What we ordered: red snapper and churrasco The churrasco was TINY. Everything was overpriced. The service was awful. We waited a long time for our drinks, for our food, for our check, and for our change. Unfortunately I would not recommend this place to anyone.
(1)
Heather S.
This was a cute spot. You wouldn't know it was here just by the outside. My boyfriend was unsure at first but when we walked in the inside was nice and my boyfriend said it reminded him of Columbia. The servers were nice and gave us plantain chips when we sat down. We ordered the fajitas and they came out in a timely manner. The waitress asked if I wanted hot sauce. I said yes and it was pretty hot but good :-) I came here because of groupon but would come back.
(4)
Johnny S.
Food was very delicious, service was excellent. First time in Tampa. Can wait to come back...
(4)
Jamie H.
This place is incredible. The service is always top notch. Servers are always very friendly and attentive And I have yet to have anything I didn't love. Best cafe con leche. Love the seafood rice and the wedding soup. The chicken has great flavor. Love the ceviche. And I can't forget the flan. Mmmmm. like I said. I have yet to be disappointed. And I have tried a lot on the menu. :-). Definitely worth trying. I was brought here by a friend after driving by for many years and I'm glad I was. With all the Spanish restaurants in Tampa it's east to look over a little unassuming Spanish restaurant. But this place is definitely worth going to.
(5)
Scott T.
Okay, I might give this place a 1.5 stars as it was just terrible. Of course I may have chosen the wrong dishes. The meal started with fried plantains with a white sauce as a amuse-bouche which was ok. I ordered a Michelob Beer and was brought a Mich Ultra - I guess no Mich? Then we had a a deviled crab - oily terrible burnt -- could not eat it! A ball of grease. I had the "pork chops" with yellow rice a and a salad What i got was a pounded cutlet, breaded and DRY as a STONE! I was glad to have good teeth to chew it -- but it was not worth eating - no flavor except the hot sauce I put on it. The salad dress was awful. My companion had the shrimp mofongo con camarones, which was about &11.00 and 7 shrimp. But he said it was tasty but dry. I tasted it and thought it was VERY unappealing and bad. The bathrooms are outside of the building in the back. The place was untidy. I expected something different and that is what I got. For a Wednesday night at 7PM there were about 8 people in the restaurant. Service was pleasant - but I must have caught them on a TERRIBLE cooking night! I would not go back, but my companion said he would for the mofongo and would give the place a 3 star.
(2)
C David S.
This is a hidden gem in Tampa... a great place to find good Latin cuisine. The menu offers a big variety from several Latin American regions. it was a pleasant surprise to find out that they had some really good hot sauce. The server warned us that hot sauce was hot so we ask for several more dishes of it. Great food. Great service. Don't let the exterior keep you from going inside.
(4)
Jose L.
Always have a GREAT meal. The girls here give AMAZING service. EXTREMELY customer oriented establishment. The establishment specializes in Columbian cuisine and offers several Puerto Rican dishes since the predecessor business at this location was Tainos, a Puerto Rican restaurant. I've ordered both Columbian and Puerto Rican dishes. I am Puerto Rican myself and must say, their Mofongo is ON POINT. Taste just like made back in The Island. Very competitive pricing as well and prepared fairly quickly. MUST try the fresh made limeade. HIGHLY recommend for anyone craving good Columbian or Puerto Rican food.
(5)
Chris L.
The guys in my office and I eat here at least once a week. The different daily specials are great. The chicken is really good and the hot sauce is out of this world.
(5)
Jeanette A.
Great little hidden Latin restaurant. I've driven past this restaurant frequently and never stopped by until yesterday and I'm so glad I did. It's a mix of Latin American dishes focusing on Cuba, Puerto Rico and Colombia. We ordered the bandeja paisa and the churrasco, the bandeja paisa was good but not great. However the churrasco is highly recommended. Overall great authentic Latin restaurant; prices are reasonable, restaurant was very welcoming, great mix of people and the food was authentic and good. We will be going back.
(4)
Mike S.
Another fine Latin restaurant in West Tampa, offering a gustatory tour of the Carribean, Central & South America---offering dishes and beers from Puerto Rico, Argentina, Cuba, Mexico, Columbia, Peru, etc. We sampled the ceviche, mofongo, grilled shrimp and sandwiches to go. Also they served complimentary fresh-fried plantain chips with a wonderful aioli sauce with a faint touch of cilantro. Prices are very reasonable, portions are generous, and food is quite good, if somewhat mildly/timidly seasoned. The mofongo is not at all greasy, but also hard to taste the requisite garlic, and the "hot" ceviche required additional sauce to bring out the tang that goes so well with lime-pickled shrimp, squid and octopus. They also offer very low price lunch specials such as chicken with yellow rice, ropa vieja, and picadillo. Service was welcoming and very eager to please. Decor was a bit kitchy with assorted beer promotional items, soccer balls, antique tea pots and a leering dummy hanging from the ceiling......I think it was plastic....... We intend to visit again after breezing past for many years......it is in the outparcel of the Sweetbay at Hillsborough and Armenia....the core of the comida corridor (and far more than little Bogota)
(3)
Rachel R.
Used to live down the street & decided to give this place to try, glad we did! Having a friend from Colombia, we have enjoyed some authentic colombian dishes and this place did not disappoint our expectations! My husband and I have been back several times, but I always get the same thing- why change your order when it's just SO good! I always get the fried steak, forget what it is in Spanish- comes with lime and grilled onions on top, with rice on the side. Amazinggggg. My husband tends to try something new every time and hasn't been disappointed yet. The service is always good, I wouldn't say its the best (hence the 4 stars) and not too expensive. Also, love the fried plantains & yogurt dip they serve as an appetizer. Definitely worth a visit!
(4)
Mary Grace P.
On a whim I bought a $10 for $20 groupon. My sis and I drove to this hole in the wall spot off hillsborough ave at around 930 pm. They're open til 11 p on the weekends. My sister ordered shrimp mofongo and I had the churrasco skirt steak. We also ordered two coronas, mainly bc they had a big blow up version of a corona bottle on their ceiling. Should've would've ordered their piña colada like our neighboring diners. Our waitress was very nice and pretty. Gives us something to look at I guess. My steak came with two sides of which I ordered white rice and red beans. Wasn't a huge fan of the steak but next time I come here I'll have to order some of their seafood items. Rose's mofongo wasn't too bad but I've had better.
(3)
Kevin F.
I went here during lunch the other day. There was good music and nice (albeit sparsely seen) staff. The pasteles here were tasty, even though I originally came to try the mofongo. Will have to come back soon.
(4)
Jeachel T.
It was a good spot. The steak quesadilla was great, had a nice spice to it. My friend had a passion fruit drink which was great. I had the mofongo with chicken, the mofongo was less garlic then I am used too but it was good, the chicken was good and crispy, and the service was good as well. Going back to get some more of that passion fruit drink before I head back to NC.
(4)
Rachel M.
When I see a Colombian flag flying in the wind I get excited...lol, well that's my husband's background so I have to go. The best part of our meal is the outside patio. It is nicely shaded with tons of fans. Very cool place. You can not even tell that it's right on the busy hillsborough. The food, blah blah blah, and blah. Is it frozen and heated up? I don't know. Seemed like it. I don't pay for frozen and reheated. I can make that even better. We had the paisa dish. I forget the name. It's steak, sausage, arepa, avocado rice and beans. It's big that's why we split it, but there was no flavor, seasoning, anything. The food was not of a good quality nor taste. Oh yeah, if you are looking for the bathroom. Go to the back of the building and that is where it will be.
(1)
Simon M.
I misjudged this place from the outside the first time i had went. The food was surprisingly excellent for the price and the portions were huge! Our server spoke in a heavy columbian accent (very similar to Sofia Vergara's lol), and our food came out very quickly and steaming off the plate. I recommend anything with the mofongo, or the baked chicken lunch special!
(4)
Susan R.
Seriously good Latin American food is served at this very laid back, unpretentious, family run restaurant where we were the only guests speaking English, always a good sign. The menu (in Spanish) has English descriptions which were very helpful as was our friendly, efficient, and knowledgeable server, Yaimara. Started off with a piña collada and sangria, both refreshing and festive in their presentation and accompanied by crisp, salty rounds with a mild creamy dip. A cheese quesadilla appetizer was embellished with a tasty salad of shredded lettuce and pickled onion and served with a spicy dip. I chose the seafood "wedding soup" which was loaded with large, tender shrimp, scallops, fish, squid, and octopus in a delicious creamy bisque served with delectable fried stuffed tosterones, reminiscent of potato latkes. Yaimara recommended the churrasco, a wonderfully seasoned skirt steak, which was grilled to perfect medium-rare, as requested, and smothered with a piquant blend of cooked onions and peppers. It was accompanied by 2 sides. We were both too full for dessert or coffee. The chefs and servers at Monserrate really know what they are doing
(5)
Manny L.
Chicken special is the best bang for your buck meal in Tampa bay...I gotta go back there for a Visit!
(3)
Vita G.
Everything we ordered was delicious. I had the churrasco & my mom had the fried fish and we loved it! They even brought us a complimentary appetizer of plantain chips with garlic aioli sauce. Will definitely go back for more.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Divey Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
Steve E.
Monserrate Restaurant is a small, neighborhood-style Latin café located along Hillsborough Avenue, right near the intersection with Armenia Avenue. If you're coming from the east along Hillsborough then Monserrate will be on your right, next to Aaron's Furniture and just before the light at Armenia. This small stand-alone building is brightly decorated with colorful Colombian flags. There is an outdoor covered patio as well as the inside café and bar area. Some folks may enjoy sitting outside, but I prefer the welcoming blast of air conditioning as you walk through the front doors. The decorations seem to mirror the diverse menu options from the Caribbean, Central and South America -- there's a little bit of everything, and it's all nicely prepared. There were two ladies working the restaurant when I was there for a late lunch, and both were extremely friendly and willing to answer my questions about the menu. They brought me a complimentary plate of fried plantain chips along with a bowl of creamy garlic aioli dipping sauce while I read through the menu. This is a terrific place to come and sample a lot of different flavors of the region, without being forced into one nationality or cuisine. It never hurts to learn a bit of Spanish and be courteous to the servers. They always seem to smile and thank you for making the effort to speak in their native tongue, and then they are quick to give you recommendations. There were a number of delicious lunch options on the menu including churrasco steak, chuletas (pork chops), one of my personal favorites - Bandeja Paisa, red snapper, roast pork, monfongo, fajitas, ropa vieja, picadillo, grilled shrimp, ceviche, and Cuban sandwiches just to name a few of the choices. I ended up ordering another one of my favorite dishes -- Masas De Puerco (fried pork cubes), and enjoyed that with yellow rice and black beans. The pork was very tender and juicy, and it came smothered with grilled onions and plenty of lime wedges for seasoning. Inexpensive and huge portions! Monserrate is a nice little place to sample tasty Latin food and enjoy a relaxing afternoon. Give them a try and see what you think?
(4)Mailoha A.
What we ordered: red snapper and churrasco The churrasco was TINY. Everything was overpriced. The service was awful. We waited a long time for our drinks, for our food, for our check, and for our change. Unfortunately I would not recommend this place to anyone.
(1)Heather S.
This was a cute spot. You wouldn't know it was here just by the outside. My boyfriend was unsure at first but when we walked in the inside was nice and my boyfriend said it reminded him of Columbia. The servers were nice and gave us plantain chips when we sat down. We ordered the fajitas and they came out in a timely manner. The waitress asked if I wanted hot sauce. I said yes and it was pretty hot but good :-) I came here because of groupon but would come back.
(4)Johnny S.
Food was very delicious, service was excellent. First time in Tampa. Can wait to come back...
(4)Jamie H.
This place is incredible. The service is always top notch. Servers are always very friendly and attentive And I have yet to have anything I didn't love. Best cafe con leche. Love the seafood rice and the wedding soup. The chicken has great flavor. Love the ceviche. And I can't forget the flan. Mmmmm. like I said. I have yet to be disappointed. And I have tried a lot on the menu. :-). Definitely worth trying. I was brought here by a friend after driving by for many years and I'm glad I was. With all the Spanish restaurants in Tampa it's east to look over a little unassuming Spanish restaurant. But this place is definitely worth going to.
(5)Scott T.
Okay, I might give this place a 1.5 stars as it was just terrible. Of course I may have chosen the wrong dishes. The meal started with fried plantains with a white sauce as a amuse-bouche which was ok. I ordered a Michelob Beer and was brought a Mich Ultra - I guess no Mich? Then we had a a deviled crab - oily terrible burnt -- could not eat it! A ball of grease. I had the "pork chops" with yellow rice a and a salad What i got was a pounded cutlet, breaded and DRY as a STONE! I was glad to have good teeth to chew it -- but it was not worth eating - no flavor except the hot sauce I put on it. The salad dress was awful. My companion had the shrimp mofongo con camarones, which was about &11.00 and 7 shrimp. But he said it was tasty but dry. I tasted it and thought it was VERY unappealing and bad. The bathrooms are outside of the building in the back. The place was untidy. I expected something different and that is what I got. For a Wednesday night at 7PM there were about 8 people in the restaurant. Service was pleasant - but I must have caught them on a TERRIBLE cooking night! I would not go back, but my companion said he would for the mofongo and would give the place a 3 star.
(2)C David S.
This is a hidden gem in Tampa... a great place to find good Latin cuisine. The menu offers a big variety from several Latin American regions. it was a pleasant surprise to find out that they had some really good hot sauce. The server warned us that hot sauce was hot so we ask for several more dishes of it. Great food. Great service. Don't let the exterior keep you from going inside.
(4)Jose L.
Always have a GREAT meal. The girls here give AMAZING service. EXTREMELY customer oriented establishment. The establishment specializes in Columbian cuisine and offers several Puerto Rican dishes since the predecessor business at this location was Tainos, a Puerto Rican restaurant. I've ordered both Columbian and Puerto Rican dishes. I am Puerto Rican myself and must say, their Mofongo is ON POINT. Taste just like made back in The Island. Very competitive pricing as well and prepared fairly quickly. MUST try the fresh made limeade. HIGHLY recommend for anyone craving good Columbian or Puerto Rican food.
(5)Chris L.
The guys in my office and I eat here at least once a week. The different daily specials are great. The chicken is really good and the hot sauce is out of this world.
(5)Jeanette A.
Great little hidden Latin restaurant. I've driven past this restaurant frequently and never stopped by until yesterday and I'm so glad I did. It's a mix of Latin American dishes focusing on Cuba, Puerto Rico and Colombia. We ordered the bandeja paisa and the churrasco, the bandeja paisa was good but not great. However the churrasco is highly recommended. Overall great authentic Latin restaurant; prices are reasonable, restaurant was very welcoming, great mix of people and the food was authentic and good. We will be going back.
(4)Mike S.
Another fine Latin restaurant in West Tampa, offering a gustatory tour of the Carribean, Central & South America---offering dishes and beers from Puerto Rico, Argentina, Cuba, Mexico, Columbia, Peru, etc. We sampled the ceviche, mofongo, grilled shrimp and sandwiches to go. Also they served complimentary fresh-fried plantain chips with a wonderful aioli sauce with a faint touch of cilantro. Prices are very reasonable, portions are generous, and food is quite good, if somewhat mildly/timidly seasoned. The mofongo is not at all greasy, but also hard to taste the requisite garlic, and the "hot" ceviche required additional sauce to bring out the tang that goes so well with lime-pickled shrimp, squid and octopus. They also offer very low price lunch specials such as chicken with yellow rice, ropa vieja, and picadillo. Service was welcoming and very eager to please. Decor was a bit kitchy with assorted beer promotional items, soccer balls, antique tea pots and a leering dummy hanging from the ceiling......I think it was plastic....... We intend to visit again after breezing past for many years......it is in the outparcel of the Sweetbay at Hillsborough and Armenia....the core of the comida corridor (and far more than little Bogota)
(3)Rachel R.
Used to live down the street & decided to give this place to try, glad we did! Having a friend from Colombia, we have enjoyed some authentic colombian dishes and this place did not disappoint our expectations! My husband and I have been back several times, but I always get the same thing- why change your order when it's just SO good! I always get the fried steak, forget what it is in Spanish- comes with lime and grilled onions on top, with rice on the side. Amazinggggg. My husband tends to try something new every time and hasn't been disappointed yet. The service is always good, I wouldn't say its the best (hence the 4 stars) and not too expensive. Also, love the fried plantains & yogurt dip they serve as an appetizer. Definitely worth a visit!
(4)Mary Grace P.
On a whim I bought a $10 for $20 groupon. My sis and I drove to this hole in the wall spot off hillsborough ave at around 930 pm. They're open til 11 p on the weekends. My sister ordered shrimp mofongo and I had the churrasco skirt steak. We also ordered two coronas, mainly bc they had a big blow up version of a corona bottle on their ceiling. Should've would've ordered their piña colada like our neighboring diners. Our waitress was very nice and pretty. Gives us something to look at I guess. My steak came with two sides of which I ordered white rice and red beans. Wasn't a huge fan of the steak but next time I come here I'll have to order some of their seafood items. Rose's mofongo wasn't too bad but I've had better.
(3)Kevin F.
I went here during lunch the other day. There was good music and nice (albeit sparsely seen) staff. The pasteles here were tasty, even though I originally came to try the mofongo. Will have to come back soon.
(4)Jeachel T.
It was a good spot. The steak quesadilla was great, had a nice spice to it. My friend had a passion fruit drink which was great. I had the mofongo with chicken, the mofongo was less garlic then I am used too but it was good, the chicken was good and crispy, and the service was good as well. Going back to get some more of that passion fruit drink before I head back to NC.
(4)Rachel M.
When I see a Colombian flag flying in the wind I get excited...lol, well that's my husband's background so I have to go. The best part of our meal is the outside patio. It is nicely shaded with tons of fans. Very cool place. You can not even tell that it's right on the busy hillsborough. The food, blah blah blah, and blah. Is it frozen and heated up? I don't know. Seemed like it. I don't pay for frozen and reheated. I can make that even better. We had the paisa dish. I forget the name. It's steak, sausage, arepa, avocado rice and beans. It's big that's why we split it, but there was no flavor, seasoning, anything. The food was not of a good quality nor taste. Oh yeah, if you are looking for the bathroom. Go to the back of the building and that is where it will be.
(1)Simon M.
I misjudged this place from the outside the first time i had went. The food was surprisingly excellent for the price and the portions were huge! Our server spoke in a heavy columbian accent (very similar to Sofia Vergara's lol), and our food came out very quickly and steaming off the plate. I recommend anything with the mofongo, or the baked chicken lunch special!
(4)Susan R.
Seriously good Latin American food is served at this very laid back, unpretentious, family run restaurant where we were the only guests speaking English, always a good sign. The menu (in Spanish) has English descriptions which were very helpful as was our friendly, efficient, and knowledgeable server, Yaimara. Started off with a piña collada and sangria, both refreshing and festive in their presentation and accompanied by crisp, salty rounds with a mild creamy dip. A cheese quesadilla appetizer was embellished with a tasty salad of shredded lettuce and pickled onion and served with a spicy dip. I chose the seafood "wedding soup" which was loaded with large, tender shrimp, scallops, fish, squid, and octopus in a delicious creamy bisque served with delectable fried stuffed tosterones, reminiscent of potato latkes. Yaimara recommended the churrasco, a wonderfully seasoned skirt steak, which was grilled to perfect medium-rare, as requested, and smothered with a piquant blend of cooked onions and peppers. It was accompanied by 2 sides. We were both too full for dessert or coffee. The chefs and servers at Monserrate really know what they are doing
(5)Manny L.
Chicken special is the best bang for your buck meal in Tampa bay...I gotta go back there for a Visit!
(3)Vita G.
Everything we ordered was delicious. I had the churrasco & my mom had the fried fish and we loved it! They even brought us a complimentary appetizer of plantain chips with garlic aioli sauce. Will definitely go back for more.
(5)