Ulele
American restaurant · Tampa
1810 N Highland Ave, Tampa, FL 33602
Highlights
Native-inspired fare, barbacoa grill, craft beers, river views
Native-inspired fare, barbacoa grill, craft beers, river views
"Named after a legendary Native American princess who lived in the 16th century, Ulele uses locally sourced seafood, including Gulf oysters, and produce. They prepare meats on the restaurant’s massive ten-foot barbacoa grill such as a 21-day aged New York strip. The restaurant also serves beer from Ulele Spring Brewery, which shares space with the restaurant in the former 1903 Tampa Heights Water Works building." - Laine Doss
"Ulele is located on the Tampa Riverwalk, with a lawn and an airy two-story dining room where you should watch your dinner get charbroiled on the 10-foot barbacoa grill. The restaurant does some Native American dishes like three sisters salad that combines beans, squash, and corn, and they really excel at anything seafood—order some grilled Gulf oysters and rich risotto with butter-poached lobster, shrimp, scallops, and crawfish. There’s also an on-site brewery, so you can taste a couple different kinds of fruit beer while you daydream about ditching your stove for a gigantic live fire contraption." - cheryl rodewig
"With a scenic location at the edge of a restored natural spring and a name that references a legendary Native American princess, there's clearly no shortage of charm on offer here. Although the "Native-inspired" cooking has only a tenuous connection to Florida's original inhabitants, the menu is a nod to Tampa's history and draws upon the various influences that have shaped the city's current culinary landscape. A bounty of seafood is featured, much of it sourced from local waters, with conventional delicacies like oysters and scallops alongside the less commonplace alligator (flash-fried or incorporated into hush puppies).Diners can soak up views of Hillsborough River amid an outdoor sculpture garden while sipping suds from the restaurant’s own brewery." - Michelin Inspector
"Ulele is located on the Tampa Riverwalk, with a lawn and an airy two-story dining room where you should watch your dinner get charbroiled on the 10-foot barbacoa grill. The restaurant does some Native American dishes like three sisters salad that combines beans, squash, and corn, and they really excel at anything seafood—order some grilled Gulf oysters and rich risotto with butter-poached lobster, shrimp, scallops, and crawfish. There’s also an on-site brewery, so you can taste a couple different kinds of fruit beer while you daydream about ditching your stove for a gigantic live fire contraption." - Cheryl Rodewig
"Ulele is becoming a local favorite for its distinctive personality and flavor. It's located with views of the Hillsborough River, an outdoor sculpture garden, and features its own brewery. Focused on local ingredients, vibrant flavors, and a convivial dining experience, Ulele is celebrated for its menu inspired by the shellfish, seafood, livestock, and harvest from the land. The restaurant was created in a former 1903 city water works plant, renovated into an industrial yet modern and natural environment, with indoor/outdoor seating and a mix of Motown and early ‘70s soul music. Ulele Spring Brewery inside the restaurant creates craft beers as a pairing to the menu. The ambiance is complemented by an open kitchen with a circular barbacoa grill, an indoor/outdoor bar with private-select spirits and beers, and an oyster bar. The menu features native-inspired dishes with local ingredients such as the Three Sisters Salad and the chargrilled oysters, which have become a customer favorite." - Kevin Chau
