The Spaniard — Restaurant in Tampa

Overall, it's a simple basic hotel restaurant setting. Not a dedicated restaurant but one thay shares its space with the breakfast area leaving a misplaced feeling. There was a convention ordering drinks from the pool bar (which is apparently also the bar that serves the restaurant) so drinks came out well past the appetizer. We ordered the Tuna Crudo which was definitely not properly made. Typically, a tuna crudo has sushi grade ahi, thinly siced into close to bite sized pieces. What we got was an 8 inch in diameter side cut with clear fat lines that needed to be carved into to eat. Flavor was off and it was sent back - which was literally the first time in my life I've sent a food item back. We also ordered the paella for two. The paella was a good portion but overly wet. While paella is traditionally a more moist rice, this had a visible gravy. Overall, I do not recommend as local patron nor as a hotel...

I’ve eaten here two days in a row while staying at the hotel, and both times the food has been extremely disappointing. I tried the half chicken with yellow rice, the calamari, and the chicken burger—unfortunately, all three were bland and dry. I suspect much of the food is microwaved, as my chicken burger was scorching hot in the center yet still very dry.

The wait staff, however, were absolutely lovely—friendly, welcoming, and accommodating. The issue is clearly with management: both times, there was only a single server handling the entire restaurant, which is unacceptable. The staff did their best and were truly amazing, but they were stretched...

I travel a lot for work and encounter a lot of lazy bartenders at hotels who do absolutely nothing to justify a 20% autograt, treat you as if they're doing you a favor by offering service, and barely shake the cocktails let alone follow a recipe.

I had a long day today, could barely keep my eyes open trying to order, and the bartender saw that and took great care. THIS is the magic of bartenders that so many miss; the power to turn someone's day around!

In the midst of an evening storm, Brian was fast, Brian was kind, Brian did his job well, and he treated everyone at the bar with the same...