Gaspar's Grotto, a Notorious Pirate Bar ala Ybor City

While my sister was visiting from Upstate New York we spent a morning at the Florida Aquarium. During the month of September they were allowing members of Tampa's MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry) and/or Lowry Park Zoo reciprocal entry privileges. They called it "Swap-tember". Clever idea to increase traffic in all three venues. At least it worked on us. www.flaquarium.org/

My recently retired spouse, Vicki, sister Donna and me out front.

We have held a family membership to the zoo ever since we moved here and we have thoroughly enjoyed it. Even without the membership it is a great value for the price. One of the best in the area.

After the mid-day tour of the Aquarium it was time for a late lunch. Being so close to Ybor it seemed like the best idea to scope out a place to eat. We spotted "The Bunker" on our last visit and wanted to check it out. Its mainly a coffee and tea house with a menu too limited for our tastes, so it was back in the car to cruise 7th Avenue.

7th is the main drag of Ybor and has a healthy selection of shops and bar restaurants. One that has a fairly broad exposure to the street, with patio areas on both sides of the actual building, is Gaspar's Grotto. Gaspar's is self-billed as a Notorious Pirate Bar. www.gasparsgrotto.com/

The main building entrance.

This place just cries out PARTY! I'm sure it is a hot night spot with regular live music and activities in the center of all the parades and revelry that is Ybor.

The hostess and a handful of pirates at the main bar.

Our front window seats were adjacent to the start of what is an endless collection of memorabilia.

Picture does not do it justice

Menu offers a good selection of specialty drinks, dishes and desserts.

Blackened Mahi, tasty. Fries, well not so much.

Cheeseburger

Jamaican jerk chicken sandwich w/plantain chips, w/o bread

Buffalo chicken (as a wrap)

The kind of place you go to for the entertainment factor more than the scrumptious eats. However our server was very attentive and the food did make a lump where needed. We were having a very good day so it fit in to our theme of exploring Tampa quite nicely.

On our scale of YUCK to SUPER I would have to give it a Mini pass. Nothing to rave about but nothing to go the the ER over either.