Rusty Pelican

Had Father’s Day dinner with my son/​fiancée. Food was excellent, seafood, atmosphere. Gave it a 4 star only because drinks not as good as they should be. 3 different special drinks mojitos not very good.
I will come again, atmosphere is beautiful, parents should not bring screaming children here, it ruins atmosphere for everyone.

I come here every so often. I like that its close to my apt and its on the water.
Im here on some holidays. They have a huge buffet for them, so on big holidays I will feast out!
Their food is good! Caesar salad amazing! Love their crabcakes! Great fish tacos! Yummy warm bread and soft butter.
They are very pricey! Its an upscale type of restaurant so that is expected and it’s on the water. However, I still come in my gym clothes and sit at the bar to eat, but honestly, I can careless about what I look like. I still pay the same price as everyone else. Still spend money! Plus I will stop in, eat at bar, and leave. So dont feel you have to be dressed up because its fine dinning.
I give it 4 Stars because at Happy Hour time I will come in to eat food at Happy Hour prices. Well, the prices are cheaper on the crab-​cakes but they are beyond small. They cut the portions way down with price too. I Still spent $ 40 when I just got salad, crab-​cakes and 1 cocktail. And the serving sizes were small!
Its also very different looking in there. Old and country like. I really dont know what else to call it. Just so you know, its not a hangout place at all. Just a dinner experience. Or they hold events there, think they are big for that. Its huge in there. Plenty of parking too!
You should try them out, just as long as you go in knowing what to expect.
Hope my review helps you!

I went to a wedding here. I think it’s a little overrated. I would like to just have dinner by the water here, a private dinner and see if I change my rating.

So I came here Saturday night after a friend of the families small wedding. This place is really nice. Our server was great, very knowledgeable with the menu, although I do think she had a bit of a dry personality. I think this is a nice place for couples it’s very romantic inside. The food was good pricey, I think more should be on the plate. (That’s probably just my inner fat kid talking) LoL. The Parmesan risotto was absolutely delicious though (it’s a risotto 1^st for me.) also since I don’t drink I got a virgin key lime daiquiri let me say yummy. Overall good food nice environment inside. 4stars

Always love the Rusty Pelican for Sunday and holiday brunches… Caitlin was a wonderful server and took care of everything we asked for in a happy and professional manner! We will definitely be back!

This place seems to have it all: charm, romance, elegance. The atmosphere here is unlike any other place I’ve been. When you walk in, there’s a fireplace and a quaint sitting area with a piano like you’ve stepped right into someone’s personal foyer. Continue on to a perfectly sized bar along with the general restaurant seating all gazing upon the open waters of Tampa Bay. Beautiful.
The menu is not extensive, so don’t be prepared for a vast variety, but it’s just enough — offering seafood, pasta, salad, or {only} 2 steak choices.
I’m a steak and potatoes kinda girl and unfortunately they overlooked my «medium-​rare» to a «medium-​well» which is why I’m giving them 4 stars. My husband loved every bit of his food from the super fresh calamari appetizer to his shrimp pasta primavera.
My favorite: the flourless chocolate cake. Simply amazing (and gluten free too).

You have the budget? Then they have the food. Sunday’s buffet is awesome. Steak, sushi, crab legs, ham, egg, sausage, pork, vege, dessert, cake, free mimosa. I got so drunk walking out of there

Good service in beginning. Then the three tables by us got seated. And it got very noisy. Had a 10 dollar mai tai. Was not impressed. French onion soup was good. Two tiny crab cakes. Nice presentation.

I love coming here. The small plates are different each time and they are always delicious. I love the crab legs and the carving station. The bottomless mimosas are also great! Never disappointed when I come here

Lovely ambience and view! I had the lobster salad for lunch which was great. The crab cakes were not that good. Not a lot of big lump crab meat or spice to give it flavor. One of my least favorite crab cakes I have ever had. The day I went I also felt like the service was less than stellar. I didn’t get the level of service and attention I would except from a higher end establishment. Overall I enjoyed the view and salad, but I would have to think twice about coming back here.

My husband and I wanted a pleasant, upscale dinner in Tampa for our only evening here. Rusty Pelican filled the bill with most attentive service from Don, and delicious food. The view, immediately over the water, was knock your socks off beautiful. We saw a dolphin and lots of fish jumping up. They provided the action for sunset colors and the long bridge lights in the distance beyond the immediate Bay waters.
My dinner consisted of a dozen clams on the half-​shell and artichokes crisps, I.e. Deliciously breaded and fried, complemented by a tasty sauce. My husband had the cioppino, a medley of lobster, shrimp, mussels, clams in a herb sauce, topped by a little pyramid of toast. We split a key lime pie, delightfully tart.
In short, every aspect of the Rusty Pelican exceeded our expectations, the ambience, food and service.

We met some friends from out of town here. They wanted seafood and based on the location and reviews, I suggested the Rusty Pelican as an option. I had not been here myself but wanted to try it. It rained all day so not much of a sunset, but still nice to sit by the window and see what little sunset there was. We were there on a Tuesday, so it was not too busy, which was nice. To me, this is the kind of restaurant that appeals to an older crowd. It is also kind of pricey for what you get.
Now for the food. It was good but not great. I got the flounder special with the risotto ($ 29). Large portions so I had enough for the next day. The fish was good, and also reheated well the next day, but I did have several bones in part of the fish I ate the next day. The cheesy risotto was also good and also, I think better the next day. If you want a salad or a veggie, it is separate. To be honest, I would rather have a salad or veggie choice and less of the starch included in the overall price of the meal. I know upscale steakhouses have everything a la carte, and I don’t really like it when we go there either, but at least with a big hunk of meat and family size sides it seems a little more acceptable.
My husband got the coconut shrimp and a Cesar salad for dinner. He let me try his shrimp and it was very good. The sauce was very limey, which I like. My friends got different grouper dishes with cauliflower as a side. The veggie looked really good. Their fish also looked good. Their daughter got a filet, and that also looked very good.
Our server was good, and he was very busy as there was a big group next to us. I think that may be why it took a while to get our dinner, but that was more of a kitchen reason than a server reason. Also, we were there visiting so I did not mind waiting a little longer than usual.
Overall, I would say it is a good restaurant, but like I said, I expect more for what we paid. A lot of the reviews mention the fabulous brunch. I would potentially come back to try that because I do love a good seafood brunch every now and then.

Located right on the water, this restaurant is a great spot to bring out-​of-​town guests. It was so fun to sit right next to the window and watch all the different birds fish for their breakfast. This review is for the Sunday brunch, as that’s the only meal I’ve eaten here.
I thought the buffet food was fine, and that the dessert station was excellent. I loved their idea of providing a one-​page food menu of small plate items that we could order from our table in addition to what was offered on the buffet. We had the Belgian waffles with bananas foster and whiskey butter off this menu, and they were outstanding.
The buffet had many of your basic breakfast items; eggs, bacon, potatoes, etc., plus an omelet station, a fajita station, and a carving station. The seafood area had crab legs, mussels, raw oysters, and shrimp, and was kept well stocked. There was also a small selection of sushi. Most of these items were good, although nothing was especially memorable, and I thought the selection was small compared to other local Sunday brunch buffets I’ve been to. The dessert station was my favorite, with plenty of options, and different items were added every time I walked by.
Unlimited champagne and mimosas are included in the cost, so make sure you get there close to 11 am to take full advantage of it. Service was friendly and speedy, and Jade did an outstanding job removing dirty plates and topping off mimosas.

I don’t really get how this place has such good reviews. My family and I went there for sunday brunch and while the food was okay… its 90pct seafood, very overpriced for what you get. The food wasn’t an better than say village inn (which i really like just when I’m paying double or more than that, i expect more than that).

My son from San Francisco picked this one out because it was on the water and my wife loves the sea. It was a fantastic afternoon, sitting besides the window overlooking the bay. The drinks were exceptional as well as the appetizers. Our main dish was of course fish. It was very good and enjoyed by all, especially by my wife who is suffering from dementia. We had much left over (the portions are rather large) which were boxed and presented in a «Rusty Pelican» shopping bag. All in all, this is a wonderful restaurant.

It’s a three star restaurant pretending to be 5 stars. The menu lacks creativity and the plates are artistically unimpressive. I think the best attribute is one that requires no brain: the view. Take the windows away and there is not a reason to ever go back. If the owners wanted to impress me, they could start by removing the decrepit raggedy wall paper in the bathroom and removing the rust stains under the urinals. There’s a difference between classic style and tired décor, and this place is the latter.

Complete rip off. 4 adults, 2 children for Sunday brunch cost $ 260. And for food that I could have gotten at my hotel for free.

I could not find a pelican there today. At least not the rusty pelican. But if I sit long enough and I will become one since the view is nice and make you feel relax and still. I can be one.
This water front property has the killer bay view for the people who dine there. I would said it has nice sunset view. Price range is at high side for the food. The interior is well decorated. The dinning hall has the bay view. They have ball room can easily fit 200 people with bay east view.
I was here for a society meeting. We was done in this ballroom that is beautiful for wedding. Our entrée is not in the regular menu. It is shell pasta with stuff cheese in side. It accompanied with green beans and carrots. The food is good.
The service is good and attentive. Overall the welcoming host and restaurant do a good job.

I give this place 5 stars because it’s incredible. The food is delicious, the view is perfect, and the service was outstanding. These are the reasons that The Rusty Pelican has been around since the 70’s. The Sunday brunch buffet had freshly shucked oysters, big Key West shrimp, snow crab clusters, different salads, pastas, a carving station, and lots of desserts. All that was in the buffet room and doesn’t even include what I ordered off of the brunch menu. Mimosas were free flowing and I’ll be honest, I tried to drink all of their champagne (sparkling wine). Back to the desserts — not only are they incredibly delicious but they are also small portions so you’re not forced into a giant slice of cake when all you really want is a few bites. That makes it a lot easier to try different items. A great Sunday for sure and I highly recommend going for the brunch.

Went for Christmas brunch. It was pricy but we thought we’d give it a try. Unlimited mimosa and Bloody Mary with your meal. Lots of basic buffet style breakfast foods. I really enjoyed the seafood: crab legs, shrimp, oysters, and sushi.
Tons of deserts. My favorite was the cobbler.
Tips: call ahead and request a table on the water. Beautiful view of the bay.

We made reservation for a Friday night. When we got there, we were one of 4 tables in the dining room. I guess there was a large group in one of their private dining rooms but when I asked our server, Barb, she even commented it was unusual. It is right after New Years & honestly most of Sand Key (where we were staying) was pretty dead.
So, we started with cocktails. I had a gin cooler which was quite tasty, nice cucumber garnish. Hubby had a mojito which was also good. Fresh warm bread came next. We were sad that it was so dark and really couldn’t take in the view but we were able to sit by the windows anyway. Talking with family, it used to be a dance hall «back in the day» and the place to be. I could see that. I order the beet stack which had arugula, goat cheese with golden & purple beets. Very good. Then my dinner were the stone crab claws and the hubs had a NY strip with the onion topping (onions in balsamic marinated over 24 hrs). It was really delicious. For dessert, I ordered the flourless chocolate cake with raspberry sauce. Very rich & decadent.
Lastly, I just wanted to note the piano player. Not only was he really good, he came around to each table taking requests. I loved this overall experience & even joined their members club where you can receive a free dinner on your birthday.

Very few restaurants on the waterfront actually have good food. Rusty Pelican does not disappoint! As you arrive through the front walkway with gorgeous Florida landscaping with an outdoor fireplace you feel the lovely atmosphere that awaits you inside. You enter into a large hostess area with an indoor fireplace and a comfortable seating area should you need to wait for your table. The tables are spaced apart to allow for conversation. The waterside tables are on the water! The other tables are raised for a view.

We went there for my birthday celebration with my parents. We loved it. Plus how can you go wrong with all you can drink mimosas??? The best part of this breakfast buffet is the small plates. Not only do they have shrimp, crab legs, mussels, oysters, a carving station, and different salads, but they have small plates. These are excellent. Instead of different items being out on the buffet, you order certain items when wanted and its brought to your table. Today we had a chicken dish, blackened swordfish, lasagna and seafood dish. Everything was excellent plus it wasn’t getting cold on the buffet line and no one was breathing or touching it!
The deserts were nice and small. Perfect to be able to try a lot of different items. The bananas fosters was excellent. My husband who isn’t a huge fan of desserts even loved it. The mimosas started at 11am. We ended up doing mostly champagne by the end of the meal
The view can’t be beat. It’s almost like being on a cruise ship, looking out onto the water. Plus inside there is lots of wood and fireplaces, it’s easy to forget that you are in Florida. We will def be back for Sunday brunch. The value for what you get can’t be beat!

Very impressive Sunday Brunch!!! It was 6 of us and last minute decision…
Unlimited Champagne for starters… Let’s just reiterate bottomless champagne/​mimosas
Food Selection was incredible, piano player (flawless), ambiance great for all types of parties.
Will return again for sure! Bringing more people.
Amazing areas for picture ops too
Thanks for a wonderful staff especially Barbara (our server) she kept table clean, drinks full and any random requests were granted
Thanks to their fabulous service we will all surely return

The food was surprisingly good for a place with such a nice view.
I wanted stone crab and wanted to try a new restaurant. I love IC Sharks, but sometimes I want more attentive service. I also love Oystercatchers, but sometimes I don’t feel like paying $ 70 for a single (but huge) stone crab claw. At Rusty Pelican, my husband and I could each have half a pound of claws (which came out to 3 good sized claws) for the middle price of $ 48. Not a bad deal.
I also enjoyed the fried calamari and the grouper I had for my main course.
Dessert was utterly forgettable. I had the apple dumpling that the server recommended. It was a little too sweet, and the pastry was soggy.
Our server was very nice and quite attentive. The setting was definitely dated, and I commented to my husband that the Rusty Pelican is a popular wedding venue. The view certainly is nice, so go for it if you want an outdoor ceremony. But the indoor spaces are completely generic.

We planned to come to Tampa. We planned nothing else. By pure luck, and me fancying the name, we headed in. Valet parking is (tip only) complimentary. Take advantage, you are at the food and beverage spa!
Fire; you will see it here, not in tiki torches, like the name implies, but Count Rumford fireplaces at the entrance and in the lobby. Even on a windy night in tropical Florida they were beautiful and fun!
We came with no reservations and chose to eat at the bar. Anyone who travels alone knows you get great service at the bar. And we did. Cocktail menu was short, but well planned. The bartenders knew their stuff. De Sorona Sour and Gold Rush choices allowed them to show their talent. Tell them what ever you want and enjoy the panoramic view of the Bay.
I simply cannot EVER pass the opportunity to indulge in 28 day, dry aged steak. My eyes wanted my favorite; the rib-​eye, but We chose the 8 oz. filet. Still, we took half for breakfast — -hey, don’t judge!
Steaks were perfectly cooked in 1400 degrees! Perfect seer, perfect «done» –ness. Sides of potatoes done au gratin and scalloped and onion jam complimented the steak.
Meanwhile, this is an EVENT PALACE, with 5 rooms to book with catering! We watched as Staff serviced a wedding party with dishes. Wow, they have this down pat!
My recommendation if planning an event, consider them. If planning a dinner, reserve ahead. Or, take your chances like we did. You will be treated to drinks, food and a total ambience of service.

I would say that the Rusty pelican is not a five-​star «» restaurant however it certainly deserves the four stars that it should rightfully get. I Serta dinner with couple appetizers and my friend ordered salmon and I ordered he might he black and I thought it was extremely fresh. The resort was a nice creamy flavor and texture to it and the beets were superb. I would go back if I were in Tampa and wanted some exquisite seafood with a view. Yet for a cheaper meal of look elsewhere if I were a family dining.

While in town on business our group had a dinner here one night. After reading other reviews I was very excited to eat here. The food was okay, but not as good as I thought it would be. We had cheesecake for dessert. It was dry and tasted like cardboard. Not worth the calories.
The restaurant was beautiful and had a gorgeous view of the water. By far these two things were the best part of my visit.

I want to love this place, but really… it’s just OK.
I think the only appeal is the unlimited mimosas, other than that I wasn’t impressed with the selection. The setup could be better too. All the dishes were in one big room, but there was hardly any food or selection. Nothing really wow’d me, the setup and selection was kind of sad actually… Tampa really needs to step it up with their brunches. The scrambled eggs were good and so was the belgium waffle (which you order off the menu, but it’s not an extra cost).
I think people mainly come here for the crab legs and mimosas, so if that’s all you want, you will be happy. There were barely any lunch/​hot items as well. I think Vegas, Atlanta and DC brunch buffets spoiled me because this brunch was not impressive or that great. The only thing I got seconds of was the pasta salad and scrambled eggs. The desserts looked good, I ordered bananas foster from the menu. Also the dining room areas are a little dark and the place feels a little dated.
Summary: The service was good. The buffet cost is $ 35, but very limited selections. Menu options are a nice touch since buffet is so small. Nice views of the bay. Unlimited Mimosas is the best thing about this brunch.

Where to begin.
In my opinion the best Sunday brunch in Tampa. The food is excellent; make sure you try the tuna, that alone is the best menu item, very fresh.
Various buffet menu and a smaller taster menu which varies every week.
Unlimited mimosas is a definite plus.
But the best feature, the great wait staff. They provide excellent customer service. For example, one of the menu items was crème brule, which they ran out of and my friend really wanted. They made an extra just for her.
Definitely a must see if you want to show off a water view to out of towners.

Based on some reviews I was expecting a lot more WOW factor but our experience was pleasant overall.
We made reservations for a Sunday night and asked to be seated by the window to enjoy the spanning view of the water and sunset. We had a nice table at the end near the bar where the bartender was our server.
We started with the mozzarella tomato stack and mussels. Both were good but not fantastic. We were also served bread and butter which we dipped in the leftover broth from the mussels. For dinner I had the shrimp risotto which was by far the best thing we ordered here but still a tad too rich to eat all at once. It was delicious and rich with a buttery wine oil on top that separated from the risotto. Mister had the steak which he said was good but fatty and undercooked. Perhaps a tad overpriced as well.
Dessert options were tempting but since the rest of our meal had been just good and not great we decided to skip it here. We got some cheap local ice cream at Bo’s after our meal and even saw a family there who had been sitting a table away from us at the Pelican.
Overall we would maybe come back or recommend it as a beautiful spot with good food, but it wasn’t anything super special. They have a huge brunch that I might be tempted to try sometime but the price is staggering (although relative to what is offered).

I loveeeee going to Rusty Pelican. Of course the view is awesome… you can see the bay from pretty much any table so that is a plus! The food is always excellent and service is always top notch.
Seafood, pork, scallops… all very good. I normally go for dinner but went for a mother’s day brunch which was awesome… so much food and tons to select from! Valet is free and have never had an issue with parking.

The Quick: Go for the view alone. You are right on the water with gorgeous view of Palm trees, blue waves, and even actual pelicans!
The Details: In terms of food, the lobster mango salad was great, I would highly recommend. I also had a side of brussel sprouts which was prepared with a generous amount of bacon and olive oil (just the way I like it). My co-​worker ordered the grouper and wasn’t overly thrilled by his meal.
The Rusty Pelican was very good. There are better seafood restaurants in Tampa, however the tropical view and friendly staff are worth many repeat visits.