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Ulele offers native-inspired riverfront dining. - Ulele, Tampa, FL
Award-winning

Ulele

4.7
4.7
12737 Reviews
$31 to $50
American
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.

Casual attire is fine, but we don’t allow sleeveless shirts on men in the indoor dining rooms.




Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 175 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

Private dining

Book your next event with us

View details

Dining areas

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
  • 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: (813) 513-2661
  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
  • Neighborhood
    Tampa
  • Cross street
    Henderson Avenue or 7th Avenue
  • Parking details
    Ulele offers complimentary valet after 5 p.m. Fridays, lunch and dinner Saturdays and Sundays (with Ulele validation). There also is 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

What 12,737 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
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Tampa / Central Florida West

    Most Booked

  • Tampa

    Great for outdoor dining

  • Tampa

    American

  • Tampa

    Most Booked

12,737 Reviews
  1. OpenTable Diner

    Orlando

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excellent server Maui Maui and Short Rib was excellent Felt bread pudding was a bit dense but everything was excellent

    Is this helpful?

  2. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great as always, oysters never disappoint service was great

    Is this helpful?

  3. OpenTable Diner

    Tampa

    4 reviews

    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall4food4service5ambience4
    Great location Great server Very good food and reasonably priced

    UleleResponded 1 day ago

    Thank you for your review. We are glad to hear that you enjoyed your visit and we hope your next one is a 5-star experience.

    Is this helpful?

  4. LaurenC

    Tampa

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We brought friends to Ulele from out of town. We enjoyed the seafood risotto, the pork shank, and the grouper. All were excellent! Our husband’s were selective on choosing a beer and our server kept bringing them different samples. He was informative, attentive and friendly. We thank you for a relaxing evening!

    UleleResponded 1 day ago

    We appreciate the great review and feedback, Lauren! We are so glad to hear that you all had a great dining experience and we hope to see you again soon!

    Is this helpful?

  5. maryd

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Food was delicious. I had the pompano with wild rice and carrots. Wonderful flavors. Everyone enjoyed their food.

    Is this helpful?

  6. CedricM

    Orlando

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great Dining Experience, Our Server Raven Was Very Professional and Attentive Will Return Soon

    Is this helpful?

  7. DocFop

    Las Vegas

    9 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The restaurant is well designed and has a charm and ambiance, which is very pleasant. Our server Xena was outstanding, very knowledgeable, and friendly as well as attentive at just the right amount, as not be intrusive. Will definitely recommend..

    Is this helpful?

  8. MelissaG

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    Ordered the lobster roll, the actual lobster meat was tasty but served on a hot dog bun, the roll would be better with a different kind of roll that is toasted with garlic butter would make it better. It was also topped with diced tomatoes which threw it off for me, The specialty drinks were delicious, service was top notch, had reservations and did not have any wait for our table.

    UleleResponded 3 days ago

    We appreciate your review and feedback, Melissa. Thank you for the compliments! Our lobster roll is served in a New England split-top bun, which is the traditional bun used for lobster rolls. It is served toasted with garlic butter, we are sorry if it did not appear that way when you received it. We hope that you will dine with us again soon so that you may try some more of our delicious menu items.

    Is this helpful?

  9. bethc

    Tampa

    28 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    28 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall4food5service5ambience4
    Food and service were great. Waiter at the next table even checked on us, great team. Kitchen wax very slow getting our food out to us

    UleleResponded 3 days ago

    We appreciate your review and feedback, Beth. We are sorry there was a delay in your meal and we hope you will decide to dine with us again in the future so that we may have another opportunity to fully impress you.

    Is this helpful?

  10. UnoM

    San Francisco

    17 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    17 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Excellent location great service amazing food specially gator hush puppies

    UleleResponded 3 days ago

    We appreciate the great review and compliments, Uno!

    Is this helpful?

  11. OpenTable Diner

    Tampa

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    As always Ulele doesn't disappoint. Weather it be lunch or dinner. May always be crowed, but wait staff is top-notch and informed. Back of the house gets everything out in a timely manner. If it's a Gonzmart family Resteraunt, you'll never go wrong.

    UleleResponded 3 days ago

    Thank you for your continued support! We are so glad that you had another great meal with us and we look forward to serving you again soon, at any of our 1905 Family of Restaurants!

    Is this helpful?

  12. OpenTable Diner

    Tampa

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Lauren was very attentive as a waitress, wonderful food & experience!

    Is this helpful?

  13. JoeM

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great food and outstanding service from the moment we arrived. First class all the way. Could not recommend more.

    UleleResponded 3 days ago

    We are so glad to hear that you had a great experience, Joe! Thank you for recommending us!

    Is this helpful?

  14. PhillipD

    Chicago

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We made a reservation at Ulele because it made the top 100 restaurants in the natin list. This restaurant was as near perfection as a restaurant could get. The location is near the river, ease to access, and beautiful. The buildout is perhaps one of the best repurposing designs in the nation; the space is stunning. The food was perfection on a plate. I had beef rib and the wife had seafood and each were prepared to perfection. Our server was also a sommelier and chose a perfect wine paring for both the seafood and beef. We indulged in dessert and found even that to be exceptional. We have paid much more for a much less experience. We now consider Ulele our best restaurant ever. We will definitely return here. Frequently.

    UleleResponded 3 days ago

    We appreciate your wonderful review and feedback, Philip. We are so glad that we lived up to your expectations and proved worthy of our ranking. We hope that you will dine with us again soon!

    Is this helpful?

  15. Patrick

    Naples

    50 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    50 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great service by Savanah. Gouda grouper which was very good. My wife had Barbacoa Shrimp also very good and Key Lime stack for dessert nice and light. Ulele is our favorite restaurant in Tampa.

    UleleResponded 4 days ago

    We are honored to be your favorite restaurant, Patrick! Thank you for the wonderful feedback!

    Is this helpful?

  16. Starryeyed81

    Fort Lauderdale

    36 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    36 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall4food5service4ambience4
    Fantastic find in Tampa Bay. Food was delicious and plated perfectly. Drinks were just as well. Noise level was a bit loud but expected for such a busy establishment. All in all you won over a picky eater. Definitely will be back!!

    UleleResponded 4 days ago

    Thank you for your review and feedback. We are so glad that you enjoyed your visit and that you will be returning. We recommend an outdoor table for your next visit if you prefer a quieter atmosphere.

    Is this helpful?

  17. CurtC

    Orlando

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall3food3service5ambience2
    Good enough for a regular night out, but not for any romantic occasion. "Anniversary" was noted on our reservation, but were sat at a table on the end of the bar, right next to the restrooms... GRAND CENTRAL for traffic and chatter. Lesson learned- go for the food, not for the intimacy.

    UleleResponded 4 days ago

    Thank you for your review, Curt. We are sorry that you were not pleased with your table assignment. We would have been glad to see if there was another area of the restaurant that you could sit instead. We always appreciate the opportunity to provide the best dining experience that we can, please let us know how we can accommodate your preferences during your next visit.

    Is this helpful?

  18. MaryJane

    Jacksonville

    121 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    121 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall4food2service5ambience5
    Loved the chargrilled oysters and a well made Old Fashion! The skirt steak was tough though and the garlic shrimp appetizer was overbaked. Very disappointing!

    UleleResponded 4 days ago

    We are sorry to hear that there were some food items that were disappointing during your recent visit, Mary Jane. We would have been glad to remake or replace any of them for you. We hope that you will decide to return again in the future. Please do not hesitate to let us know if there is anything we can do to improve your dining experience.

    Is this helpful?

  19. SusanY

    Tampa

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall4food3service4ambience5
    Some of the food was not hot, just warm, including fries and ribeye sandwich. The waiter, although charming, never really asked how the food was, so we did not mention it.

    UleleResponded 4 days ago

    We are sorry that some of your food items were not served at the appropriate temperature. In the future, please do not hesitate to bring our errors to our attention. We always appreciate the opportunity to make corrections when necessary.

    Is this helpful?

  20. MichaelA

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall4food4service3ambience5
    "I'll be back" ~ You know who said it Gator appetizer is bangin

    UleleResponded 6 days ago

    Thank you, Michael! We look forward to your return.

    Is this helpful?

  21. Margo

    Tampa

    12 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on September 26, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Not our first time at our favorite restaurant!! Everything was delicious and perfect!!!!

    UleleResponded 6 days ago

    We appreciate the great review and compliments, Margo! We look forward to serving you again soon!

    Is this helpful?

  22. OpenTable Diner

    Tampa

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on September 26, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Overall an incredible restaurant, though noisy. May be difficult to carry on conversations for those with even mild hearing loss during peak hours inside. Otherwise, fantastic!

    UleleResponded 6 days ago

    We appreciate your review and feedback. May we suggest an outdoor table for your next reservation? Our patio provides a quieter atmosphere. We hope that you will dine with us again soon!

    Is this helpful?

  23. Wesley

    Tampa

    11 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on September 26, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Outside is the best place to sit to be able to carry on a civilized conversation. Service was great!

    UleleResponded 4 days ago

    We are so glad that you enjoyed dining on our patio, Wesley!

    Is this helpful?

  24. OpenTable Diner

    Tampa

    26 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    26 reviews

    Dined on September 26, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    Always an excellent meal at ulele - from appetizers to desert!

    UleleResponded 6 days ago

    Thank you! We are so glad that you enjoyed another great meal with us!

    Is this helpful?

  25. laur

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 25, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    so so so good, great food and great service!!! i recommend going here a lot

    UleleResponded 6 days ago

    Thank you for continuing to visit and recommend Ulele, Laur!

    Is this helpful?

  26. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 24, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food was just so good! I was very content with our waiter as well. The Mac and cheese was my favorite!

    UleleResponded 4 days ago

    We appreciate the great review and feedback! We look forward to serving you again soon!

    Is this helpful?

  27. GeorgeF

    Jacksonville

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 24, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Ulelee location is very nice. They are attached to an upper tier park with a boat dock. The is a very nice sunset view. There is alot of outdoor seating. The setvice was very good and timely. The menu is mostly seafood. $30s range. Steak pork and vegan options.

    UleleResponded 6 days ago

    We appreciate the 5-star review and great feedback, George!

    Is this helpful?

  28. MichaelO

    Greater Boston

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on September 24, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This was my third time at Ulele. I was celebrating my birthday with my family and once again Ulele did not disappoint. Our server, Zack was outstanding! There was a slight delay with out appetizer order which Zack brought to the attention of a manager. The manager brought our appetizer directly to us and apologized for the issue and did not charge for it. Our meals were tasty, delicious and very satifsfying. I also really liked the birthday truffles that I received. Ulele is my favorite restaurant in Tampa! Can't wait to go back!

    UleleResponded 6 days ago

    We are so glad to hear that you had a wonderful birthday celebration at Ulele, Michael! We are so glad to be your favorite and we look forward to serving you again soon!

    Is this helpful?

  29. Kirsti

    Tampa

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on September 24, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Once again WOWed by my experience at Ulele. The server was so accommodating and helpful. All of our food was fantastic: gator tail, raw oysters, seafood risotto, side salads, veggies, fire roasted chicken, entree salad and the candied bacon ice cream dessert.

    UleleResponded 6 days ago

    We appreciate your kind words, Kirsti! We look forward to serving you again soon!

    Is this helpful?

  30. JamesB

    Tampa

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on September 24, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Always enjoy Ulele; great food, excellent service, fun atmosphere and location.

    UleleResponded 6 days ago

    We are so glad to hear that you had another great dining experience with us, James!

    Is this helpful?

  31. TroyS

    Tampa

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on September 24, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Always excellent.... great place to meet up with friends,

    UleleResponded 6 days ago

    Thank you for the great feedback, Troy!

    Is this helpful?

  32. Gracie

    Tampa

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 24, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We go to Ulele's for special occasions and are never disappointed. We went for our wedding anniversary yesterday, sat outside (with our dog) and had a great time. At the end we were presented with a small box of special chocolates as an anniversary gift. So special!

    UleleResponded 6 days ago

    Happy anniversary! We are so glad that you had a great celebration with us and we look forward to your return!

    Is this helpful?

  33. JenniferN

    Hawaii

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on September 24, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    This was my 4th time to this restaurant. This time I brought my teenage daughter and my niece. My daughter ordered a Filet Mignon medium well and when it was served, it was a little bit too medium for her taste. We told our server and she promptly took the steak away. A few minutes later a manager came with a fresh new steak prepared exactly the way my daughter wanted it. I was impressed. Excellent service.

    UleleResponded 6 days ago

    Thank you for sharing your experience with us, Jennifer. We appreciate you allowing us the opportunity to correct our error. We hope that you will return again soon.

    Is this helpful?

  34. OpenTable Diner

    Tampa

    2 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 24, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food and drinks were amazing and the staff are super nice.

    UleleResponded 6 days ago

    Thank you for the wonderful compliments!

    Is this helpful?

  35. KevinK

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 23, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We arrived 45 minutes early and added an extra person. The hostess was very accommodating and got us a table after about 30-45 minutes or so. Honestly, we didn't care about the wait as we went to the bar and had a nice beverages and conversation. Once sat, our server Liz took great care of us. We ordered a couple drinks and appetizers. The Loaded Native Chili is out of this world good. Okra fries were tasty too. For mains, we had Short Ribs, Mahi and the meatloaf. All were so perfectly cooked and seasoned. The portions were perfect and we all took some home for the next day. We were too full for dessert so maybe next time. My only 'complaint' if you could call it that is it's a bit loud. My father had a hard time hearing us in conversation but it wasn't unbearable by any means. Check out this Tampa gem immediately, you won't be sorry.

    UleleResponded 6 days ago

    Thank you for sharing your experience with us, Kevin. We are so glad that you and your guests enjoyed your meals and experience. If you return during another busy time, we suggest an outdoor table as out patio provides a quieter atmosphere. We look forward to serving you again.

    Is this helpful?

  36. JeffA

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 23, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who lives in the Tampa Bay area or who is visiting Tampa Bay the valet service was very convenient the food was absolutely awesome our server was quite professional and polite and we will be going back again

    UleleResponded 6 days ago

    Thank you for the great review and recommendation, Jeff! We look forward to your return.

    Is this helpful?

  37. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 23, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Joe was the very best service we ever had in Tampa. The very much have wonderful food and ambience ; but Joe put them over the top for us.

    UleleResponded 6 days ago

    We appreciate the 5 stars and wonderful feedback for your server, Joe!

    Is this helpful?

  38. OpenTable Diner

    Tampa

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 23, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had a great time. Food was delicious. Dessert was delicious!! What a special place!

    UleleResponded 6 days ago

    We are so glad that you enjoyed your meal and experience at Ulele! We hope that you will return soon!

    Is this helpful?

  39. JamieN

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 23, 2023

    overall4food5service2ambience1
    Food was great. Service/server was not great. Waited forever - check and when we got ice creams, no spoons. We weee able to get some but long after we were done, he brought spoons. Food was great, as usual!!!

    UleleResponded 6 days ago

    We appreciate your feedback, Jamie. Please accept our apologies for the disruptions in service. We hope that you will join us again soon for another great meal.

    Is this helpful?

  40. Blondie

    Fort Lauderdale

    99 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    99 reviews

    Dined on September 23, 2023

    overall3food3service3ambience5
    Food is good. Portions are plentiful. Indoor seating is very noisy so unless you don’t want to shout during dinner, ask for seating outside. Ambiance outside is great, particularly on the tables facing the lawn.

    UleleResponded 6 days ago

    Thank you for your review and feedback, Blondie. We hope that you will dine with us again in the future for a 5-star experience.

    Is this helpful?

Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Contactless payment available
  • 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 12737 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 175 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Ulele

1810 N Highland Ave., Tampa, FL 33602

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
  • 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
    Ulele offers complimentary valet after 5 p.m. Fridays, lunch and dinner Saturdays and Sundays (with Ulele validation). There also is 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
  • 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: (813) 513-2661
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