Posted on Nov 30, 2024 Once again, a truly memorable experience We were seated on time and greeted by our waiter within minutes. As usual, the food was great. At our table, we had pork chops, ribeye, and strip steak. Everything was perfectly cooked to our preferences. The fried green tomatoes, as an appetizer may have been the best fried green tomatoes we have ever had Ivan, our waiter was amazing. There when needed, but not intrusive. Definitely will be coming back soon. read more

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Came here on my birthday while visiting the Tampa area. My bf and I were doing like a little food crawl around the area and decided to stop here. The place itself is really big and spacious and looks nice. We decided to sit at the bar and it was cool because it has imprinted shells in the countertop. We ordered half a dozen oysters and the root vegetable succotash to share. The oysters were good but the succotash... omg. We took one bite and could not eat it. It was DROWNED in salt. I'm a salty girl and I don't think you understand. It was like someone dumped an insane amount of salt in it. It was completely inedible. We ended up telling the server, who in turn told a manager and they came up to us apologizing and saying it's not the first time they got this complaint.... of course not!!! I think maybe someone in the kitchen put too much salt by accident and they thought they could still serve it. Either way, we appreciated the manager listening to us and they took it off our check thankfully. When we were leaving I was surprised with a gift for my birthday, it was a box of these beautiful truffles! It was such a nice surprise and very thoughtful. I enjoyed them very much! I would definitely come back here and give them another try! read more

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We made it back to Ulele (disclaimer: I received a gift card from the manager after my previous review) and this time it was fantastic. My husband and I shared the Brussels sprouts salad. A nice balance of bitter and sweet. He got the pork shank and I got the seafood risotto. Both of us joined the clean plates club. Our kids got the sliders--we ended up taking a slider and some fries home and the fries were so good that I just ate them cold. Dessert was the maple bacon ice cream and the bourbon butter cake. Based on this experience we'd definitely return! read more

Came a couple years ago for lunch and the burger was decent. When my pregnant fiancee was craving a burger in the area I recommended we go to Ulele. Come to find out they don't serve the burger for dinner - honestly the first time I've ever experienced this. Even higher end steakhouses will have a burger option for dinner. We tried a couple other things, but everything was overpriced and incredibly bland. We actually had to send back the ceviche it was so bad - even the server agreed how bad the ceviche is. I honestly can't believe this place is so busy. The food is mediocre at best - kind of like the Columbia restaurant, which has the same owner. There's a reason you won't notice any local Cubans eating at the Columbia restaurant. If you want a trendy place to go just for the ambience, but don't mind overpaying for incredibly bland and mediocre food - this is your spot. read more

Don't forget to validate parking! Atmosphere was great! The service was amazing! Food was fabulous! read more

Ulele - Outside view - New American Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Absolutely 5 stars for reliably good food and drinks. Delicious espresso martinis and again, reliably good food. Ive had steak every time and it's always perfect. read more

I love that there is a FREE parking lot for customers across the street (a bit of a walk). I've had Ulele on my radar for years & stopped in with my college-aged son & husband because it's stone crab season! The atmosphere was a lot more casual than I expected. We ordered stone crab (definitely recommend the butter because the other sauce (mustard/mayo combo) will completely overpower the crab). We also ordered calamari, the 1528 burger & the seafood risotto. The seasoning on the calamari was a change from the usual & really good. It would have paired nicely with an aioli vs. the marinara-like sauce which made the seasoning undetectable. The 1528 burger sounded amazing & it was good, but if you're going to list "pineapple jam" as an ingredient, I should not have pieces of canned pineapple falling off my burger the whole time. Seriously. Just say pineapple if you're going to take the easy route or do the right thing & make a pineapple jam! Not sure we'll be back. Great location, but there are SO many great Tampa restaurants out there, that you need to be EXTRA good/special for repeat business. read more

Ulele - Stone Crab - New American Near Me - Tampa, Florida

MUST HAVE!!! This is an amazing restaurant near the river, with great atmosphere, large outdoor seating area and great artifacts throughout. Big enough for functions, and cozy enough for date nights. We ordered three dishes: Gator tails, just perfect crunchiness, and you can actually enjoy the chunky meat inside. Florida Pompano "Pallardy", the sauce is just perfect balance for the juicy fish fillets and wild rice underneath. The carrots ribbon is must have, so flavorful and crispy. Zarzuela de Marisco (Juan Ortiz) has good blend of different seafood combinations, Mahi-Mahi is a bit dry, but everything else is just perfect. Will, our server was very attentive, consistently coming to fill water and asking if everything is good. A++ service!!! read more

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I had dinner with some colleagues here, and had a great experience. We sat outside, and it was very chill with a funky vibe. They have a natural spring, with fountains, a turf area with Adirondack chairs. The weather was beautiful. The only thing that would've made it better would be live music. The service was great, despite the fact that it was pretty busy . We had char grilled clams, which were absolutely delicious. I ordered the yellowtail tuna appetizer as an entrée. It was very flavorful and filling, but light. My business partner ordered the pork chop, which was absolutely enormous, and he got a few different types of desserts, which he said were really good. I would definitely go back. read more

The food here is good! I've tried a few of their starters, like Calamari, Okra fries, entrees like The Salmon, Steak, seafood risotto are good as well. Recently tried carrot ribbons interesting taste sweet bit salty at the same time. However THIS THE BEST PLACE FOR CHARBROILED OYSTERS IN ALL OF TAMPA BAY! Ive lived here 5 years and have tried just about every place from local to across the bridge & even Michelin star, none come close. this is THE BEST! Perfectly crispy yet tasty in every bite. I always compliment it with my favorite prosecco. Reposado Tequila old fashioned are also great! Enjoy! read more

Ulele - Reposado Tequila Old Fashioned - New American Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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The ambiance is absolutely stunning and the service was great. Our server checked up on us frequently and was extremely nice. I got the seafood risotto and it was so good besides the scallops. read more

Ulele - Seafood Risotto - New American Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Third time I've been disappointed. Idk why I went back the 3rd time-I guess for the oysters. And, about those oysters-not good. It seemed not to be chargrilled at all- almost to the point of raw. Food came out cold-ALL the food was cold. Idk if they didn't have enough staff or the cook wasn't good, but, all I can say is they need to add runners to their servers so the food comes out timely & warm. read more

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We had this spot chosen for lunch during our time exploring Tampa and did not really look into it further. Mainly basing our decision on ratings and the amount of reviews left, we did not know or expect the restaurant to be super nice and be right on the riverwalk. We walked in and they were able to accommodate our request to seat us outside with views of the riverwalk. Our waiter was super friendly and made recommendations that we ultimately based what we were going to order. We started off with Charbroiled Oysters (half dozen for $25). While these overall tasted good, the pieces of shell and potentially rocks became a nuisance as the first and second one I chewed into something hard. The other appetizer we ordered were the Barbacoa Shrimp ($18). The jumbo shrimp are blackened garnished with parsnip and celery root purée, roasted tomato, charred asparagus tips, and broken lemon vinaigrette. This was delicious, especially when consumed with the puree. For entrees, we ordered the Three Sisters Stuffed Portobello ($20). This was an oven-roasted marinated portobello cap stuffed with fresh grilled zucchini, squash, corn, red onion, red pepper, sautéed spinach, cranberry beans, manchego cheese, wild rice blend, and crisp carrot ribbons. Makes for a great veggie dish. The other entree we ordered was the Soft-Shelled Crab Sandwich ($22). This is a Chesapeake Bay soft shell whole crab dusted in seasoned flour and flash fried, berbere seasoning, apple cider slaw, honey datil aioli on a brioche bun. This was superb. read more

One of the best restaurants in the area. From the amazing outdoor seating to good food and excellent service, it was overall a great experience! A must try if you are in Tampa! read more

Quickly seated outside on a beautiful night. Prompt and friendly hostess and server made for a delightful evening. Many staff members waited on me and my food was brought out with a cover on to keep it warm. The steak was prepared to order and the sides of potatoes and green beans with garlic pared wells. The chimi churri sauce was a good fit with the steak. The craft beer made in house was a brown lager and went well with my meal. Homemade espresso ice cream to finish it off, clearly a home run. Get here if you can! read more

Ulele - Grassy patio - New American Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Breakfast was what drew us in and the breakfast mimosa for sure. The food is good would Love to come back to try lunch or dinner. But definitely recommend and I want to definitely update this post soon read more

Unfortunately was extremely disappointed in my recent trip to Ulele. The interior was dirty, despite being nearly empty - it did not look like the Ulele I remember. My burger was not cooked - at all, I am not weird about it being pink or red - it was cold and purple. I sent it back and it still wasn't very appetizing. Drinks were unfortunately not great either. Overall left feeling pretty disappointed, this used to be a community staple. read more

Upon entering the restaurant, you couldn't help but notice the beautiful sunny views, it was gorgeous! We had to take some pictures before going inside. The beverages were divine, I had the ring of fire (a nice hint of heat) and my partner had the riverside rye (generous serving of blackberries). The appetizers were amazing, including the okra fries. We also got the jalapeño muffins which were a great shareable addition to the table. Finally, I got the pompano which was an amazing balance of flavors with the tomato cream sauce with the rice and carrot ribbons. My partner got the short rib and was a member of the clean plate club! Overall, an amazing time, will come again and recommend to our friends. read more

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

This place is a gem. First the pedigree, it is owned by the same family that owns the Columbia in Ybor City, another favorite of mine. 4 generations of families and Ulele pays homage to the Native foods and locally sourced ingredients. I had the Pompano Payardee, pan seared crusted pompano on a bed of wild rice and topped with a sun-dried tomato cream sauce, crispy carrot ribbons and topped with crawfish tails and served with beautifully seasoned green beans that were awesome on their own. This was a very New Orleans style dish but NOLA has nothing on them. For dessert, I had the Bourbon butter cake topped with house made Ugandan Vanilla bean ice cream. It reminded me of versions I had in Kentucky. The historic repurposed waterworks building adorned with art and historical items adds to the experience . I ate at the bar and a shout out to spectacular, friendly and knowledgeable server Sarah who took the experience o the next level. This place is well worth the visit and is located by the Tampa Riverwalk read more

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I came here for a "Meet the Parents" Dinner. My Bf's mom seems to really love this place and I can see why. The place is busy and has a bustling noise to it. We were seated upstairs and had great service the whole time we were there. For appetizers we got the Fried Green Tomato "BLT" and the Gator Tail. This was my first trip to Florida so my first time trying gator tail and I honestly loved it. Tastes like chicken. For my entree i got the chef's steak which was very flavorful and juicy. I could do without the green beans because they were pretty undercooked. My boyfriend ordered the seafood risotto which came with scallops, lobster, and crawfish tail meat. It was very delicious. we also ordered two cocktails: pina con fuego and ring of fire. Both were very delicious, I would recommend ordering these. read more

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I was able to get a walk-up reservation and decided to sit outside. My waiter was very attentive and went right into discussing the local catches. I was impressed with their chili as an appetizer, made with various meats, including gator and cannelloni beans. This was wonderful with my Made in Florida Mojito, which was paired with both Oranges and Limes. My main course was the 8-oz Skirt Steak, medium rare, with roasted potatoes and green beans, and Chimichurri sauce. The steak melted in my mouth with each bite I took. The food and the experience definitely exceeded my expectations. read more

Monday 9/16/2024 It was my final day in Florida and I was out with the family. They decided to return to a spot they had originally visited a few days ago but this time I was here. The dining can be done outside, inside on bottom floor, or inside on top floor (that's where we were seated). They have some sports jerseys framed in the building as well which is cool. The service was mediocre: we ordered fries but never got them, we asked for lemons and it took the server nearly 2-3 different visits to finally bring them, and he didn't check up as often as we expected. We got a decent amount of items but the only ones I tried/had was the gator tail $18, crab Mac n cheese $16, seafood Risotto $38, and pineapple upside-down bread pudding $11. - The crab Mac n cheese was pretty decent but we barely got any crab which is ridiculous since it's $8 extra to make it crab Mac n cheese versus $8 for the regular. - The gator tail is similar to the taste of chicken and it was alright. It's also very chewy in texture and the taste is a bit better with the sauce. - The seafood risotto was alright, none too crazy or impressive but I'd give a 7/10 as a rating. - The pineapple upside-down bread pudding was okay but I've had way better bread pudding. All in all, if I can say one thing I'd say: just cause it's expensive does not mean that it's guaranteed to match the taste of the food (it didn't). read more

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No complaints. Came here for the first time on a Saturday for the first time. We sat at the outside bar since it was a wait and we didn't have resys the hostess was kind. The outdoor is beautiful- AJ and Michael took good care of us- gave us good dish reccs and they were both delish. The cornbread was amazing and the fried okra. We'll be back! read more

Came here for a Thursday night girls' yap session and it was perfect. We started with the tuna appetizer and it was so good we actually ordered a second one for the table! For my main, I had the short ribs plate--the portion was huge and the leftovers were just as delicious the next day. The espresso martinis were a highlight too; really tasty and balanced, not just straight espresso. 10/10 experience! I understand why everyone raves about this place now. read more

Ulele - Short ribs & espresso martini - New American Near Me - Tampa, Florida

We stopped here for dinner and it's a photographers dream. There are so many photo opportunities. The atmosphere is gorgeous. We had calamari, okra fries, carrots ribbons, shaved brussel sprouts and my husband got the meatloaf. The okra fries were so unique and tart. They were my favorite. Everything else was good, but not spectacular. The service was average at best. Definitely a place for photos and a cocktail. read more

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Ulele is a beautiful restaurant. Facing the Tampa river along the Riverwalk, you are treated to a fantastic sunset while you dine on equally beautiful food. The service is quick, attentive, and helpful with suggestions for first time diners. I feel like they really have something for everyone from seafood dishes to something as simple as meatloaf. I can't wait to explore the menu further and bring more friends and family to experience it with us! read more

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I simply can't say enough GREAT things about this place!! Wish we were staying longer in Tampa, because we would have come back!!! Now we are looking at any excuse to come back to Tampa just to eat at Ulele again!! I'm GLUTEN FREE, they have great options to choose from - including dessert. My boyfriend got the gator tail (not gf) & thought it was phenomenal. He doesn't go too crazy for mashed potatoes usually... but this time was different!! Everything was a home run. From the drinks, to the food & dessert to the service. Outside was beautiful. They had a lot to offer in terms of photo opportunities & views. They are also dog friendly & offer a special canine cuisine. read more

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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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I went to Ulele with my daughter. It was her first visit. We loved the crispy carrots as an appetizer. Yum! The Mac and cheese is also quite good. The service was very fast. The restaurant is lovely inside. There is a second floor which we ended up on. It was rather difficult for me to climb the stairs. Make sure, if you have mobility issues, you ask for ground level seating when making reservations. We will be back! read more

Ulele is truly one of the great restaurants in Tampa, owned and operated by the 1905 Family of Restaurants and a storied and revered Tampa family- the Gonzmart's. Ulele was one of the first establishments to make use of a revitalized historic building in the Tampa Heights area of Tampa- in my opinion they were one of the pioneers to the booming renaissance of the city! The building itself is beautiful but what makes this establishment so amazing is the food and the staff! Expertly lead by GM Mike Sellmeyer and his top notch management team and staff, this amazing restaurant offers fresh Florida seafood, steaks, chicken and other delightful offerings. Inspired by the ever inventive mind of Richard Gonzmart, featuring a brilliantly crafted Florida inspired menu by Chef Quak, and an in-house brewery - the Ulele Spring Brewery lead by renowned Brewmaster Tim Shackton, Ulele is a truly unique and must-visit offering in the ever evolving foodie scene in Tampa. As you pass by a stunning statue of Princess Ulele, you arrive to this iconic restaurant! My husband and I have been to Ulele way too many times to count and have celebrated just about everything you can celebrate at this wonderful restaurant. While we have many favorites on the menu including fresh oysters, steaks and fish- there are always new treats to dive into. Recently, we celebrated my husband's birthday with our friend Angel on a Monday night and the place was- as usual- hopping! What is most comforting about Ulele is their consistent high level of service and food. We began our evening with a celebratory toast featuring Old Fashions for each of us crafted with Eagle Rare Private Barrel Bourbon- simply delicious and you will find a wonderfully curated collection of the finest bourbons at Ulele, among other fab libations! For appetizers we had the Fried Green Tomatoes (3- featuring pimento cheese and pork belly) and Shrimp Barbacoa- both dishes full of fantastic flavor. For dinner we each had the Crackling Pork Shank. This is one of our go-to's! First, the shank itself is huge. Seasoned perfectly and accompanied by a spicy apple/cranberry/raisin chutney (which I could eat a bowl full by itself) the meat falls off the bone and is simply delectable. Unless you are starving you won't be able to finish it and should have plenty to take home- you don't want to waste it! Garlic mashed potatoes and crispy green beans accompany the dish and it is really heaven on a plate. The ambiance of Ulele allows you to enjoy different experiences depending on where you sit. We usually sit by the large sliding doors that lead to their expansive outdoor area and on an evening like this- watching the sun set over the Hillsborough River is pure magic. To wind down dinner you MUST partake of a desert or two or three! Tonight we opted for the Butter Cake and Pineapple upside down bread pudding- both are accompanied by the deliciousness of the house made ice cream. Vanilla for one and coconut for the other. Both desserts are great- but the Butter Cake will leave you wanting more and perhaps going for a lick of the plate as a finale! I can't say enough about this wonderful establishment- it has been the location of many memories for our family. Aside from a great dinner menu- lunch is also always an amazing time at Ulele. You simply cannot go wrong with a visit to this fabulous place! On the way in or out say hi to one of the storybook characters refurbished and restored from an iconic Tampa landmark -Fairyland that opened in 1957 and was located next to Lowry Park Zoo. Mr. Gonzmart's dedication to keeping Tampa History alive is on display through these delightful characters located around the property- you may even see Humpty Dumpty teetering off of the roof of the restaurant! read more

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We had a terrific experience for dinner at Ulele. We got there a bit early for our reservation but they were able to seat us right away. The waiter was very pleasant and attentive. I got the seafood risotto and my wife got the mahi mahi (Mr. Henry). We also got the jalapeno corn muffins. My risotto was cooked perfectly and had a ton of seafood in it: shrimp, scallops, lobster claw and crawfish. I didn't leave any. The green beans could have been cooked one more minute. My wife thought the mahi was great. She doesn't like hot (spicy) food, but the blackened fish was perfect. The corn salsa had a little kick for her but she ate all of hers as well. The corn muffins could have used a little sweet to play with the jalapeños. I made some honey butter at home with my leftover muffins. We had a couple flavored teas ( ginger and peach). Tasty. It was a nice treat for our anniversary dinner. read more

We visited Ulele on a Tuesday night and it was packed! We took advantage of the sitting area along RiverWalk while we waited for our table. The inside seating was very loud, but the food was superb, and Angelina gave us great service. read more

Chose this place for my birthday dinner for the location. Great atmosphere, and great vibe. I was greeted immediately, and sat outside by preference all the way to the back right , but in front of the fan which would be great had it not blown so hard. But thankfully my waitress was kind enough to offer to turn it down a bit. I had mahi mahi and loved everything that was given, the corn was a great addition to the fish, but the spinach was very bitter. I had a Moscow mule as my beverage, along with water. I was even given a signed birthday card by some staff members and box of little chocolates as a treat, which was a nice touch. The waitress was efficient and friendly, the wait time was a bit long but an over all delightful experience. read more

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Was pleasantly surprised. I got a grain based dish with shaved carrots and a mushroom steak type of thing. Really good and excellent leftovers. I do wish they had slightly more veggie options. The bread pudding for dessert was great-- sweet and decadent and fresh and a little runny but this is a good thing. The Mac and cheese was also pretty good and they gave a decently sized portion for an appetizer. The drink was not my favorite, it was like an orange lemon creamsicle margarita or something (I forget). It was sort of strong but there was a lot of ice. Not very mixed. The service was good but not the most attentive and the atmosphere is fairly loud, with an industrial vibe and dimly lit. read more

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Excellent food and service. I have been there twice and the size could be challenging, but they have it down to a science. Love this place!

So you probably already know I rarely give a five star this restaurant was very close. Bianca, my server was amazing and very patient as I have tons of questions plus a little bit of seafood allergies. She gave the best recommendations and I'm just so excited to have dined here. I definitely will be back. I highly recommend the bread pudding and the seafood risotto. read more

Ulele - This is the seafood risotto. It comes with lobster, shrimp, and crawfish. It was absolutely delicious. - New American Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Really great time here the food is always delicious and hot. Lots of space and outside areas- hands down one of my favorite spots to go to. The oysters are amazing as well as the muffins and chili the Mac and Cheese OMGGGG crazy delicious haha Jeff stopped by our table and very nice and knowledgeable great recommendations on drinks. read more

possibly one of the best atmospheres you will find. right on the Tampa Riverwalk. the building is very nice looking and the grounds around it are amazing. 5 Star. the food was better than average but didn't blow me away. the fried okra was good and had a similar flavor to a fresh cut french fry. I got the meatloaf for my main dish. it was good but I had had higher expectations since it was listed as one of the best things Alton Brown ate. read more

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Ulele is so much wow! The ambiance, the people, the service all of it is amazing! The food was an array of different flavors. The presentation was superb. The chilli was so hearty and filling those native Florida proteins were delicious. The charbroiled oysters were spectacular!. The shrimp cocktail was amazing fresh. My wife had the fish another delicious dish. Ohh let me not leave out the frozé rosé. Sooo refreshing and delicious. read more

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I recently went to Ulele and they earned their five stars because this time the corn muffins were on point and that whipped butter with it sealed the deal. I ordered the seafood risotto again which I found out no longer included the claw but had the lobster meat throughout the dish. I'm not a calamari' expert but this was the best that I've had.. it's wasn't greasy or soggy. The pork chop was delicious and had the Smokey flavour and mashed potatoes were nice and buttery . The first order of the grouper goods was too salty and Justin took care of out and the fish was perfect. Our server Liz was very pleasant and attentive. She ensured the night ended well with a box of truffles for the birthday girl! The restaurant is warm and cozy and perfect refuge from the rain. The restaurant is very loud even on the weekday we went. read more

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