Azure at EDITION — Restaurant in Tampa

I have waited to post a review until I had dined here more than once. I often find a business can have a one-off good or bad day, so I look for consistency as a main threshold as I sit in my glorious seat of judgment.

For the TL:DR peeps . . . I absolutely approve and recommend this restaurant. If you like the details, grab a coffee or a cocktail and read the full review below.

Review: Atmosphere: the whole hotel has a funky vibe. It is definitely has a young, business, hip, new money feel. However, I am in my 40s and do not feel too old to enjoy it.

From the valet to all staff you encounter to get to Azure on the 9th floor, every single one is polite and offer top-level service.

Azure: beautiful restaurant with amazing evening views and a fun ambiance. I have also stepped out for a quick skyline photo as well. The interior matches the Mediterranean feel they were shooting for. Comfortable chairs, even for people of larger sizes.

Service: the hostess would be my only word of caution to management. They do not seem to smile much. As your 1st greeting, it doesn't set the best tone. However, they are beautiful, polite and efficient, they are just not as friendly as other staff.

Bartenders: I have had cocktails made by Mike and Kyle and both were made well with a blended flavor that was balanced just right. The presentation is equally nice as well. I prefer the drink ideas they came up with over the menu's signature cocktails, which are really lacking in creativity.

Waitstaff: This has varied a bit. Not a single member of waitstaff has ever been rude or inefficient. However, some shine a bit brighter than others. I recently really enjoyed Bethany and Jordan, as both were helpful, polite, and efficient without being overly clingy.

Food: This is where light truly shines on Azure. The kitchen staff/chefs are amazing at what they produce. I wholeheartedly recommend the feta dip and get it with vegetables and pita as it is worth the cost. The shrimp saganaki is also amazing and I would happily take the pomodoro sauce home in a jar to eat weekly. Other dishes sampled were the chicken paillard, burger, ribeye, fries, pomegranate sorbet, booze infused sorbets, rice pudding arancini balls, and baklava. Now let me add that I commit a culinary sin and eat my steak well-done. I know . . . It's a travesty! That being said, a kitchen that can make an 18 ounce ribeye, not only well done, but do it flawlessly, maintaining moisture AND that you can cut with a butter knife . . . These are professionals who are proud of their craft. If I had a complaint, its that because this property is affiliated with a singular chef, there is no weekly chef special. I happen to like that concept and like when they tell you who created it such as the sous chef, or their line cook. It just adds a constant change and makes me want to come more frequently to see what the staff has been creating.

I have sent my personal regards to the chefs while there. I also want to compliment them here that in my visits, chefs Rudy, Julian, Ian, McKenna, Tonya, and Kyle have produced amazing food that represents their hotel and their art well. And I apologize if a name is spelled wrong here.

Price: if you are on a tight budget, this place it not for you. If you want to treat yourself, then this is an amazing choice in downtown Tampa along Channelside Dr.

Summary: A phenomenal restaurant in Tampa with staff that are easily ready to give you and your friends a culinary delight for the senses! 💯 ...

I had an absolutely atrocious experience at the Azure on Friday night. I am a local and have been to Azure at least 10 times since they’ve opened, and a friend asked me to go out for drinks as I’d been having a terribly stressful week. I made a reservation planning to just get drinks but was hungry and sat for dinner. We sat down and I ordered a normal espresso martini (which should be cheaper) rather than the $28 one on the menu. The waiter asked me what kind of vodka I wanted as he named off 5 different brands, and I said I’d prefer tequila, after which he didn’t asked which brand. One of the guests at my table mentioned how pricy the menu was and he recommended a glass of wine for her. After we ate our meal (which in my opinion was just okay) and received the check, I had a charge for $44 on my tab for ONE tequila espresso martini, as well as an item that was never brought to our table which our waiter had alerted us the chef would not be making for us. They literally charged me $25 for tequila in a drink. The manager came over and I alerted her first to the incorrect broccolini charge, to which she replied “do you want me to remove it?” Obviously, we never got the food. Then, as I brought up the drink price and relayed to her that I was never informed that there would be an upcharge, especially not such a DRASTIC upcharge, she continually told me “those are our prices” and “we don’t inform our guests of an upcharge because we don’t want them to feel uncomfortable.” To which I responded, “well I’m certainly uncomfortable now that I have a $44 charge on my tab.” This discourse went back and forth for 5 minutes, at one point I even said “you know the entire bottle of casamigos costs less than $44” and she just said “well those are our prices.” Finally it came does to, “sorry, I can’t do anything for you, but I can remove the broccolini for you”, like she was doing a favor, and I responded, “but you’re not sorry, or you’d discount the drink.” She was extremely rude, and had all of the power to even remove $10 from the drink price, which I asked for, and didn’t. After this experience, I have no desire to spend money here again. It was deplorable and I definitely plan to call the hotel. This all could have been solved easily by saying “I’m sorry we didn’t inform you, it’s not our usual policy, but we can remove $10 from the drink as you are clearly upset.”

Our waiter was great and with the sales pitches should be on Wall Street, which is part of the problem. I ordered the cheesecake and absolutely hated it, paid for it anyway. Beet hummus was not good, dolmas were great, mussels were okay. My friends both ordered broccolini and neither were served it, we were told one order was due to selling out and the other was because the chef “just wasn’t going to make it.” All in all I was unimpressed with my food and the experience with the tab made my already stressful...

I recently had the misfortune of dining at Azure at Edition Tampa and I must say, it was a truly disappointing experience filled with unpleasant surprises. From the moment we arrived, it became apparent that this establishment fell short in multiple aspects, leaving a sour taste in our mouths.

Firstly, let me address the issue with the host, who demonstrated a level of rudeness that was completely uncalled for. Our original reservation was made for a party of 10, but due to unforeseen circumstances, we arrived with only 7 people. The host immediately confronted us, insisting that we pay an additional $25 per person for the absent guests. To make matters worse, this charge was never mentioned during the booking process, leaving us feeling deceived and taken advantage of. The lack of transparency and the hostile attitude displayed by the host were utterly unacceptable.

Second, our waitress made a derogatory comment about our group's order, suggesting that we were being cheap by "ordering light" for our party size. This type of condescending remark was completely uncalled for and highly unprofessional. It created an uncomfortable and unwelcoming atmosphere, making us feel judged and unworthy as customers. Such remarks have no place in a restaurant setting and only serve to drive away patrons.

Unfortunately, the negative experiences did not end there. The food itself failed to meet even the most basic expectations. The Branzino I ordered was excessively salty, leaving me struggling to taste any other flavors or enjoy the dish. It was an overwhelming assault of salt that overshadowed any potential for a pleasurable dining experience.

Adding to the disappointment, the octopus dish I tried was disappointingly rubbery and lacked the tenderness and succulence that should accompany well-prepared octopus. The dish was a far cry from what one would expect, and it only added to the growing list of culinary letdowns.

In addition to the unprofessional service and subpar food, we encountered a billing discrepancy that further tarnished our impression of Azure. Despite not ordering double drinks, we were shocked to find that we were charged for doubles on our bill. It was a clear case of erroneous billing, and it left us feeling cheated and taken advantage of. Such an oversight raises questions about the integrity and transparency of the establishment.

In light of these experiences, I cannot recommend Azure to anyone seeking a pleasant dining experience. The unprofessional and condescending remarks from the waitress, coupled with the disappointingly salty Branzino and rubbery octopus, created an overall unpleasant atmosphere. I urge potential diners to explore other establishments that prioritize professionalism, quality, and a welcoming...