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Definitely my favorite Tapas/Spanish Restaurant in Tampa. I know it's become a chain since the first location opened, but I can deal with that.
The albondigas, braised pork shank, ceviche de casa, and the sauteed sweetbreads are especially great.
OH, and the cava sangria is to die for! Really, though... I'd endure quite a bit of pain even just for the rioja version. SO GOOD!
OH, and the almendrado (I think that's what it's called) and the tres leches cake are the only desserts worth getting here. The others are just sub-par.
The Sangria is the best part, the tapas are worth while but the place is fairly cramped and I felt like the table next to us was in my lap. Other than that though it was a good experience
Im not in the writing mood but I just got back from vacation and had to yelp this place..
I HAVE DIED AND GONE TO HEAVEN
Best tapas and sangria EVER.
Highly recommend:
Mahi-Mahi al Papel 9.50
Mahi-Mahi braised in parchment paper with mushroom and saffron sauce.
This was a great tapas place - fun atmosphere, friendly folks and live music. My friends and I spent some time in the bar before our table was ready in the dining room- bar was loud and busy but I figure that's what bars are supposed to be like!
I enjoyed the ceviche and gambas de ajillo; asparagus was also really good. Only complaint was that one of the toilets was stopped up and that doesn't encourage you to drink more sangria.... overall a great experience.
White and Red Sangrias are GREAT when Devi is your server. She's pretty amazing and informative.
It lost a star because the tables and chairs are uncomfortable and the decor is umm....ehhh....
Food and Service:
Comes pretty quick since they do just make it and bring it to you when its done cooked so u just keep getting plates after plates. Portions are decent because it is a tapas place so its a great place to have like a get together or if you like different things on your plate but it does get messy. Most of the dishes me and friends had ordered was pretty amazing, I think we had about 1/2 the menu on our table which was great cause all of us got 2 try alittle bit of everything....
Overall
For special occasions, it would be an okay place to go, its def a place to check out and try once.
Meatmarket in a shanty. And they valet? Who are they kidding??
Food = blech!!!! I've had better at McDonald's.
You definitely have to try the sangria here. It's the best! They have 3 different types of sangria. I love their white. The red is also good, but I prefer the white. The champagne is good, but a bit too sweet for me. If that's what you like, then go for it.
As for the tapas, not everything was good. Sometimes we would order dishes that were absolutely delicious and other times, it was just ok.
Here's a few of the tapas I tried that were tasty: Garbanzo Hummus, Portobello Relleno (Portabello mushroom stuffed with fresh spinach, shallots and Manchego cheese drizzled with sherry), Haricot Verdes (Sauteed green beans with orange zest and garlic in virgin olive oil), Mahi-Mahi al Papel (Mahi-Mahi braised in parchment paper with mushroom and saffron sauce), and Banderillas Mixtas (Assortment of skewered grilled tenderloin, mild chorizo, marinated chicken and vegetables). Oh and their desserts are also delicious, like the Crema Catalana (Traditional Spanish creme brulee in a dark chocolate shell). Yum!
The others that were just ok to me: Champinones de Sevilla (Woodland mushrooms sauteed with sherry over goat cheese toasted bread), Ceviche de Atun (Finest grade tuna marinated in lemon, lime, cilantro, jalape, and sweet onion), Tabla Mixta (Chorizo, morcilla and Serrano ham with Mahon, Manchego, Tetilla cheeses, with sliced fruit and homemade pate), Mahi-Mahi Azafran (Grilled Mahi-Mahi served with Saffron sauce and leeks) and Rabo de Toro (Oxtail slowly braised in a rich red wine sauce, served with potatoes).
Overall it's one of my favorite places in Tampa because of the ambience, the fact that I can snack while I drink and chat with friends, and most importantly their SANGRIA!
Used to be 5 stars, but the new location seems to have lost its luster in the kitchen. It is definitely more comfortable, but the food has dropped off.
Still a true Spanish Tapas restaurant.
Nice spot for a date.
So Ceviche changed locations (now where St. Barts restaurant was) about 3 months ago. I love this location b/c there is plenty of seating and there is also an open air courtyard with a fountain.
So nothing about the food has changed, still absolutely fabulous! You can't come here and not have the Sangria. But make sure you bring friends with you because it is quite a large pitcher.
So we came here for Mother's Day for a little change. The service was impeccable and we had a wonderful time.
A lot of the items they have "small" or "large" portions, so depending on the number of people you have, you can get more or less.
What we ordered:
Berenjenas Fritas (fried thinly sliced eggplant) which is served with honey. It is always a favorite
Queso De Cabra (Baked Goat Cheese) - goes great on their bread which is very good (they said they order their break from Pane Rustica on McDill)
Banderillas Mixtas (Beef, Chorizo, Chicken, and Vegetables on a skewer) which has an aioli sauce with it. We also put some of the goat cheese on the skewers made it even better!
Piquillos Rellenos (Red Peppers stuffed with ground veal and chorizo) - The sherry sauce on top was great and was another great dipper for the bread!
Gambas Al Ajillo - Kind of the spanish version of Shrimp Scampi, comes piping hot on a cast iron skillet
Vieiras Rellenas - The FAVORITE of the night!! These are sea scallops topped with leeks and herbs and then manchengo cheese. and more sherry cream sauce! Yuuum
And finally for dessert we had the Crema Catalana which is a Spanish Creme Brulee with a chocolate coating, it was very good and also the Pudin De Pan (Bread Pudding) which was servced with ice cream and some fruits.
Basically we had a great time and really loved it! I would highly recommend for large groups. Who doesn't love tapas?!
The never-ending pitcher of sangria exists here. You can get red, white or cava. It's a tall order for two people to see the bottom of the pitcher but we managed to do it.
Loved:
Ceviche de la Casa - Shrimp, scallops, squid and fish marinated in lime juice, tossed with fresh tomatos, scallions, peppers and seasoned with cilantro. Served in a martini glass, I give an A for presentation. The flavors were bold and refreshing. I wanted to pick up the glass at the end and drink the juice.
Vieras Rellenas - Grilled large sea scallops served with leeks, fresh herbs, Manchego cheese and sherry cream sauce. The scallop was cooked to perfection and the cheese was divine.
Patatas Bravas - Fried potatoes in a homemade aioli. Generous portion and spicy.
Liked:
Mahi Mahi en Papel - Mahi Mahi steamed with mushrooms and veggies in parchment. The fish was a tad on the tough side and the saffron sauce didn't come through this dish.
Calamares Rellenos - Braised squid stuffed with veal and chorizo in piquant tomato sauce with Manchego cheese. The squid and the sauce was tasty but the veal stuffing was bland. The texture with the smoothness of the squid was interesting.
Disappointed:
Chorizo y Pimientos -Five types of chorizo sausage sliced with roasted tomato and sweet peppers. I love chorizo and had very high hopes for this dish. Not one of the chorizos was spicy. They all tasted and looked like slices of kielbasa.
Observed:
I would never guess a tapas bar was the place to see and be seen. Tapas bars are so prevalent in DC I would never think to get dressed up to go get tapas even at the classier restaurants. I went in jeans, a nice black top and sandal flats. 90% of the patrons were in 4-inch heels, trendy, cleavage bearing tops or teeny little dresses. Sun-kissed skin, brand-name bag and male guest dressed in a fitted shirt with the top 4 buttons unbuttoned is a must.
The twenty-minute wait is a lie. We sat down at the only two chairs in the foyer, away from the hostess stand but within earshot. I didn't feel like getting started at the bar on an empty stomach so we sat and waited for 45 minutes. Lots of people were hovering around the hostess stand, trying to get seated earlier. My charming dining partner cracked a few jokes to the host and hostess. A few minutes later the host comes back and waves to us like "hurry, hurry here's your table". An hour into dinner, after we're done with our dishes, my dining partner gets a call on his cell saying that our table is ready. We figured the host snuck us in early. I guess it pays off to be friendly and to be dressed unassumingly.
WOW! Really good food, the best tapas places in town. Atmosphere is relaxed and low key. Check it out.
I came here with 4 other people in my party. They had recommended it as a good group place.
Firstly, I was happy with how fast we got a table on a Saturday night. That's a good thing. The decor was not bad, I'd say above average, the blue fountain was a little tacky but hey, it's Florida!
As far as the food goes, we had several different carne dishes, and they were all good. A refreshing change of pace from normal italian food, or mexican food. Unique. I had no complaints as to the taste, but the portions were not good. I wasn't expecting family style, but for what you pay for the dishes, I would expect more than what we got.
You're probably thinking now, "why the 2 star review?". It's simple. The service was horrible. I've had better service at Dennys. Really. Our server acted like we were some sort of inconvenience. I ordered a Corona, and I got a Corona light. "oh we are out of Corona". I don't know why he didn't just tell me that. It took me three tries to even get him to tell me what other beers they had. To put it bluntly, I was pissed off at our server by the time we were done, and so were the other people I was with.
So yeah, you could go here, and impress your date with a unique place, but I hope you have a better experience than we did. I will not be coming here again.
Meh.
Tapas might be my favorite food - and I was excited to see "Ceviche" as a dining option whilst working in Tampa.
The wait for a table was nothing short of epic. We waited at the bar probably a good 30-45 minutes past what we were told the wait would be. Not that I care that much - but if the wait is going to be an hour or more, I usually prefer to know that ahead of time.
Finally seated - we ordered a massive amount of plates. The only thing I remember standing out as being excellent was a tuna dish - seared and very tasty. Everything else was sufficient - but nothing really fantastic.
If there again - I will probably give it a second shot, but I really wasn't that impressed.
I have loved their food on previous occasions. But our experience was definitely sub par this time. One of my friends was served fish that was spoiled, but they did replace it without question.. I was obliged to chivalrously kill a cockroach that was menacing the ladies at the table next to us. Our service was slow and perfunctory and not engaging.
The portions are just right. And excluding the fish the food was good.
Sangria here is really excellent and this place has some great food! Atmosphere is nice but semi-casual. Really enjoyed their fries sprinkled with blue cheese bits Mmm!
Went with a group of friends and it undoubtedly was fairly cramped. Wasn't totally impressed w/ the house ceviche - but still pretty good.
Well, someone's stealing from the customers....
I'm going to just post my experience too. Apparently someone or everyone working for Ceviche has been committing credit card fraud. My girlfriend checked her card yesterday and there was an extra $30 added to an already $40 tip. I was shocked to see that someone has had a similar experience THIS MONTH!
The manager tried to make it sound like we were somehow at fault by not tipping enough- which believe me is B.S. We tipped well over twenty percent for a $145 bill.
I've got to be honest, I'll never go there again unless I'm looking for a fight.
Ceviche has since moved off Bayshore a block or two, but it is every bit as good the fourth time in as many years as it ever was. Though they have gone for a bit more upscale look at their new location (valets parked the BMWs and Mercs up front) it's still a comfortable place for dinner. The only complaint I'd make is that the tables are a bit small.
The other night 4 of us had 10 plates and dessert and coffee. The only clinker was the oxtail stew. Ceviche was excellent, duck in chocolate sauce, serrano w/fig, pears and apples, portobello relleno, patatas bravas, mahi azafran, chorizo al brandy, almendrado and pudin de pan were all very good to unbeatable.
This would be my 2nd fave tapa in the US so far. Jaleo in DC is #1 and Emilios in Chicago (haven't made Iberico yet) ties with Ceviche.
One of the few places I can actually stand to drink at in when visiting Tampa.
Pros:
The food is absolutely incredible. I've been many of times with many different groups of people, and there is everything for every taste from the mild to wild. The menu is organized into cold and hot plates. Don't be afraid to ask though, as you might end up getting something a little stranger than you bargained for. I went one time with a friend who told me the entire time I'd been eating a strange sausage (Morcilla, it's on the meat cheese and fruit plate) that is boiled in cow's blood. It's delicious and so rich, although I was just a little freaked out about it afterward :-)
Although the food is divine, the sangria needs an absolute mention here in my review. I've gone into Ceviche just for sangria before, and let me tell you... well, I ended up with a cab and a hotel in downtown Tampa :-) It's delicious and deadly, so be mindful of how much you drink.
Even with the food and libations being as good as they are, the ambiance of the establishment definitely needs mentioned. It's small, dimly lit, and intimate. It's great for dates, it's great for groups... it's just all around great. The wait staff is also extremely knowledgeable, so if you're afraid of something, just ask... they'll be happy to explain everything.
Cons:
I have never been a fan of valet parking. You may have to park down the street as there's not a lot of normal parking out front.
In summary, Ceviche is one of my favorites while visiting Tampa to take out a date or a group of friends. It's relaxed and intimate -- much different from some of the other options of Hyde Park Nightlife. I've never had a bad experience -- except that time I drank too much sangria :-)
~N
My evening brought me to Tampa - but more specifically - Ceviche to celebrate my college roommate's 25th birthday. I've got mixed reviews about this place.
First off, the food is delicious. Although everyone at the table ordered dishes for themselves, we also shared - so it goes at a tapas joint. I had the Fabana Esturiana - white beans & sausage - as well as the Ensalada Villafranca - a huge salad with hearts of palm, artichoke, avocado and a light lemon vinaigrette. I sampled the Birthday Boy's Patatas Bravas and Pollo al Jarez Frito. And some champagne sangria to wash it all down. (Although it wouldn't have been my first choice, the sangria hit the spot.)
And here's why a 5-star rating dropped down to three. Ceviche was really unhelpful when it came to my friends requests. We had a reservation for 12 at 7pm. When we called around 2pm to request two more seats, we were denied. Strike One.
They wanted to charge us $2 each for a cake cutting fee. That would've been an extra $30! I'm from Chicago, and if there's anything that restaurants there can charge for they will. I've never seen a cake fee in Chicago, so I was a little turned off by that.
This was my first time at a Tapas Bar, so it's hard for me to gauge how good my experience was compared to what it could've been [like]. The restaurant is pretty dark inside, feels small, yet one doesn't feel claustrophobic. Each tapas dish costs around $7-$10 and they all tasted pretty good. Service was good and had a good time.
Food is excellent, though it is required that you eat it with Red Sangria. Love the sangria. I am fortunate enough to make it there about once a month and as far as best dishes go, I would recommend the following off the top of my head: Oxtail, Scallops with onions, goat cheese, duck. There are so many more good ones that it is really best to let your server make suggestions and guide you through what promises to be a great night.
There is also a location in Downtown St. Pete.
Duuuuude. Wow. Loved this place. A cab driver recommended this place and I was doubtful at first but loved this. The waiter (wish I got his name) was great. Some of the best service I've had in a restaurant...ever. And everyone we had was amazing. The stuffed peppers (dont know what they were specifically called but just ask for the most popular item, I do know they had some sort of saffron sauce on them) were amazing. Seriously one of the tastiest things I've ever had.
You need to try the champaign sangria here, it's to die for. This place has tapas down to an artform, as everything here is quite tasty! Even their chocolate cake is worth writing home to mom about! The prices are very reasonable, and you'll enjoy everything you try here. I normally would have given this 5 stars, however, I thought that the waitress that waited on us on the bar area wasn't the friendliest, as she pushed us out of the way often, and was missing her pleasantries. If you sit in the dining room, I'm sure that service is 100% better. If I come back to visit Tampa, I'll be hitting this spot up again, however, I'll be holding a reservation.
This is the ultimate date place. The tapas is great. Like everyone else says, start with the Sangria. The champagne sangria wasn't for me, but some may like it. I like the red. Their signature ceviche is refeshing. Last time I was there I had the stuffed calamari. The sauce was amazing. I will get it everytime. The service is also very helpful and friendly. They leave you alone if you want a romantic evening. I have only been to the one in South Tampa
Good for tapas (if you're into that). Sangria is pretty good although I've had better. The atmosphere is romantic intimacy (i.e. dark and small), the wait staff is attentive and the decor is old Spanish. Great location on Bayshore Blvd yet I remember it being hard to find.....
this place is awesome!
we found it thanks to yelp and arrived on a thursday evening. got a table right away - service was amazing (the whole menu looked amazing but got lots of great recommendations from our waitress) - and the food was wonderful. we had the scallops (yumm!), mushrooms (our fave), ceviche (decent but isn't something i'd order again), & eggplant (a little too cheesy) but dang, the paella sounded delish and OMG the bread pudding is to die for!
everything was tasty and flavorful, came out quickly, and the 4 of us easily finished off two pitchers of their sangria - the champagne (sweet and my fave) and red wine (the fave of the other three girls). the atmosphere was beautiful and everyone was so friendly... if only i could bring it back to the bay area with me!!!
even though it's a little further away from the other spots in hyde park, a must-go!!
I was pleasantly suprised by the quality of the tapas at Ceviche. It was better than many of the tapas restaurants I've been to in Chicago and SF. We ordered about 6 plates and everything was very tasty. The sangria was good but maybe a little too sweet. The decor is nice and the atmosphere was pretty lively. I would have given it 5 stars if it wasn't for our server that was rushing us through our meal the whole evening. We spent more time at the bar waiting for our table than we did eating at the table. I think she was anxious to end her shift and head over to the Whiskey to find her hook up for the night.
Ok, this place gets 1 star for the decor and the nicely cooked appetizers. But otherwise it was not that great.
We had to drive up and down bay shore twice and when we found the address we were at some apartment complex. We had to drive around the block and right before we were about to give up, we found the place hidden in the back parking lot. The sign said Valet only, but we were in the middle of a parking lot. A nice guy came and took the car from us and parked it in one of the parking spots. I could have done that myself but whatever.
I went inside and the decor inside was nice. We were taken to a small table but we could not fit. My colleague and I are both skinny people but the chairs are not a good fit for the tables. We finally had to lift the table and put it on top of us and then we were stuck there for the duration of our meal.
A nice handsome waiter came to take our order. I ordered a sangria which was absolutely terrible. We ordered tapas and a pallela. The war goat cheese appetizer and that was very tasty but unfortunately very oily. The pallela was way over priced. It was very watery and the seafood inside was ok. It looked more like soup than pallela. Half way through our meal I realized they did not give us water and asked for it. They brought one glass for me and none for my colleage so we had to ask again. The glass was full of ice and a bit of water so I got thirsty again and had to ask for water 3 more times until I gave up and decided to leave.
We went to get our car from the valet, who was a different person this time. He was a bit larger and was wearing a hoodie! He walked 30ft and got our car for us. I was tempted to follow him on foot but I resisted. He took the car all around the parking lot and brought it over to us. I sat inside and as I was about to close the door he grabbed the handle and opened it back up. I asked him if the valet cost anything, he said no but just tip!! He was so scary that I tipped him just so he does not beat me up but I think the whole thing was a joke.
This place has great potential but someone needs to wake up and take care of the customers a bit better.
It saddens me to have to change my review about Ceviche. On my last trip back to Tampa, my fiance and I hoped to have a nostalgic moment at what used to be the most intimate and unique restaurant in Tampa. However, Ceviche has sold out. They now occupy a larger space that totally detracts from what made Ceviche so great. It even seemed to impact the quality of food. Oh Ceviche, why, WHY did you have to move?
If you're looking for a romantic tapas place, this is it. The ambiance is very good, and the service is attentive as well. Everything I've tasted here is mouth watering, including the seafood paella and sangria. It's a little bizarre to eat in the bottom floor of an apartment building, but once you're inside, you wouldn't know the difference. I've been in both large groups and small, and either is fine....but this is not a place to get overly rowdy or loud. It's casual as well, which I like - no need to get overly dressed up to enjoy some very good food.
Tampa, FL
Category: Tapas Bars
Tampa, FL
Category: Spanish
Tampa, FL
Category: Italian
Tampa, FL
Category: Restaurants
Tampa, FL
Category: Italian
Places where food portions are small and on small…
