommendations. I've been here twice now and both times have left so impressed. The first was for my boyfriend's birthday, he got an amazing blackberry whiskey cocktail and I've been dreaming about the steak we ordered ever since. The second time was for my mom's birthday and the staff gave us complimentary artisan chocolates to celebrate. The restaurant is beautiful, right on the Riverwalk, and the food was truly so delicious every time. read more

Ulele - Chef's Steak 8oz-roasted potatoes under the steak - New American Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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The atmosphere was so beautiful. It was right on the water. I ordered crab cakes, Water Works Meatloaf with garlic mashed potatoes and green beans, cornbread and key lime stack for dessert. The crab cakes had a lot of crab and great flavor. The meatloaf had a different flavor that I'm used to. It wasn't a traditional meatloaf taste but it was still good. It tasted more like a salisbury steak. The cornbread was good but a little dry. The key lime steak was good. Those key West limes do the trick. read more

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Erica deserves a raise. Funny, clever, and quick on her feet - she even handled our fly problem like a pro. Best part of our visit.

Food was good & interesting. The area around the restaurant is beautiful, & fun for kids to run around. The restaurant was a little loud, so something to be aware of, but didn't bother us too much. read more

WOW!!!! I had the Tomahawk Pork Chop for the first time ever. OH MY GOODNESS!! It was amazing! It came with mashed potatoes and green beans. I thought I would be taking a lot home but I had to eat the whole thing! Then I ordered the Key Lime Fluff with Bruleed Meringue was absolutely incredible. This is actually a 6 star meal but I can only give it 5. It is a "MUST TRY!" read more

The food is delicious, the portion sizes are great, the service is classy and the ambiance is gentle and inviting to all. 10 out of 10 highly recommend and the reservation is worth the wait my friend! read more

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Always a good spot for brunch, lunch or dinner. Sitting right off of the Tampa Riverwalk, you can't go wrong. They have an army of staff working and ensuring a great experience. Look at the meals pictured. Make sure to get the fried green tomatoes (if you're into that kind of thing). Yummy read more

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My frose' is always good & we enjoyed our Saturday lunch. The mac & cheese with crab was delicious! I tried the oysters rockefeller for the first time & it was simply amazing! read more

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We had an okay experience at Ulele. We came on Saturday night and were seated outside very quickly. The host and servers were very friendly. We ordered a beer and an espresso martini to start and both were excellent! We had the gator tail as an appetizer and it was very delicious. For our main entrees we ordered the fire roasted chicken and the Pompano. When they brought out our orders initially, they brought out the wrong entrees and then had to go back and re-make them. When they eventually came they were only okay. We then had the chocolate torte for dessert which was also only okay. Overall, is definitely worth trying and glad we went! read more

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The food and service was fabulous!! Great menu with lots of options! Large portions!! Plenty of seating, but best to make a reservation. Gets really crowded!! Great seafood dishes!! Fun atmosphere for sure!! Can eat inside or out. Beautiful view if you are eating outside!!! Friendly staff throughout!!! read more

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Birthday outing was fantastic. Recommend the Gator, cornbread and okra! Hadn't been there in ten years. Still a solid place for chow. read more

Ulele - Okra, Gator, and Cornbread! - New American Near Me - Tampa, Florida

After so many times of passing this place, we finally got to try out it out. Servers were nice, and they were able to accommodate us with our baby. Casual place. This place was disappointing based on our experience. We sat down on our table and our server asked us about our orders. And we asked about the burgers, because our table behind us got burgers as we were sitting down, and our server said "we only have burgers for lunch". Oh okay so it's a pick & choose type a customer service? Food we ordered: Mac & cheese (very delish no complaints), Calamari (very delish, but also a bit oily), Chef's steak medium rare (we got a overcooked, dry, well done steak, and raw veggies), pork shank with fries, instead of mashed potatoes (a little bit in the harder to chew side, and got a mashed potatoes), Barry's tomahawk pork chop, cooked medium as recommended (a little bit more than medium, also overcooked & dry), and braised short ribs (mediocre). All of this dissatisfaction for exactly $188 including tip. Never again. read more

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Stopped by for wine and dessert after running in the Gasparilla race. We sat at the bar and it was amazing to watch the kitchen at work. What a well oiled machine! Every dish looked so delicious I have to go back to try something other than dessert! The key lime pie was wonderful! Ivan was so attentive and we will definitely be returning! read more

Ulele - Key West Key Lime Stack - New American Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Dined here by myself. Was seated outdoors and the view was nice. Got a steak and some fried gator, those were good. Server was nice. It's a good restaurant overall. Can't say I enjoy the Florida weather in the summer though. read more

Great Sunday night dinner! Atmosphere was great indoor or outdoor seating. We arrived early and had a drink outside and checked out the sculptures and had dinner inside. We started with Gator tails. Battered seasoned and fried tasty. It was chewy though. Also had soft shell crab delicious. Entrees 3 out of 4 ordered the risotto lots of flavor and full of shrimp, scallops and crawfish tails. I had the pompano in sun dried tomato cream its was excellent. No leftovers. Dessert coconut ice cream, bourbon butter cake and key lime stack. I think the ice cream stole the show. The bourbon cake came with vanilla ice cream yum. They were skimpy on the blackberries. It was a non event. Plenty of parking. There is a lot $50 unless u eat at Ulele then it's complimentary. Do forget to get validated. Wasn't disappointed and highly recommend it. I thought the pricing was fair. Make a reservation and enjoy. read more

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My friend Danielle, and I usually do a Christmas walk- down the Riverwalk to Ulele for champagne and oysters. Unfortunately, it didn't happen this year. But, today, spur of the moment - we were both free and we did our walk!! Down Bayshore, on the Riverwalk- headed over to the Armature Works area and stopped in at Ulele! We sat at the Oyster bar, which is our favorite, and the guys shucking oysters were so nice & engaging!! It's fun to watch them shuck, knowing we will be eating some of their bounty!! We started with a spicy and a skinny margarita, then followed with a bottle of Schramsberg bubbles - always a favorite of mine. We ordered the okra fries with homemade dipping sauce- similar to ketchup, but better- these are amazing!! They are not fried in batter, but, I'm guessing skillet fried in oil.... Not heavy at all, We also ordered the Barbacoa shrimp and half a dozen oysters. We ordered half a dozen, not knowing if we would want more or not. Of course we did want more, but we were so full that we did not need anymore to eat. Our server was amazing, and he had a trainee who was great as well. They were both very nice, and knowledgeable about the menu. They did a great job with service. We love sitting at the oyster bar, because it's fun to interact with the oyster shuckers and it's really good people watching as well. Danielle and I had a great walk on the Riverwalk, great food and drinks at Ulele- great experience in a beautiful restaurant. Love the history behind the building!!!! Truly a great day- try Ulele if you never have!! It's also a great place for events at Armature Works, the Christmas lighted boat parade , and many other things. read more

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Oh my, what a gem! Great location, surrounded by wonderful art pieces and water. Very well kept grounds, awesome building and overall stellar ambiance. The cocktails were amazing and hand crafted. The seasonal strawberry beer delicious! Great service on a busy Friday night! The food, my goodness, the food, not only delicious but great portion size. The overall bill not that bad at all. If I were local this would be in a weekly rotation. Visiting Tampa? Stop and dine in! read more