Mad Dogs and Englishmen — Restaurant in Tampa

I recently ate at the NEW Mad Dogs and Englishmen. Here is what I thought.

Atmosphere: The new Mad Dogs and Englishmen is ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS. I was absolutely stunned by the new restaurant. It feels like you walked into someone’s home and it’s been designed to be restaurant. It has a beautiful bar, outdoor eating space, a cozy reading room, and dining spaces. They did have a small outdoor seating space which was beautiful, but I didn’t see any easy way to allow your dogs into the outdoor space. I’m just curious if you’re allowed to bring your dogs, because the old location was pet friendly.

Restrooms: They had 5 unisex single use bathrooms. They were nice and clean. They and some odd music playing in the restroom though. It sounded liked Queen Elizabeth giving a speech.

Service: Our server Abby was very friendly. All the servers we encountered were friendly. The service was quick and professional.

Food: The food was really good. I liked how they had a small menu, but they still had a variety of options to choose from. They stuck with traditional British meals but also included a few ethnic dishes, because if you go to England you can easily find a variety of cuisines there. I tried their ‘Midday Sun’ drink and it was really good, a perfect spring/summer drink. It was refreshing and light. We tried their ‘Whipped Feta’ small plate as an appetizer. I really loved it, it was the perfect amount to share between 3 people. The feta was sweet and spicy. For my entree, I ordered their ‘Mushroom & Leek Pie’ which was packed with flavor and I loved it. It was definitely on the heavier side for an entree. Everyone else enjoyed their meals at our table. We tried their ‘Apple Crumble’ with ice cream for dessert, it was good not my favorite though. I would’ve liked to see more traditional British desserts on the menu.

Overall, the NEW Mad Dogs and Englishmen is a great spot for lunch or dinner. I’d love to see if they have a brunch or happy hour. It’s beautiful space inside and out!

Instagram:...

After getting engaged in London we wanted to have the perfect place with friends and family to celebrate. Mad Dogs and Englishmen had just opened up their new location, and there was no doubt in our minds that we wanted to have it there. After talking with the staff and working out an arrangement we were so excited.

Our dinner was held in the Moroccan room with stunning designed burgundy walls. Our guests also loved the atmosphere when they first saw it. They were taken back by just how beautiful, intimate and cozy the place felt.

The real stars of the show were the staff. Vinnie worked with us up until the party to answer any questions and was so prompt in always having a solution for us. When we arrived multiple members of staff came out to help with anything we needed, including escorting guests, setup, calming nerves right before the party, the list goes on.

I felt like I can never thank Vinnie enough, this man deserves awards on awards.

With events, I truly believe it’s the details that matter. It was so nice to have a full team that valued that as well. We could not of had our vision for the dinner, or enjoyed ourselves with our guests nearly enough if it hadn’t been for the staff.

Every single member of staff handled themselves so eloquently.

The restaurant was so busy, but they made us feel like we were all that mattered. Our server Anya was prompt, professional and accommodating to the whole group. She also made sure that we always had a drink in our hands while mingling with guests.

Now we have the perfect place to sit, drink and wedding plan. A new place for us in Tampa that will always hold such a special memory!

Thank you Mad Dogs! We can’t wait to continue to...

The management of this new location has precious little if any appreciation for the relationship between revenue flows and the patronage of small groups. When I first reached out to set up a luncheon for a group of 20 professionals from MacDill Air Force Base, I was quoted a reservation fee of $1,000. After regaining my breath, I reminded the person that this was Tampa, not the Upper East Side of Manhattan and that we were a military population not a group from the gilded offices of Wall Street. I offered to bring the group in at 1 PM in order to create business after the lunch hour. I was told they could sit us outside in a separate area and that cooling misting fans and umbrellas would make the June heat of Tampa more bearable. That assessment turned out to be a bit of an overstatement since the only thing that makes the heat of midday June in Tampa bearable is air conditioning. Unfortunately, members of the group spotted empty post-lunch crowd areas in the restaurant when they went inside to use the facilities. I, of course, as the organizer had to entertain questions of why we were outside in the heat while empty air conditioned seating areas were just across the threshold. The food was good if a bit overpriced. The service was attentive. However, the lack of appreciation for the patronage of small groups sadly means we will probably not exercise nor recommend Mad Dogs and Englishmen as an option for future luncheons involving military populations. Too bad…the former location further up on MacDill Avenue was less hoity-toity and more welcoming of small groups from MacDill, never entertaining the thought of imposing a $1,000...