Green Iguana Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Tampa

Green Iguana Bar & Grill may be on the smaller side, but it delivers big when it comes to food, service, and atmosphere. The cozy setting enhances its welcoming charm without taking away from the overall experience. From the moment you arrive, you’re greeted with a well-kept establishment, friendly staff, and a great menu filled with bold flavors.

One of the standout dishes was the conch fritters, which were perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The balance between the mango-jalapeño sauce and the fritters was exceptional, adding a delicious mix of sweetness and heat. For the main course, I tried the bourbon bacon jam burger, which was extra juicy and packed with complementary flavors in every bite. Another standout was the Stinky Burger, seasoned with Caribbean spices that gave it a unique, flavorful kick while still keeping the patty incredibly juicy. The fries were another highlight—golden, crispy, and seasoned to perfection.

Green Iguana even has its own house-made citrus-based hot sauce, which was an absolute must-try. It added just the right amount of tangy heat to anything you wanted to spice up. The drinks were fresh, cold, and well-mixed, making for the perfect pairing with the hearty food.

Service was fantastic, with waiters and waitresses who were both attentive and friendly. They ensured that everything was to our liking, and even with a steady flow of customers, they remained prompt and professional. The restaurant caters to to-go orders, making it a convenient option if you're on the move.

In terms of layout, there’s more covered outdoor dining than indoor seating, but the setup is designed to mitigate the heat, which is a huge plus. Parking is ample, and there’s an overflow lot conveniently located across the street. The bathrooms were clean and well-stocked, showing that they take pride in maintaining a great environment.

Overall, Green Iguana Bar & Grill is a top-tier spot for burgers and brews, and I’ll definitely be returning to explore more of their menu. If you’re looking for a laid-back place with outstanding food, friendly service, and a relaxed atmosphere, this is a must-visit!

Pros:

Amazing food, especially the burgers and conch fritters

House-made citrus-based hot sauce with great flavor

Attentive and friendly service

Fresh, cold drinks and great beer selection

Clean and well-maintained environment, including restrooms

Plenty of parking, including an overflow lot

Covered outdoor seating with heat mitigation

Cons:

Limited indoor seating, which might be an issue during bad weather

Can get busy, so there may be a wait during peak times

If you’re a fan of great burgers, flavorful Caribbean-inspired dishes, and a fun, casual atmosphere, Green Iguana Bar & Grill is a...

I attended Tuesday Karaoke nights over a period of several weeks to again critique the experience as I attend many shows in Tampa and Pinellas. The service could be better concerning both the bar servers and the karaoke service.

The servers and staff were not very attentive even when trying to get their attention and lacked enthusiasm at times. Sometimes, they were selective in whom they waited on at the bar first or quickly .

The Rock After Dark (RAD) karaoke was OK at times and other times, not, on the several nights I attended. As it was when I attended their shows before at Green Iguana and several other Tampa venues.

As always, the KJ Jason is very genuine, nice, welcoming, and cordial. He always appears appreciative and happy to see regulars attend his shows and made me feel welcome each time when I first arrived. However, the show still could really benefit from a singer queue of at least showing the upcoming 5 plus singers, or it being regularly announced if preferred vs a queue and immediately moving on to the next singer instead of songs played in between. Patrons do want to know when they approximately will be singing next as it does impact our plans of the night and continued attendance at these shows . It was very frustrating and disappointing being told it would be about a hour until the next time singing and then after waiting over 90 minutes, it was near the end of the show and still, if and when, I was singing was not clear even when asked again. There is frequently much focus on one group or groups singing together repeatedly which takes away from variety in the show and impacts the rotation. The karaoke songs themselves at times were overwhelming with the background vocals too loud to the point, I did not feel I was singing, or that I could be heard. This also was inconsistent, varying by singer. I have had these experiences at several of their shows. Sometimes the rotations were fair and made sense, but many times they did not. This prompted me to again take a break from this show for a while and attend the other local shows in the neighborhood that are more consistent . Having the singer queue and setting clear, fair, consistent expectations and experiences along with the servers and staff being more inviting and attentive would make for a better night and repeat business. I have always enjoyed the live music nights. The local talent is always excellent and...

Very disappointed in my experience at Green Iguana today. The main reason I am ever reluctant to stop by Green Iguana is due to the cigarette smoke. My husband wanted a burger and Green Iguana has some of the best in the bay. Unfortunately, today, we had a very negative encounter which may result in the final visit. A woman sat at the end of the bar, near the table that we were sitting at on the patio, and smoked (in about 30 minutes) 6 cigarettes. We told the server that we were uncomfortable and asked the server to turn on the larger fans to help redirect the poisonous smoke from our area, but she recommended against it since the fans would produce cold air. So, we ate with cigarette smoke blowing in our faces. A large party with three children showed up during this time and sat near us. The children and mother immediately began to complain about the cigarette smoke but nothing was done about it. A member of my party asked the woman at the bar to stop smoking as the smell was horrible and explained that the two tables around her did not want to smell it. Her response was "Im at the bar, I can smoke and I was here before the kids." The bartender actually BACKED THE SMOKER UP by stating "Im sorry, this IS a bar, people should expect smoking." This is one of the few RESTAURANTS in Tampa Bay that enables people to smoke in the dining area (the patio) and (although) smoking isn't "technically" allowed beyond the glass door, people still walk in with cigarettes. I don't smoke, (never will) and I do not feel that anyone should have to encounter this nasty habit or breathe the chemically filled air that smokers produce ESPECIALLY IN A DINING SCENARIO. This restaurant is not a family friendly location. If you're looking for clean air - DO NOT GO TO GREEN IGUANA. Owners should consider the customers that they are losing as a result of their smoking rules - WE...