Barterhouse Ybor — Restaurant in Tampa

So, here's the deal. This place has only been open for 2 months. I MIGHT give them another shot down the line. As a past GM of a major restaurant in a tourist market, I fully understand the struggles of getting your bearings. So most of my review is not based upon their relative newness.

Our server, for starters, was entirely too casual for this caliber of restaurant. The service was quite slow, not because of the bar or the kitchen, but because she was not very attentive. At several points, we asked for things like "Can we see the drink menu, please?" It took asking three times with several minutes between visits to get her to bring us one. When we had questions about her recommendations, she replied "everything." That's an Applebees answer. More on this in a bit.

There's a line from Family Guy where Peter tells Lois that the Godfather "insists upon itself." That's kind of how I felt here. The menu is small, which is totally fine. But their descriptors are pretentious and therefore difficult to tell exactly what the flavor profile is of what you will be eating or drinking. I hate to say it like this, but dumb it down a little. Or, have your servers educated enough about your menu that they can do it verbally. Ours could not elaborate on near anything. We asked what the sweetest alcoholic beverage they have is. "None of them are sweet but this one is the most fruit forward." So, we had one guest who only likes sweet drinks, is willing to pay your $12+ per cocktail, and you can't suggest ANYTHING to him? Hmmmm.

The overall feeling I got was "trying a little too hard but missing the mark slightly." Also, they have 6 entrees on their menu, I believe. One was a $70 steak! And out of the 6, they were out of 2 (unironically, not the $70 steak). If you only have 6 items, don't run out of 2 on a Saturday night. Again, new place. Learning to operate. I get it. But leaving a guest with only 4 options for dinner? And while we politely and light heartedly expressed our disappointment to our server, she did not once apologize. But she did say "Uhm, it's 9pm on a Saturday. What do you expect?" Well, to be honest, I don't expect that answer, number one. And number two, the place was busy and tables were still being sat and our reservation was for 830, so clearly you're ill-prepared.

I think if the server did a better job, we wouldn't have been so displeased. I understand all too well how a restaurant can struggle through dinner service. No manager came by either. We would have asked for one, but we weren't looking for any compensation. Just an acknowledgement.

Finally, the blue crab pasta dish I ate was pretty good. But had super crunchy bits in it that put me in mind of bits of shell. I am sure they were not. Mostly because there were so many. But probably not a good idea to include that in a crab dish. One other person ordered the same as me and said the same. Good flavor. Bad crunch. And the other two ordered the daily fish. Both were pleased with that. So, overall, the food was pretty good. I am sure it will only get better. But your staff needs a very swift and decisive redirect for what could easily be the highest end restaurant in Ybor, with...

We had gone to this place this past Thursday.

Service: Let me first start by appreciating our waitress who was such a sweetheart! Wonderful person all round! I had mentionned to her that it was my partners birthday and she came out with the Crème brûlée accompanied by a candle. At first I thought it was weird she didn’t credit the dessert from the bill but she later came out after she swiped our cards, deeply apologizing and recognizing that mistake. She instead gave us a round of shots on the house! She was splendid 🙌🏾.

Food:

Bacon wrapped dates- these were awesome! I will order them anytime I see it on the menu, and these were just as good! 5/5

Oysters- omg these were phenomenal. The vinaigrette that accompanied it was nice and tangy. 5/5

Chicken wings- very good and moist. The accompanying ranch sauce was good but didn’t taste too much like ranch. It was a nice twist with a few more spices and herbs in it. 4/5

Chicken liver paté- this, to me, was the least favourite dish. It was on a toasted white bread and had a funky taste. It’s probably the liver part. Wont order this next time. 2/5

Grouper fish- I don’t like white fish too much but this was definitely one to try! The cauliflour mash was amazing with the herb vinaigrette. Such flavour bursting in the mouth! 5/5

Crème brûlée- there was whiskey undertones to the Crème part. But I will say the custard was not rich enough. I love Crème brûlée and this was just an ok version. If they use vanilla beans (instead of extract) and higher fat in the custard, this could have been significantly better. Brûlée was...

My recent brunch outing at Barterhouse Ybor in Tampa, Florida, was truly outstanding. Our server, Sarah, provided attentive and warm service, which added to the overall enjoyment of our meal.

The star of our visit, without a doubt, was the brunch menu. I chose the Eggs Benedict, and it was a revelation. The poached eggs were cooked to perfection, and the hollandaise sauce was rich and velvety, gracefully coating the ham and English muffin like a culinary work of art. My dining companion selected the Avocado Toast, which was equally impressive. The creamy avocado was beautifully adorned with a medley of fresh toppings, creating a vibrant and flavorful dish.

Barterhouse Ybor excels in crafting a diverse brunch menu that caters to a wide range of tastes. Their offerings encompass both traditional breakfast classics and innovative dishes, all of which reflect the restaurant's commitment to using quality ingredients and showcasing their culinary creativity.

The restaurant's ambiance was stylish and inviting, providing a setting that was perfect for a relaxed and enjoyable brunch. Prices were reasonable, and the portion sizes were more than sufficient, ensuring a satisfying dining experience.

For those seeking an exceptional brunch experience in Tampa, Barterhouse Ybor is undoubtedly a top choice. If you have the pleasure of having Sarah as your server, you're in for an even more delightful dining experience. The brunch menu truly stands out and underscores the restaurant's dedication to delivering a memorable...