Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant — Restaurant in Tampa

A Culinary Haven in Tampa: Where Reservations Are Optional and Wine Tasting Awaits

Rating: 5/5

Nestled in the heart of Tampa, this exceptional restaurant has captured our hearts and taste buds since the day we arrived. From the moment we step through its doors, we are enveloped in an extraordinary dining experience that keeps us coming back time and time again.

As pescatarians, we are delighted by the diverse range of meatless options available on the menu. Exploring these dishes has become a delightful adventure, with each one surpassing our expectations. The culinary creations presented to us never fail to impress, making it nearly impossible to choose just one favorite.

Our journey begins with the irresistible aroma of freshly baked bread, a delightful precursor to the culinary delights that await us. Admittedly, we find ourselves succumbing to the temptation of a second round more often than not. Among the standout dishes, the salmon with a side of creamy mashed potatoes drizzled with a tangy wasabi sauce never fails to leave our taste buds dancing with joy. Equally remarkable is the risotto, with its rich flavors and comforting texture. However, it's worth noting that every item on the menu is crafted with meticulous attention to detail and brimming with delectable flavors.

One aspect that sets this restaurant apart is the laid-back approach to reservations. Here, we don't stress about making reservations or worry about long wait times. In fact, we embrace the opportunity for a wait because it's the perfect excuse to indulge in some wine testing. Armed with our monthly wine tasting pass, we eagerly sample new wines, enhancing our knowledge and enriching our dining experience. It's a delightful way to pass the time and make each visit even more memorable.

The staff members at this establishment are extraordinary, effortlessly providing exceptional service that exceeds our expectations. From the moment we are greeted by the friendly and helpful hosts to the attentive care provided by the servers, every interaction leaves a lasting impression of warmth and hospitality.

Over the course of nearly two years, we have eagerly shared this culinary gem with countless friends, and without exception, their experiences have been nothing short of exceptional. It's a testament to the quality and consistency of this establishment that not a single complaint has been uttered. The combination of outstanding food, inviting ambiance, and impeccable service leaves a lasting impression on everyone who joins us for a meal.

In conclusion, this restaurant in Tampa is a culinary haven that continually captivates our senses. With its diverse range of delectable meatless options, inviting ambiance, expertly paired wines, and the freedom from reservations, it has earned its place as a favorite among locals and visitors alike. Whether you're seeking a memorable dining experience as a pescatarian, enjoy wine testing, or simply appreciate exceptional cuisine and remarkable hospitality, this establishment is sure to leave you satiated and longing for a...

wanted to share some feedback about my recent visit, as I’ve always considered your restaurant one of my favorites and was really looking forward to the experience.

Unfortunately, this visit ended up being disappointing and felt like a waste of $40+ for just me, no wine or alcohol . I eat gluten-free, so I understand that it may take a bit longer to prepare meals, and I appreciated that the gluten bread arrived hot — that was a nice start.

However, the chicken piccata (gluten-free) I ordered was extremely salty, overly soupy, and overloaded with capers. I love capers, but not sure if that was why the dish felt so overly salty. The dish tasted as if it had been poorly assembled, and though I was hungry and didn’t want to complain, The waiter did ask how was the meal and I was like OK but I lied because I didn’t want to make this experience any longer than it had to be. I could only eat about a quarter of it before asking for a box to take the rest home.

I had also ordered a crème brûlée to go, and when I checked the bag while waiting for the bill, I found it came in a small tin tart container and looked completely melted — more like custard soup than crème brûlée. It was disappointing to see something I was really looking forward to in that condition. I asked the server to remove it from my bill, which he kindly did. My question though is if you’re putting the crème brûlée in the bag to give to me, it was quite visible that it was soupy and not a regular firmed up crème brûlée so why would you even try to pass that off? That’s just really awful. I mean the berries really at the bottom of the panel almost it was really gross looking. I almost didn’t say anything but I’m like for $12. I’m not paying for that when it looks like that, and it’s in a tiny tin!

Adding to the frustration, I was seated at a booth that had visible crumbs on it. The person who sat me down didn’t acknowledge it or make an effort to wipe it clean — I ended up wiping the crumbs off myself. It wasn’t particularly busy at the time, which made it feel even more like an oversight.

This experience was especially disheartening because I hadn’t eaten out in over a year. I was supposed to meet a colleague, but when she couldn’t make it, I still chose to come because of the good experiences I’ve had in the past. Unfortunately, this visit just didn’t live up to that.

I hope this feedback is helpful, and that things improve — because I’ve always enjoyed your restaurant and would love to feel confident coming back...

Updated 1/19/23 This was our 2nd visit here. The 1st was a Saturday night in November and it was not a good experience. The tasting area was a mob scene and the waits were so long that we did not get to do a tasting before dinner. This visit was a Tuesday night with an earlier reservation (6PM) and we arrived around 5:15. We were optimistic because we actually found a parking spot out front and there were open spaces at the tasting bar. Sadly, on the January Variety tasting menu, they were out of 3 of the 8 wines. Our pourer told us that if they have a busy weekend, they frequently run out of some of the wines and aren't restocked until Wednesday.

Both of our visits here have been highlighted by excellent food and service. Unfortunately the acoustics of the tasting room and the dining room are not good and desperately need some sound deadening. The noise level in the dining room is just too loud to have an enjoyable dining experience. The wines here are ok, but only a few have been noteworthy and sadly don't justify the negatives. Consequently, I cancelled our wine club membership the next day.

A final note is that the Tampa location is the 3rd one that we have visited and we had much better experiences in Northern Virginia and Virginia Beach. My comments above are specifically about the Tampa location.

We have been to two other Cooper's Hawk restaurants, so we thought we knew what to expect. Sadly, this was a very different experience. The positives are that the food and service were very good and consistent with the other two locations. The negatives are poor parking and that there were so many people crowded into the tasting area and multiple rows deep. There was no organization to the crowd to try and ensure that people got to the tasting bar in the order they arrived. We stood waiting our turn but our table was ready before we ever got to taste wine. The noise level in this area was HORRENDOUS. The noise level in the dining room was marginally better than in the tasting room and was just not a pleasant experience for a nice dinner out. Our reservation was 6:30 on a Saturday night. We will never go back on a Saturday. For our next wine club pickup and dinner, we will try a weeknight and see if it is any better. If not, we will be cancelling our wine club membership and dining elsewhere. I gave 4 stars only because of the food and service. Ambiance, noise and crowds would...