Taverna On The Bay — Restaurant in Saint Pete Beach

As a teenager on vacation after competing in the cheerleading worlds me and the group I was travelling with decided that this seemed like a good and well rated restaurant. As soon as we walked into the restaurant there were two hosts standing at the front desk. Both young girls, not much older than myself, sat there and decided they needed to spend some time continuing their own non work related conversation before even acknowledging that me and my group had arrived waiting to be seated. As soon as the first young girl with dark brown curly hair turned around she looked me up and down as I was wearing a casual outfit I’d worn out countless times and said “You cannot come in here looking like that” as she gestured towards my mid section and chest (a teenager not even 18 yrs old). I was wearing a halter/cut off top that showed maybe an inch or two of my stomach at most. I proceeded to ask her what was wrong with what I was wearing, she couldn’t even give me a reason. She just continued to gesture at me and mumbled a long line of indecipherable words. She didn’t even have a reason as to why my clothing was unsuitable for their restaurant, she simply said I needed something to “cover up”. At the end of the conversation she said it just wasn’t in their dress code. I COMPLETELY understand that restaurants may have dress codes and that casual wear might not always be accepted however, nothing I was wearing was inappropriate whatsoever, and no dress code was published on their website that I couldve known about before I had left resort. All that worker managed to do today was completly upset me and make me feel so uncomfortable in the middle of a public setting causing a scene. The way she said it was hurtful, disrespectful, and flat out unprofessional. No worker in customer service should ever speak to someone like that, coming from a minor who has worked in customer service for a while now. I hope nobody else has to experience that and I’m really upset that my day had to be abruptly interrupted by that worker. She offered to seat us outside, but ultimately we all decided that no resturant treating costumers like that deserved our business. After leaving we went to the first restaurant we saw that looked good and had a wonderful meal with excellent customer service. I’m very thankful that even despite that bad experience we got to still continue to enjoy our night elsewhere. Do not recommend...

Taverna on the Bay - A Mediterranean Delight

If you're looking for an exceptional Mediterranean dining experience, Taverna on the Bay should be at the top of your list. From the moment you step in, the ambiance sets the tone for a memorable evening, whether you're there for a casual meal or a special occasion. The atmosphere is inviting and chic, making it a great spot for date nights, celebrations, or even a relaxing happy hour.

Speaking of happy hour, it's undoubtedly one of the best around! The specialty drinks are fabulous—creative, delicious, and beautifully crafted. The presentation of both the drinks and the food is absolutely top-notch, making each dish and cocktail a feast for both the eyes and the palate.

To start, my friend and I shared a charcuterie board, which was a fantastic assortment of meats, cheeses, and accompaniments that set the perfect tone for the meal. For appetizers, I went with the octopus, and it was simply the best—perfectly cooked and bursting with flavor. For my main course, I had the lamb chops, cooked to a perfect medium-rare. They were tender, flavorful, and beautifully presented, making for a standout dish. To end the meal, I indulged in the palacinka, a light and delectable dessert that was the perfect sweet finish.

My friend ordered the tomahawk steak, which was cooked to absolute perfection. The portion was generous, and the flavors were outstanding, making it a highlight of the evening.

Finally, the service at Taverna on the Bay is nothing short of exceptional. The staff is attentive, friendly, and always ready to offer recommendations. They truly go above and beyond to make sure every guest feels welcome and well taken care of.

Whether you're dropping in for happy hour, a special celebration, or just to enjoy a great meal, Taverna on the Bay delivers on...

A tale of extremes...

We were seated with a beautiful view. Our waitress wasn't my favorite. She was not attentive at all, despite the location not being busy. She was very pushy about trying to get us to order more alcohol, but never asked about anything else.

My wife ordered the Tomahawk steak and bottled beer. That steak was an experience! Pricy but worth it. It was cooked beautifully with a gorgeous crisp crust. The mushrooms with it were buttery soft and divine. The tomatoes with it were also incredible: roasted with feta and balsamic and a real treat with beautiful texture as well as amazingly flavorful.

I ordered the angel hair marinara and white sangria. The sangria was didn't taste like it had ever seen fruit; more like they threw the ends of several different bottles of white in a bucket to be used up. The complementary bread was the best part of my meal, but I was disappointed it came with just sealed commodity butter cups. The pasta was appalling. The noodles themselves were cooked well, not mushy or overdone at all. Unfortunately the sauce itself was borderline inedible. Despite having zero protein, there was a THICK layer of oil that was separated from the sauce which gave it an unappetizing appearance. The flavor was equally unpleasant. It was so completely overwhelmed with garlic I couldn't really recognize any other flavor in it. Despite the fact I barely touched it, the waitress never asked anything about my experience, just badgered my wife trying to get her to order more beer.

Overall, there is no way I would...