Hidden Anchor Tiki Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Tarpon Springs

Not Reccomended

1.) A member of our party wanted the Oyster Flight we were told that they could not offer any baked oysters. It was the day after Mother's Day and while they were busy the previous day, establishments that advertise themselves as being an "Oyster House" ought to have the oysters/oyster dishes that they advertise available throughout the days following a busy day or an event. The member of our party was disappointed and had to choose something else.

2.) Upon asking what varieties of oysters they had, I was told "Raw or broiled" to which I replied, "No, what kinds of oysters do you have?" The only oysters they had were from Louisiana even though their "Specials" board advertised yummy briney oysters from Boston, Mass. When asked about those, we were told, "Oh, that's from yesterday...they're gone." I ordered the gulf oysters because I figured they'd be better than no oysters at all...I was wrong. Neither briny like the ones from the Atlantic or sweet like the ones from the Pacific, the gulf oysters were small, bland and arrived kinda room temp on two trays of melted ice...I had ordered a peck for the table of 7.

3.) Along with two Bloody Mary's, I ordered a Corona Light that arrived room temp. I watched the waitress bring the bottle in from the outside bar area and was surprised to have been given anything other than an ice cold beer. Who in the world wants a room temp beer...especially on a warm evening and while wanting to enjoy a cold one with my seafood.

4.) While placing the order for my entree, I asked for a side order of Grilled Cheese Grit Cakes. They arrived before the meal and were nasty. Two plain, white grit triangular cakes, no cheese, no flavor and no grill marks. Very disappointing. By this point I knew I had made the wrong choice choosing this restaurant but as our party of 7 were already beginning their meals, I just tolerated the unacceptable and proceeded on...hoping I guess, that the entrees would be better. Not...the...case.

5.) Among other entrees, 4 Fried Platters were ordered. Three of the platters looked fine but mine was different. The others had nice sized fried oysters while mine was small, dark brown and clearly over-cooked. Even my sister's Fried Oyster Platter beside me had nice size oysters...my oysters were tiny compared to the ones in that entree...and over-fried to boot.

6.) The women's bathroom was humid, smelled a bit nasty and felt crawly. While walking to the restroom (back of the restaurant) I noticed that things were untidy...surprisingly unkempt. Better than some restaurant bathrooms I've been in but still not good for a bathroom in a dining establishment. Made me wonder what the kitchen looked like.

After reading reviews and an interview/article about Morgan Mae's, I was excited to go. That excitement was based on an expectation that the oysters/seafood was going to be much better than anything I had tried in Florida thus far...it was not. More than the disappointment over the lacklustre raw oysters, tepid beer and overcook platter oysters, was the joy the experience stole from a family gathering & Mother's Day celebration. I was not the only one from our party who had issues with their meal.

This family gathering was very important for several reasons but the most being my sisters and I coming together over the loss of our mama, the loss of one sister's husband and the loss of my other sister's son. We wanted to have a wonderful meal together while acknowledging the lives of those who we greatly loved...who were no longer with us.

I have noticed that recognitions & replies from the restaurant stopped a long time ago so I'm not expecting anything to be done about my family's experience at Morgan Mae's but I decided to leave a review to assist those who may be considering going here in the future. For a restaurant just having opened in 2020, they seem to be going downhill fast. Morgan Mae's is just another same-old, same-old seafood restaurant in Tarpon Springs,...

I have been struggling with posting this review, but when I think about it, I look for reviews myself and this would be something I would like to know.

I came in with my pup in the early afternoon after the park because I wanted to check the place out . There was a transfer of powers and I always want to support local business. We (pupper and I) walked up the deck and the first person I came across was a belligerent drunk with two ladies to his left that were clearly ignoring everything on purpose because that would be the only way to deal with that proximity.

We went to the corner and chose a spot where it would be equispaced between parties as one should.

Hank is popular. He got lots of pets and attention which I am thankful for as I am trying to socialize him as much as possible to get him certified as a therapy dog to go to nursing homes and such. We settled down and I asked for a mocktail.

The bartender looked at me like I had three heads. Anything mock is pretend and if it ends tail then I would hopefully assume that you could you use your powers of deduction to figure it out. I Asked if she had strawberry puree and she said yes, so I asked for a strawberry limeade and told her not to use her cut fruit but just grab one and give me half. She said that she had fresh squeezed juice and I was stoked! I asked for a menu.

I have no idea what she put in that cup, but it tasted like the bottom of a margarita when all that's left is watered down salt, mix and tequila. It wasn't palatable. I would have happily asked for a soda or tea, but the bartender was busy with the shenanigans I wasn't acknowledged.

The guy hollered at two men about a house of ill repute which was just weird. Even they were trying to stop his garbage. He 'bought' two mimosas for the two ladies trying to pretend that he didn't exist. He said that "WE are" trying to get rid of it and that it was on him. But then he said to tell her it was on the house because he's the house. I REALLY hope that he isn't any part of that business, but he was so wasted face, who knows?

Anywho, I grabbed a few singles and snuck them under the coaster as an adorable couple came in which blocked his view of me packing up my pupper and scrambling to escape this mess.

He bent all the way over the railing to yell at me in the parking lot as I was leaving. Holy Cow.

Now. What is the real issue?

This man was egregiously overserved. He was obnoxiously intoxicated, was continued to be served and bothered most if not every customer. Why did that bartender serve him? If he was overserved somewhere else and she served him then she is the responsible tender. If that man drives or causes any incident due to his intoxication then the bartender is also liable for criminal charges.

He chased me out and I'm sure I'm not the only one. She said something along the lines of 'didn't find anything you like?' I politely said that this wasn't the atmosphere I was looking for as we left. She said, "I'm sorry"n like it was out of her control. I'm a bartender. You're in charge of your bar. I would NEVER allow anyone to act like that at my bar. Even if it IS an owner, coworker, investor I'm not going to lower my professional standards to that level.

Will never, ever return...

We have been long time customers of Morgan Mae’s - a new owner took over last year and things have rapidly declined ! Tonight after a movie, we stopped in for a bite ! There were a few seemingly intoxicated women at the bar ! Two specifically turned on us and stared us down and one flipped me off and pointed to her vagina - she was wobbling in her seat and was making menacing gestures towards us ! I asked her to stop - she got more aggressive; got out of her seat and wobbled towards our table - The owner came out and focused her anger on us , which was astounding, I can only assume it was because we were not ordering high profit alcohol ! As the situation escalated and as the owner was scolding me for reasons I still don’t quite understand one of the seemingly overly intoxicated women was flipping me off and I asked the owner to turn and look and she refused ! She asked US to leave and I said we would leave if the other party was asked to leave One of the other women aggressively approached me with what seemed the intent to punch me , regardless I felt threatened as I was walking to my car ! The two women in question were visibly unsteady in their feet and entered the drivers side of their vehicles and started to drive , both circled my vehicle in a threatening way ! The owner of Morgan Mae’s called the police on MY Family NOT the other seemingly over served patrons ! The PD told us we were never to return to Morgan Mae’s ( that will not be a problem at all ) but I will tell you do not bring you children or your parents here as it is nothing but a bar for excessive drinkers and smokers !!!

There are so many other choices Katerina’s, Shukas, Tropic, Demetri’s, Rusty Bellie’s Captain Jacks and more ! Even 7-11 would be a better choice than to endure the element and the insufferable owner at Morgan Mae’s Note: the staff who was there before the new owner are exceptional and are the only thing keeping this business from being completely in...