Mangroves

For $100 a New Years ticket I was a little hesitant with the money I had spent over the holidays, but a large group got together and wanted to do something nice to end this horrible year. Mangroves was worth every penny and more. We walked in had a great table and couches reserved for us the entire night. The servers were passing DELICIOUS appetizers and they had food stations, a full bar for 5 hours and breakfast. The music was awesome, Sam the bartender was super hospitable and gave us outstanding service, the energy was great, a very nice looking crowd and it was not as packed as the weekends; you could actually walk to the bathroom. The night ended with breakfast and a long wait for a cab, but they let us sit inside until it arrived. This was a first class event. I am looking forward to going back for dinner the food was from all spectrums and was just so good.

Fantastic atmosphere. Its a very classy place with great drinks and very popular. The patio is great on a nice night if you can get a spot...

I can not stop thinking about the truffled beef tartar on bread crisps. Just so damn good. All the food was really nice. I just can not get his appetizer out of my mind. The sushi rolls are huge, I could not finish my meal. Sit in the white room ask for Jason and eat the tartar....get a double order you will be in heaven

Good food, better drinks. Lovely inside bar with a very small but quaint patio. Not too clubby. Nice spot to end the night with. Oh no short...

Wow....great food, good service, big portions, 2 can split an entree. Sushi Rolls were some of the best I have ever had.

This was our second Valentines Day Dinner at Mangroves and it was fantastic. 4 courses with such wonderful choices in each course. My husband and I each had a different appetizer so we could share, so we had the crab cake and the shrimp in the pastry with an amazing truffled cream sauce. We did the same for the second course having the soup and the salad. The lobster bisque was so good we wanted more and the waitress gave us a second bowl. For dinner I had the huge Alaskan crab legs with the scallops and my husband had a strip steak with shrimp, both meals were very good and cooked perfectly. We should not have had the second soup, we ended up taking food home. The dessert for two was a warm torte with chocolate oozing out of the center with chocolate covered strawberries. The whole meal and service was just an overall great experience, especailly with a set Valentine Menu on such a busy day.

I absolutley love Mangroves. Iv'e been there twice for New Years Eve and it's a perfect pick to start your New Year off right. They go out of their way to make it a special evening while still having the full menu at regular price. Mangroves single handedly changed my opinion of the restaurant-by-evening, club-by-night concept. The cuisine is nearly unmatched in Tampa Bay, they take great care in their service and the ambience is lovely.

While staying at the Marriott Waterside Hotel during a recent business trip to Tampa, I knew that our small group wanted to try dining at one of the local restaurant that specialized in unique offerings of fresh seafood but had no idea where to go. Thankfully, after spending a half of an hour schlepping through the Yellow pages endless offerings of ?fried? or ?all you can eat? seafood restaurants; I asked the hotel concierge for his suggestion and was recommended Mangroves located down in the SOHO district of Hyde Park. As New Yorkers we were intrigued as to what the ?SOHO district of Hyde Park? in Tampa offered and decided to give it a try. On a side note, although I did not know it at the time, but this would prove to be the best dining experience during my stay in Tampa. After catching a cab to the restaurant, we made our way inside and after a few moments of taking in the exquisite decor, I immediately knew that I was in the right spot. This place is classy. Once we were seated... Read more

Dave and Mario are not only two of the best bartenders in town, the are SUPER HOT!!!! Go check them out ladies ( and some gents)!! You will not be disappointed with their superb service or hottness, no joke!! They have an amazing martini list, one of my favorites is the dirty margarita martini. The food is great too. I went for Valentines day and had Alaskan King Crab legs and Sea Bass-DELICIOUS !!!!! This is a great place to bring a date, it is very romantic for dinner, and at night there is a great looking crowd. I have also celebrated birthdays there, and it has always been a blast!!

I planned my best friend's 40th birthday upstairs and it was perfect. The owner and manager helped me plan the party and helped me select the food and how to set it up. It looked beautiful the food was delicious, I got so many compliments on the food and service. The birthday girl was surprised and had a wonderful time. Thank you Mangroves!

Made reservations for my anniversary, and our experience was fantastic from the momenet we arrived to the end of the night with drinks outside. Dave our server, knew it was our anniversay and gave us some champagne with raspberries. Kara loved that. Our service was exceptional and the food out of this world. Started with crab cakes and short ribs. Dinner we had snapper and lamb both great. I will continue to come back.

I must say it is impressive when you waiter tells you that they are sorry that they are out of tuna because when it was delivered the chef refused it because it was not up to his standerd grade. I was disappointed that I could not eat any tuna but it also reassured me that Mangroves does only cook you top quality food. My very frienly waiter talked me in to the sushi roll of the day for our appetizer with the gag grouper?...melt in my mouth amazing, best roll I have ever eaten. For our dinner we had the snapper and the fish of the day once again the gag grouper? I could not get enough of this fresh fish that the waiter said just was caught the day before. The sauce was so good, rosemary and basil oil. My boyfriend really enjoyed the chimichuri? snapper too. The restaurant and bar has a very warm feeling nice colors and beautifully designed, very chic!

Me and 5 of my friends came down from NY last Friday. We had mistakenly made dinner reservations for Saturday night. I call the resturant early Friday hopping I can change my reservation to Friday. I spoke to Tony and he quickly said, just tell me what you want and I'll make it happen. Tony then asked if we would you be staying for late night. I told him I did'nt know that mangroves turned intoo a late night club. He assured me that it was the hottest spot to be on a Friday and Saturday. Being we had never been to manrgoves I decided to take his word, and asked if he would be waitng on us, his response was if you ask me to. When we arrive (late) Joey the manager showed us to our VIP table set us up with our menu's for late night food. Tony shortly followed and instead of acting like a waiter, he sat right down like he was part of our party. Little did we know the night Tony had instore for us. We ordred a bottle of Goose and ton's of awsome food. Tony not only brought our food quickly ... Read more

The new Mangroves is ultra cool, & very stlyish. The food is delicious, the service was ok, our server did what he had to do to get by. When we arrived our party of 4 was seated in a large booth that was very cozy. We were starving and wanted to order right away and our server just seemed to take his time getting our drinks & apps first. It was a longer experience than we anticipated, we saw tables after us get their food first. I can only assume our server did not put the order in right away or forgot to. He was just slow. The manger must have noticed that we were looking around and asked us how we were doing. He was very nice and bought us a bottle of wine when we told him our server was not on his game. When the food arrived the plates looked like a piece of art. We ate the scallops, tuna sear, crab cakes & spinach salad for the first couse all perfect. The second course we ordered filet, ribeye, snapper and chicken all delicious as well. The lobster ravioli with the r... Read more

Mangroves is just brilliant, the food is picture perfect and is so tasty. We had a lovely British waiter that was so helpful in helping us make our choices, we felt at home. We dined upstairs at a nice table overlooking the beautiful glass colored bar. For starters we had the ceviche & the spinach salad, both were divine. We ate the ribeye with the bone in, it had so much flavor and was cooked to perfection and the salmon for our main course. For dessert we skipped the sweets and had the imported fruit and cheese platter which was far too large, we only snacked on it but was a wonderful selection. The martinis were fab as well.

i read the article on mangroves yesterday, i had never even heard of mangroves before, but the photos were so beautiful that it made me want to see the rest of the place. my friend and i went for dinner, the article did not do this place justice. i was stunned when i walked in with how beautiful it was. we sat in a big private booth that would be perfect for a romatic date and ate a great meal of seabass & ahi. we saved room for the twix dessert, the chef suggested it when he came by the table...i know i must have gained 5 pounds with that alone.....it was soooo good!!! i loved it so much that I made reservations for mothers day before i left.

I just love going to Mangroves, it is a place very colse to my heart. Not only is the restaurant absolutly beautiful but the food is delicious and the staff is always friendly. I had my sit down rehearsal dinner for 80 several years ago and my baby showers here. My friends and family raved about the food and the service. I have owned a hair salon in South Tampa for 16 years and have referred many clients and friends to Mangroves for events and dinner and I will continue to do so....Tracy Amos

We were starving and stooped into Mangroves for the first time in many years. They remodeled and it is beautiful, I loved the feel. They w...

Yes, Mangroves has been open for 12yrs, BUT it's not the first time they have received complaints on service, management and even the owners wife or the owner herself! I've been a patron of Mangroves since the depressing blue decor and the horrible food days! I've seen many reviews in the paper over the years, some good and some bad! One thing is for sure, if they didn't have the "hook up" for the late night, the beautiful restaurant would probably never survive! So a little advice for the friendly staff of Mangroves, if your gonna be a night club then due so, but if you wanna be restaurant take notes from Bern's and learn how to run your business in a professional manner! There is never a need for insulting a guest ,weather they are right or wrong! You should be a better person and never had let the situatiuon boil to the point that it did! Maybe a management training program would be sufficiant and just maybe you can get the "owners wife" to attend! Remeber, a team is only as good as... Read more

as an employee of mangroves I feel the need to add my 2 cents.. I was working the night of this wedding reception and feel the young ladies comments aren't accurate. I understand that wedding receptions can get rowdy but consideration has to be given to the other guests. the women this lady referred to is the owner, not the owners wife , and has an obligation to make the dining experience of her guests a pleasant one. this party was loud and obnoxious and was yelling obscenities to where every person in the building heard it. of coarse the owner is going to ask you to quiet down. this young lady and her party were asked politely several times before they were asked to leave. I think had the owner known what this party had in mind, she would've never booked it. I think also the party should've considered a more appropriate location. like maybe what the other gentleman said. skippers. she did buy the entire restaurant a bottle of wine for their inconvienence. the owner also never was ru... Read more

i went to mangroves for the first time this past saturday. ive heard so much about the food and wanted to try it out. i must say that it was one of the best meals ive ever had. i had the filet and my wife had the seabass and both were perfect. we had a glass of wine with dinner and an after dinner martini which was also perfect. towards the end of our evening there were some loud kids upstairs that were be extemely loud and vulger, which as a parent i didnt appreciate. by the looks of these people they shouldve went to skippers. the owner was quick to ask them to leave and after some drunken banter from the unruley guests, they left. after the squabble, the owner personally went to every table and aplogized for the disturbance and bought every table a bottle of wine. she was absolutely a class act and me and my family appreciate the service and i recommend mangroves to everyone!!

Well, I booked my wedding reception @ Mangrove's South Tampa location. I had dinner and open bar upstairs 5-9. Everyone was there by the time my hubby and I arrived. Then the food was served about 6:20. About 7:15 I was ready to throw my bouquet; the owners wife, the manager on duty told me I wasn't allowed to throw the bouquet, and she didn't want my garter thrown either. The crowd was getting too noisy, and we needed to tone things down. Well, after reminding her that this was a WEDDING RECEPTION, with more than 60 invitations, which not all showed up, you should expect some noise. Anyhow, about 30 minutes later, the manager comes over to us again and tells us we are being out of control, and on the virge of kicking us out on my wedding day. My husband comes to the rescue and has the idea of moving the now smaller party outside- we need to say bye to our guests and end the evening calmly and not be thrown out- she agreed but then........here is the worst ever...........the manager...... Read more

Our eating experience at Mangroves Northdale was delightful and the service exceptional. The atmosphere is very calming and the decor is pleasing to the eye. Our favorite appetizers were the beef short ribs as well as the brie. Our dinner selections were also delicious. I chose the seabass which is one of the most delightful, mouth pleasing dishes I have ever eaten. My husband had the blackened ribeye and the flavor was good. He felt that it was slightly overcooked. The server offered to have it replaced but it wasn't that much overcooked. Overall we would highly recommend Mangroves Northdale. If our service was this good when they are so new, we can expect nothing but perfection in the future.

SERVICE HORRIBLE!!!! FOOD NO FLAVOR!!!!! DRINKS AVERAGE!!!!MANAGEMENT GET A CLUE!!!!! WE WILL NEVER RETURN WILL ALSO SPREAD THE WORD T EVERYONE IN NORTHDALE HOW RUDE YOU PEOPLE ARE

I love coming hear for the appetizer and bottle of wine. the music is great on Friday nights if you want to stay for the bar scene.

I just had an amazing dinner at Mangroves Northdale!! I had been waiting anxiously for the restaurant to open since I live in Carrollwood and I am surrounded by all the corporate restaurant chains. I was very impressed how beautifully decorated and sophisticated it looked! Very classy-especially with all the candles everywhere you look. It was so hard to choose from the menu b/c everything sounded amazing. My girlfriends and I shared some appetizers...loved the tuna tartare, brie and crab cakes!!! For my entree I had the seabass which melted in my mouth and my friends had the chicken roulade , scallops and steak which all were yummy as well! We were in a booth which was so cool, we couldn't believe that we hung out for 4 hrs!! Definately plan on coming back as my new hangout-no longer need to drive to south tampa to feel like I am in the suburbs.

burger server better meat than this place. hey chef learn how to cook a steak to a prpoer temo. on a scale of 1 to 10 i would give mangroves a -2

This was my first time here & I came with 6 friends to celebrate my birthday. They arranged for us to be in this private room with curtains. We ate several appetizers and lots of martinis. The staff was great, we all had seperate checks, birthday cake, & they even helped me to the car with my gifts. Dave our main server went beyond the call of duty... This is a fun place with a good vibe & nice food.

Mangroves is upsaclae but not fine dining, or stuffy. My husband & I enjoyed the large selection of seafood and settled on the seabass & snapper. The plates looked like art & tasted delicious. The restaurant was very busy & took just a little longer than we anticipated. The manager explained everything was made to order and bought us a round of drinks. I was really impressed because it was not that long of a wait, and I did not expect anything. This has never happened to me before so Iam writing in gratitiude. I will reccommend!

My wife and I were expecting to have a great night out. I guess we should of choosen another place to make that happen!!! The atomsphere at Mangroves is okay. However, that about all, the food, was awful, service slow, and the manager was rude. I will never waste another minute of my time or another penny dining at this overrated establishment. For any one that is plan to dine at Mangroves, Dont!!!Save you money you would have a better time and meal at Burger King

The food is excellent, especially the sea bass! The service is impecable, they have a way of making you feel special every time. Great atmosphere, I want to have a party in the upstairs room!

I have never had so many eyes on me...and not because I am attractive or anything, but because there was a plethora of eligible men...sharks, really...looking for an available date. The bar itself is pretty cool, and I would definitely recommend going with a fun group of girlfriends to get into, ahem, trouble...(but still be good!)

The entire night was perfect with a great tasting meal and sevice. We stayed after dinner and could not believe how packed it was on Friday night. Nice crowd...especially seeing some of the Yankee players upstairs.

Our group ate great tasting food, we enjoyed the trendy environment, and had outstanding service. We will come again next year when we come back to Tampa. Blake Garnjer

My husband and I went to Mangroves for our anniversary. We sat up stairs and the lighting and decor really made us feel relaxed. The martinis were soooo good. Especially the chocolate one. The food was a bit on the cool side , but was very good. Our server had such an attitude, like she was belittling herself to wait on us. We left her a decent tip, but felt like leaving nothing. Her attitude kind of ruined what would have been a perfect evening. Oh and last but not least....the lit bar is beautiful.

I LOVE THIS PLACE! I have not been here in a while, and was shocked when we walked in. The entire place has been re-done, it's beautiful. A total New York or Chicago feel, hip , modern, and classy. The food is also out of this world, full of flavor with a unique twist. The filet melted in my mouth, it was so tender, I could have used a plastic knife to cut ino it. We had the crab cakes and ahi tuna sear app - also fabulous. Crystal

I've Been to the OTHER seafood restaurants in Tampa, not mentioning names; but there is no comparaion for the quality, quanity of various seafood dishes, and eclectic cuisine that Mangroves offers. The closest restaurant to this level is: Marks or Louies Oyster in Fort Lauderdale. I am a regular. Try the Crab Cakes & Tuna Mignon; It is to die for. lourdes

The Scene This has South Tampa written all over it. Expect to see your regular business-after-hours crowd, Hyde Park hipsters, yuppies and divorcees on the prowl. The Food Dinner is served late and the bar is open until the wee hours of the morning. The chef brings a flair for flavor and presentation to Mangroves' moderate list of appetizers and entrees. Seafood selections are uniquely Florida and Southern in style, including a combination fish dish served with a delicate vanilla and champagne sauce. Mole, the cocoa-based marinade often used in Central America, is used here for a steak sensation that'll have your taste buds hopping. Other creations include pork, chicken, and portobello fettuccini pasta.

The food is absolutely "exquisite", new-wave, and the sour apple martinis are the BEST in Tampa Bay!!! The service is impeccable. I always feel confident to send our clients there...knowing they will have a fabulous Dining experience~!!!

I can't wait to go back and try other dishes. The food is beyond fantastic, the decor is classy and swank, the drinks (martinis big, strong, & unique). After dinner we stayed at the bar listening to the awesome band. This place has it all.

I absolutely abhored our evening there. We went with a large party and was told our drinks would be free. We tried to place entree orders,they said no, wait until all appetizers are served. Then, we waited over an hour for our food, but it never came! By that time we were no longer hungry and decided to leave. The service was no way upscale! We left tips and they chased us out the door to say our drinks were no longer free and we had to pay in the parking lot! WOULD NEVER GO BACK HERE!!!!

The Crab Cakes were the best I have ever eaten, The flavor unique and sweet with a kick of spice. Dinner wehad the seabass, the salmon, and the lobster, all full of flavor and nice portion size.

Delicious food, great environment, friendly and out-going service, great value for price (large portins & fresh quality) I love this place and will be back.

This is the quintesential South Tampa restaurant/bar. The women all have had some form of surgery and the guys are looking to be sugar daddies. If you can get past this they do have some good food. The wait staff is a little rude at times but they are sure they are better than you since they are working at a restaurant in S. Tampa. Martinis are great but some are pricey. Its a fun place to go once in a while but you need a lot of silicone or saline to fit in.

The seabass melted in my mouth, it was like butter. Great food, unique environment, good service... One of the top 5 restaurants in Tampa. NY Yankee fan

Mangroves puts on the best New Years party in the Tampa Bay area. We had a wonderful dinner , stayed for the bar party and had a blast with the band. This is our third New Years at Mangroves and we will be back for #4.

We have eaten at "fine-dining" establishments all over the country (Trotter's, Aqua, The Mansion on Turtle Creek, Stars, Babbo, and several Ritz Carlton's, to name but a few) The chef and his staff at Mangroves present cuisine that rivals any of the big name chefs in other cities. The food is to die for and the atmosphere is very unique. Blue comes to mind (: This is definately going to become our regular dining spot.

With the over abundance of corporate restaurants on every given corner, it is refreshing, to say the least, to find a place as unique as Mangroves Seafood Bar and Grill. Here the cuisine under one of Tampa's top notch chef's, takes on a flare to rival some of the best places I have been to in Miami & L.A.. In addition the bartenders and servers were all very friendly and knowledgable. After dinner we returned to the bar and indulged in a couple of their signature Godiva Choclate martini's and enjoy one of Tampa's hottest trend setting night spots. Since then we have made Mangroves a regular destination on our evenings out. ** Be shure to remember to make reservations even on a week night. Seating is somewhat limited and often booked solid for the night.

What a wonderful experience I had with my co-workers at mangroves for dinner. The seafood was fresh and tasty. The atmosphere reminded me of the Big City, eclectic and one of a kind. This is a great place for fine dining or to eat at the bar by yourself, a very comfortable feel with a friendly staff.

The ambience was romantic and contemporary. A place for friends or a date. The crab cake appetizer was delicious. The presentation of the meal was fabulous but don't judge a book by its cover. The meal was such a let down. Being one of the signiture entrees, the seabass, the meal was room temperature if even and not worth finishing. The waitstaff is presumptuous and spoil the atmopshere by running up and down the stairway in the center of the restaurant.