Anchor and Brine — Restaurant in Tampa

We came for a birthday party and had a reservation. We arrived early to check in and let everyone arrive, and then our reservation (730) ended up not being ready till almost 8.

Our party of 12 ended up having 1 server (more on that shortly) who had multiple tables and seemed to also be working inside, even though this restaurant is outside seating only. This was not their fault, but not sure why there seemed to be a shortage of staff on a Saturday night.

But the service we did get was mediocre. Both from our server and the restaurant as a whole. To start, we were told that we could not split the check between couples or individuals. The checks could only be bunched into "sections". So our end of the table contained 5 people, who were all on one check, despite it being 3 different parties in that "section". I have literally never heard of this practice and our server said "ya you can get out a calculator and figure it out between yourselves", instead of being able to at least section it off or bunch it so we clearly knew who ordered what and who owed what.

When we ordered drinks, some things were not available. Our server was gone for long periods of time. People sat with empty drinks and waters frequently. Two people with us ordered a bottle of wine which was over $50. When it was presented to the table, it was a twist off cap wine and tasted cheap. We looked it up...$8 at Total Wine lol. Standard wine markup is 200-300% over retail.

The food took over an hour to come out, but I will say most people seemed pretty happy with the food. I had the ceviche and an order of the smoked crab soup.

Ceviche was completely pedestrian, and done many places better, for less. The smoked crab soup was very good though.

Long story short, first and last time dining here. Bar would be nice to come back to. And I will say, our server was very nice and helpful. I think many of the issues we had with service were related to the restaurant,...

Had to write a review, because this place is better than the 4.3 rating I see. I probably go to this restaurant more than any others. The food is always good to outstanding, and I’ve never had anything here I would not order again. Unlike many places, they update the menu regularly (seasonally?), and it is a true menu update and not “these are our seasonal specials”. Same thing for their cocktails, which can be disappointing if/when something that is stellar disappears (Cioppino, come back!).

The space is nice, and surprisingly tolerable in the middle of a Florida summer. One of the few places in Tampa that really is waterfront instead of “can see water”, and if you’re looking for something above sports bar or seafood shack, then Jackson’s is the only other option in the area. It is “upscale”, but not necessarily fancy or pretentious, so a place you could dress up (NOT in the summer though) and have a date night, or stop in for a regular weekday dinner/lunch.

No real notes on the service. It is good and never had a bad experience. I’ve seen a lot of the same staff over the years, so the people that work there know the menu and the area, and their recommendations have always been good.

Notable menu items for me are the mussels and the burger, both because most everything else will rotate out, and I haven’t found better than either around downtown.

Last I knew, valet parking at the Marriott was complimentary for an hour or two of going to one of the restaurants.

Wait times can vary considerably depending on season, weather, and if there’s a conference or something at the...

We found ourselves in a bit of a pinch this Christmas with last-minute dinner plans that fell through. Fortunately, we secured a reservation at Anchor and Brine. Knowing it was a busy holiday, we anticipated the bustling atmosphere and the potential for delays. However, what we didn't expect was to wait over an hour for our appetizers due to some unforeseen issues.

Initially, this was disappointing, but any frustration we felt quickly dissipated thanks to the outstanding service we received. Our server, Noah, truly went above and beyond. He was not only friendly and attentive but also incredibly accommodating, ensuring that we felt taken care of during our wait. The manager on staff also checked in on us, showing a commitment to exceptional hospitality that really impressed us.

Once the food arrived, it was clear that the wait was worth it. The meal was absolutely fantastic, and every dish demonstrated quality and care.

In the restaurant and service industry, things can occasionally go awry, but it’s how a restaurant responds that makes all the difference. Anchor and Brine turned what could have been a frustrating experience into a memorable one with their great staff and delicious food. We wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a delightful dining experience. Thank you, Anchor and Brine, for making our...