no reservations? dine at the bar!
Sometimes a meal at a nice restaurant is planned. You may make reservations a week ahead of time, think about the dinner for a few days and even peruse the menu a bit before leaving the house for the big event. Then there are some weekend evenings where dining out is a spur of the moment idea and the thought of going out without reservations is out of the question. However, if you are flexible, I’d bet that you and a companion can dine at almost any Tampa Bay establishment on a weekend evening with no more than a ten minute wait. How? By dining at the bar.
As a single guy, I spent quite a bit of time dining at the bar in restaurants. It never bothered me, since I probably knew the bartender and I sure didn’t enjoy sitting by myself at a table made for four. But now, I find my experience as a bar diner comes in handy when ducking into a nice restaurant without any prior planning. If you are willing to forgo a table, you’ll get quicker seating and nearly instant service, since the bartender is only steps away. Plus, you may even get that complimentary glass of wine you always hoped for. While far from a complete list, some places where dining at the bar is acceptable, even “cool,” include, Sidebern’s, Courtside Grill, Fly Bar and Restaurant, The Lime, Ceviche in St. Petersburg and Bonefish Grill. What are your favorite spots to dine at the bar?
Tags: food, restaurant, tampa
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July 17th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
I often dine out at the bar. Whether with myself or with others. A few of my favorite places include Restaurant BT, Sideberns, Mise En Place, Fly, The Wine Exchange. In my experience the bartenders tend to know alot more about the wine list than the servers. That being said, I recently had lunch at the bar in Malios and the bartenders were utter morons.
and don’t forget the steak sandwich only available at Bern’s bar.
July 17th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
My wife and I have done this many times. At some places the bar is “our table.” But, I caution that it isn’t always the case that the bartender’s proximity means faster service. Many bartenders are overworked making all drinks (alcohol and coffee) for every server. Some restaurants even have the bartender pick up a couple of tables. That said, it is still a good idea to check out the bar service at your favorite restaurant.
July 17th, 2007 at 5:42 pm
Z-Grille, Parkshore and Ceviche are all better at the bar. Bella Brava can go either way - lunch at the bar, dinner at the bar tables, dates at real tables. At Cafe Alma, I eat breakfast at the bar, dinner at a table.
Hmm, I never really thought about that before, but you’re right. There are actual patterns to it!
July 17th, 2007 at 7:25 pm
I’m with Damien (of course!) the Side Berns bar - check it out on Friday night for some good people watching as well.
And Kevin - we know that the bar at Port O Call was truly the only way to get in there.
July 17th, 2007 at 7:41 pm
I’d suggest sitting at the bar at just about every restaurant in SoHo. Especially if you live in the neighborhood, drinking figures prominently when you dine and planning ahead means making your decision during the walk down Howard.
July 17th, 2007 at 10:11 pm
i always sit at the bar wherever i go, even when im with someone. i find it a lot more convivial that way. in fact, i hate sitting at tables in restaurants. not sure why. just prefer seeing what there is to see at the bar. faves: tampa bay brewing co., frenchy’s on the beach, fly, dan marino’s, and bar louis and gallery eclectic bistro at international plaza.
July 18th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
Stump’s at Channelside is great. Easy in/out before Forum games or concerts, also good for conversation and people watching.
One note about SideBern’s: It’s the most pretentious place I’ve ever been, and that includes NYC and Hollywood (CA not FL). They would likely take this as a compliment.
July 18th, 2007 at 5:31 pm
[...] North,” we don’t always plan ahead and sometimes it is good to be spontaneous. Dining at the bar might not be for everyone, but I find it an attractive alternative for those who decide at the last [...]