Ocean Prime — Restaurant in Tampa

It’s an overall 4 ⭐️ star rating because their reservation service that leads to an app is not very accurate. The only drop-down area to reserve is the “Lounge Room” HOWEVER the hostess informed us that there are two other sections to dine in this restaurant THAT THE APP DOES NOT SHOW: Main Dining Room and Loves 50s Room. The “lounge room” is deceiving. It’s a bar area and is extremely loud on a Saturday night and not appropriate for anniversary dinner at all. The main dining room is where majority of other patrons eat, and if you want even more quiet atmosphere… There is a back room called Loves 50s Room. ( Weird name but it’s there) The seating hostess said that there’s just a few tables in that back room. On with the food.. for our anniversary dinner we ordered: the Chilean Sea Bass ( this locations featured seafood dish) and the Piedmont (Imported from Italy, Grass Fed/Finished, non GMO) 8oz steak that is “off the menu” . I ordered it Medium Rare with the Maytag Blue Cheese Crust. The cost is $85. FYI-The rest of the steaks on their menu, are sourced in Ohio… They are USDA prime meat, and non-GMO. They are NOT ORGANIC. The USDA quality grade (Prime) and the organic certification are separate, though not mutually exclusive, designations. The USDA grades beef for marbling and quality, while organic certification ensures specific humane and health-related standards, such as access to outdoors, no antibiotics or hormones, and organic feed. Another item off their menu is their imported Japanese A5 Wagyu steaks. There are five levels to how much fat a Wagyu steak can have. A5 has the most fat. For drink, their online wine menu is inaccurate on the ounces. They offer 6 and 9 oz glass Red wine. In all fairness, and in in my opinion, they price gouge you on the wine. The lowest price for a Red 6 oz glass is $24. We ordered one family style side: The asparagus with hollandaise sauce. A hollandaise sauce is a mixture of egg and butter and lemon. This restaurant hollandaise sauce is more on butter/egg flavor which was good, however it lacked the lemon flavor to complete it. Overall, the food has the highest score in this rating. To finish, we had the gluten-free chocolate torte cake with the ganache. For the anniversary, the restaurant took off the price for the cake. All of their desserts are made in house. Magdalena was our waitress and she was...

“You will not be disappointed!!”

My wife and I only do fine-dining outings a few times a year, not because we can’t afford it, but too many times, a restaurant does not live up to its reputation. I’m delighted to say - Ocean Prime Tampa knocked it out of the park!! We visited Ocean Prime on Thursday, April 24th, 2025; here's our story:

To prepare for a visit, reservations are highly recommended, and be advised - there is a dress-code! (Think “business casual” and up). Free self-parking in the restaurant’s lot is limited, but there is Valet parking available (Weeknight price - $5 dollars). Valet parking here is not a minus in my opinion, especially if you’re dressed to the nines and you don’t want to brave an evening Florida thunderstorm.

We were seated promptly. Our head server, (Melanie), was wonderful, as was every team member who visited our table. The wine list is extensive, featuring many foreign and domestic varieties for your enjoyment. If you’re celebrating a really special occasion, several choices of champagne are available, including Dom Pérignon.

We both ordered French Onion soup for our appetizers. It was spectacular! Our entrées were also exceptional. I had Ahi Tuna for my entrée and my wife had Grouper. The presentations were lovely, and the accompaniments were satisfying and delicious. I ordered whipped potatoes for my side. Be advised – sides are “a la carte”, but they are shareable-sized portions. My side of whipped potatoes was more than enough for two people.

After dinner, I was full enough to want to skip dessert, but my wife couldn’t resist. She ordered Ocean Prime’s Chocolate Torte, (which she ended up sharing with me). Again – wonderful! I ordered an after-dinner coffee for myself. It was served in a French-press dispenser and contained enough for a refill. (At $5.95, I think this was the best bargain on the menu!). The coffee was excellent!

Our bill came in right around $200, and we did not order anything extravagant, so be prepared to shell out some $$$ for your dining experience. In my opinion, it was worth...

If you’re looking for a dining experience that feels like a warm hug from the ocean, look no further than Ocean Prime in Tampa! From the moment we stepped through the doors, we were greeted with smiles that could light up the entire Gulf Coast. The service here is not just exceptional; it’s like having your own personal cheerleader for the evening!

Now, let’s dive into the culinary treasures we enjoyed! We kicked things off with the shrimp cocktail, which was a delightful selection of ocean-fresh shrimp that practically danced off the cup. Each succulent bite was a celebration of the sea, perfectly chilled and served with a zesty cocktail sauce that had us saying, "More, please!"

Next up were the cocktails: the spicy dirty martini and the black orchid. The martini had just the right kick to awaken our taste buds, a spicy and smooth little number that kept us on our toes. And oh, the black orchid! This cocktail was as beautiful as it was delicious—a floral masterpiece that made us feel like we were sipping on a sunset. Seriously, if you’re not Instagramming this drink, are you even living?

For the main event, we indulged in the scallop risotto and a perfectly cooked filet. The risotto was creamy and dreamy, with scallops so tender they practically melted in our mouths. Each bite was a heavenly reminder of why we love dining by the sea. And the filet? Cooked to perfection—juicy, flavorful, and seasoned just right. It was like a culinary hug from a medium rare steak!

As we savored every last bite, the service continued to impress. Our server was attentive without being intrusive, always ready with a recommendation or a witty quip that made the evening even more enjoyable. It felt like we were dining with friends rather than just staff. Oh, and they were so accommodating for my gluten allergy and even had fluffy gluten free bread!

In a nutshell, Ocean Prime in Tampa is a must-visit for anyone looking to indulge in an exquisite...