While staying at the Marriott Waterside Hotel during a recent business trip to Tampa, I knew that our small group wanted to try dining at one of the local restaurant that specialized in unique offerings of fresh seafood but had no idea where to go. Thankfully, after spending a half of an hour schlepping through the Yellow pages endless offerings of ?fried? or ?all you can eat? seafood restaurants; I asked the hotel concierge for his suggestion and was recommended Mangroves located down in the SOHO district of Hyde Park.\r
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As New Yorkers we were intrigued as to what the ?SOHO district of Hyde Park? in Tampa offered and decided to give it a try. On a side note, although I did not know it at the time, but this would prove to be the best dining experience during my stay in Tampa.\r
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After catching a cab to the restaurant, we made our way inside and after a few moments of taking in the exquisite decor, I immediately knew that I was in the right spot. This place is classy. \r
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Once we were seated I asked about any house specialties or unique creations. To which the server replied that the chef had a real talent for making sushi rolls that were like nothing else around and that specifically that we should try the Volcano roll. I decided why not, and ordered one. To say that I knew what to expect would have in no way done justice to how incredible this roll turned out to be!\r
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This Volcano was nothing like I had ever had and the presentation was stunning. The roll was filled with fresh tuna, cream cheese, and asparagus, wrapped in seaweed & rice, topped with avocado and was cut into bite size pieces that were arranged on the plate in a circle which was filled with steaming scallops and sea bass that had been baked in a spicy mayo. WOW! What a creation. This roll was so good that we ordered another one and enjoyed every bite of that one as well.\r
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Without a doubt, Mangroves will be one of the first places on my list the next time I am in town.\r
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T. Reed \r
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