If You Are Going to the Tampa Game...

[Aikmaniac]

FloridaRob, I always get the outside pork dinner at Jimbo's. They actually cut the meat off the ribs. Smother it in that warmed up BBQ sauce (the best around...even better than Sonny's sweet sauce). The meal has been consistently good for upwards of 10-15 years for me. Just ate there Friday night. Gotta love the pickles as well.


Best cuban sandwich is at Brocato's Sandwich Shop...about 20 minutes from the stadium, but right off the 275 freeway which takes you right to the stadium. More meat, fresh pork, and fresh cuban bread delivered throughout the day. Also, try the pork dinner plate while you're there.

EDIT: I keep adding to this post.

Thai Food - The Thailand Restaurant. Right off Gandy and Dale Mabry. About 15 minutes from the stadium. Get the Garlic Chicken...and please try the Nahb Sod (sp?) as an appetizer.

 

[noletime95]

Seafood: Salt Rock Grill or 4th Street Grill (Grouper Sandwich is the thing to order at 4th St).

BBQ: Lee Roy Selmon's is killer.

Be careful which bars you go to on Dale Mabry, LOL.

 

[FloridaRob]

Nope....totally disagree. Sonny's is decent BBQ and is reasonably priced against other fare. : It's better than Smokey Bones although the donuts for dessert at Smokey Bones are quite tasty.

I'm within driving distance of Tampa but the ticket prices are outlandish. I went to the Jax opener and to Miami last season but I'm gonna skip this one. Next year in the Jones-Mahal.

anybody that eats the BBq pork sandwhich at Sonnys and decides that is better than Smokey Bones needs help. I don't think BBQ is supposed to look grey and nasty looking. And if you like dry BBQ chicken, then Sonnys is your place.

 

[FloridaRob]

FloridaRob, I always get the outside pork dinner at Jimbo's. They actually cut the meat off the ribs. Smother it in that warmed up BBQ sauce (the best around...even better than Sonny's sweet sauce). The meal has been consistently good for upwards of 10-15 years for me. Just ate there Friday night. Gotta love the pickles as well.


Best cuban sandwich is at Brocato's Sandwich Shop...about 20 minutes from the stadium, but right off the 275 freeway which takes you right to the stadium. More meat, fresh pork, and fresh cuban bread delivered throughout the day. Also, try the pork dinner plate while you're there.

EDIT: I keep adding to this post.

Thai Food - The Thailand Restaurant. Right off Gandy and Dale Mabry. About 15 minutes from the stadium. Get the Garlic Chicken...and please try the Nahb Sod (sp?) as an appetizer.

Like I said I used to love the BBQ pork sandwhich at Jimbos. Maybe it is the Lakeland restaurant but it just is not as good as it used to be. The meat was fatty and chewy just not like they once were. Their hush puppies are pretty good tho. I may try them again this week. Maybe they have fixed
the problem. Anyway, you got me hungry.

 

[Quarterback Coach]

My buddy and I are flying in Saturday afternoon and flying our Monday morning. Any ideas on restaurants and bars?

Channelside and Ybor City

 

[coblue]

Close...head south to central NC for what BBQ started as and should be...pulled pork in seasoned vinegar sauce

Except Richmond, VA area pork bbq.

 

[InDakWeTrust]

I will be going, but no pregame meals for me, I have to work that morning and I am going to be getting some sleep before the game starts! Section 102 FTW!

 

[casmith07]

Send us a message,,,,and if you get the chance hit Shula's steakhouse...it's unbelievable...also, if you like Bar-B-Que you have Sonny's.

Ian (Dallas 22) and I will be heading to Clearwater and a place called Shephards which may be the nicest beach in Florida north of gthe keys and south of the panhandle...of course there is always Channelside (where the Panther cheerleaders got arrested and some "clubs" on Dale Mabry where women tend to dance...apparently foir money since I have never been to a place like that being the good Catholic boy I am...

Let us know!

lol..."it may be the nicest beach north of the keys, south of the panhandle, and if you're not in Boca Raton, or Miami Beach, or any of the other beaches."

just ribbin' ya man.

 

[FLcowboy]

You're talking beef, correct?

NO ONE can touch Memphis PORK BBQ.

I've not had Memphis pork BBQ, so I can't compare, but Carolina pork BBQ is pretty good.

 

[tomson75]

I'm flying down 6 deep on Friday night. We'll be staying until monday. This thread may come in handy. I'd be interested to hear more about the local seafood fare, and if there are any of those casino boats worth wasting some time in....

 

[Section446]

Sonny's is horrible BBQ in Texas.

 

[FloridaRob]

I'm flying down 6 deep on Friday night. We'll be staying until monday. This thread may come in handy. I'd be interested to hear more about the local seafood fare, and if there are any of those casino boats worth wasting some time in....

Tomson, There is a Landrys Seafood about 15 minutes west of the Stadium that is one of my favorites there. The Crawfish etoufee is just like my mother used to make.

in regard to the Casino boats, I don't think the boats are still going out. The last ones I knew about were out of Johns Pass, about 30 minutes from the Stadium but I heard it moved out.

The SEminole Hard Rock Casino has now opened up a full casino. Vegas Slots, Blackjack and a few other table games. They don;t have craps or roulette. Blackjack on the weekend have $25 minimum tables. Nothing less. During the week they have $15 dollar minimum.

They also have a poker room of no limit holdem with a max of $100 buy-in and blinds of $2-$5, $1-$2 or $5-$10. they also have single table tournaments every day.

The Hard Rock is about 10 minutes directly east of the Stadium on Hillsborough Ave.

 

[FloridaRob]

Sonny's is horrible BBQ in Texas.

Florida too!!!

 

[superpunk]

lmao @ everyone citing chain restaurants as the best place to find anything.

 

[superpunk]

I'm flying down 6 deep on Friday night. We'll be staying until monday. This thread may come in handy. I'd be interested to hear more about the local seafood fare, and if there are any of those casino boats worth wasting some time in....

Thanks for inviting me, ****stick.

 

[StanleySpadowski]

I'm flying down 6 deep on Friday night. We'll be staying until monday. This thread may come in handy. I'd be interested to hear more about the local seafood fare, and if there are any of those casino boats worth wasting some time in....

The casino boats are a waste.


My favorite seafood in the area is the grouper quesadilla at Sea Critters in Pass-a-Grille. 35 minutes from the stadium. The Conch Republic in the Redington Beach area is my wife's favorite as it's so cheesy-touristy that it's kind of cool plus the fish paste, conch fritters and scallop skewers are all first rate. It also has great magaritas.

If low key is your thing, the north beach at Ft. Desoto might be the nicest beach in North America, sand like talcum powder.

If you're looking for a little more excitement, Clearwater Beach is usually packed on the weekends or you could rent waverunners (usually $90-$100 an hour) at somewhere like John's Pass and take them out into the gulf.

There's a winery in Pasadena that uses everything but grapes that's worth stopping at just to get a bottle of HotSun tomato/jalapeno wine and there's a great little shack just up the road from there that has the most unbelievable smoked fish.

 

[tomson75]

Thanks FloridaRob, that's exactly the kind of info I need. It's my buddy's bachelor weekend (he's a Tampa fan), and I'm looking for things to keep us busy. Anyone know if there is any good charter fishing in the area? All ideas are wecome!

edit: good stuff SS. You guys are making my job alot easier...

 

[StanleySpadowski]

Tomson, There is a Landrys Seafood about 15 minutes west of the Stadium that is one of my favorites there. The Crawfish etoufee is just like my mother used to make.

in regard to the Casino boats, I don't think the boats are still going out. The last ones I knew about were out of Johns Pass, about 30 minutes from the Stadium but I heard it moved out.

The SEminole Hard Rock Casino has now opened up a full casino. Vegas Slots, Blackjack and a few other table games. They don;t have craps or roulette. Blackjack on the weekend have $25 minimum tables. Nothing less. During the week they have $15 dollar minimum.

They also have a poker room of no limit holdem with a max of $100 buy-in and blinds of $2-$5, $1-$2 or $5-$10. they also have single table tournaments every day.

The Hard Rock is about 10 minutes directly east of the Stadium on Hillsborough Ave.

The casino boat was still running out of John's Pass when we were down in mid-August. We saw it when we had to sit on the bridge they've worked on for years. Does all road/bridge construction take that long?

 

[FloridaRob]

I have to say walking around the Hard Rock on a Saturday night is absolutely worth it even if you dont gamble. The women there are absoluetely gorgeous.

 

[FloridaRob]

The casino boat was still running out of John's Pass when we were down in mid-August. We saw it when we had to sit on the bridge they've worked on for years. Does all road/bridge construction take that long?

I know the black jack dealers from a few years ago that were on the boats are now working at the Hard Rock. Interesting about the boats still going out. I used to live on them about 10 yrs ago. They had the best poker games inthe area. And they made you go home after four hours of playing. the 1 hr 15 minute trip out and in were horrible.

edit: Tomson, I know they have Charter fishing out of Johns Pass. never went out but always saw them going out early in the morning when I was coming in from playing on the boats.