Sal Y Mar - Tampa

Jaclyn was our bartender, and unfortunately, our experience was quite disappointing. She didn’t smile, showed no personality, and barely acknowledged us. There were only two other people at the restaurant, yet it felt like we were invisible. The venue itself is beautiful and has a lot of potential, but our visit fell short of expectations.

The outdoor seating was cozy, but the view was mostly of the surrounding apartment buildings. If you're seated in the back area, away from the bar or the DJ (who was actually quite good), you might catch a decent glimpse of Tampa. However, the hotel pool area was exclusively for hotel guests, which was a bit of a letdown. The service we received was generally good, but it seemed the staff were overwhelmed with the number of tables and couldn't be as attentive as they should have been. When it came to the food, I wasn't particularly excited about the menu items. Nothing really stood out, as it felt like the same offerings you'd find elsewhere. I inquired about the avocado flatbread and was told it was very good and served on naan bread. I ordered that along with the chef's board since I'm always a fan of a well-crafted charcuterie selection. While waiting, I enjoyed a decent spicy Bloody Mary and an Aperol Spritz. When our food arrived, I noticed that the avocado flatbread was not on naan as advertised, but rather on pita bread. Despite that, it was topped with mashed avocado, sun-dried tomatoes, a fried egg, bacon bits, and arugula, which tasted fine. However, I felt it could have been better on a genuinely crispy bread. The chef's board was mediocre at best. The prosciutto looked old and oxidized, which is never a good sign. The cheeses selected were not ones I would ever choose for my own cheese board; I’d gladly pay more for quality cheese rather than what seemed like something sourced from a cheap wine tasting. The jelly was lackluster and added no value to the dish. Overall, I felt that neither the food nor drinks were worth the price I paid.

A nice spot for drinks and enjoying the rooftop atmosphere, but the service is quite disappointing. Additionally, the food tends to be either undercooked or overcooked.

The atmosphere of the place was pleasant, but the food did not meet my expectations. I likely won't be coming back.

I really enjoyed my experience at the restaurant. The atmosphere was fantastic, and the view was beautiful. I absolutely loved it! The service was excellent as well.