Haiku Tampa — Restaurant in Tampa

Walked by this spot while exploring downtown and decided to stop in for dinner. We didn't have reservations so they stated they could seat us outside. The rain had mostly stopped, so it was actually nice and their outdoor area is quite pretty.

Our server came about 5mins in, took our drink and appetizer orders. Approximately 15mins after that we received our drinks and appetizers, but our server never came back to take our main orders, nor did we have any silverware/napkins.

Duck Bao Buns - duck comes shredded, Bao Buns were warm, enjoyed the pickled radish and daikon, it all was dry though without the sauce they provided (so we needed more sauce)

For drinks I ordered waters, the Dracula's Kiss and my partner the Sake Sangria.

Dracula's Kiss - Tastes like cough medicine. So if that's your 'cup of tea' then go for it. I did not enjoy it. Sake Sangria - very sweet, mostly juice, not much alcohol (but still tasted good) Water - not filtered, had an odd aftertaste

After finishing the appetizers our server returned to take our entree orders. At this time we requested napkins and silverware from her. While waiting we saw the, mostly empty, outdoor seating area fill up. It is a very lively area, right next to the Tampa Riverwalk and lots of entertainment; e.g. bars and theaters.

The sushi came out first, and when the runner was dropping it off, I requested napkins and silverware again, as we still didn't have any. Luckily he returned immediately with silverware wrapped in a cloth napkin, as well as chopsticks.

Our server later came with soy sauce and spicy mayo for dipping. About 10mins later my partner received the Tonkatsu Shoyu Ramen.

Torched Hamachi Roll - You cannot really taste the torching, but the roll was still delicious; slight spice from the jalapeno. Wood Fired Lobster Roll - Loved this roll! The tempura was fried perfectly and the lobster sitting on top gave the perfect bite. Tonkatsu Shoyu Ramen - Not as visually appealing as most ramen restaurants, broth tasted like it was not brewed for very long vs thrown together ingredients. Did enjoy the noodles, bok choy, and the meat was 'fall apart' tender. The mushrooms tasted like they came from a can.

In the end the restaurant is beautiful, which makes it a nice place to hangout, but I'm unsure if it is worth the pricetag for the...

I made these reservations weeks in advance to try it here for my birthday. We were seated in the “private” room for parties because that was the only space they had room. So it was a little awkward being a party of two in a room with another large party and also like being put in a corner because it was very quiet and you missed out on the ambiance, decor and energy of the whole restaurant. The waitress wasn’t attentive at all, had to ask more than once for multiple things and had to ask the others who kept bringing our food to us because she never almost never came by. When we did see her and would ask for anything she acted annoyed like we were disturbing her. Seeing her later busy on her Apple Watch while we were waiting on her to come back so we could even get the check to leave was an added bonus. The appetizers were delicious, the tuna stack and the pork belly, the entrees of sea bass and salmon was just ok. Was surprised really that they weren’t that good after the appetizers were and the cost. My sea bass had dry overdone potatoes and the asparagus was overdone and soggy. I’ll just go to Meat Market for good sea bass next time. After we ordered dessert another hostess I assume basically told us we had to get up and move because they had a really large party and needed the space. I let her know that we were told we had an hour and a half for our reservation and it had only been an hour and she said very rude and unapologetically “well we over booked it” and made me grab my stuff and move as our dessert was arriving at the table. Should’ve helped grab my things to move us and then didn’t even let our server know they moved us. I at that point asked for a manager and she apologized and said the girl was new and moved the wrong table and she would at least comp the dessert, so it was actually not comped and was still on the check when we received it and I let our server know who had no idea about it because nothing was ever communicated. Highly overrated, my first...

My wife and I recently dined at Haiku, and overall, it was a pleasant experience. The service we received was impressively fast, and it added to our enjoyment of the evening. To start our meal, we decided to try the Wagyu Sliders and the Wagyu vs. Wagyu. While both dishes featured high-quality beef, I personally found the Japanese A5 Wagyu to be more delectable than the American Wagyu. The 2 oz portion of the A5 Wagyu was perfectly sized, allowing the flavors to shine without overwhelming the palate with its buttery texture. However, the real highlight for me were the sliders, which I found to be even more enjoyable. They were a dish I would gladly order again on my next visit.

Moving on to the main course, we opted for the Pork Belly fried rice and a couple of sushi rolls, namely the Torch Hamachi Roll and the Volcano Roll. While the fried rice was satisfying and filling, I didn't find it particularly outstanding. It was decent, but I'm eager to explore different options from the menu on my next visit. As for the sushi rolls, although they were fresh, they didn't quite steal the spotlight. We felt that Haiku's strengths lay more in their other entrees, and in the future, we would likely skip the sushi and explore more of their enticing offerings.

The restaurant's ambiance exuded a youthful vibe, and we were promptly seated upon arrival. However, it's worth mentioning that when we left, we noticed a growing waitlist, suggesting that the popularity of Haiku makes it a busy spot during peak hours. This is something to keep in mind if you prefer a quieter dining experience.

Overall, Haiku provided us with an enjoyable evening. The lightning-fast service, delectable Wagyu sliders, and a promising selection of other entrees make it a restaurant worth revisiting. I would recommend exploring their menu beyond the sushi rolls to truly appreciate what Haiku...