Prime Time Sports Grill — Restaurant in Florida

I've been a frequent visitor of Prime Time Sports Grill in Tampa for a number of years and I have never stopped to think about giving this place a proper review.

For starters, if you're looking for high-class, formal dress, fine dining, just do yourselves a favor and skip this review as you are not working class enough to enjoy the ambiance of this place. This is truly your ordinary, every day, hole-in-the-wall in a busy strip plaza on Dale Mabry Blvd in Tampa. At first glance, you might think to yourselves what are you about to get yourselves into, but keep walking towards the building and the main entrance (which is on the north side of the building). Through those doors you're about to be greeted by what I think is every restaurant owner's dream of what a sports bar should be like - big screen projection TVs, a fully stocked bar, games for the kids, Buzztime trivia to show off your cerebral prowess, and just good working class people who like to come in, have a drink, socialize, and really have a good time. Also, if shooting pool is your thing - there are pool tables in the back of the restaurant. The wait staff here is not anything fancy as they're working stiffs like the rest of us, but damn....they care about the service they give to their customers and will go out of their way to make you feel at home.

The food here ranges from burgers, salads, sandwiches, appetizers, chicken wings, and other sports bar type food. The beers are cold, but there's an assortment of fountain drinks for you non-drinking types. The decor of this place is just straight wood paneling all over the place. This place has everything for everybody, including you highbrow-type people who enjoy throwing money away at a petite filet mignon that can literally be consumed in one bite. But, enough of that - the food portions here are worth the price and the prices are affordable and the food is really good!

So, whether you're a local to the Tampa/Carrolwood area or you're just driving through - make an effort....no.....skip the chain restaurants or fine dining establishments in Tampa and cozy up to the bar at Primetime. The bartenders are friendly, the beer is cold, and the customers who call this place their regular watering hole are rather friendly. Just make sure you leave the tuxedos and gowns at home - shirt and shorts are required here. Stay...

This review is not from TM, but from my own experience. I am not writing for others. The business owner needs to take accountability for their rude behavior. They should have it handled it better. The only consistency about this bar that is has continued to lose good paying customers. The restaurant couldn't bother to apologize in their response back to me and still is accusatory which speaks volume!

👎GIVING ZERO STARSGrew up in Carollwood & Prime Time has always been a neighborhood staple. The last few times I have checked in, the "bar" service has poorly gone down hill. I hate writing negative reviews, but my last experience was so atrocious, shocking, and humiliating that I needed to express my horrible experience.

The owners [Denise] behavior was degrading & prejudice to myself and my family. I, the designated driver came after work to eat with them-only 1 person having a beer (ordered at the bar), everyone else had water or soda and we sat at a table. The owner was argumentative accusing us of hopping tables 4 times when we just arrived. Very rudely asked if we needing menus and refused to serve 1 of us with the water because they looked under the influence? She was judgemental jumped to conclusions without giving the customer an opportunity to even order. Her tone was abrasive and condescending; refused to serve us, literally grabbed the menus out of our physical hands, and the beer glass! (which could have been dangerous if that glass were to break). Denise told us to leave, followed us outside, even yelled when we were in our cars. Totally apalled by her attitude. I have never been asked to leave any business. I truly believe it was racially motivated and I will never step foot in there again. Another customer of a certain race also mentioned that she ran after them outside thinking they were not paying the tab. Thats profiling and not a good look for a business.

NEW & OLD CUSTOMERS PROCEED...

If I could give negative stars, I would. My experience with the owner was beyond anything I’ve ever encountered in a restaurant. From the moment we sat down, it was clear that customer service was the last thing on her mind. As soon as we moved tables for a better seating arrangement, she stormed over, chastising us aggressively, and then—unbelievably—kicked us out.

When I ordered a water, she refused to serve me anything else, immediately assuming I was intoxicated. Her tone was accusatory and condescending, all based on a judgment she made without cause. It felt discriminatory, and I honestly believe her actions stemmed from bias. The entire situation spiraled as she followed us to our car—not once, but twice—yelling at us to get off her property. It was surreal, like something out of The Twilight Zone.

Another customer mentioned she had been rude to them as well, so this behavior is clearly a pattern. After years of loyalty to this place, it’s disheartening to see it turn into such a hostile environment. Don’t waste your time or money here—they don’t deserve the business. There are plenty of other restaurants that value and respect their customers.

Update: I noticed a sudden surge of five-star reviews right after my negative one, all within a very short time. It seems highly unusual and makes me question the authenticity of these reviews. Just a heads-up to others who may rely on genuine feedback when choosing a place! Here’s a tip, Improve your service and you won’t have to rely on fake reviews to bring in...