Ash — Restaurant in Tampa

I booked a reservation at Ash over a month in advance and had high hopes for this being our new spot in Tampa, and while the service and atmosphere are undeniably good, I found myself underwhelmed at the end of my meal. To give you some background I am the type of person who loves spending money on a good meal, and has no problem with expensive dinners when the food is worth the price. My thoughts on Ash below:

The Cons: 1.) The menu does not make sense or make it easy to order. It says dinner at the top, but the top is actually appetizer type dishes, with the order of the menu descending into full entrees with no clear distinctions. This is also a “shareable” type restaurant, but I had no idea until we went to order, and were told that we should get multiple items. In my usual experience, a family style/tapas style meal is larger than normal so it can easily be shared, but my husband and I felt like the portions were more appetizer sized, which for the prices, I would have expected a larger plate for two of us. Additionally, for being a family style restaurant, the ravioli was served by default in an odd number, and we had to pay $9 extra for us to each have two. Yes, you read that right, four raviolis total. To their credit, it was a good ravioli. But for $37 (base price including my one extra ravioli) I would have expected a bit more.

2.) Atmosphere is great, however this spot is a bit more cramped than we anticipated and the lighting is very fluorescent, which is maybe a personal issue, but I couldn’t sit in here without needing my glasses almost immediately. I was surprised to be seated in a booth along the window, given the price point and exclusivity of this restaurant.

3.) The food and drinks were good, no denying that. However, the price point to portion size did not add up for us. My husband and I are familiar with upcharges in Tampa and expected this to be a $200+ dinner, but we left feeling like this was not a $200 meal. For three drinks, four individual raviolis, two scallops cut up into six slices, and a bowl of pasta, we felt the pricing was a bit much. If the portions had been bigger, this would probably be a four star restaurant for me.

The Pros:

1. The service here is great, and you are waited on by multiple servers at once, not wanting for anything. Drinks and silverware were brought fresh throughout the meal and they had good recommendations. The waiter also explained the family style and menu to us, which had confused us a bit when we sat down. The service here is worthy of five stars.

2. The drinks were good, and came out fast. We never had to wait on refills for water or alcohol and enjoyed everything we ordered drink wise.s The spritz was really good and lasted me most of the meal. The pours are heavy and the drinks hold you over.

3. The style and layout of the restaurant are undeniably aesthetic and inviting, you can tell there was much attention to detail here and I enjoyed the space. I didn’t love the lighting, but that is likely a personal preference. I do think this place could be even better with warm lighting and a more intimate atmosphere.

Overall, I am giving three stars because the food was quite good, and the service was great, however the price point to portion ratio was what caught us off guard. I think this spot could be even better with an updated menu, (no change in menu items, but make the menu easier to follow and indicate the shareable platters) and slightly larger portion sizes. If you do decide to check it out, definitely try the wagyu bolognese as that was easily the best thing we tried. We look forward to trying this again in a few months when they have settled in more, for a new spot, this was pretty good and we...

UPDATE: We decided to take another chance on Ash for my wife's birthday on a Saturday night, and this time it was truly fantastic. A night and day difference from our last experience - they truly hit the mark on everything.

My wife's birthday was immediately acknowledged when we were greeted and after we took our seats, and Sonia (and the entire waitstaff) provided absolutely fabulous service; she was very knowledgeable and attentive.

We started with the asparagus (pictured) and although it might sound odd... it was the best asparagus we'd ever tasted. The smokiness, with a perfect cook and excellent texture difference between the pistachio gremolata and sunchoke fondue.

We missed the pasta last time but were glad we ordered both the mafalde and cavatelli - excellent chew on both pastas and very, very good flavors.

After we had the triple tail last time, it couldn't be missed, and it was again some really, really tasty fish. The buttery fish combo with the crispy skin is awesome. Highly recommend, especially if you haven't had it before.

Our drinks (the Jet Plane and the Glogi) were excellent accompaniments. Really great drinks at Ash all around, not to be missed if you enjoy cocktails.

If you hate dessert, get the Caramelia ‘Namelaka’, it's nothing short of the best combo of flavors and textures we've ever had in a dessert. Yes, that's two bests in one meal.

We were super happy Ash was able to deliver this time around and we really did have a lovely birthday meal. We're looking forward to another special occasion visit in the near future.

A three star experience across the board. My wife and I made reservations at Ash on a Tuesday night for our first wedding anniversary. We arrived around 7 PM (8 PM reservations but were running a bit early) and were seated promptly - they were easily able to adjust the table due to our time change and that was appreciated.

We ended up ordering four total cocktails ($20+ each), all of which were very good.

We also ordered an appetizer (Striped Bass crudo) and two entrees (the Scallops and Triple Tail) to share. The bass appetizer ($24) should’ve been sent back - while the fish itself was great, the dish was extremely over seasoned and oily. The blood orange was nowhere to be found, which would have cut through the oiliness.

The scallops ($40) were very good, but not excellent, and we got a portion of three. I’d have hoped for one more if you’re going to ask over $35. The Triple Tail ($38) was the absolute highlight of the meal and the kind of entree I’d expect at a fine dining establishment. Great portion, great taste, great price on that one.

However, the service was only okay, and for these prices I expect it to be exceptional. At no point did the waiter ever ask how the meal was… not once. And although I mentioned it was our one year wedding anniversary, that wasn’t even mentioned. After dropping $200+ I’d hope for at least an acknowledgement of the special occasion. We would have been honest had we been asked, but we likely won’t be...

I had the pleasure of visiting Ash to celebrate my birthday, and I must say, it was an extraordinary experience from start to finish. I was taken to this stunning restaurant as a delightful surprise, and it exceeded all my expectations.

The first thing that struck me was the ambiance. The restaurant is beautifully designed, exuding elegance and sophistication at every turn. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, with attention to detail evident in the soft lighting, plush couches, and tasteful decor. It truly set the stage for a memorable evening.

Our server, Susan, played a crucial role in enhancing our dining experience. She was excellent, offering insightful recommendations for both food and drinks. Her knowledge and enthusiasm for the menu were infectious, and she made us feel truly special throughout the evening. A particularly memorable gesture was when she presented me with a signed birthday card from the entire staff—a beautiful and thoughtful surprise that added a personal touch to the celebration.

For drinks, I indulged in the Brown Derby cocktail and the Highball. Both cocktails were expertly crafted, with a perfect balance of flavors that left a lasting impression. It's clear that the bartenders at Ash take great pride in their craft.

The culinary journey continued with an array of unique dishes. I savored the Fried Rabbit, a unique starter that set the tone for the meal. The pork chop tender but could’ve used some seasoning. The polenta cake was a delightful surprise, its texture and flavors harmonizing beautifully with the other dishes. To top it all off, the affogato which was okay and a good conclusion to a very unique culinary experience.

Overall, my birthday dinner at Ash was spectacular. The combination of the expertly crafted drinks, modern ambiance and exceptional service made it an evening to remember. Thank you, Ash, for making my birthday celebration...