If you’re looking for a sensational waterfront restaurant where the steaks and seafood rival the view, feast your eyes on Chart House Restaurant on Courtney Campbell Parkway in the old Landry’s location. The elegantly casual nautical décor, festive bars, banquet and private dining rooms and attentive service is a welcome addition.
This is the first Tampa Bay location, with six others in Florida (Longboat Key was the closest) and 29 nationally. Open for Sunday brunch and dinner nightly at 4:30, Chart House upscale menu is a step above its Landry sister spots such as Joe’s Crab Shack, Rainforest Café and Landry’s Seafood.
I’m a Chart House fanatic, and in Southern California, famed architect Jim Hubbell’s eyecatching designs to match the presentations. My San Diego favorites measure up, especially the crab in remoulade layered over fresh avocado and mango, the sherry-laced lobster bisque, warm bacon chopped spinach salad and prime rib and shrimp combo, finished off with the sinful Original Mud Pie.
Famous for their salad bar and authentic baked potato, Chart House changes up their menu seasonally. For seafood lovers, best of show are the the pan-seared scallops with spinachand bok choy accompanied by coconut ginger rice, crab-stuffed or coconut-crunch shrimp, steamed Maine lobster, macadamia-crusted mahi mahi, Cajun yellowfin ahi and herb crusted salmon.
Light eaters can opt for New England clam chowder and a chopped Cobb salad or lobster spring rolls. Carnivores can mix shrimp or succulent Australian lobster tail with filet mignon, or the melt-in-your-mouth slow-roasted prime rib and shrimp. Share a side of sizzling mushrooms or creamed spinach.
A full bar, boutique wine list and a excellent sampling of domestic and import beers just right for sunset watching and romantic dates rounds out the Chart House’s charm. Ahoy sailors, don’t miss checking out the newest waterfront restaurant.
