wagamama, water st, tampa — Restaurant in Tampa

Wagamama in Tampa unfolds as a narrative where the simplicity of flavors and the charm of ambiance weave a tale that, while not extravagant, is comfortingly familiar and welcoming.

Service 🙋‍♂️

Our evening was graced by Veronica, a beacon of warmth and joviality. Every smile, each recommendation, was infused with a sincerity that transformed a routine dining experience into a convivial gathering. As Kyle, with the audacity of a seasoned gastronome, ventured into the “girliest” drink on the menu, Veronica’s laughter mingled with ours, echoing the camaraderie that defines the essence of Wagamama.

Decor 🎨

The ambiance, akin to a well-composed sonnet, is pleasing yet familiar. It’s the comforting embrace of a narrative retold, where every corner, every hue, resonates with the signature Wagamama aesthetic. Modern yet unassuming, the decor doesn’t transcend expectations but nestles comfortably within them, offering a backdrop where conversations and laughter take center stage.

Food 🍽️

The culinary offerings, much like the decor, are a sonorous echo of familiarity. My salad was a symphony of crisp textures and fresh flavors, each bite a harmonious blend yet not a revelation. The bang bang cauliflower, a melody of spices and tenderness, and the assorted entrees, crafted with skill, satiated not just the palate but the soul. Yet, in this satisfying melody, the crescendo of astonishment was amiss.

Each dish was a testament to Wagamama’s consistent quality - a journey through well-trodden paths where surprises are scarce but satisfaction is guaranteed.

In Retrospect 🤔

Wagamama, with its unpretentious charm and consistent offerings, emerges as a sanctuary where the soul finds solace in the familiar, and the palate is greeted with the well-loved flavors that have defined the brand. It’s not a tale of culinary adventures or aesthetic revelations but a narrative of consistency, quality, and the warmth of shared laughter.

Final Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - “Good”

“A Symphony of Familiar Tunes in a World Constantly Seeking the Novel.”

Wagamama is not the odyssey into the unexplored but the comforting lullaby that lulls the senses into a contented sigh. In the heart of Tampa, amidst the cacophony of innovations and extravagance, it stands as a testament to the enduring allure of the familiar, the consistent, and the shared laughter that turns a meal into a...

Disclaimer: I failed to get a pic of our appetizer, which was the Tuna Tataki: thinly sliced + lightly seared tuna. citrus ponzu. japanese mayonnaise.

Once the server got to us, she explained that they would deliver food as it's ready. We ordered everything at that moment. Waters, a soda, the appetizer, and two meals.

She brought the waters but took a bit to get the soda.

Then our appetizer and one meal came out. The pic for it is not great bc I forgot to get pics to start with. I had the Chicken Gyoza Ramen.

The appetizer was really good. It's a little on the spicier side, but it's still amazing.

The Ramen overall was good. The gyoza and broth had a great flavor, but the noodles were a little bland. I was surprised the noodles didn't soak up the flavor. I was worried it might be spicy due to the red chili's and chili sauce, but once it was all mixed together, it was good. I set it aside to cool while I enjoyed the appetizer with my husband.

This is where things went sideways. I initially was waiting to eat my meal but his took an extraordinary amount of time, like 20 min later to come out. The server apologized, the hostess apologized, and the manager apologized, all at several minute intervals.

Finally, his dish, the steak bulgogi, came out. That is the pic with the steak. He was pleasantly satisfied with the flavor of his dish.

Once his dish was dropped off, I had asked the server for more water as glasses were empty. I waited a while and finally asked another server, and then a min or so after, she came out with new waters, but that was literally like 10 min after I asked.

I don't complain much when going out to eat and I am not here to bash the restaurant bc something must have been going on as two other tables didn't get food, and left after drinks, although they ordered. What I am mostly disappointed with is that they didn't even offer to comp his meal or at least our appetizer as it was the lowest costing item. This was a $60ish meal before tip. The server was nice, but a little slow.

I'm not sure if we will go again, especially with so many amazing restaurant options...

Actually the worst dining experience I’ve had in a long time. Let me preface by saying Ive worked customer service jobs before and have the utmost respect for service staff, I don’t act like a “Karen” or anything less than respectful towards waitstaff. Heck even at this place where the waitstaff were awful we still left 20% tip

Staff was rude and inattentive. I made mention when I ordered that I don’t like soy and asked if I could get a dish without it. Server said no problem

30+min later they bring my entree out. Food is set down. Server and the manager immediately come up and the manager yanks my plate away. They start “asking” (low key coming off accusatory) whether I’m allergic to soy. I clarify that I am not, it’s just a taste thing. Manager then condescendingly informs me that all of their dishes contain soy, there’s no way to ensure it’s not in a dish. Like..okay, I was told differently from the server but it’s no problem. The manager was oddly aggressive so I just insisted on keeping the plate despite not liking the dish because I was so uncomfortable with the interaction.

Beyond that, they forgot two items we ordered. We waited - and I’m not exaggerating- 45min for the server to even look our way let alone drop us the check (and that’s consistent with the whole experience- waiting an absurd amount of time on a not busy time of day for literally every step of the dining experience). Server didn’t even bother to make mention of the items they blatantly forgot to grab us. When she finally comes back 10min later to grab the check my friend asked “what about those two items we didn’t get?” And the server without even bothering to look up at my friend as she spoke just nonchalantly goes “oh yeah I took those off the bill” and walked away with her tip. No apology, no acknowledgment. Lastly, food was SO BAD. I’m excluding my own dish because I don’t like dishes with a heavy amount of soy so obviously wasn’t a fan of my own plate, but all the food that we got was bland and underwhelming, especially considering we ordered spicy dishes that came out...