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Ulele

4.7
4.7
11259 Reviews
$31 to $50
American
Top Tags:
Ulele (pronounced you-lay-lee) celebrates the vibrant fusion of ingredients from Florida waters and land once home to many Native Americans, including the legendary young princess Ulele.

Located on the Hillsborough River in Tampa Heights, 400 yards from the Straz Center for the Performing Arts. Indoor and outdoor waterfront dining. Lunch and dinner daily. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Featuring intricately flavored, visually appealing dishes prepared on our 10' round barbacoa grill.

Ulele operates in the lovingly re-imagined 1903 Tampa Heights Water Works building, which also includes its Ulele Spring Brewery to provide a number of craft beers on tap. Next door to Water Works Park.





Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 245 times today
Private dining

Private dining

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Additional information

  • Dining style

    Casual Elegant

  • Cuisines

    American, Contemporary American, Brewery

  • Hours of operation

    Mon–Thu, Sun 11:00 am–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–11:00 pm

  • Phone number

    (813) 999-4952

  • Website

    http://www.ulele.com/

  • Payment options

    AMEX, Contactless Payment, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

  • Dress code

    Business Casual

  • Executive chef

    Patrick Quakenbush

  • Private party facilities

    Ulele has several areas for dining that may be used for business meetings, social affairs, wedding events, charity functions, etc. These include inside the restaurant or outside in the beer garden, on the upper patio deck and on the riverside lawn (tents available).

  • Private party contact

    Emily Johnston: (888) 526-1152

  • Location

    1810 N Highland Ave., Tampa, FL 33602

  • Neighborhood

    Tampa

  • Cross street

    Henderson Avenue or 7th Avenue

  • Parking details

    Complimentary valet after 5 p.m. Fridays, lunch and dinner Saturdays and Sundays (with Ulele validation). Free street parking near the restaurant, and a free private lot on Doyle Carlton Drive (southern extension of Highland) across from Water Works Park.

  • Additional

    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Beer Garden, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

Popular dishes

What 11,259 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Tampa / Central Florida West

    Most Booked

  • Tampa

    Healthy

  • Tampa

    Great for outdoor dining

  • Tampa

    Great for scenic views

  • Tampa

    American

  • Tampa

    Most Booked

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Filters

  1. JR

    JudyRLa

    Tampa

    12 reviews

    3.0

    12 reviews

    Dined today

    overall3food3service5ambience2
    My husband and I had dinner on a Friday night; it was very busy. Our waiter, Matthew, was absolutely terrific! He suggested the calamari as an appetizer, and he was right: It was great! ("This is grown-up calamari," said my husband.) I had a vodka martini. For dinner I had the seared tuna salad, which suffered from being overdressed, completely overpowering the tuna. My husband had the crackling pork, which he said would have been "terrific if I'd gotten it right out of the oven, but it probably sat under a heat lamp for a while." A few years ago, designers must have gotten together and decided that what people really want is to eat dinner in a warehouse environment that bounces sound back and makes intimate conversation impossible. And probably if I were 40 years younger, I'd be giving Ulele a higher rating. When we finished dinner, my husband and I agreed, "It was fine." But "fine" doesn't mean we'll go back.
  2. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Tampa

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The Best experience
  3. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Tampa

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had great service and great food! We both enjoyed our food and our beverages. The server was very friendly and helpful as we have a food allergy and she was very helpful and took the time to find an alternative to the drink we wanted no longer being offered. Definitely will be back!!

    UleleResponded 1 day agoThank you for the great review! We are so glad that you enjoyed your meal and that you received 5-star hospitality. We look forward to your return!

  4. J

    Jillb

    Tampa

    86 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    86 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Rico was a great server. And Noel at the hostess stand went above and beyond to be helpful. Thank you!!

    UleleResponded 1 day agoThank you for the great review and feedback for our staff, Jill. We hope to see you back again soon!

  5. C

    Crystal

    Tampa

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall3food3service4ambience4
    Place itself was beautiful and service was great! Food was lackluster unfortunately. Especially for the price, it wasn’t tasteful and the drinks were mostly syrup and watered down.

    UleleResponded 1 day agoWe are sorry to hear that you were disappointed with your meal, Crystal. Were you able to let your server know that there were some items you were not enjoying? We would have been glad to remake or replace any of the food or drinks that were not up to standard. We hope that you will decide to return again in the future so that we may have another chance to impress you.

  6. RJ

    RickyJ

    Tampa

    11 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Pricey, but one of best restaurants in the Tampa Bay region. Great outside setting with very unique menu sets Ulele apart from others.

    UleleResponded 1 day agoThank you for the great review and compliments, Ricky! We are so glad to hear that you enjoy our patio and we look forward to serving you again soon!

  7. FR

    FredR

    Tampa

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    It was a perfect evening on the Tampa bay riverfront for dinner and a walk. Food was what was expected. The service was very good. Would make this an annual pick for dinner.

    UleleResponded 1 day agoThank you, Fred! We are so glad to hear that you had a great experience. We look forward to serving you again in the future!

  8. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Tampa

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Went for the first time for a bday dinner. We had a salad, the calamari, seafood risotto, and snapper. We had a gamey cut of fish and they replaced it with another risotto super fast. It was all delicious and it’s so nice to find a place with good customer service. They brought out truffles and a candle for the birthday girl. Really nice touch. Our waitress Sam B was great and friendly and we’ll definitely be back!

    UleleResponded 1 day agoWe are so glad to hear that you had a wonderful time celebrating a birthday with us at Ulele. Thank you for allowing us to replace the entree that you were not enjoying. We appreciate the opportunity to make corrections to provide a great experience for you. We hope to see you all back again soon.

  9. MA

    MAnne

    Tampa

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Char cooked oysters are fantastic

    UleleResponded 1 day agoThank you for the 5 stars! We are so glad that you love our charbroiled oysters and hope to see you back again soon!

  10. GB

    GlennB

    Tampa

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    As always we had another wonderful dinner at Ulele. Ulele is one of my family favorites and one of our top “go to” restaurants in the Tampa Bay area. Our food was amazing just as we expected. Just as excellent as the food was our service, our waitress was on point and attentive to whatever we needed. Thank you to the entire staff, you always exceed our expectations.

    UleleResponded 1 day agoWe are so proud to be one of your favorite restaurants, Glenn and we are glad to know that we have never let you down. We look forward to serving you again soon!

  11. R

    Rich

    West Palm Beach

    9 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had a wonderful dinner outside a Ulele! Service was excellent (thanks Zack!), and the food was superb. Charbroiled oysters and barabcoa shrimp for appetizers were delicious. And the seafood risotto and pompano for entrees were even better. This remains one of our favorite restaurants - period! We can't wait to come back.

    UleleResponded 1 day agoThank you, Rich! We are so glad to hear that you enjoyed your meals and the service you received from Zack. We are proud to be one of your favorite restaurants and we look forward to serving you again soon!

  12. RM

    RMTampa

    New York Area

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great service, beautiful day to eat outside. All of our meals were prepared well.

    UleleResponded 1 day agoThank you for the great review and feedback. We are so glad to hear that you enjoyed your meal on our patio. Please visit us again soon!

  13. N

    Nupe4

    Nashville

    30 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    30 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    One of the best restaurants I’ve eaten at domestically

    UleleResponded 1 day agoThank you for the great review and compliment!

  14. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Tampa

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall1food1service1ambience1
    Originally was going to sit inside. The whole restaurant had a burnt smell and was saturated in smoke like they burned something and couldn’t air out the place. The server put our spoons (not in a napkin) directly on the table we sat at outside instead of placing the spoons on our plates. That’s disgusting isn’t it? The tables outside are metal and several are propped up by weird random objects like mulch and napkins and other junk, just to keep the table from wobbling. Gave the place an honest try. Sadly disappointed. Even the food was cold when it was served to us. Will never go back. Don’t waste your money.

    UleleResponded 1 day agoWe are sorry to hear that your recent visit was disappointing. We would like to share your feedback with our management and operations team so that we may make improvements. Please email us with a copy of your review as well as the best contact information where you can be reached. Thank you.

  15. T

    Tara

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had such a lovely time for my husbands birthday! Delicious food and great atmosphere.

    UleleResponded 1 day agoThank you for choosing to celebrate with us, Tara! We are so glad to hear that you had a great visit. We hope to see you again soon!

  16. a

    alanl

    New England

    24 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    24 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excellent servive. Food was terrific. Great scene. First class place to enjoy a meal with friends and family.

    UleleResponded 1 day agoThank you for the great review and compliments, Alan! We are so glad that you enjoyed all aspects of your experience.

  17. RL

    RickL

    Washington DC

    18 reviews

    5.0

    18 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience3
    Rarely do we visit Ulele and come away disappointed. Last night was no exception. Beautiful Tampa evening. Had a drink at the outside bar, and then inside for dinner. Server and service outstanding. The barbecue oysters with the shrimp appetizers were awesome. Each member of our party had a different entree and each was prepared splendidly. You need to take the time and visit this Tampa gem.

    UleleResponded 1 day agoThank you for the great review and for recommending us, Rick! We are so glad to hear that you continue to have great experiences with us and that everyone enjoyed their meals during your recent visit. We look forward to serving you again soon!

  18. KW

    KristyW

    Tampa

    7 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We sat outside. The weather was perfect. Tables were Set far enough apart so we couldn’t hear people talking around us. Grouper was delicious!

    UleleResponded 1 day agoThank you for the great review, Kristy! We are so glad to hear that you enjoyed your experience on our patio. We hope to see you again soon!

  19. JJ

    JuliaJ

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Some of the best food I’ve eaten. We ran into some friends and I left forgetting my leftovers( I was very disappointed)

    UleleResponded 1 day agoWe are so glad to hear that you enjoyed your meal, Julia! It sounds like you will need to return again soon since you left behind your second meal. We look forward to serving you again soon!

  20. DB

    DawnB

    Tampa

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    post thanksgiving brunch with family❤️

    UleleResponded 1 day agoThank you for the great review, Dawn. We are so glad to hear that you and your family had a great experience at Ulele. We hope to see you back again soon!

  21. S

    Samantha

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall3food1service5ambience4
    Pompano was cold green beans mushy, service was great location and surrounding atmosphere was nice

    UleleResponded 1 day agoThank you for your review and feedback, Samantha. We are sorry to hear that your meal was disappointing. Were you able to let your server or a manager know that your meal was not satisfactory? We would have been glad to remake or replace anything that you were not enjoying. We hope you will decide to join us again in the future so that we may have another chance to impress you.

  22. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    New England

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 25, 2022

    overall3food4service5ambience2
    Food was delicious. Oysters were excellent! Ribeye, Filet and seafood risotto were also done to perfection. Michael our waiter was solid! Two problems. Bartender at outside bar had a bad attitude and they also allow dogs to be present at dinner. We were the unfortunate patrons that had a party of 3 people sit next to us midway through dinner that were accompanied by 4 large dogs. Ruined the night. Who wants to pay $400 for dinner and dine with dogs??? Not me! Won’t be back because if it. Change the dog policy!!

    UleleResponded 1 day agoThank you for your review and feedback. We are so glad to hear that you enjoyed your meal and the service you received from Michael. If you choose to dine outdoors at Ulele, please know that we have a pet friendly patio. We encourage you to dine indoors if you do not feel comfortable with our policy.

  23. CC

    CalebC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 25, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great service Great food Expensive food Totally worth it Very noisy

    UleleResponded 1 day agoThank you for your review, Caleb. We are so glad to hear that you enjoyed your meal and the service you received during your recent visit. We believe for the quality of our product and the Ulele experience, we provide a great value. For a quieter experience, we suggest dining on or patio for your next visit. If you would like, please request an outdoor table when you make your reservation.

  24. MM

    MatthewM

    Nashville

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 25, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Ricky was wonderful! We had a great family lunch the day after Thanksgiving! Thank you!

    UleleResponded 1 day agoThank you for the great review, Matthew! We appreciate the feedback for Ricky as well. We hope to see you again son!

  25. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Orlando

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 24, 2022

    overall2food1service1ambience4
    I anticipated coming here for quite some time, and tonight was a disappointment. I was brought the Loaded Native Chili, to only have it delivered without a spoon by a manager. He realized that no spoon was present and promised to retrieve one for me, he forgot. When my filet arrived for dinner, ordered medium, it was rare, the steak looked seared. Not having a steak knife, did not make the situation any better. I ordered another sazerac to help aid my pain, tipped 20%, and left. I’ll come again and sit at the bar, see if y’all do any better.

    UleleResponded 1 day agoWe are sorry to hear that you were disappointed with your recent visit to Ulele. We would like to share your feedback with our operations team so that we may make improvements for your future visits. Please email us with a copy of your review as well at the best contact information where you can be reached. Thank you.

  26. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Tampa

    5 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on November 24, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We sat up stairs overlooking the side with sculptures and loved it ! Perfect spot for groups to have some quality time. Service was quick and courteous all around. Food was fantastic! Chargrilled oysters are a must at ulele. Drinks were great as well. We were pleasantly surprised with the okra and enjoyed the muffins. Loved the grouper & pork shank as well.

    UleleResponded 1 day agoThank you for the great review and all of your food recommendations. We are glad that you and your group had a great experience. Please visit us again soon!

  27. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Austin

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 24, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    It was really good

    UleleResponded on November 25, 2022Thank you for the great review!

  28. MS

    MatthewS

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 23, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Best food during out Tampa trip, will be making this a regular stop during future trips.

    UleleResponded on November 25, 2022Thank you, Matthew! We are so glad to hear that you enjoyed your meal. We look forward to seeing you again the next time you are in Tampa.

  29. BR

    BarryR

    New York Area

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 23, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Just incredible. Everything was great- food and service

    UleleResponded on November 25, 2022Thank you, Barry! We are so glad to hear that your experience was incredible. We hope to see you back again soon!

  30. RR

    RogieR

    Tampa

    9 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on November 23, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    2 of my dear friends had birthdays. Always a great experience. Love this place

    UleleResponded on November 25, 2022Thank you for the 5 stars, Rogie! We are so glad to hear that it was a great experience celebrating two birthdays. We hope to see you all back again soon.

  31. CR

    ChrisR

    Tampa

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 23, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great food in an incredible location. Ulele is always an excellent choice for all occasions.
  32. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 23, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Service, food and ambience exceeded my expectation. I will be back. The fish was scrumptious.

    UleleResponded 1 day agoThank you for the great review! We are so glad to hear that we exceeded your expectations and we look forward to serving you again soon!

  33. MM

    MichaelM

    Tampa

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 22, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Excellent service and outstanding food. Found it a bit quieter upstairs.
  34. DK

    DrKLR

    Los Angeles

    22 reviews

    4.0

    22 reviews

    Dined on November 22, 2022

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    Great location and concept. The service is always wonderful.

    UleleResponded on November 25, 2022Thank you for your review. We are so glad to hear that you enjoyed the atmosphere and service during your recent visit. We hope to see you again soon!

  35. DD

    DonaldD

    Tampa

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 21, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Celebrating my wife's birthday and we could not have selected a nicer place. Great food, great service and everything else was just perfect.
  36. L

    Lauralonie

    Tampa

    18 reviews

    5.0

    18 reviews

    Dined on November 21, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great Tampa restaurant! Perfect place for something special.

    UleleResponded 1 day agoThank you, Laura! We appreciate the great review and your recommendation to choose us for a special celebration. We hope to see you again soon!

  37. J

    Jojo

    Tampa

    14 reviews

    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on November 21, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Birthday celebration

    UleleResponded on November 24, 2022Thank you for the great review! We are so glad to hear that you had a great time celebrating with us at Ulele. We look forward to seeing you again soon!

  38. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Tampa

    5 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on November 20, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Moms birthday

    UleleResponded on November 21, 2022Thank you for the great review! We are so glad to hear that you had a great experience celebrating your mom's birthday. We hope to see you both back again soon!

  39. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Miami

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 20, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Server was phenomenal and as always, great food and love this place!

    UleleResponded on November 21, 2022We are so glad to hear that you had another great experience at Ulele. We look forward to serving you again soon!

  40. B

    Bamdmb

    Tampa

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on November 20, 2022

    overall4food4service3ambience5
    Our server had zero personality but was attentive enough. The highlight was the alligator hush puppy appetizer. Flank steak was dry and “jimmychurri” sauce lacked flavor. Grouper dish was good.

    UleleResponded on November 21, 2022We are sorry to hear that you did not enjoy the flank steak. Did you let your server know that your steak was dry? We would have been glad to replace it with something different for you. We never want to see you leave disappointed. We hope that you will decide to join us again in the future to try some more of our menu.

Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
    • Contactless payment available

  • Physical distancing

    • Limited number of seated diners
    • Extra space between tables

  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Ulele offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (813) 999-4952.

Ulele is rated 4.7 stars by 11259 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 245 times today
Google Map for Ulele

1810 N Highland Ave., Tampa, FL 33602

Additional information

  • Cross street

    Henderson Avenue or 7th Avenue

  • Neighborhood

    Tampa

  • Hours of operation

    Mon–Thu, Sun 11:00 am–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–11:00 pm

  • Cuisines

    American, Contemporary American, Brewery

  • Dining style

    Casual Elegant

  • Dress code

    Business Casual

  • Parking details

    Complimentary valet after 5 p.m. Fridays, lunch and dinner Saturdays and Sundays (with Ulele validation). Free street parking near the restaurant, and a free private lot on Doyle Carlton Drive (southern extension of Highland) across from Water Works Park.

  • Payment options

    AMEX, Contactless Payment, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

  • Executive chef

    Patrick Quakenbush

  • Additional

    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Beer Garden, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

  • Website

    http://www.ulele.com/

  • Phone number

    (813) 999-4952

  • Private party facilities

    Ulele has several areas for dining that may be used for business meetings, social affairs, wedding events, charity functions, etc. These include inside the restaurant or outside in the beer garden, on the upper patio deck and on the riverside lawn (tents available).

  • Private party contact

    Emily Johnston: (888) 526-1152

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