The Refinery - TampaThis place is super cute.This place is super cute. Only reason the ambience rating is a little low is because the surrounding neighborhood is just a little shady. Has an awesome upstairs patio but your vista is used car lots and exterminators :)
Food was excellent. Small menu, good variety of choices, diverse wine list very reasonably priced which is a real bonus. Had a "maters" appetizer that was fresh tomatos three ways sliced, diced and in a sorbet. Yum. Both had the chicken on house made biscuits. Great flavor!5/13/2013 12:00:00 AMCan't wait to go backMust try for foodies. Very small menu with a variety of foods you won't see at your typical chains. Vegetarian and Gluten free options. Great variety of craft beers. They change the menu weekly and use local produce whenever possible. We had the pork belly small plate to start which was fabulous as were our entrees. I was concerned that my boyfriend was not going to like the options they had on the menu as he is very picky and not very adventurous when it comes to food but he enjoyed it and said he would love to go back. Gourmet type food but in a very relaxed environment. Our server was very attentive and took alot of time going over the beer menu and specials.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing ExperienceI was referred to The Refinery by coworkers for my dad's 60th birthday. (I took him on a small "foodie tour" of Seminole Heights. The Refinery served as our main dining spot for supper.) At first we thought the menu appeared limited, but there really is something for everyone. All five people in our dinner party loved what they ordered...everything was delicious! I also thought it was amazingly priced for the excellent quality of food we were served. I am looking forward to heading back there soon.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of the best in townThe Refinery has been both times I have gone a very delightful experience. Beer selection is excellent. Wine too. The food is unique and flavorful. Portion Sizes are medium but can be considered just right for some. But for a Beer drinking place I suggest more bar food for the beer drinkers. ;-) I suggest throw some of the food talent at some of the usual stuff and give it a "refinery" edge.
Over all I would recommend this place to anyone. Good Job Refinery I hope you do well and stay open so I can enjoy this place more.5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat as alwaysIf you are an adventurous eater then this is your spot. Since the menu varies there is no chance of boredom. Some combinations are more a hit than others but there is never a 'bad' dish on the menu. For more conservative palates the burger is always a great option and the bread pudding!5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMFirst Time of ManyWe headed to The Refinery for the first time on my husband's birthday. The food was outstanding! My husband said the black grouper was the best he'd ever had. We'll be going back soon.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMWorth a trip from Atlanta.My second dinner at the Refinery, believe me I will not come to Tampa without eating there. Everything was wonderful, but then I expected that after my first vist last December.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat!We had a reservation for 8:45 on a Saturday night. We were sat right away, but a larger party waiting for a table literally stood right by our table, making it somewhat awkward. The sweet tea served in mason jars was not too sweet, just perfect. The food took a little longer than expected to come out, but it was hot and delicious. I know the menu changes every week, no repeats, but the Wookie Pie needs to be a permanent fixture, or at least give me the recipe!5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMCasual TuesdayThe restaurant has a great casual flair. I have eaten there several times each time they have a different and interesting dish.
The hanger steak is very good.
Their prices are reasonable and they have a good variety of wine and beer.4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMBrunch is Better when it's REFINED!Had brunch on Sunday at this hot spot with its up and coming chef and food options that rival those found in bigger cities in originality and presentation. The Manmosa is a great alternative to a predictable mimosa and the cheese grits that are available with some brunch selections or as a side are better than your Southrrn grandmother's best attempt as ours was made from scratch. The service was better than what you would find in most area restaurants and the meal was evenly paced as it should be on a relaxing Sunday in town. Definitely going back to try some of the other original creations fellow diners ordered which were well received.4/28/2013 12:00:00 AMI had wanted to dine at theI had wanted to dine at the Refinery for some time and I'm so glad I did! It is very reasonably priced and although the ingredients and combinations seem strange in some dishes, everything worked....beautifully! The flavors were so vibrant and the whole dinner was a wonderful experience.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMCome again!Chef came to speak to me about the small plate mistake and gave me one to make up for it. Im sure this is not the norm for the Refinery. Everything else we ordered was delightful to the palate as well as the eye. Portions are fair, so ordering a small plate for the fun of it will not be too much. while its not "kid oriented" they are equally friendly to small people.4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic experience. We wereFantastic experience. We were there early on a week night - great service. Food was amazing!4/15/2013 12:00:00 AMLovely eclectic place. YummyLovely eclectic place. Yummy food and nice people!!4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMSalt(y) of the EarthService was impeccable. Almost everything was on the salty side. Clams were sent back for being too salty to tolerate. Chef/owner came out to apologize. Vichyssoise was incredible. Quail would have been absolutely stellar, but was just on the salty side. The steak was a little dry and salty. The fish was also very salty... just not sure why the chef seems to have such a heavy hand with the salt.
The orange fluff dessert: the cake part was very dry (stale?), and the elements really didn't blend well. My girlfriend took one bite and gave up.
The staff and ambiance were fantastic.
I think I'll let them cycle to a new menu, and I'll give them another shot.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMDishes from local farms.Dishes from local farms. Menu changes every week and has never disappointed.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMI went with the clams as anI went with the clams as an app and the pork shoulder for an entree. The clams were done well. The pork shoulder was perfect. Greg Baker is to pork, what I.M. Pei is to architecture. I can say without hyperbole that this is the greatest place to eat in the world for the next 10000 years...
Don't walk, RUN!!!! to the Refinery!4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMA MustIncredible restaurant - genuine and friendly staff and great space. I ordered the special by the description alone and it was fantastic!4/10/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of my Tampa favorites!One of my Tampa favorites! This place never disappoints. Most people I know who have had poor experiences either a) judge the place on what it's not trying to be (fancy-pantsy white linen service) or b) do not research/ask questions about menu items (like, you know, pork belly is a fatty cut and anything pickled is bound to be sour -- who would order an item like that and then complain about it?).4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMWow!We dined at The Refinery last night for the first time. How could we have lived in Tampa for over 20 years and never heard of this fantastic place? I do not remember enjoying a meal this much, ever. The concept of changing their menu weekly depending on what ingredients are available locally is unique for this area and makes the prospect of returning interesting.
I am not a strict vegetarian, but lean that way about 75% of the time. The menu specifies which items are vegetarian and/or gluten free. I decided to stick to both and did not regret it. My appetizer, main course and dessert were all artfully prepared taste sensations that digested well. What more could you ask for in a meal? It is obvious to me that a very creative, experienced4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMIt's not always easy to getIt's not always easy to get a table, however when we do its very enjoyable.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was excellent! ThisThe food was excellent! This is not a "white table cloth" establishment, very casual, and quite loud , so it was hard to hear our other table companions. I would certainly go back for the creative cuisine!4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMIt's one of those unique placesIt's one of those unique places where you'd glady pay MORE if it were required! Very welcoming, very pleasant. I'll be back for more!3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMI LOVED the Refinery! We hadI LOVED the Refinery! We had 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts and we did not leave feeling overly full and bloated. The menu was unique and very very tasty. Our server was very knowledgable about where all the food came from and how it was made and had spot on beer and wine pairing suggestions. Overall, it was a great experience and we really enjoyed our time here.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMRefined Refinery//Menu changes weekly and had a unique blend of offerings, I totally enjoyed my Braised Pork Shoulder - very tender and tasty. One of my dining companions enjoyed the Pork Shoulder too. The third in our group enjoyed the pan roasted chicken. The server was knowledgable of the menu and the various ingredients,
It is a very casual restaurant which included a roof top bar area.
I would recommend The Refinery to my friends3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMWe were seated in the groundWe were seated in the ground floor dining area and waited on promptly. Our waiter was very helpful in guiding us through the menu and each course was served in a timely manner. Overall the food was delicious and our first visit was a terrific experience. We will defintely go back soon.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMgreat craft beer list interestinggreat craft beer list
interesting food
good adventure3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways an adventure in termsAlways an adventure in terms of the menu! As usual great and personable service.3/25/2013 12:00:00 AMDiamond in the RoughThe Refinery is definitely a diamond in the rough. Despite the jailhouse silverware and Jackalope on the wall, the atmosphere is really serene. We even asked about the paint color for our study at home. Absolutely delicious food! Literally cleaned every plate. So thankful a friend recommended it, this will be our go-to date night venue.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMWe enjoyed the eclectic andWe enjoyed the eclectic and unusual fare on the menu. The pork shoulder with maple-sugar glaze and beurre blanc sauce was especially fabulous. The service was excellent.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMThe noise level and ambianceThe noise level and ambiance are much improved with the "wall hangings."
Food great as always.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing food. What a greatAmazing food. What a great chef. Such value on the food and wine. Just a cool place, chef doing it his way. My entire party was blown away with this restaurant.3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMit was a great experience.it was a great experience. The food was great, the service was very good and I normally don't like bread pudding, but the one I had the other night was fabulous..3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMFantasticAwesome little spot just off Hillsborough Ave! We sat at the rooftop lounge area. The service was attentive and quick and the beer list was great. The food was amazing (we shared several little plates). The menu changes frequently and boasts local fresh ingredients! Mmmm - Definitely plan on returning to try tne entrees!3/19/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was outstanding. LovedFood was outstanding. Loved the upstairs open-air section. Wine was resonable and tasty.3/17/2013 12:00:00 AMDefinitely plan on returningFantastic food and fantastic service, both were exceptional and the best I have had in the Tampa Bay Area. Highly recommend it.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food, great service,Great food, great service, reasonable prices -- one of Tampa's best restaurants.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMWE loved our visit to theWE loved our visit to the Refinery! The littleneck clams small plate was out of this workd! Who knew clams went so well with pork?? My husband had the pork chop which had a great depth of flavors and I ate the sturgeon with lemongrass barley. We both cleaned our plates! That says a lot since we are pretty picky about restaurants. Chef may have gone a little too far with the chipotle devil's food cake- wasn't our favorite but we gave him kudos for the efforts! We will definitely be back soon!3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMSmall atmosphere and tightSmall atmosphere and tight quarters but a relaxing and laid back experience with an eclectic vibe. The food was very fresh and I enjoyed knowing I was supporting local farmers. Large selection of beer.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMWow, was it loud! And itWow, was it loud! And it was just people talking. We want to go back but will wait until we can dine outside. The food was excellent and so was the service. Loved that the food was soooo different than what you normally find in restaurants. Take out the loud noise, and we had an excellent time.3/14/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent oysters and amberjack.Excellent oysters and amberjack. Food is always diverse and different each visit. A great stop on Tampa's restaurant tour!2/21/2013 12:00:00 AM