Jackson's Bistro, Bar & Sushi of Tampa

I visited Jackson’s Bistro for a birthday celebration back in August. I’m just now finally getting to leave my review on Google Maps it slipped my mind. The atmosphere was beautiful, the culinary experience fell far below what I expected from a prestige waterfront restaurant in Tampa Bay. As someone who lives and breathes food, plating, and kitchen efficiency, I pay close attention to execution—and unfortunately, several things missed the mark. Starter: “Mexican Roll” Visually, the sushi arrived extremely plain. It was basically tempura shrimp + avocado topped with a few beads of fish roe. No sauce. No color. No creativity. Nothing even remotely “Mexican-inspired.” At the very least, a sriracha aioli, chipotle crema, or a chili-lime drizzle would have tied the concept together. I’m big on aesthetics and flavor balance, and this roll lacked both. Honestly… Publix and Sprouts sushi give more flavor, better execution, and better presentation than what I received. Entrée: Shrimp & Crab Linguine Three other people at the table ordered the same dish—which immediately made me think about line cook workflow and consistency. When multiple tickets hit the board for the same dish, an efficient kitchen should be able to execute identical plates with quality and precision. However, my pasta arrived: • Undercooked • Rushed presentation • Very heavy on cream • Great amount of shrimp, and the lump crab was fresh • But the dish lacked seasoning and depth I even had to request extra sauce because the pasta wasn’t coated well at all. I waited 20 minutes for the sauce, only to be told they “had to make it.” As a chef, that instantly raised a red flag. A kitchen that runs volume brunch service should absolutely have the mother sauce or base sauce prepared, held, and ready on the line. By the time the sauce came out, my pasta was cold. At that point, I didn’t bother sending anything back because it was a group celebration. But internally? Whew. They dropped the ball. Overall Thoughts I’ve always heard great things about Jackson’s, which is why I was excited. But from a culinary standpoint—technique, flavor building, plating, and kitchen efficiency—they lacked in too many areas for the price point and reputation. Tampa Bay has some incredible food, and customers deserve better, especially at a restaurant of this caliber.

Great spot for sushi, seafood, and drinks with a beautiful waterfront vibe! The menu has a nice mix of fresh sushi rolls, flavorful seafood, and casual American favorites — perfect for brunch, lunch, or dinner by the bay. Guests often rave about the fresh fish and sushi quality, and the patio views add a special touch to the whole experience. Service is generally friendly and professional, and the atmosphere strikes a nice balance between laid-back brunch and lively dinner energy. It’s especially fun for social nights out or weekend meals, though it can get a bit busy — reservations are recommended. Some people mention that elements of the menu vary in consistency, but the views, drinks, and overall experience make it a solid choice for casual waterfront dining from my personal experience. Highly recommend stopping by if you love sushi and seafood with a scenic setting! 🍣🌅

Jacksons is great spot for fresh and delicious sushi with an awesome water view of downtown! Enjoy indoor and outdoor seating. Douglas our waiter took great care of us! Enjoyed the rainbow, harbor island, spicy tuna, and truffle wagyu roll. All were great. The Jacksons cheesesteak with marinated filet mignon was very good, melted in your mouth. Different from your original philly cheesesteak but still very good. Downstairs parking just make sure you get your ticketed validated foelr a free 2 hours!

We got there at 10am for brunch. Beautiful outdoor seating. A lot of inside & outdoor seating. Allow at least an hour for your dinning experience. It’s clean, staff is friendly and prices were reasonable. Feedback: I wanted to try the cinnamon roll, but I’m a vegetarian and the bacon was cooked into the actual dough. A meatless option would be better.

A great location along the water for a casual meal. I came here for lunch during a work trip with a party of eight. We were greeted by friendly staff and seated right away. The menu is robust offering something for everyone. I opted for the grilled salmon and a sushi roll. Everything was good but the sushi roll was very average. Overall, this was a dinning good spot with friendly service and conveniently located to the convention center many hotels.

Had dinner at this place. Food was decent. Spicy tuna tartare was good. I liked the poke bowl. I don’t remember which roll we got but was delicious. Lobster and shrimp roll on soft pretzel rolls was okay. Overall good food and great service.

Came here with my husband and some friends, there really isn’t a better restaurant for beautiful views of the city and the River. Our server was awesome, I am not into seafood so I got a burger, it was good, the sauce had a little kicker to it which I liked! Our friends got oysters and were happy with it. We also got a peanut butter dessert, it was ok, a bit too much peanut butter for my liking. But it’s always a great time and vibe, there was live music playing in an area close by. Had a very nice time.

Loved the Christmas decorations when we came in. I had the hot honey chicken sandwich and would definitely order that again. They have a good drink menu. Close to the water so the views are really good. we went during the week so did not make any reservations and didn’t have to wait- parking garage nearby so a quick walk to the restaurant!

I attended a brunch here with many friends. The staff was very accommodating. Very friendly and patient with us. The views are amazing when you step outside and see viewers of Tampa and the water. Drinks were great along with the food.

It's a really clean place, big in size, with good service but mediocre food. The waterfront views and good service sort overcome the mediocre food. I had a sashimi dish and the fish tasted fresh and the presentation was good but the overall taste and flavor were seriously lacking.

Food was delicious They live music on Fridays They have happy hour at the bar They are near activities

Hadn't been to Jackson's in a few years, but made my way back for a birthday brunch! We sat out on the patio and as always, the view was amazing. We had beautiful weather and really couldn't ask for a better ambience than that. Between our table, we split multiple orders of the mimosas and I loved that we had more juice options than just orange and pineapple or cranberry. As far as service, our waiter was super nice but our food between each course did take a little while. I got a crab cake and truffle fries for my entree. The crab cake was alright, but the truffle fries were amaze and the portion was huge! The star of the show was the carrot cake. I would easily say it is the best carrot cake I've had in Tampa Bay. So decadent and moist, but still not too heavy. I truly would come back just for it every time.

The french toast was not what I expected. It tasted way better than it looks. It was busy but the service was still good. Really nice view of the water.

Really enjoyed ourselves at brunch this past weekend. We went to celebrate our friend's birthday and had a table reserved. The staff were very accommodating and friendly. We sat outside and the sun was beaming down and without asking, they came over and offered to lower the shades to help with blocking the direct sun. That made a world of a difference. The music was great and the food was really good. Will certainly be back.

We had the best service by Mason tonight. He really knew the menu, gave great recommendations and went above and beyond for us. The food and drinks were great and we had a gorgeous view.

Came to Tampa for a weekend and this place was so perfect for our first night out. We wanted good food and good vibes and got more! The food was delicious, the view of the water was beautiful and the music and vibes were great! Our waitress Dawn was so sweet and had the best recommendations! She was also very attentive. It was a little pricy but well worth it! The drinks were delicious and strong just how we like it and the food was 10/10. My favorite out of everything was the crazy salmon roll.

We came here for their sushi boat! The waiters were very friendly and the outside area was very nice. The sushi boat was presented very nicely and the sushi was very delicious. We also had side Caesar's which were great as well. Service was above and beyond! Would come back and would recommend! Views of the Tampa Bay Area are great!

Much better experience this time! Our waiter was very attentive and the hostess greeted us nicely. Food was lovely. My husband got the Power Lunch, and he loved it. Server said they will be reopening the inside bar, and we look forward to that! It's nice to sit in the air after coming over by boat! (Docking is down aways, unless you have a yacht slip in front)

We went here for Mother's Day brunch and had a good time. I would love to come back here when it wasn't so busy, because the service was a little slow but they acknowledged that when they came to the table! We had the Crab Cake Benedict, the Chicken and Waffles, and the Chilaquiles. One of the things that was disappointing was the eggs on the Benedict and chilaquiles were hard and not runny. However they brought out fresh eggs free of charge to make up for the mistake. Everything was delicious! This was a really cool brunch spot!

Mason gave us great service. Table side manners were impeccable. Good sushi and drinks.

We enjoyed a Sunday lunch to celebrate a family dinner here last weekend. We chose to eat at a table outside on the patio, which had nice views of the harbor. It isn't super obvious, but there is a parking ramp under the hotel as you turn in, so if you go underground to that ramp, bring your ticket and the restaurant will validate your parking for the first two hours (you pay five dollars an hour for each hour after that). Daniel was our server and he was casual and very chatty, mostly attentive, except neglected to fill our water glasses for the second half of our meal. Our table had sushi and some entrees. We tried the volcano roll and the crazy salmon roll, and both of them were plated, beautifully and delicious. The server recommended the chicken and waffles which my son enjoyed. I had the Asian Chopped Ahi salad and I cannot stop thinking about it. I would eat that salad at least once a week if I lived in Tampa. It is a very generous portion of bright and crispy vegetables, with this insane light and refreshing dressing, and the Ahi tuna was so fresh that it melted in my mouth. Highly recommend!

I visited Jackson's for a family lunch before Christmas with family who couldn't attend. We called ahead and got an outdoor table for seven. It was a chilly day and they provided a bunch of space heaters around our table for us. One of the family members was elderly, and had trouble finding the place and was about 40 minutes late. The server was accommodating, even though we could tell that he really needed to turn the table. Everyone enjoyed the food and the view, our family going to Jackson's for holidays is becoming a tradition that everyone very much enjoys!

I will say Jackson's bistro was a highlight for my grandmother's birthday trip to Tampa. As well as mine, I am a big seafood lover, and when I saw Jackson's bistro had Chilean Seabass I immediately knew that was my meal for the evening. When I tell you the Chilean Seabass did not disappoint and it was so fresh and flaky, and everything was cooked to perfection down to the brussel sprouts . I was honestly amazed at the brussels sprouts because some people either make them too soft or not cooked enough and they had it perfect. I also appreciate the waiter being patient with us, as it was our first time dining at Jackson's and we were taking in the amazing view of the river with all the boats flying by . When I come back to Tampa, I will be making Jackson's a must stop!

I was in Tampa, FL for a convention and had the chance to catch up with a friend who lives in the area. My conference was at the Convention Center so she suggested Jackson's Bistro & Sushi Bar. It was a short stroll away just over the Garrison Channel. Thankfully she made reservations because the restaurant filled up fast. There's seating inside the restaurant and outside on the deck overlooking the water. I had been to Jackson's before. My college roommate had her wedding reception there and it was beautiful! I love the bread that comes out before the meal. I had to make sure not to eat too much so I didn't fill up on it. I ordered the Chicken Francese and it was so good! The chicken just melted in your mouth and the mushrooms and mashed potatoes were excellent. I seriously ate everything on my plate. She went steak and she said it was amazing The atmosphere and food were perfect and the service was great. Our waiter was attentive and polite. We took a walk around afterwards and it was just beautiful!

My group of 6 stopped in on a Saturday afternoon for a late lunch and were lucky enough to grab a table inside. Be sure to request an outside table if you come, it is recently renovated with great water views. The atmosphere and decor inside is a bit dated and boring. A bit of a strange menu concept with sushi and other options, but was pleasantly surprised but the quality of the fish! Our server was also fantastic and got all of our requests to the kitchen perfectly. Definitely a place worth checking out if you are in the area.

I have been here a few times for dinner and drinks with friends. The food is great- I highly recommend the sushi. A big reason I like to go there is for the atmosphere! It's right by the water and there's always music playing. Always love coming here

YCP hosted an event with speaker Gates Garcia in Jackson's new waterfront room. The service was impeccable, all the staff were super attentive and watchful of our needs. The food was very, very good, and I am specifically talking about the sushi. The salmon nigiri was probably some of the best I've had in Tampa, it was that perfect fatty and fresh texture and taste. The sushi boats were huge and came with such a variety of different rolls and pieces. Overall, this was a great event hosted by a great establishment. I will come back on my own to evaluate the menu and the happy hour!

Overall not a great experience. This was my second or third time coming here and I think it will be my last. First, we arrived a few minutes before our reservations and checked in, but were seated 10 minutes after our reservation time. The table we were sat at was right next to the hostess stand so I know it was fully bussed and ready the entire time. We ordered drinks almost immediately after sitting down but they took a long time to come out. Our waters came out at about the same time. Someone in our party was gluten-free so the server did a great job recommending apps/accommodations that could be made. Food came out fairly quickly in comparison to the drinks throughout the night. I ordered the Wagyu and Frites, and while the flavor was good the steak was incredibly chewy. I was not given a steak knife with my entree and had to flag down a random person to get me one since our server was very scarce. I did not try anyone else's dish but I can say no one in my party was really wowed by their meal. There was an even going on at Amalie and what looked like a high school dance, so maybe this was just a particularly high traffic night, but they should still be staffing accordingly. The location is very convenient, which is likely how they are able to stay in business.

The restaurant is very big, so I'm not sure if they were understaffed but even with a reservation, we still had to wait 5-10 minutes to be seated. Once seated, it took about 15 minutes for our cocktails to come out. Service was very slow. The food was mediocre. Sushi roll was small, the wagyu steak was chewy, and fries were cold. I was not impressed at all and will not be returning.

Even on a slammed day because of a cheer competition in town, Jackson's did not disappoint. The salmon salad was refreshing with complex flavors, perfect for lunch. The power lunch special is a great deal and includes delicious cappuccino flavored gelato! The service was slower today, but as stated, they were absolutely slammed. Our waitress was so sweet and accommodating. The location right on the water is truly the best part. It is so much fun to sit on the patio and soak up the views of the city and the bay.

Came here for a family dinner and made a reservation for outside. We've sat outside everytime and never had this issue - there was dj playing extremely loud so it was difficult to hear anyone who was talking. Besides this, the service was great and food is always delicious.

I'm giving this 5 stars based solely on the espresso martini. I didn't even have the food. Smooth, strong, perfectly balanced -- honestly, I think it saved my life. One of the best espresso martinis in the area, hands down. I would (and will) come back just for that.

We decided to hit Jacksons today before the Redbull Flugtag event. First time. The wait was initially 1hr but actually didn't take nearly that long, and we understood with the busyness of the day. We got there about 1115 and had our appetizer by 1143. For appetizer we had the Ahi Tuna Tartar and it was so great. We love Ahi! For meals, we ordered the burger with fries and the Volcano roll. We mentioned to the server we were going to share and she took it upon herself to have them split the burger. That was super nice. Both of these were fantastic also. The whole place is real nice, clean bathrooms and service was great. We don't drink but they seem to have a really great wine list and a lot of other cocktails. It is a little pricey but the food and service were great so I can't complain too much.

Easy to make a reservation, and the location is beautiful--right by the water with both indoor and outdoor seating. The space feels casual and open, perfect for a relaxed bite. Service was friendly and attentive--Michelee in particular was great. We had the ahi tuna salad, which was fresh and satisfying. The sushi was decent--not the best I've had, but enjoyable. The seafood linguini was basic but flavorful, and we ended with a slice of key lime pie--simple, but always nice when you're in Florida. Parking was also validated, which was a nice plus. So if you're looking for something quick and casual with a good water view, this is the right place.

Perfect location to see calm water, not too much noise, and nice scenery. Our daily special combo was pretty good, love the chunky mash potato, Buttered lumps of blue crab meat, and pretty averaged filet mignon. Coconut grouper is a must have! However, the sashimi dinner is a little disappointing, fish are very thin, eel and tuna were good, salmon was a bit old, and almost see through. Service was good.

I thought the ambience was great. The miso soup was the most unique I've ever had. The sushi was completely over engineered. It's was B- at best.

Jackson's is a solid spot for brunch, especially if you're looking to enjoy some great food with waterfront views. The edamame came in a generous portion--definitely go with the "angry" version if you like a little heat. The crazy salmon roll was fresh and well-prepared. And the views of Tampa Bay really elevate the whole experience. Ideal for a relaxed weekend meal.

Delicious food & Mason provided us The best service! Would go back & ask for him again.

Kaylee our waiter was spectacular AND SO WAS THE FOOD! The ambience, the view, the oysters, the Crab & Shrimp pasta-- fantastic. They also have "Natural Wine" which was even better than it sounds. Prosecco was exactly how it should be made-- happy, dry and without preservatives. 10/10

Came here with a larger group and sat outside--the view was absolutely beautiful and the service was great. I ordered the grilled chicken salad with a side of fries; it was decent overall, but nothing special. I tried a bite of my friend's linguini and it was amazing! Definitely getting that next time.

TL;DR we went when a concert was in town and the service was very, very slow but the food and drinks themselves were really good. We had made a reservation and even with the reservation there was over a 30 minute wait. We found some seats at the bar and decided to sit down there instead...I think that was a mistake. The bar was SO busy and they appeared to be short staffed. The bartender took our drink and food order at the same time, but did not actually enter our food into the system for a long time (sitting at the bar it was easy to observe this). Normally, this would be fine except that even the cocktails took a long time, so we just were sitting there chatting drinking water. Once the food and drinks arrived, however, it got better. The food was outstanding and when the espresso martini finally arrived, it was very good. The bartender did apologize for the wait. I guess the learning is, this place has a great view of the river and the food is good but if there is any kind of event going on, enter at your own risk!

The food was really good except for the calamari! Maybe a different sauce would be more appetizing for it. But overall my best friend and I enjoyed our time there! Their service was very nice and friendly. Would definitely come here again and get the crazy salmon roll

The scenery was great, especially during Gasparilla. The crowd wasn't too bad and the food was exceptional. I had the blackened salmon salad with no feta and I had calamari for my appetizer. The views are everything even in February the weather is amazing. The vibe at the bar outside was great. I met a couple of different people there from all ages a married couple girls celebrating their bachelorette And a couple single people out that were not from the area that we're asking a lot of questions about things to do in the area.

Amazing brunch option! We were seated and served efficiently given we were under a time crunch for the cheer competition at the convention center. The Jackson hash with fries kimchi and eggs were a nice surprise...wish I had a side of rice as an option. The daughter enjoyed salmon avocado toast and husband his grouper bites - very crispy and tasty.

I tried Jackson's Bistro with friends (party of 6). We made a Friday evening reservation for 6:30pm. We were seated outside by the deck with a beautiful water view right before sunset. Our waiter was attentive, taking our drink and appetizer orders right away. I had the wild hibiscus which was very tasty with just the right amount of alcoholic kick. For our appetizer we chose the kung pao calamari which has cashews so beware if you have a nut allergy, but otherwise delightful. I do feel as though there was more edible garnish than actual calamari though. For my main I chose to go light with the Asian chopped ahi salad but also wanted a side of rice (later I realized that what I should have gotten was a poke bowl lol). Add to that the spicy mayo and I was in heaven! Overall I had a great experience. The sushi was delicious. My friends were a little underwhelmed with the appetizers but everyone enjoyed their main dish. If I were in the same area again I would definitely visit Jackson's Bistro again.

I had such an amazing time at Jacksons. The food was phenomenal and the service was five stars top-tier a very nice man named Mason was my server and I've never experienced such amazing service at a restaurant like this. He was super attentive to every little detail and went out of his way to make small talk to create an even better experience. Give this man a promotion now!!

I recently took a group couples trip, and we decided to try out Jackson's Bistro Bar and Sushi for brunch. It exceeded all my expectations! Upon walking into the restaurant, I noticed the convenience of digital menus, which is especially helpful if you need to view the menu while waiting. Our table had a beautiful view of a yacht and the water, complemented by perfect weather. We were greeted by our waiter, David, who was OUTSTANDING! He took our pictures while we waited for our food, made great recommendations, and even shared some hot spots around the St. Pete area. I couldn't have been more impressed by his service and friendliness. I will definitely ask for David the next time we come. The food was DELICIOUS! I had the pasta with crab, and it left me craving more even after returning to Orlando. The appetizers what we ate were coconut shrimp and calamari and it was very tasteful! I'm so happy that the appetizers didn't take too long to come out which is always a plus before the entrees! The entrees came shortly after David took our group pictures. The steak I stole off my boyfriend's plate didn't disappoint either! The combination of amazing food, exceptional service, and beautiful ambiance made this restaurant a 10/10 experience. I highly recommend Jackson's Bistro Bar and Sushi for date nights, celebration dinners, group lunches, or any special occasion. It was such a great experience, and I can't wait to return!

Mason is a top tier server! Provided exceptional service and kindness. He gave us great suggestions and really attended to our needs. Humble guy.

We stopped in for a quick lunch before checking out of our hotel and adding to the airport. The front desk staff was extremely friendly and got us a table right away. Our server was engaging and had good suggestions on items to choose from the menu. I had the coconut Shrimp appetizer and a side Caesar salad. Made for a perfect size lunch. We also shared some Parmesan fries that were delicious. The restaurant is well staffed and well cared for with beautiful sites of the bay.

Extremely good! I rated it 100/10. The sushi was absolutely delicious and so was the grouper. I would recommend this place over and over again.

Pretty nice restaurant in downtown Tampa, with a beautiful view of the Riverwalk and the sunset. I went with some friends for the 4th of July, and just a few steps from the restaurant (on the bridge), you can see the fireworks. I tried different sushi rolls and dishes; everything was quite good. I started with the miso soup, which I didn't love. The portion was very small for the price, and it had a different presentation (the mushrooms). The sushi wasn't the best I've ever had, but it was pretty good. I think my favorite was the volcano roll, and the jumbo lump crab fried rice was delicious, spicy but delicious!!! The service was good, but what I liked the most was the ambiance and the views from this restaurant. They also have indoor and outdoor seating areas.

We ate here before the Benson Boon concert. Our waiter was amazing and made some great recommendations! I took his suggestion and ordered the sea bass which was fantastic! My sister had the newest special which was lobster risotto which was really good as well. We started with the volcano sushi which was delicious! Highly recommend this place we sat outside and we are locals but at 6pm the heat wasn't bad at all. Check it out!

About 5 people recommended this location as soon as I touched down in Tampa and I understand why. Every piece of food that touched my fork was one I didn't regret! The sweet chili calamari and the lobster roll were great starters along with the starter bread omg! That pesto was amazing! I would come back for the crab kimichi fried rice on its own! The drinks were great and the service was amazing. Our server was super knowledgeable and honest giving us great recommendations. The view of the water was a great touch. Even though we didn't sit outside it was still a nice viewing experience. (It was entirely too hot)

We had sushi, a couple of the house, specials Chilean Seabass, and the grouper with crab meat. Group was great. Sushi was OK. Two Chilean Seabass came out first time basically raw. Couldn't cut through it. The veggies there were cooked all the way, I wish I had kept them. Then they brought out another new fish plate that was good at best. No flavoring. But the veggies were raw. Meaning trying to eat brussels sprouts was really tough. Part of my fish was still very under cooked. We ate the meal because we were starving. Tried to have bartender to make us a vespar and that didn't work out either. What was particularly concerning is that a manager stopped by after plate 2 was delivered and asked how was everything. I answered "lousy". (Second plate wasn't great either) He just walked away. That's it. They offered a dessert or drink. That's not what makes up for a poor meal. Not going back. Do not recommend.

There seemed to be some sort of convention or fraternity reunion in town so it's seemed a little busy. With that going on, we had a party of 3 and we were still seated pretty quickly. We got steak, shrimp, and calamari. All were good. No complaints. We got a tres leches and molten lava cake for dessert. Pretty basic. Everything was pretty good and basic nothing really outstanding. The restaurant was next to the water so if you were seated outside you had a nice view to look at.

The catch of the day was a snapper that was paired with a crab curry. The curry was a little over powering. Fish was light and flaky. Poke bowl was very fresh. Good bar selection. Service was a little slow. Great location with easy parking. Nice location on the bay.

Mason was awesome! Took excellent care of us ! Beautiful scene and amazing food!! Even offered to take pics of us!