The Colonnade Restaurant

[AES328]

Just go to Oystercatchers or Ocean Prime. Expensive, but damn good.

[SeaSpur]

Originally Posted by NALEXAND

Well you'd think there would be an abundance of very good seafood choices here and there just aren't any. I say go back to the Colonnade and see what you think. The best seafood dive that I've found in the 8 years of living here is called the ""The Fish House". Thee BEST gulf shrimp and fish yet! It looks like a shack on the side of the road on Shellpoint Rd going towards Little Harbor resort. Most of their food is fried but I guarantee you its super fresh and delicious! !!!!

Being from South Carolina originally, this is something I immediately noticed after I first moved down and it was very surprising.

Many places will offer a good Grouper sandwich, for example...but a whole menu of quality seafood at a decent price is hard to find. The ones that are good are more upscale. Back in South Carolina, you'd find seafood shacks all over the coastal areas with fantastic food at great prices in a really casual setting.

[JMatl]

Thanks, all!

[gypsychic]

Once upon a time you could find an abundance of little fish shacks with amazing seafood all over the Tampa Bay area. Most have disappeared, due to expensive real estate, and more importantly, overfished waters and the fact that most seafood is now sky-high. Therefore, the better seafood seems to be found at more upscale places.

At least where I live, (near Bradenton) there seems to be a few more choices - in the area of Cortez, it is still a working fisherman village, one of the few left in Florida, so you can get some really good and fresh seafood, but it won't be cheap. That doesnt exist anymore.

Frankly, I have found that Bonefish, which is a chain restaurant has some of the best and most reasonably priced seafood anywhere, and at a pretty good price point. I am sure some will disagree, but honestly, I have never had a bad experience the years I have been eating there, and I have eaten at several locations.

[JMatl]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

Once upon a time you could find an abundance of little fish shacks with amazing seafood all over the Tampa Bay area. Most have disappeared, due to expensive real estate, and more importantly, overfished waters and the fact that most seafood is now sky-high. Therefore, the better seafood seems to be found at more upscale places.

At least where I live, (near Bradenton) there seems to be a few more choices - in the area of Cortez, it is still a working fisherman village, one of the few left in Florida, so you can get some really good and fresh seafood, but it won't be cheap. That doesnt exist anymore.

Frankly, I have found that Bonefish, which is a chain restaurant has some of the best and most reasonably priced seafood anywhere, and at a pretty good price point. I am sure some will disagree, but honestly, I have never had a bad experience the years I have been eating there, and I have eaten at several locations.

Thanks so much, gypsychic. You are always so helpful and informative!

I agree regarding Bonefish. We have them in Atlanta, and they are good.

We're going to two great seafood places in Orlando & New Smyrna Beach before we head over to Tampa, so we've decided to completely change things up. My other half has never experienced upscale Cuban, so I've decided that the Columbia will be it. I love the place, and it just fits.

Thanks again everyone for the helpful and friendly advice and opinions.

[Danoz]

We have eaten at the Colonnade only once, mid last year. It is in a prime location, but it is dated and seems to be catering for local elderly. The food was average, but reasonably cheap considering its sits on Bay Shore. I would say that if you are after a nice meal, there are a lot of other options around the S MacDill and S Howard Avenue area (in no particular order):
- 717 South
- Piquant
- Copper Fish
- BT Restaurant
- Ceviche
- Bella's
- Boca

[Irishiis49]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

Once upon a time you could find an abundance of little fish shacks with amazing seafood all over the Tampa Bay area. Most have disappeared, due to expensive real estate, and more importantly, overfished waters and the fact that most seafood is now sky-high. Therefore, the better seafood seems to be found at more upscale places.

At least where I live, (near Bradenton) there seems to be a few more choices - in the area of Cortez, it is still a working fisherman village, one of the few left in Florida, so you can get some really good and fresh seafood, but it won't be cheap. That doesnt exist anymore.

Frankly, I have found that Bonefish, which is a chain restaurant has some of the best and most reasonably priced seafood anywhere, and at a pretty good price point. I am sure some will disagree, but honestly, I have never had a bad experience the years I have been eating there, and I have eaten at several locations.

I enjoy Bonefish and along with Carrabba's I have never had a bad meal there...How is Roy's in Tampa by the International Mall...we had a gift card from there but "re"gifted it because I really wasn't sure of the food? Has anyone on here been to Roy's? Good/bad...?

[AES328]

Why would you regift a card for a place you've never tried? That just seems odd to me.