Claudia E.'s Profile

My husband and I had put off dining here, since it was in the mall and just seemed like another chain. However, we ventured in to have drinks one night, enjoyed the atmosphere and made a decision to return the following week for dinner. We were pleasantly surprised.

The patrons are the usual Tampa crowd, but you can't escape that, especially at the mall. The wait staff was friendly and very accommodating, as we chose a different table after being seated outside (having not liked the noise).

Food: pretty damn good. I was not expecting much, but I will now say it's on par with Ruth's and better than the Palm and Fleming's in terms of chains. I ordered the filet oscar, but personalized it to include the balsamic vinegar porcini-crusted option that is on their special, rather than the oscar sauce, and the kitchen did a perfect job of what I wanted. I ate every last bite. Crab was very fresh, and the filet was clean and soft. The appetizers are good and the sides are even better. Wine list is extensive.

We both liked the old world atmosphere inside the restaurant, it reminded us of old hotels in New York; not trendy but also not nearly as stuffy as Ruth's Chris.

I'll be back.

I just discovered Pia, after going to about 5 other day spas in Tampa. Pia was by far the most professional, with the friendliest staff. I had a euro facial and an arm wax and eyebrow wax. All were fantastic. I am probably going to make this my official (and only) day spa.

Prices are reasonable too. They offer tea/water/sangria when you come in, and it smells great.

I will say there is one big con: the parking situation. They have about 10 really TIGHT spots, I have an SUV, and I've been lucky so far that someone has been pulling out just as I need a spot, but I can see that if someone goes at peak time, there can be a big issue there. They should expand their parking , or share a lot with someone next door/across the street.

Stumbled upon this place with my girlfriend after getting our nails done. We found a nice comfy seat, and the service was ready to take our order right away, complete with a bowl of (pretty good) nuts.

Drinks were great; my friend ordered some food, which she liked.

I really liked the feel of the place. It's pretty old school and quiet, waiters are in tuxes, reminds me of the Bull and the Bear. It's def. an older crowd, but I welcome that in midtown, where the bars can be so damn loud and full of douche bags that you throw up a little every time. So this was refreshing. I was able to have a nice conversation in this intimate setting, with great service and drinks.

I love this place. I live right nearby, and their food is surprisingly good. The dinner menu is pretty extensive, and their sweet potato fries are seriously some of the best I've ever had. Crowd is not too 'pubby' either; it's quiet and has outdoor seating. (It's NOT the usual dark, stinky pub with T.V.s that smells of stale beer). Service is great too.

Con: they don't serve liquor, only wine and beer. But if you are in the mood for either of the latter, def. try this place out.

Parking can be an issue, but they also have the lot across the street available, and that usually doesn't get too full.

The turkey with cranberry sandwich is pretty good, as are their salads and soups. Portions are hearty. Service is a tad lacking, not on the "quick or accurate" side--they are both, but more so on the "friendly & accommodating" side. But hey, they get the job done, and the food tastes great, and I do like that.

Great for lunch.

Yummy. I just tried this place out last week, got a white pizza with some different cheeses that I was able to "personalize." And the thing was actually pretty damn good. I would def. go back. The chicken on the pizza was the only thing that was kinda, eh, but othewise it was great.

Pizza bread/sticks are pretty good too.

WTF is up with this meat market? Okay, first off, who the hell WAITS IN LINE, to get in somewhere on HOUSTON before 11pm? Secondly, the place is asses to elbows crowded, it took my friends and I 30 minutes just to get a drink at the bar. The bar itself is 5 people deep, no matter which way. Thirdly, whose bright idea was it to put 5-7 scattered seating areas around the place? There is no where to sit, let alone stand. And the crowd sucked. This is on a Friday night. I don't mean it wasn't crowded--I just mean the crowd absolutely sucked.

Oh and the "bouncer" outside...douchebag. You know him: the "I'm too cool to talk to this rif raff because I am a bouncer" -type douchebag.

Get this place OUT!

So what's with the wait at this place? My best friend set up a spa mani pedi here for my non-bachelorette party (just me and her). When we got in, we realized that the nail polish selection was nil, and they didn't even have Essie or OPI. They had like 25 shades of red, and that's about it. Luckily, we had brought one of our own, which we both ended up using because none of their colors worked for us. We were trying to pair with wedding shoes mind you.

Next, the technician for my friend comes out at least 30 minutes after my tech has been working on my feet. So my friend is sitting there next to me, SANS WINE (bc of course, they have coffee and water, but no wine), twiddling her thumbs because her pedi technician is dilly dallying somewhere else. FINALLY we are both being helped, which by that time I was practically done.

Mani- My tech did my nails, then handed my friend's tech the nail polish (bc remember, we had to use the same bottle that I had brought), and my tech all of a sudden wants to redo all my nails in one of "their" polishes because my (OPI) polish is "bubbling." I told her those bubbles would go away, and she insisted that they wouldn't. My friend and I held firm on our polish, so the lady just had to quiet down and finish the work she started, but certainly not without grumbling to herself about it.

Cut to wedding day: bubbles are gone (of course), but the polish is dull dull dull. Luckily, I had purchased a Essie top coat at the local Duane Reade, which i proceeded to VERY CAREFULLY apply to myself on the morning of my wedding. My best friend had done the same that morning. This saved the nails, but its a job that neither of us should have had to do, especially since we had had them done just 1.5 days prior.

Let's just say my friend and I will not be returning any time soon.

I am giving the 2 stars for the overall look of the place, which is nice, and not crowded. But everything else was a no go.

I had drinks at the bar here. I liked the view of Central Park and the fact that it wasn't crowded at all.

The service was a tad on the slow side, but it was Sunday night...

The decor is pretty damn cool. With comfy seats. Place is quiet and you can hear yourself talk to whomever you are with.

I used this place to have my wedding gown pressed. I must say, they did an amazing job. The price was a little steep ($114 for a VERY SIMPLE silk sheath gown, a-la Carolyn Bessette Kennedy), but they got it back to me ON TIME, and in PRISTINE condition, complete with a complimentary stain removal kit. There was not a single wrinkle in the dress, and no matter how I lay it or hung it, there was no way to even put a wrinkle in it because it was packaged in such a way that it was had a manikin like fixture inside.

And even after sitting in the dress for my makeup, and a delay in my limo (again, sitting), the dress magically did not appear wrinkled at all during the ceremony or reception, and so far looks great in the photos.

I would use them again.