Disclosure: Denise of Run DMT received a complimentary meal at The Sail in exchange for an honest review. All opinions belong to Denise.

If you’re looking for a new lunch spot with a laid-back, casual atmosphere and gorgeous scenery, then set a course for The Sail in Downtown Tampa.

Anchored on Franklin Street adjacent to the Tampa Convention Center, The Sail is Tampa’s only 360-degree waterfront bar. Every seat around the pavilion offers a fantastic view of the Hillsborough River and Riverwalk.

Now open for lunch, The Sail offers a variety of appetizers, two-fisted sandwiches and salads all made fresh to order.  The Sail prides itself in the freshest seafood, therefore, for our lunchtime sampling, my husband and I tried the Mahi Smoked Fish Dip and the Bay Spiced Steamed Shrimp, which definitely lived up to the fresh catch promise.

Mahi Smoked Fish Dip

Bay Spiced Steamed Shrimp

In keeping with the fresh catch menu items, I tried the Fried Grouper Sandwich, lightly battered and perfectly crisped served with vine-ripe tomatoes, lettuce, caper aioli on a brioche. This selection also lived up to The Sail’s fresh catch promise.

To sample another sandwich selection,we chose for the Cuban made with rum cured roasted pork, garlic pickles, jalapeno house cured bacon, Swiss and provolone cheese on a pressed Cuban bread. While very tasty, I prefer my Cuban sandwiches heavy on the pork.

The Cuban Sandwich

Although other menu selections certainly caught our eye, there simply was not enough room to fit in another meal. For our next visit, we will try the highly recommended Cuban Nachos piled high with roasted pork, black beans, fresh salsa, jalpeños and smothered in Jai Alia Cheese sauce. The Bay Side Cheeseburger is also another winning pick, according to our very accommodating server, Aaron. 

Other mentions that caught our eye were the variety of handcrafted cocktails made with fresh squeezed fruit juices and premium liquor. The fresh squeezed fruit juices produce the most refreshing drinks on a warm Downtown Tampa day and you are encouraged to stroll the Riverwalk with The Sail’s handcrafted cocktails.

Wet your whistle with the Sail Sunrise, which combines 1800 Silver Tequila, Mango Puree, lime juice and a splash of Grenadine.  Or, try the one of the Tampa Bay Crushes such as the Grapefruit made with Deep Eddy Roby Red Vodka, Triple Sec and grapefruit juice. One sip and you will agree that The Sail has certainly raised the bar on Tampa cocktails!

Handcrafted cocktails included Grapefruit Tampa Bay Crush and a Sail Sunrise both made with fresh juice and premium liquor.

If you’re looking for a new casual waterfront option, navigate your way to The Sail in Downtown Tampa. The open, spacious outdoor seating welcomes large parties and families. The Sail even offers a children’s menu for the polliwogs and a nearby play park on the Riverwalk makes it a great family-outing. And of course, with The Sail’s friendly, inviting patio dining, pets are welcome to join Yappy Hour all day long.

The Sail is located at 333 S Franklin St, Tampa, FL 33602 and open every day from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Click here to view the menu and learn upcoming events.

On the second Friday of each month The Sail hosts a Brews & Bites Food Truck Rally.  A rolling celebration of food and fun, Brews & Bites features live entertainment and a fleet of Tampa’s favorite food trucks. 

The next Brews & Bites will be on June 10th from 6 – 11 p.m.