Gators Cafe & Saloon
12754 Kingfish Dr, Treasure Island, FL, 33706
Gators Cafe & Saloon Menu
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Address :
12754 Kingfish Dr
Treasure Island, FL, 33706 - Phone (727) 367-8951
- Website https://www.gatorscafe.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 12
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Music : Live
Good For Dancing : Yes
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Jay T.
We only stopped in to have a quick drink and to sit out on the patio with a great view of Johns Pass. If I were to review the view only it would be 5 stars! For a huge bar they had a very poor selection of draft beers (4 maybe 5). When I asked for a list of the beers I was handed a handwritten sheet with all of the bottles listed, it felt tacky and unprofessional for a bar of this size. One person in our group received their first drink with some sort of small bug in it, not that big of a deal but still should not happen! It was a nice quiet alternative for sitting on the water compared to the other side of the pass, I however would not stay for more than a drink or two.
(2)Nola W.
I don't think Gators is even one star worthy. Food is terrible, service is worse! Drinks, yuck. Too bad as it is a great location.
(1)Blonde B.
This was my 3rd time to Gators and never fails to disappoint every time. The dockside dining is the ONLY thing going for it. The food is terrible no matter what I have tried, drinks a bit watered down, and service is HORRIBLE. This visit on a 90 degree day (Mothers Day no less) at lunchtime, they ran out of pina colada mix and some of the specials. It took us 30 minutes to get drink refills, 40 minues to get apps, and we didn't wait for lunch. We boxed it up to go finally as it was so terrible. They weren't even full or busy as the pirate festival was going across bridge. Lastly everything was extremely dirty. I don't know how they stay in business except for the great dock and probably Friday and Saturday night crowds. I would go for dockside drinks but don't bother with anything else.
(1)A S.
If negative stars were available this place would get them. We had a group of 10 for dinner, combination of adults and children. When we arrived the inside was empty but the outside had several tables. Unfortunately they didn't have a table big enough to fit all of us so we sat inside. The view is lovely and you could see dolphins playing from the windows. It took about 15 minutes to be welcomed and our orders to be taken. Over the next 45 mins 4 other tables were sat and served. At this point we inquired about our food. After having to find our waitress we were told they were waiting in food runners. 10 additional minutes passed and we asked the hostess what was going on, he said they were busy and rudely walked away. Finally we located a manger. Within 5 minutes our food was brought out. All if it! Appetizers, soups & salads and entrees. ALL COLD! Two orders were wrong and at this point our waitresses attitude was even worse if possible. The manager tried to fix the meals and apologized but at this point the dinner and service was unfixable. We would have had to start over and after more than an hour and 15 minutes we were not willing to be there one more minute. In the end, I would not only not recommend but I would warn anyone from dining here.
(1)E F.
Went back for lunch today (Saturday) and now with two visits in a few days we have more information to rate the restaurant. Again, we were not greeted and found our own way to a table and then ... Waited ... Staff went by several times without acknowledging us. Finally a waitress offered to get us drinks while we waited for our waiter. Service never really improved. Waiter would disappear and things were slow. Food was delivered without napkins and without cutlery. Had to wait and ask for same to be brought to us. Food is nothing special. Great location but food is so-so. Best item was chicken quesadilla appetizer. Everything else not worth coming back for. This restaurant is a lost opportunity due to service and food quality. It needs a new chef and service makeover. You have the potential to be great.
(1)William M.
I've been coming here for years, the quality of food has come and go, but last week the food was delicious, our server was awesome, the scenery you just can't beat. Plenty of parking for vehicles and vessels, I will continue to come back to this place.
(4)Ross M.
Service was weak but yelp check in special free drink gives them a boost. It was a Sunday afternoon and the Rays were playing, you would think Gators would be a blast, NOPE! The place was pretty lame. Neither the staff nor the customers wanted to be there!!! We had to be there because we were about to go parasailing. We wanted to get a little buzz first. But they were so slow with drinks, that was impossible. We only ordered pitchers. They had no specials, no nothing. Food service was slow too. We were a tad bit late for parasailing because of the time it took to get our check. We had to run out and warn the guys in charge of the boat. Ultimately, the food was decent. It was bar food and met expectations. Price was fair too, but poor service and too slow to get our drinks. Thankfully we could drink on the parasailing boat. We had a nice time absent the stress caused by poor service!
(2)Michael F.
Finally found a place that has alligator on the menu. Only place in St Petersburg beach that has it. They are called gator bites and are fried with some aioli dipping sauce with fries. Huge restaurant, outdoor seating and ocean view. The food is good and not overpriced!!
(4)Diane H.
First off, I love the location across from John's Pass. Almost every seat has a view of the water. You can watch the pelicans feed and the dolphins if you're lucky. My favorite thing to eat here is the French dip sandwich. The Cuban bread is fresh and crunchy. The night life is lively and fun here. Often live bands on weekends. ###. Update .....As of 1/2014 I will no longer order the French Dip. The meat was tough, the bread soggy and way too many onions!
(5)Kim A.
The only thing going for this place is the good view. Warm draft beer and the food is lousy! I took out of town guests here and I was embarrassed! Not a good representation of TI :(
(1)Katie J.
Great fish and chips! It was unlimited the day my boyfriend and I visited. Can't be the view on the waterfront deck which is where we sat. One thing that was really strange to me was that the bathroom for the ladies was outside. It was fine because it was during the day but it was kind of deserted and secluded. I don't know how safe I would have felt going out there to use the facilities by myself at night. The service was kind of all over the place. We started out with one waitress and she never came back. She seemed nice at first. We thought she must have just gone home for the night but then we ended up seeing her later. We eventually migrated to the bar after dinner and it was not much better there. The staff was a little rude and didn't really seem to care that we were there. I didn't expect to be waited on hand and foot or to be treated like royalty but I just thought the bare minimum hospitality wasn't too much to ask. This was last year though so I don't know if things have changed at all since then. Hopefully they have because it definitely has potential just based on location alone!
(3)Glenn C.
Food was delicious, and our waitress Stefanie was great. My girl had a nice conversation about her hair. Definitely worth multiple trips.
(4)Swfl 2.
We sat outside on the deck and the view is amazing. Dolphins swimming by as we ate. The wings were good.
(4)Issa J.
This play had a nice atmosphere until we actually got in we sat down and we got soup. The tatse was very questionable. Then we ordered and our waitress never came back We sat there for a good hour n half! So I would never go back there! They were very rude and didn't even apologize!
(1)David J.
Even though UF isn't where I went to school, I do live in Florida and see zero problem with a Florida business supporting a Florida university. In fact, Gators is one of the Tampa Bay area's classic beach spots everyone should visit. Sure, it's a little touristy at times, but this is the nation's tourism capital after all so what do we expect!? The bottom line is that the food at Gators is far better than the typical beach bar/restaurant and you can't beat the location/view/access. It's a great place to go just for drinks too since they have good live bands and other events on a regular basis.
(4)Brian C.
Really good food. Just don't go on game day. Someone thought it would be great idea to have some idiot on a loudspeaker giving commentary on the game they have on the tv's. At the loudest possible volume.
(3)Dana R.
S@&$ Sandwich: While on vacation recently in Treasure Island, Fl, the old man and I stole a rare moment away from the rest of the group and found ourselves at Gators, and well, I want a retake. From the outside it has all the makings of a good time, a large restaurant on the bay with ample outdoor seating, a view of the waterfront and neighboring John's Pass. I went in for a margarita, my guy ordered a beer and we had nachos for sharing. Sounds nice right? It probably would have been if that had been what we got. Instead what was served to us was piss warm swill in plastic cups and a nacho platter that left an unpleasant film in the mouth. They looked glorious, but were so disappointing that we had a lengthy conversation reminiscing about the other nachos that had treated us right in the past. From the ice rink, to the bowling alley, to the professional sports arenas...we fondly revisited them all. Finally our time was up and we waited for the server to take our check. When I got tired of waiting, I walked up to the bar to pay it myself and passed her in the corner texting on her phone. Read on for other reviews of the service...I concur. Avoid this place and head to John's Pass for so many more options..
(1)Lindsay P.
Great lobster Mac and cheese!! Omg so amazing! The gator bites are awesome too. Not too gamey.
(5)Sarah C.
You cant beat the view from the second floor. Now, the food was crap. Burnt and chewy gator bites were just sad since thats whet they are supposed to do right. My burger had ZERO flavor. I actually think they found a way to extract what tiny lil flavor plain ground beef has. Hubby has grouper sand. he was not impressed and just barely got it down. Prolly wont try again.
(2)Kristine K.
This place has passed its prime. We went here for both food and late night drinks. Food - Bleh. The key lime pie had a finger print on the top of it. Pie itself was mediocre. Bar - Sad. You can tell it used to be a fun place, but for whatever reason, NO ONE goes... so there is a good band playing to a handful of lonely people. Stay away if you're looking for good food or good night life.
(1)Richard R.
First time there $14 Michelob ultra buckets 550 for a fireball shot $10 for a pound of wings nowhere near a pound.got a quesadilla added chicken for a dollar save the money three-piece the chicken in six pieces of quesadilla will not go back
(1)Rob W.
Nice hangout at John's Pass village. They have good food and do a booming bar business. You can come by land or sea, they have a dock and dock master to moor boats. The place picks up at night, this is a very popular night spot. It has a great view of the waterway, and there is usually a breeze to cool you off.
(3)Shanna H.
Gators has a fantastic location and a nicely crafted bar, ambiance is great. Food is what one would expect for a sports bar. Only downfall was the woman working the saloon bar. She became rather irritated when our group asked for one tv out of eight to have a different football game on, and we didn't request sound. Even though there was only a few people in the bar, this was a bit of a hassle for her but the manager was fantastic and very accommodating. Our service was greatly improved by another waitress who was very attentive, since the one in the bar refused to serve our group. Overall, we are coming back, just a little disappointed by our initial service by the waitress who preferred to flirt with other staff behind the bar. As a side note, ritz crackers with the fish spread would be bomb.
(3)Jim M.
Service was good, food was ok. Some items are better then others. Will think twice about stopping in again.
(2)Leigh N.
They do not even deserve the one star Yelp forces me to give them. We went there twice. The first time service was slow but it was just my husband and I. The second time was with our kids and for 20 MINUTES WE WAITED no one ever came to even take our drink order. I told the manager who tried to blame it on the spot we sat in the place which was total BS. We were right beside the bar in plain sight and two waitresses looked directly at us while they waited on two other tables. The place was almost empty. Now we understand why. The WORST service ever. We just purchased a vacation home here and will definitely be taking our money and guests somewhere else. Don't waste your time.
(1)Nat W.
We found this place when we were doing para-sailing. It is ocean front view and this place is big. It was Saturday lunch time and the place was somewhat busy. The food was just okay much like any beach bar/restaurant in Clearwater/St. Pete beach area. The service by our waitress was slow, but seeing how she was running back and forth, I understand it is hard to keep checking on tables spread outside. Overall average. I would not mind going back to this place if I was in the area and no other places seemed good, but I would not go out of my way to go back.
(3)Ron H.
A cool place for a bite BUT they have changed their menu and raised their prices to screw the tourist...so as a local I will find another place to eat. Poor management decision
(3)Andrew N.
Went there to grab lunch one day. Staff seemed more interested in socializing with each other than helping customers. I'm all for the laid back beach life, but it wasn't that. They were just standing around. As far as the food goes, had the patty melt and it was bland at best. The meal was a staff recommendation and "one of her favorite". If that is the case then I can't imagine how awful the rest of the food is. This place has a lot of potential because of location, but the service, drinks, and food needs vast improvement.
(1)Jack A.
Beautiful view next to the drawbridge with plenty of activity on the water and we had a very sweet waitress that was extremely helpful. The beer selection was just ok, but on par for the area in general (there are few craft beers). My wife and I ordered the blackened grouper on a chopped salad and at the time I thought it was not fresh grouper, but might have just been frozen, because it was not very good. I now believe that it was Tilapia as we had grouper several times in the next few days. All of the grouper we had at other restaurants in the area were much better. I suppose it's possible the cook just made an error. We also thought it quite strange that the chopped salad was actually NOT chopped. It was mixed leafy field greens, but it was still good, although my wife thought the dressing tasted bottled and not made by the house. I would go back because of the location, friendly staff and entertainment value of the water, boats and bridge.
(3)Neil L.
Been going to gators for more than 10 years but in the last two years the food quality has gone down the tubes. The location is brilliant down by the water and the staff are friendly but alas the tools they have to work with are second rate. I'll keep checking in the coming years to see do things improve and report back October 2014.
(2)Brandon K.
I've been here a few times but its the first time since I started yelping. This place is located right on the river and pretty much on the ocean. The interior is very nice especially if you are a Gator fan. It has a lot of college football stuff. The menu is a bit small though that's one of my biggest complaints. We got the gator bits for an appetizer there where good, it came with fries mixed in, they also gave you this sauce it tasted like tarter sauce, mayo and ketchup mixed but you could definitely taste the tarter. I got the mamoo burger I think that's what it was called it was good, it was definitely big and the chili made it messy. They act like its hard to finish but I ate it all after having fries and an appetizer. Overall this place is great definitely recommend to all Gator fans, but if your not the food isn't bad and you can check out the Gators history.
(4)Jasmine A.
The reviews for this place are real touch and go so I wasn't expecting much. My husband and I split a Cuban and an order of calamari. It was good. I can't tell if I think it was good because I was expecting it to be shitty or if it was actually good. Either way, decent food, spectacular view and you really can't beat that in my book.
(4)Ken Y.
Welcome to Florida! Rolled into the area latish on a Saturday evening following an epic 29 hour drive from MN. We took the recommendation for a place nearby where we could get a cocktail and a bite to eat. Service was poor. Having wandered aimlessly looking for a place to sit, we caught the attention of our apparent server who promptly looked disgusted at the prospect of another table? She did eventually help us, but we felt rushed and clearly like a burden. 2 out of 4 of us enjoyed the food. Despite the convenient location and proximity, we have not made plans to repeat during a week stay in the area.
(2)Lisa R.
I have lived in this area for years and have gone to Gators many times and it has always been unpredictable. Yesterday, I went with a friend and his two children because they have never been there and heard about the place and it was less than stellar. it was very hot outside and there was not many tables available on the patio with umbrellas so we decided to go upstairs and go into the air conditioned room. It took at least 10 minutes for somebody to great us, and when she did she had the personality that she really just did not want to work on a Sunday. We asked for a couple beers to start and all they had was can Corona. Are then ask for another liquor which they did not carry. We ordered the Gator bites appetizer for $12 and I was surprised how tiny the pieces were. During this time our waitress still was not very pleasant and we noticed her spending a lot of time with one table out on the patio instead of refilling our drinks or seeing if we were okay. we made our order and I asked if the Philly came with french fries and was surprised that it came with kettle chips instead for $10 I thought I would at least get french fries. but that was okay we waited a long long period of time to get our food, which consisted of fried fish and a salad. When I got my Philly steak sandwich I was a little surprised to find that the meat the used was shaved into tiny pieces, maybe I was expecting slivers like I have gotten in the past. We finished our dinners and waited and waited and waited for someone to pick up our plates but she was outside on the patio again with another couple for an extended. Of time, we finally ask somebody please get our check so we could get the children home. being a waitress in the past myself, I have no problem with tipping over 15 percent providing I feel I'm being taken care of, I was very disappointed in the service and kind of felt like if this waitress didn't want to be there she probably should have going home and let somebody else make money I don't think I will be going back to Gators anytime soon unless it's tough to have a couple drinks and watch the boats come in.
(2)Kacy K.
Food was pretty good. Service not so great. Not as fun as the locals make it sound. It is a pretty cool place being on the water.
(3)Camii C.
We used to go here all the time a couple years ago and it was absolutely wonderful! Went back and visited recently and it was HORRIBLE! The service was VERY slow and the food is just crazy salty and overcooked! We used to always go there for the Cuban sandwich (which is what they are most famous for) and they did not have the all the ingredients to make the sandwiches! We were the there at 11am, and they should not be out of that!! The shellfish boil was mostly overcooked potatoes that were so salty you couldn't eat it and a tiny bit of crab and very small and dead oysters/mussels with one or two medium sized shrimps (for $22 I expect a lot more crab and mussels). When we asked to talk to the general manager, he never showed up and we sat there for 20 minutes waiting for him to "get off the phone" according to the waitress. We ordered bloody mary's and some other alcoholic drinks and they were watered down and hardly had any alcohol in the drinks! I don't know if they have a different owner or something now but we will NOT be going back here again!!!
(1)Heather M.
Great place to stop when your riding around on a boat. I stopped in a hot Saturday afternoon from a boat ride and the beer was ice cold and the service was great!
(3)Ashley M.
Gators has a boating dock for people to stay over-night. That is how I came across Gators. According to the staff they have had a remodel recently, so if you didn't like the decor in the past, you may want to check it out again. The place is huge! I can't get over how large this establishment is. They have indoor and outdoor seating, with a pull-up dock for people who want to just dock for lunch. There is also a pool table inside and on occasion the second floor has a band playing. I do believe you can smoke on the first floor, outside, but not the second floor. I ate there a couple times while I was in the area. Once my parents and I custom ordered Chili Cheese Fries with Jalapeno. It was absolutely delicious. They do a Chili Nachos, which isn't as good as the fries so if you are interested in that, they will do it. Their food was fine, besides the chili cheese fries I wouldn't say anything else I had stood out.
(3)Terri H.
We like to visit Gators when we are at Treasure Island. They have plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. We sat outdoors and enjoyed a musician singing while we dined. We both ordered a grouper-bites basket, which included battered and fried grouper, french fries, cole slaw, and a few hush puppies. Prices are very reasonable. The basket was $10. We also love the Cuban sandwich here.
(4)Lauren G.
Been here many times, always good food. Great grouper sandwich (although not as big as you'll find other places) Good drinks but prices are a little high for food and drinks. They usually have a good band, dance floor, some pool tables and a nice view of the water. Recently remodeled upper floor, great place to watch a game, they have a lot of TVS. Went there twice recently, day one horrible server. My husband ordered a drink, couldnt even taste alcohol in it, server did nothing to fix it and suggested we order a shot of alcohol to put in the drink ($5 for the shot). We did it because we were on vacation but I still thought it was BS and told him so. Second day another server, she talked with us for 20 minutes and was fast with the food and drink. Nice place to go for the atmosphere of being on the water.
(3)Eddie C.
Went here for lunch and the place is super cool on the outside and in. There's three floors, plenty of bar space and the patios are huge! Ordered some gator and the Cuban sandwich, both were incredible. Chips were tasty as well as the fries. And our waitress Christine was awesome. Great service, great food and great atmosphere. Wish I could be there during a Gator's game.
(4)Kristen B.
Great bar now that its all air conditioned!
(4)Scott M.
Along side the St John's Pass channel (on the other side from the touristy area) this waterfront eatery is a Florida gem. When the water is murky it is a front row seat to the least expensive porpoises show on the west coast. Atmosphere 95 Service 80 Food 75 Value 90 For what it is . outstanding. Florida at its best. !
(4)Sadie P.
Gators is always where I take people who come and visit me for vacation. It's truly the best place for a bar with the "Florida feel". There is good music, dancing, a good crowd, multiple levels, and every time I have gone there (no joke) I end up not remembering things... :) My point is that they pour very generous drinks!! During the day, I like to go eat there. The wings and burgers are awesome! This is a great place to go whether you are a local or on vacation, you will find lots of both at Gators!
(5)Nina H.
Went there for lunch in the middle of the week and this place is huge and almost no one there. It was right on the water where you could drive your boat right up and eat. They had a you catch them we cook them deal too. I had a Cuban sandwich and boy that thing was huge. It was good too. My father had a wrap and it was just ok. We also got gator bites. They were just ok. the batter was good but the meat was kinda chewy and the sauce was excellent! I can't wait to go there again when I am in the area. The bar was really big and they had a place for a band. We bar tender was very friendly too. She made it a nice experience.
(4)Brad K.
loved the location great view really surprisely nice menu prices were very reasonable service was good food quality was good to very good we will be back
(4)Amy Z.
Great place for some afternoon drinks and grub on a nice day. Awesome outdoor seating and $1 beers on happy hour special! Steer clear though if there is a Florida football game on TV because it gets insane. Food is good, drinks are good, service is average. I think of it as a place where I'm going to be for a while soaking in some rays on the deck and some lovely drinks so slow service doesn't bother me. They never let my glass go empty! A great place with a nice view for lunch!
(5)David R.
The drinks are cold and the food sucks! But what a fun place to pull up in your boat and watch other boaters go by, the draw bridge go up and down and how about some football. Lots of great memories!!
(4)Gennifer C.
We ordered hamburgers and had to take the aweful meat off just to stomach it. Waiter apolgized but still charged us full price plus $.95 per topping instead of menu price of $.50. Also took 13 mins to ring our check up as he waited other tables.
(1)Charlie K.
Popped in to watch an FSU game (at Gators?!?!?!? Yes, get over it). Overall it was an ok place. I just had a fried gator appetizer (which I dubbed gator-tots) and split a couple pitchers of beer. If you can sit outside or by a window, it's a gorgeous view. Beyond that it really didn't stand out much from other Florida beachside bar/restaraunts. Decent food, good prices, and a fun Florida atmosphere, can't really ask for more, but nothing special that would keep me coming back over other places like it.
(3)Shawn K.
I am usually here for lunch as the evening/late night crowd can get...interesting...when they are busy. The food is above average and the portions are good for the price. The Cuban is great. Stick with fries as the coleslaw is below average. There is plenty of dock space to park your boat as well as a ton of parking for cars. Watch the birds when dining outside. They can be a problem.
(3)Virginia G.
More then sketchy clientel. Absolutely the worst place I've been at in years. Filthy, dirty, monster size cobwebs hang from the ceiling. We sat in the "newly remodeled" bar area which appeared the cleanest. The food was horrific. Even the hubby who eats anything coudln't stomach his cuban here. Birds in the rafters dropping feathers and poop along with the overserved 50 year olds at the bar iced this cake. I guess if you like that kind of atmosphere you'll like it here.
(1)Laurie F.
This was the no-frills best waterfront bar in the world! The new owners have made it a bit of a tourist trap. They have removed the most comfortable picnic tables and replaced with very uncomfortable bars seats that do not encourage you to stay any longer than you must to finish your meal. The menu has improved but the prices have really become high and much of the menu continues to be a grease fest. A tiny side (about a 1/4 cup) dish of cole slow or bean salad is $3.00. They have probably the worst entertainment on all of Treasure Island and St. Pete Beach with the exception of Jeff Gurney who can be found in other places locally without the down sides of the "new" Gators!
(2)Luke H.
On a Florida Gators Football Game Night, this place is five stars. I wouldn't recommend it any other time. Head south to the Undertow unless the Gators are on. $10 buckets and $.50 wings during games.
(3)Adam A.
Not dog friendly anymore on the deck which we found out after taking the boat over there. They need better tv's and more of them for the gator games, unless you can get a seat in the upstairs bar it is a struggle to get a quality view of the games. The food is mediocre but the beer is cold and the view is awesome.
(3)John B.
Don't waste your time. beer was warm, dirty bathrooms, waitstaff that could care less if you were there, food was overrated
(1)Erin H.
Save yourself a bad mood and avoid this place. Horrible service and just "so-so" food. Our server screwed up 2 orders at our table and when we asked that one be corrected, she had the kitchen make a new sandwich then charged us for TWO sandwiches (which we didn't eat). One order requested an up charge side order...we didn't get the correct side order but didn't want to complain again so just dealt with it and our server still charged us for the upgrade! Once we got our checks (only 2 checks), there were random charges that didn't belong (I was charged with 2 beers and didn't drink ANY beer), the double charge for the sandwiches and the up charge for the side we didn't even get....so we asked her to correct them and she actually ARGUED with us. We finally asked for the manager and he begrudgingly made the corrections, but even he was completely unprofessional and wanted to argue about the sandwich they screwed up and whether we ordered it correctly or not (how difficult is PLAIN?). Do not waste your time here.
(1)Jason R.
If you are not a fan of the Gators, then you will hate this place. The food is surprisingly good and a great value for what you get. Their grouper sandwich was pretty freakin awesome by my standards. However, I would steer away from this place at night as it does get trashy (wet t-shirt contest, and etc). However, I would recommend stopping by here for lunch and some spirits while spending a relaxing day on the beach.
(3)Jennifer L.
I've been here twice on two separate visits to the area. I have fun, but that's because I love my friends. The local crowd is. . . interesting. Boat owners, locals, college girls and white trash. I saw no fewer than three couples one undone button away from actual sex, the kissing and petting were so heavy and over the top. The live music is fun, there are pool tables, I like that it's two levels, and you can boat up to it. It serves its purpose, but I really recommend going with people you already like.
(3)Brittany J.
Sucked! Keep in mine this was a wednesday afternoon... My friend and i were on vacation and stopped in for lunch after i researched this place to be pretty cool. Total disappointment. Our waitress, KACEY was so unenthused, no personality and didnt even give us her name. She kept repeating our orders back completely wrong and even apologized to us with "sorry, im really out of it today".. she gave us no silverware or napkins, never asked us how our food came out or if we wanted refills. Its like she read our minds that she wanted to give us our check as much as we wanted to get the hell out of there. Most likely because she was too busy chatting with one of her friends who happened to be eating at the bar. As we watched her walk to the register and count her tip she was talking to this friend at the bar and an emoloyee as they both turned and looked at us. Shes lucky we gave her 20%. How unprofessional. Waitressing is just not for everyone. Myself and my friend would know, we've done it for years.
(1)Mike R.
Now let me tell you this isn't a food review. Because if it was Gator's would not get a high rating. My review is all about Live Music and Gator's has it 7 days a week. This venue right on the Intercoastal at John's Pass is a place to go and let it out and have a good time. They usually have some really good cover bands that play here with the rare original acts that still have to make it by playing Bob Marley or Jimmy Buffett. The crowd is very diverse. Everything from underagers that sneek in to cougars on the prowl. One word of advice is stay away from the parking lot right at 2am when they kick everyone out and all the drunks are fighting and speeding. I have seen my fair share of 'incidents' at this place. But don't let that deter you. Great place to see some good local live music.
(3)Debi E.
I used to love this place. Not after today. It's just gross! Bathrooms were super dirty, and the place was not busy at all! Someone could have cleaned them! The inside had a very bad odor too. Food was 7-11 sandwich quality, and draft beer was very warm! $3.00 for a warm draft in a plastic cup.... Nope, don't think I'll be back. Too bad too, cuz I used to enjoy this place :-(
(1)Steve K.
Cannot even review the food. First we walked in and two disinterested waitresses did not even acknowledge we were there. Then I had to ask if we should seat ourselves. After sitting down, we waited over 10 minutes and no waitress. Meanwhile other patrons who arrived after us received menus and their drink orders taken. I have no tolerance for bad service, and we left to dine across the bridge at John's Pass. Just say "No" to going to Gators when in Treasure Island.
(1)Abby M.
Ahi Tuna WAS delicious! Beautiful Waterview scenery. Very relaxing!
(5)sterling h.
Nothing remarkable here. Football themed restaurant with plenty of seating and plenty of tv's. Not busy during lunch but it seems like it would be in the evening. Fairly standard food/service/prices.
(3)Deke K.
Great place for the younger set, looking for cheap beer, beach atmosphere, and fellow partiers. It's a shacky kind of place with a great outdoor seating area and view. I prefer it for lunch, with the sober crowd and more tolerant wait staff.
(3)Christina A.
Maybe it's cause I usually don't get food until I've had a few dranks in me, but I LOVE Gators! Ever since I moved from FL my cravings for beach food have gotten out of control, and Gator's doesn't disappoint (though I admit it may be a notch below Frenchy's). I went Sunday for the bikini contest party, and slipped inside to have a bite to eat while listening to the reggae band. I ordered the buffalo shrimp appetizer (which was annihilated within 2 minutes of reaching the table), and split both a seared tuna sandwich and a roast pork sandwich with my friend. Both were FANTASTIC. I've also had a blackened grouper sandwich from here, which was eh-good, but $15. and not worth that much! Don't ask for anything not on the menu bc "Market price" can be a lot more surprising than you think! It's a beach bar, people. Perfect for a drink and a sandwich after a long day in the sun. That's it!
(4)Jason R.
This place blows. I was there at happy hour on a Friday night and there was only one bartender working the packed saloon upstairs. Also, the crowd was disgusting. I won't be going back there anytime soon.
(1)Cassie B.
meh. spent three out of seven of my vacation nights here. If you like Midori they have a pretty good drink called the gator tail or something like that. Mostly townies but some tourists (like us) too and it's pretty much the only bar around. Had a DJ one night and a crappy cover band another night. Nice waterfront patio
(3)George N.
We frequent Gators a lot, and even though we're FSU fans they're always friendly to us anyway . Our last visit was on the 4th of July and even though we got there late, Sara was very accommodating. She clearly had her plate full but gave us great service and a friendly attitude. Could not ask for more, especially on Independence Day.
(4)Marnie L.
Very disappointed. The service was very slow. We ordered two burgers cooked medium & they were well done. The fish was not fresh and overall the food was just not good. If your looking to hang out & have drinks this may be a nice location but not ideal for dining
(1)Mike M.
Fun place to meet, chow down and blow off some steam. Not the place for a romantic evening to watch the sunset (although that's a future option from thier dockside tables). Tonight was a night to cheer and scream at the screens showing tonight's Lightning game, and argue every whistle blown by the ref. I had the Big Fish Sandwich, which was a very large portion of fresh fish on a nice bun (not those lame ones served at other places), with fresh lettuce, tomato and onions, and tartar sauce on the side. I had a side of fries that were perfect: the right portion, size, crunch and taste. My wife had a burger that she loved, plus our nacho appetizer was very good. Our server, Sara M, was super. She raced the very busy circuit continually tonight, kept our table stocked as needed, and kept her friendly smile at all times. Very nice job by all!
(4)Amy B.
...Service... poor ...Food... poor ...View... awesome! It's a love hate relationship with Gators, the location and view is awesome but the food and service are lacking. It's definitely a great bar place but if you want food, head somewhere else. We stopped here after spending the day at the sand bar to eat dinner and watch the Lightning... Somehow two tables of 6 people all ended up on one bill we never saw our server for an hour + at one point. Every time they brought something out of the kitchen they stopped to ask if it was for us... like no take some notes on where the food is supposed to be taken...? After we got our food, we never saw a server again we had to go get drinks from the bar but no one every brought us our bill from the table. When we went to leave we had to go to the bar and ask for the bill, to which we found out everything had been placed on one... what a nightmare.
(2)Skye C.
Normally I love coming here (mainly for the view) but this past experience will have me staying far away. First the service was horrible, the waitress had to come back 3 maybe 4 times to verify our order. At one point she just walked away as I was about to order a drink. The breaded shrimp was ok but the breading itself was blah. The rice bowl was decent but after a large roach landed on our table I was done. Sure roaches are everywhere but we told the waitress after we had to hunt her down and she ran away. Then we told the bartender/manager who said ok and continued to ignore us. We had to practically beg for the check. Other patrons started to apologize to us. We could not get out fast enough! I even called back the next day to report it to someone else. I received an apology and was told I would be taken better care of next time. I'm not convinced there will be a next time. I left hungry, thirsty and annoyed.
(1)Katy S.
It is rare that I make it to Gators, but I'm always glad that I do. Being a Gator fan, I love all of the memoribilia throughout the restaurant. Awesome Gator stuff aside, this is a BEAUTIFUL spot on John's Pass. The scenery is like a Florida postcard and this is a great place to have afternoon drinks and food. As for the food, I usually get the wings because I really like them! They have a great amount of sauce and the hot buffalo has some good kick to it. The nachos are also to die for. They are on a huge plate and are covered with chili, cheese, olives, tomatoes, and lettuce. If you are a Gator fan you HAVE to stop into Gators for a football game sometime. It is a really fun atmosphere for it and people get straight up rowdy!
(4)Thomas A.
I went to Gators for the first time this past Sunday, expecting the worst (given the reviews). The place is generally laughed-at by locals, but we decided to try it out since we were on the water and Gators has very nice docks we could access...I add points for the awesome dock setup. Service was passable! Sure I had to go begging for a refill on my tiny iced tea, but I've seen much worse. The Veggie quesadilla was downright delicious, as was the fish spread. My friends wings were "meh", but edible. Overall a solid 3-star "It's OK!" really fits the bill. I probably would not come here off the street, but off the water - anytime!
(3)Andrea L.
Ehhhh I swear this place used to be wayyyy better. The food is alright but nothing to rave over. My turkey club was of massive proportions and the grouper sandwich was tiny in comparison. I think I will come back for dinner next time since it has been years. The outside deck on the water is fanatic. Chill spot to eat lunch while dolphin watching!
(3)Tara G.
This wouldn't normally be my type of place, but it was convenient to John's Pass (where some friends and I were going after lunch) so we stopped here one chilly afternoon. I just wish it hadn't been too cold to sit outside. Service was good for the most part, though at the end of the meal our server seemed to disappear and I wasn't able to get a much-needed water refill. I had the Mojo Pork Sandwich with the cilantro lime rice on the side and both were delicious, the sandwich especially. Prices were average for a touristy place like this, so no complaints there.
(3)Christopher B.
This review is for the upstairs bar only. We have had some mediocre experiences with Gators before but this experience totally changed our minds. First we went downstairs where it is a college style party/sports bar. BLAH. We didn't get much service and so we wandered around. What did we find? Well I am glad that you ask. We found our new saturday night hangout. We love the upstairs bar. We especially love it because it is staffed on saturday night by one of the best bartenders that we have found in St. Pete. Thank you Mike. Mike works the upstairs bar on saturday nights and is a rare gem since he understands how to balance a cocktail, not to shake a clear drink, and how to make a drink taste better than any drink has a right to. He is a MacGyver of cocktails crafting classic cocktail tastiness out of the swill that a college bar calls liquor. Together with his trusty bar back TJ he brings a rare quality to any bar. PRIDE. In a world where bartenders are content to pour fuzzy navels and pre mixed mojitos, Mike infuses his cocktails with quality, class, and pride. And it comes out tasting like a drink 3 times it's price. It comes out tasting like you left the worn out wood and tired, faded alligator motif behind and found a place worthy of its waterfront neighborhood. But don't take my word for it. Go to Gators and ask for Mike and ask for a classic cocktail. We had bourbon sours, original recipes of several stripes, and the first well made mojito that I have had in all of Tampa Bay. And believe me I have looked for 5 years for a well made Mojito. As for the rest of Gators... It's an ok bar worthy of 3 stars and, if they run Mike off, this review shall return to 3 stars like all the rest. If Gators is smart, they will encourage Mike to elevate their style, profitability, and quality of cocktail. Until then you can find me here on Saturday nights.
(5)Dennis O.
I don't write reviews too often but this place really stood out on our trip to Florida, they had a great band playing last night called Luna blue after the Hockey game and the atmosphere was electric, the service was great at the table then we hung out at the bar and it was equally as good, this will be our base camp on our next trip, also I need to add that the guys beside us caught some fish and bought it in and the kitchen cooked it which I taught was very cool! See you next time Gators thank you!!!
(5)Treasure I.
The building and location is great!.......but that is it... Food- Not good/Overpriced. Bar- Not friendly/Overpriced. You will notice the place is not ever busy, that is because us locals know how bad it is, and we are waiting for it to close so something fun/reasonably priced/friendly will open for everyone to enjoy.
(1)Colm O.
Average food and below average service. Real potential to be great but very poor....from missed orders to extremely long wait times for food (over an hour from drinks order to food order) this is a place with a great location, but seriously lacking anything else....won't be back but should be, missed opportunity form the owners.
(2)Shabba R.
Gators has been kind of hit or miss for me over the years; both on food and service. The location is of course great; right on the water and plenty of scenery. The second best thing is that drink prices are typically good and more often than not, leaning towards the stronger side. Sometimes they even have incredible specials on days you want to go there; for example, during NFL season two years ago, they were running $2 Smirnoff any flavor, and they were great pours. My wife and I spent almost the whole season there. In contrast, the tourist trap Bubba Gump Shrimp Company right across the inlet from Gators, charges $8+ for a pre-mix garbage Long Island. I recommend sitting on the patio and waving at the suckers who get conned into drinking there. A word of warning; this place can get a little crazy around spring break and weekends during the summer. There are often live radio broadcasts going on, events, drunk college kids everywhere, etc. Would have been me at that age, so I still find it entertaining to watch and don't mind it, but you've been warned. If you're staying at a near by hotel/condo/resort for vacation or spring break, take a cab if it's too far to walk; parking can fill up quickly if it's a popular time. The food is typical bar fare. It's decent, don't set your expectations too high and you'll be fine. As far as people watching, it can be pretty entertaining at Gators as you see all types and sometimes the unexpected. Like what? Well, I mean, how about a fishing boat puling up to fill the water bowl for the tiger cub roaming around in it? Yeah, that happened; picture attached to my review. It's not on the beach, so if you were looking for a beach bar, this won't cut it. It is on the water though with a full service dock, so if you're a local boater, it's a great destination. Interior is just a complete blend of randomness; mostly dated, a lot of U. of Florida memorabilia throughout. My wife and I are FSU/USF folks, so we could pass on that, but the place is still fun regardless so don't be uptight about them being fans of a school you may not like; just go have fun.
(3)Sherri W.
Seriously been sitting here for over an hour, no food No drinks...the service here is horrible and no one has even come to our table to check on us, we have just asked for the manager more to follow
(1)Adam P.
The atmosphere was really awesome and the food was great! The best part our our night and experience was SARA!!!!! She get a 10 out of 5 stars in my book. She made the experience so enjoyable! The PattyMelt was very flavorful and the onion rings are a MUST! The prices are great as well! Come check out this dockside restaurant and experience the cool atmosphere
(5)Jimmy G.
We docked the boat on their floating dock after coming in from an offshore fishing trip. The bartender gave us a couple of buckets of ice to put on our catch. The drinks were perfect and Stephanie, the manager on duty, bent over backwards to make sure we got everything we ordered. We will be back soon.
(5)Cara K.
As a die-hard Georgia Bulldog, of course I had some hesitation agreeing to go to a place called Gators. But, it's not too far from my family's beach house and it's on the water, so I figured, why not? My worst fears were confirmed when I encountered the University of Florida football statutes and orange/blue combos outside of the restaurant. As we all know, though, you can't judge a book by its cover. Although there was plenty of hideous UF paraphernalia for sale in the gift shop & around the bar, there's also plenty of true alligator stuff, which I can handle. The patio is the place to be, sitting right on the water, with pelicans & seagulls sitting & waiting patiently in hopes of a dropped fry. You can also pull right up to the dock via boat & come on in for a drink or meal. The food is OK. As a vegetarian I'm always a little more limited. I will say that while their black bean burger was fine for a veggie burger (middle of the road) it most certainly was NOT a black bean burger. (It was vegetarian, just far too light in color to contain more than a couple of black beans!) The onion rings are serious business and the key lime pie is fantastic (photo uploaded separately.) So, despite the food not being much higher than a 6-7 out of 10, I love being right on the water and the staff is pretty friendly. I've been twice and will continue to visit when I'm at the beach.
(4)Alejandra A.
We went to watch the game, play a lil pool, enjoy the atmosphere, & snack on some food! Staff was friendly, nachos were huge & good, they had a live band that sang great & provided great entertainment! They also played good music when band wasn't singing! Great spot to chill & excellent pic opportunities on the outside deck area!
(3)David W.
We went on a Friday afternoon. There was hardly anyone in the place, which was a bit worrisome initially. However once we got our food and drinks soon realized this place was great! The waitstaff was excellent. We had 2 different servers, as we stayed for a long time and the first waitress was getting off. Our service was seamless. The food was good, but the presentation of each dish was not what food critics would consider visually stunning. The nachos were freaking huge! As a nacho connoisseur I found this to be delightful. The drinks were very good and they have a nice house drink menu. The view of John's pass is really nice. They have an outdoor area with a few seats that would be good in less windy weather than we experienced. This would also be a good place to park your boat and come in for a bite to eat.
(5)Tina L.
We walked over the bridge, as things were slow on the Madeira side and Yelp had their posted hours until 1am. There was a good crowd grooving to an Elvis impersonator. At 8:30pm when Elvis left the building, so did everyone else and they closed at 9pm. We did manage to get some wings (pretty tasty, but not very spicy) and cold beer before it was time to walk the bridge. The bathrooms were all outside and, well...you can imagine. I'd go back though.
(4)Mark H.
This place could probably be awesome, to be honest, but it's not. They get props for location and size, and that's where the good ends, unfortunately. The guy checking ID at the door has gots ta go! I'm no proctologist, but I know an asshole when I see one. Had I been alone and not meeting friends, I wouldn't have even gone in. First impressions are sort of important. So we moved past that, and walked up to one of the two bars to order a drink. We stood there, unattended, for quite some time, so La Chica went and stood at the other bar and we played a fun little game of "who can get served first." Well, shortly after, the bartender finally approached me and asked what she could get me. I attempted to order 3 Irish car bombs, but she had a litany of reasons as to why she couldn't make them. Excuses ranged from improper receptacles to price adjustments in her computer. I cut her off and told her it was too complicated, and I walked to the other bar, where the bartender said he could indeed make me 3 Irish car bombs, with no problem. Well, he brought us 3 big ass shots of something that looked to be Bailey's mixed with another liquor. We had to explain to him that we needed beer to pour the Bailey's mystery mix into. He seemed confused, but gave us the beers. After being there for a while, I had to hit the head to make room for more beer. The first urinal I walked up to had someone's rejected tuna-looking meal in it. Pleasant, huh? After draining my bladder, I washed my hands and went to dry them, and guess what? No towels. I guess my shirt will do. Look, I don't normally rant about restrooms, but when I went back to a few hours later, the aforementioned conditions were still in play. I guess they don't have anyone checking on the condition of the restrooms during the night? smh The only good thing was the live entertainment. I'm not really into Country, but these guys sounded great, and they had the floor packed. Still though, I don't think I will ever step foot in this place again.
(2)Jana M.
First the good then the bad. The waterfront location with multi-level views are perfect this sportsbar is large gets cold in winter months but so many areas to drink and enjoy the chill soon fades the u.f. gators football coaches and recruits have used this place for post recruiting parties while checking out the local high school talent .in their Spurrier hay day I met all of the team and coaches during football season those championship rings are beautiful gator fans share big screen t.v.s memorabilia and the gators. The BAD I don't care how much new management CLAIMS the menu food and service has IMPROVED. IT HAS NOT. I could almost accuse gators of wanting you to spend out at the bar that you get so drunk you forgot about ordering 2 hours earlier but I can't because the drink service sucks too. So do the bands. this was the greatest bar at one time not now
(1)Bev S.
Visited gators last night, food was pretty good, however, our waiter, Craig, was "Over-the-Top". He was the Best, made our evening!
(4)Jamey H.
Very friendly staff and delicious food with excellent views! If you like Cubans gotta try theirs best in town! Their specialty drinks are all delicious as well.
(5)Rachel B.
If I could give them a negative star, I would. Wish I would have listened to all the yelp reviews. We waited 1 hour after we ordered our food to get it. There was barely anyone in the restaurant. When the waiter gets there he says sorry the kitchen is just a mess right now. After getting our food, we realized it was HORRIBLE. I got the fish tacos that were gross, soggy, and mushy. The rice is came with was hard and flavorless. Yuck. We asked to talk to the manager, Tim, and he says sorry we have 60 tickets in the kitchen right now. Im sorry, but If you can't crank out that many tickets in less than an hour, you need to reevaluate your operations. He also only offered to only comp one meal, even though I could not even eat mine. I will say our waiter josh did a good job of trying to make everything right after, but totally not worth the time or money. Do not come here! Do not waste your time!
(1)John K.
Awesome place, use to be my hangout when I lived in Saint. Pete. Great atmosphere, great people/service, great food. Excellent views of John's pass from eating out on the dock, keep your eyes open and watch for dolphins swimming by. My menu favorites were the blackened grouper sandwich, grouper/gator nuggets, smoked fish spread, and the bbq pulled pork is all excellent and there is so much more. Gators hosts bands and also hosts fishing tournaments such as the king fish and tarpon festivals. If you want a great time listen to what king Gator says "Get your ass to the pass"
(4)Jerry T.
NO SUNDAY TICKET! great view nice staff cold drinks below average food above average prices unless you're a tourist ...doubt i'd ever go back unless dragged there by my crew or by boat
(2)Robin R.
Gators was recommended to us as a great place to go for lunch as we traveled up the coast. It is a common place for locals so it is perfect if you are trying to avoid the major tourist crowd and tourist prices. The view is fantastic, they are right on the waterway and you can sit inside or out and watch the water. We saw dolphins swim by and they even have charts to help you identify the different dolphins. The food was really good and the service was great. When we were done eating the waitress even gave us refills of our drinks in plastic cups with lids (without asking) so we could walk outside and watch the wildlife. Definitely would recommend checking it out!
(4)Ms Fabulous Jay R.
Had to catch my HEAT game, and loved how our table allowed us to do just that. Great fun atmosphere. Very casual. BEAUTIFUL outside views. Just do not order a mojito here, it was not very tasty. The bathrooms are located outside which is not the best for safety reasons,but overall for a cold beer and amazing nachos...YES!! Nice spot!
(3)Time W.
Usually an exxxcellent staff. Food is good, ... pricey, unless you get the super nachos big order!!!! Drinks are OK. Great spot to be by the water. Many choices of seating areas, which is good. Gator football day is a crowd, which I generally avoid - super LOUD. I like the place because I know exactly what to expect.
(3)