The Colonnade Restaurant

The food was just okay but the views are great! Our server was wonder and the fresh muffins that they bring to the table are delicious. Our table split the gator tail and onion ring appetizers and I had the seafood pasta, I wasn’t really impressed with any of it.

I am a South Tampa local. I’ve been coming to this restaurant since I was a little girl. Over the last 15 plus years this restaurant has sucked! I came back again (10 years since my last visit), to see if anything has changed, and it still sucks! They changed their fries, which suck, and they raised their prices while simultaneously lowering their quality of food. Don’t waste your money. The only people who go to this restaurant are the older retired people who clearly have no taste buds. Seriously, packed full of 65 and older individuals.
It’s really a shame because it’s a great location. They really need new management, a new menu and a better plan. They would be killing it at this location if they had great food and better service. Pull your head out of your ass, Colonade!

Worst restaurant ever!!! First of all, milk: WHAT ARE THOSE!!! Second, clam chowder: NASTY FREESTYLE!!! The salad was so SPICYYYYYYYYYYYYYY. I was too scared to try the onion rings, too risky. I think the milk was breaded. Fish tasted like nothing, I thought food was supposed to have flavor. The fries were descent, but fries should be good. The baby carrots were so buttered I thought it was a stick of butter! Don’t be fooled by how fancy it is, it’s NASTY!!! Shouldn’t the fish be good, it’s by the shore! The blueberry muffin had fake blueberries. When we got our plates, a French Fry was half eaten. I think the waiter or chef was having a feast in the kitchen. DON’T BE FOOLED. NASTYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!

Really the worst meal of the year. The view is not worth the upset stomach.

Way over priced for the food. The stone crabs were horrible. They had to of been frozen for a while. My husband and I left feeling sick.

I can say this is my all time Favorite now for 45 years. I’ve never had a questionable meal. It’s a wonderful old time restaurant, no tv’s, loud music just a calm, relaxing restaurant to enjoy a great meal. I love the fried oysters… enjoy

Sat down, had a super view, but it took forever to get the first entrée… the coconut shrimp came out warm (not hot) and wasn’t deveined. No sense staying, we asked for the check (trying to be nice) and that took forever too! This server was too worried about serving another group they forgot about us. We left and went somewhere else. Didn’t want to take a chance on anything else. :(

Ick. This place has GREAT potential — its location cannot be beat. Hopefully we hit it on an off day, but the food seemed like cafeteria food. Just BLAND. Nothing delicious… almost like everything was straight out of a box or can. The mini-​muffin basket was the best thing that they served.

The Colonnade is a tampa staple. It’s a pretty good seafood restaurant. There are better places, but they are way more expensive. I got the New England Clam Chowder and the Bayshore seafood pasta. The clam chowder is really good. I have had better but not in Tampa. The seafood pasta had shrimp, scallop, and crab. It was good, but you might have to add some salt. It’s usually a older crowd so I dont think they spice it that much. Overall it’s a good place.

Great food and view at a fantastic price! Had the conch chowder, ahi app and stone crab claws. Everything was perfect! 2 for 1 all day! Arrive was great also!

I ended up here on a Sunday night for a family dinner. Food was not bad, service was great and server very attentive even though he was clearly busy.
Management seemed to be lacking as the restaurant was out of many items, including multiple desserts, vegetables of the day, and a main entrée. The restaurant’s ambiance was also lacking, it could definitely use some updates as it was looking quite rundown. The location is beautiful and the menu is okay, but for a restaurant that is meant to be higher-​end dining, ambiance and appearance are essential.

Let me say this is an outstanding restaurant! WOW We had the crab claws! EXCELLENT ! Ben our waiter was outstanding… The soup was amazing! Right along with the buffalo shrimp and crab cake. I love this place. THE VIEW IS AMAZING ! Hats off to the chief! AMAZING This is a 5 star restaurant hands down.
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There on a Friday evening– my second trip in 9 months
The bam bam coconut shrimp appetizer was excellent– plenty (20+) of large sized and tasty
Grouper was fresh, excellent and the Caesar salad was perfect with plenty of garlic & not many croutons. The muffins were good and with them who needed dessert.
Sitting at the window seating looking at majesty of Tampa Bay at sunset was a delight. Excellent evening with friends. MY server Dennis was exceptional– there when he was needed.

This place is pretty good, location and views are awesome! Can never go wrong with the grouper! Servers good as well.

I echo almost everything Michelle M says below.
I wanted to like it.
I was the youngest person there.
I loved the view, but the food and service weren’t there for me.
I had the shrimp sampler platter. 3 fried, 2 coconut, 2 grilled, and 3 stuffed. OK, but not great at all. I enjoyed the potatoes on the side more, which is sad.

I don’t know what everyone is whining about.
Just had a lovely dinner at the Collonade.
It is old school, in a good way.
Tip-​good for groups.
Reasonable prices.
Blackened grouper sandwich was perfectly done. Fries were double fried yum.‘wifey’ salmon was good.
The mini muffin basket that comes instead of bread is SO good, I had three.
Fast and friendly service.
Real family atmosphere. Will come back.
Gorgeous view over the bay.

This is a Tampa landmark, but sadly the food is mediocre.
Located on beautiful Bayshore and boasting one of the best views in the area, this restaurant is past its prime. It’s sad because it could be a great restaurant, but it’s dated look and over priced mediocre food hold t back.
They offer BOGO draft beer so I ordered shock top-​it was flat.
For my meal, I had the blackened grouper sandwich. The fish quality was great, but they ruined it with WAAY too much seasoning. It was soooo salty that I had to rub it off my fish. And I wasn’t able to eat the bun because it was soaked in the seasoning. For my side, I chose the ceasar salad. Sake thing. Way too much dressing and it ruined the salad.
Would I return? No. There are much better food options in Tampa bay.

Yes, this restaurant could be a nursing home. Yes, it may feel like the place where old fisherman’s dreams come to die. Yes, you can find a walker parked within 8 feet of your table at any time. BUT, french fries. The Colonnade has some of the best fries this side of the county!
So what? You have to deal with the occasional waft of Aspercream. Deal with it. The shrimp salad sandwich will make you want to jump up and shake the crap out of your fellow diners. DON’T! They’re crazy old and you could kill them!

Salad dressing was watered down.
Waiter didn’t know menu,
Décor is mid 1960’s and needs upgrade.
Booths and tables dirty.
Dinner took long time (20 min.
Scallops in butter had little taste.
Not a place I would recommend!

Delicious food, unbeatable view, unique layout. Makes a nice quiet Sunday afternoon all the more delightful.
I had the conch chowder which was easy on the wallet (as is always a factor for me) and had the perfect amount of spices and seasonings, as well as BACON!!!
Others with me ordered a sashimi style dish and buffalo shrimp, which they also enjoyed, but I didn’t try.
As we had arrived there in the afternoon, and sat around long enough to talk, we welcomed in the dinner hour, where they brought over complimentary blueberry and cornbread muffins. Delightful! I ate every last one that I brought home with me.
As I’ve mentioned before, I no longer drink, and neither does my boyfriend, but he said the sangria can’t be beat and the other couple with us enjoyed a pitcher while they were there.
I am a big fan of Bayshore Boulevard, which is like the Tampa Bay version of Chicago’s Lake Shore Drive (I am a Chicago native!) — so I would definitely come back here for the view alone. Adding great food to that certainly takes the cake. It is a little out of my way and higher priced, which would not make the Colonnade my first choice. But my first time there is definitely not my last.