Reaching For The Skyye
Tampa, Florida, United States
Cuisine Style: Bar and Grille
Average Price: $
Overall Rating: 2/5
Dined in: April 2018
Article Updated in January 2019
Article Updated in January 2019
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
Skyye Bar And Grille Rating on Zomato:
Executive Chef:
Henry Kimball
My wife and I have been looking for a nice bar with casual fare and cuisine at the Tampa International Airport that was not a big chain or fast food operation. When we heard about the Skyye Bar and Grille attached to the main terminal in the Airport Marriott it peaked our interest, since we had recently come to the airport and not had a very good experience at the newly opened P.F. Chang’s Chinese Bistro. The main terminal began a renovation in 2017 closing down most of the restaurants and doing a redesign where the Hard Rock Cafe, P.F. Chang’s and fast food operations were added. They got rid of the Carrabba's Italian Grille and my wife and I’s favorite spot every time we came to the airport to catch a flight. That was the First Flight Wine Bar by Chef Marty Blitz’s New American restaurant Mise en Place in downtown Tampa. With the renovations, they moved from the main terminal through security to concourse airside F and changed names to The Cafe by Mise en Place. That airside is the international concourse, and I normally fly Delta through concourse E.
It makes us want to book an international ticket directly with British Airway, Lufthansa, or others so my wife and I can get over there to try the new cafe menu, but until that time, we may have finally found a good replacement. My wife has not been yet, but on a recent flight out while my wife had to work and quickly drop me off, I stopped into the Skyye Bar and Grille, which is a good ten-minute brisk walk from the main terminal to the Marriott lobby. You can dine at the main bar, a good size dining room, or on an outside patio near the hotel pool if you don’t mind the noise of airplanes.
Menu:
- Snacks + Bar Bites
- Sharable
- Salads + Grains
- Sandwiches
- Knife + Fork
- Desserts
The menu features casual American fare with a casual vibe and relaxing atmosphere, perfect for a quick drink or bite before flying out, or just unwinding if you're a guest at the hotel and don’t feel like taking a drive downtown. Chef Kimball originally came from New England and is a Johnston & Wales graduate, who worked for the Hyatt Hotel brand before coming down to Tampa and taking over the catering operation for the bar, cafe, and in-room dining of the Marriott during the renovation time period. He and the Marriott wanted to keep Skyye open as a normal bar and grill but also offer a taste of local culinary traditions which you see through some of the offerings on the menu like the traditional Tampa Cubano sandwich, Seminal grass-fed burger, and others. One thing they could improve on if they want to focus on local is to offer more beer, liquor, and non-alcoholic beverages from Florida to which we have a treasure trove of, versus the slim pickings that are actually offered.
They don’t say the word Starbuck’s on the menu for coffee selections, but call it Seattle’s Best, when they could be offering Kahwa Coffee local to St. Petersburg which in my opinion is a much better choice. One good local item on their beer list was the Invasion by the Cigar City Brewing company. This was my first time trying the invasion. Normally I drink the Jai Alai (high lie) IPA. Invasion is a tropical pale ale a citrusy, session beer brewed for those long days of marauding, pillaging and pirating. According to the beer maker, the full tasting notes and tropical aromas dominate the nose of this approachable, low alcohol pale ale with distinct notes of mango, tangerine, and soursop. On the palate, a moderate bitterness is tempered by flavors of navel orange and clementine and a dry, bread-like malt quality that makes this Pale Ale at once approachable and incredibly flavorful.
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| Skyye Bar / Chicken Sandwich |
I started with a guacamole dip and chips accompanied by some salsa which honestly was not that good, and the salsa was bland with no spice at all. For a Bar and Grille, I have definitely had better. For my entree, I had the fried chicken sandwich served with french fries in a little basket. This dish by far was very good and made up for the starter dish. The sandwich has a slaw with mayonnaise on it with a very warm buttery fresh made roll. The chicken was lightly crispy, very juicy fried to the perfect temperature, and not overcooked as some chickens are.
On a second visit in December 2018 while waiting for some friends to come in on a flight my wife and me had a few cocktails and the homemade fried potato chip appetizer which had less salt then most chips, were kept in the fry oil a little longer than I would have liked for a crunchier chip versus a nice well rounded one.
On a second visit in December 2018 while waiting for some friends to come in on a flight my wife and me had a few cocktails and the homemade fried potato chip appetizer which had less salt then most chips, were kept in the fry oil a little longer than I would have liked for a crunchier chip versus a nice well rounded one.
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| Skyye Bar / Chips |
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Other Noteworthy Bar and Grille Articles and Restaurants Similar to Skyye Bar:
Like the bar section listed above these locations incorporate a restaurant that serves typical bar foods or pub grub but also includes grilled menu items. Some restaurants enhance the experience further by offering detailed plate presented foods along with contemporary Bistro cuisine.
Beaches Restaurant & Bar Casual beach fare at PDX International, Portland, Oregon
Capt’n Jacks Waterfront Grille Waterside bar, w/laid-back tropical atmosphere, Tarpon Springs, Florida
Reflections Bar and Grill American favorites in the Westin Hotel at the airport in Detroit, Michigan
Regatta on Avon Bar, pub grub and New Zealand cuisine in Christchurch, New Zealand
Sloppy Joe’s Bar A landmark bar/pub serving Floribbean and American classics since 1933 Key West, Florida
The Dickens Inn 1800s warehouse dockside style British pub, in London, UK
The Pegasus Arms Casual tavern serving contemporary New Zealand cuisine in Christchurch, New Zealand
The Pike Brewing Company Brewpub with a locally sourced menu in Seattle, Washington
Wipeout Bar and Grill Surf shack theme with Californian and Mexican cuisine in San Francisco, California
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other Tampa restaurants and articles on Wine Dine and Play:
|
Casual American eats
At The Westin Harbour Island
Tampa, Florida, USA
|
A Jazzy Upscale Seafood Eatery chain in 9 States
Tampa, Florida, USA
|
Upscale eatery with butchery at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Tampa, Florida, USA
|
A Few Florida Favorites:
|
Rooftop Artisan Fusion Bistro
St. Pete Beach, Florida, USA
|
Relaxed eatery for pizza and pasta
Treasure Island
|
Upscale locally sourced seafood eatery with ocean views
Vero Beach
|
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary by country”
Final notes, review basics, observations and more pictures:
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about. My ratings are by the stars I award (from 0 to 5). The rating is calculated on a point accumulation of six separate factors based on individual experience. They include wine and other beverage selections, plate presentation, customer service, restaurant or café ambiance, food quality, and wow factor. To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
Overall from this experience, and the score factors outlined in the ‘about page’ section, based on my individual experience and rating, I give Skyye Bar a 2 out of 5 stars, meaning that they were far above the average dining experience of most restaurants. Though the starter was not impressive, the entree made up for it, matched with ambiance and service to give the restaurant a higher rating.
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings for Skyye Bar And Grille
|
Max Point Possible:
|
Total Points Awarded:
|
Total Points deducted:
|
Ambiance
|
11
|
10
|
1
|
Food quality
|
11
|
8
|
3
|
Plate presentation
|
10
|
8
|
2
|
Customer service
|
9
|
7
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2
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Alcohol and other beverages
|
10
|
7
|
3
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Total regular points awarded
|
51
|
40
|
11
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Total percentage — less the Bonus
|
0.784313725490196
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“Wow” factor BONUS
|
5
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0
|
0
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Total bonus percentage
|
0
| ||
Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
|
0.784313725490196
| ||
Stars Awarded (see chart below)
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0 - 5
|
2
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**A full break down and explanation of the observations and point disbursement is available in the linked article above. To receive a detailed copy of your score, feel free to contact me at any time and I will provide it to you.**
***
Overall Star Rating:
|
2 of 5 Stars:
78% Rating with a 0 point “wow” bonus
Far Above the Average Dining Experience
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Restaurant style:
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Casual dining
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Cuisine Style:
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American, Bar, and Grille
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Gluten-free, Pescatarian, Vegetarian Options
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Reservations:
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Not Required
Walk-Ins:
Accepted
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Dress code:
|
Casual attire
It’s Florida, everybody wear’s flip-flops!
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Child policy:
|
The Restaurants reviewed on this site may have a kids menu or cater to them; however, for full enjoyment of food and wine, it is recommended that kids not to be in attendance, unless they have been trained in proper etiquette.
If not then:
Hire a Babysitter!
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Experiences:
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Contemporary, Modern, Lounge, Great bar, Tourist grabber, and a Neighborhood Gem.
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Payments:
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Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
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Parking:
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Private lot
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Wifi
|
The restaurants reviewed on this site may have Wi-Fi, but do not require you to go online, because the excitement of the food and wine alone will keep you too entertained instead of checking your social media and emails.
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Noise level:
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Low
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Smoking:
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Skyye is a nonsmoking restaurant, (warning) with a smoking patio
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Patio or terrace:
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Yes
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Food Prices
(excludes, alcohol, taxes & 20% gratuity’s)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricey)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
|
Price
|
United States Dollar (USD)
|
$
|
Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
|
£
|
Canadian Dollar (CAN)
|
$$
|
Chinese Yuan (CNY)
|
¥¥¥
|
European Union (EUR)
|
€
|
Alcohol prices:
$9.00 USD
Skyye Bar and Grille:
Marriott Airport
4200 George J Bean Pkwy
Tampa, Florida
33607
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
| |
Maître d or host:
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+1 813-879-5151
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Serving hours:
Eastern Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC - 5:00)
|
Daily: Mon-Sun
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
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Social Media
&
Accolades for Skyye Bar And Grille:
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****
The worlds best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
|
Upscale fine dining global cuisine
Burj Khalifa, Dubai, UAE
|
Eclectic French-Asian Tasting Menu
Sydney, Australia
|
Modern eclectic and Nouvelle Latin cuisine
Woodstock, Cape Town, South Africa
|
Other Pictures from The Skyye Bar:
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| Skyye Bar and Grille / Entrance |
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| Skyye Bar / Lounge |
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| Skyye Bar |
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| Skyye Bar / Guacamole |
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| Skyye Bar / Catering |
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| Skyye Bar / Salmon |
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
