Hula Bay Club

The Must-Try Restaurant of Tampa Bay.

"First we eat, then we do everything else" — M.F.K. Fisher

Hula Bay Club

Within this past week, I recently discovered an aesthetically-pleasing, Hawaiian-style restaurant, known as Hula Bay Club. However, I would have never known of its existence if it was not for the word of mouth of friends. I looked into Hula Bay’s social media channels, and I decided to go check it out for myself. Hula Bay is definitely a location that a person would never think to go to, unless they know it exists. Their establishment is located on a side-street off of Westshore Boulevard, and it is tucked off in the back of the parking lot. In general, their restaurant is nearly impossible to see from the street view unless an individual is in the passenger seat of the car. With that being said, their business put two flags by the entrance that read, “stop here for good food and drinks,” which I found to be pretty effective advertising.

Hula Bay is next door to a loading dock for boats, and another restaurant, named Duke’s Retired Surfer’s Island Bar, which I believe is owned by the same company. Their restaurant and location has an upscale-luxury, country-club feel to it from the layout of the parking lot, to its’ overall surroundings. The experience in its entirety felt very private and exclusive from the moment I stepped out of the car. While walking in, I immediately noticed the incredible scenery that this restaurant has to offer. Hula Bay not only has a pool and seating area on their lower-level deck, but they are also placed directly on Tampa Bay’s waterfront. When I went to their restaurant for the first time, it was a beautiful day, and my mood was instantly lifted by the warm, happy environment. Hula Bay is the type of establishment that would relieve any stress a person was feeling in their day, simply by being there.

While eating at Hula Bay, it was what I would consider to be “normally” busy. I noticed a lot of business suits, which did not surprise me too much, seeing as their restaurant is slightly on the expensive side. As I mentioned in my last post about Vallarta’s, this restaurant is only as costly as you make it, though. Since I am a college student and cannot always afford to go to fancy restaurants, I tend to scope out the best deals. With that being said, I found a free meal voucher coupon that I discovered through the “Hula Bay Club” Facebook page. I highly recommend liking their page on Facebook because this is the best way to utilize the promotions that are frequently offered. I used the promotional ad while being there, and the waitress told me that I could use it again, next time. In this regard, there are many ways to eat good-quality food, with an excellent view, for a cheaper tab than anticipated. Due to my experience, I am attaching the link to their Facebook page in hopes that there will be another promotion for any reader to take advantage of soon.

Altogether, I was in complete shock at their menu. Honestly, it is one of the largest menus I have been exposed to in a long time. Their menu is front and back, and it includes an endless amount of options. At first, I did not know if I was going to like it at this restaurant because I am not a big seafood fan. However, their menu was incredibly versatile and offered something for even the pickiest of eaters. It took me a while to order because I was torn between three different menu options due to how amazing everything sounded. After a while had passed, I eventually decided on grilled chicken tacos, which came in a “make it your own” style (as seen below). My food was absolutely delicious, and my boyfriend was obsessed with his “Kick’n Shrimp,” as well. He ordered from the appetizer section, and the portion was big enough to fill him up for hours (as seen below). The fact that the food was great made the experience even better. The view is beautiful enough that I would have still came back, just for drinks, otherwise.

Overall, the atmosphere of the restaurant is untouchable in my opinion. There was a nice breeze coming off the water and reggae music playing in the background. I felt at peace while being there. The happy hour specials were pricey, but they were efficient for the various liquor that gets put into them. The drink pictured below was their version of a "painkiller." The staff was amazing and on top of everything we asked for. The quality of the food and drinks themselves were unbeatable. For a point of reference, I would say that this restaurant experience closely resembles sitting on the patio at Whiskey Joe’s Bar and Grill. Hula Bay has indoor and outdoor seating, and the bar is located on both sides, which makes for a great level of convenience. Hula Bay provided a very serene experience, and I would without a doubt recommend this restaurant to anyone that enjoys scenery while eating or consider themselves to be a major seafood lover.

Facebook Page Link: https://www.facebook.com/hulabayclub/

Restaurant Link: http://hulabayclub.com/menu/

Work Cited for Cover Photo: https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/hula-bay-club-tampa?select=itJxiT0MoOg7FWwLLmm6GA