And if anyone but Bobboa drops an Ybor City in here....

Headed there in a week to see some Sprang Trainling. Yankees and Phillies games, apparently.

Just me and my boy Matt.

Staying at W Harbour Island?

Where should I hit up to eat and/or catch something that won't wash off with soap and water?

I believe this joint is in the running for a James Beard "best new". Highly recommended. One of my twins and his lady go there at least once every week, Tuesdays I think.

http://www.thetamparefinery.com/

More than one of these in the area. I went to the one in St. Pete 2weeks ago. Loved it.

http://www.ceviche.com/1653

Also went here 2 weeks ago. This is one of my favorite places in that area, but if you haven't eaten Ethiopian before, peruse the menu online first to see if it sounds like something you might like. And don't expect any silverware. Wonderful people who own it, too.

http://ethiopianrestauranttampa.com/

**edit**- left off this one to get your red meat fix.

http://www.bernssteakhouse.com/

As far as stuff that won't wash off, I can't help you much. I'll give you my 2nd ex's phone number if you really hate yourself.

I avoid Tampa like the plague, but i did get an incredible bj while on E at Mons years ago.

I'll also 2nd Bern's.

only time i've been to tampa i went to one strip club to get drunk and then to the one across the street to dem tiggies.

then i went to some retarded bar in ybor city and left after 2 drinks.

weak.

My ninja.

I'll be skipping the Ethiops. WORST. CUISINE. EVAR.

Is Ron Diaz still around? Maybe score some H and go fishing in the bay?

I can understand Ethiopian not being to everyone's taste, but give me some kitfo and injera and I'm good.

So that's a "yes" on the phone #?

The only time I've been to Tampa was in early 1999 when I was in 5th grade and I even hated it then. That can't have good implications for now.

Alternatively, I'll be in Birmingham on March 11th -- any suggestions? I know you're from Montgomery, but you must have some recs for a <24hr stay?

Edit: Good Ethopian food is AWESOME and I will never understand people who don't like it.

Bham: what do you want to do? The best restaurant in the state is Highland Bar and Grill, which also has a nice bar attached.

Bottletree is known as a great bar and live venue.

Ethiopian is mush served on a lazy Susan with bread that had the taste and texture of a used gym towel. That's why I don't like it.

Somebody give that boy a cheeseburger.

I hope it goes without saying that you ARE spending at least one snowblind night there.

Ybor City Brewing Co.'s beer was perhaps the worst swill I've ever tasted. Stay away from it.

maybe you can go to that bj place

cuban for white-folk:
cuban breezes - w hillsborough-ish
castillo's cafe - good hole-in-wall on armenia
the columbia - low up-scale cuban chain on left coast, open since 1905 if that means anything

if you make it over to st pete bch hit the don cesar (large pink hotel - you won't miss it) for dat brunch

Any Cuban for Cuban folk? I might LOOK like a honky....

Personally, I do NOT consider The Columbia as Cuban for white folk. In 1905, the family that started it were not cooking for Landed Gentry or Henry Flagler and his robber barons, they were cooking for Anyone who appreciated good Cuban food. As far as I know, the same family owns it and has the same approach. If you get a bad or inauthentic meal in there, I bet you took a wrong turn and only THINK you're in the right place.

If you want good locally brewed beer, I agree with avoiding the Ybor City brand. Get you one ore more variety of the Cigar City brews.

OK, I'm DEFINITELY going to this place.

every time i suggest the columbia to acquaintances who know the area, i get laughed at. it's a chain - you'll have a fine meal there, it's just no hole-in-the-barrio treasure with personality. leave that to castillo's or almost any other cuban vendor on armenia.

As to the "chain" characterization, there are a grand total of 7 locations- this isn't Subway or Burger King. As already stated, the Ybor venue has been there for over 100 years. The St. Augustine venue was opened in 1983. The remaining 5, I know nothing about, but I think 4 out of 5 of them have been around for 50 years or so. If you have to have flies in your flan to feel you got an authentic Cuban meal with the appropriate ambiance, by all means, stay away from Columbia. If you want quality Cuban food in a respectable and hospitable environment expertly served by Cuban gentlemen in white shirts and black bow ties, make believe you're in the collard patch and just wade in and get you a mess of it.

/comment

isn't any restaurant with multiple locations technically a chain?

Absolutely. Just like your balls belong in a bucket at the driving range with all the rest of them.

they've been getting teed up for damn near 45 years now, no reason to stop anytime soon