Cuisine Fit For A Princess
Tampa, Florida, USA
Cuisine Style: American Indian, Floribbean
Average Price: $$
Overall Rating: 3/5
Dined in: November 2016
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:
Executive Chef:
Eric Lackey
Restaurant Owner:
Richard Gonzmart
General Manager:
Vincent M. Kassay
Ulele Restaurant (pronounced You-lay-lee) opened in August 2014, and sits on the banks of the Hillsborough River next to the Ulele spring and is adjacent to the Water Works Park, which has been transformed into a family-friendly park thanks to the Tampa Mayor and City Council. Ulele is an American native/Floribbean inspired restaurant with a brewery, that is known city wide for using fresh fruits, vegetables, seafood from Florida, or food harvested from family owned and independent companies. Their organic food is not genetically modified and has no hormones and antibiotics. They also offer wines from emerging market areas such as New Mexico, Virginia, New York, and Texas. Ulele is also part of the Columbia Restaurant Group, owned by Richard Gonzmart, a 4th generation family member.
American Indian-Floribian Cuisine @Uleletampa https://t.co/R0XEVSgfIQ@garyjberry @SmashingNosh @IntoxWorld @TBTimesFood @FoodTravelist pic.twitter.com/rDuOl5JnkN— Wine Dine and Play (@WineDinePlay) September 2, 2017
My wife and I went for an early dinner to try it out. I had just returned from working overseas, and she was a new member of a local women's organization called the Krewe of Princess Ulele. So when she saw the restaurant Ulele, we decided to make it the first food stop after coming home. The dishes are prepared off of a traditional style barbacoa grill, located in an open-air kitchen section of the main dining room that is designed almost like a gothic church with stain glass windows, and old-fashioned brick and mortar.
The property around the restaurant was turned into a park with lots of family activities, plus a large outdoor seating area with outdoor bar. We sat outside on a bench enjoying some cocktails, and people watching. Once inside we sat at the bar. The building looked like it was an old converted factory as well as a gothic style church, but either way, it was a very vibrant atmosphere, filled with people.
Menu:
- Appetizers
- Oysters
- Salads
- Soups
- Vegetarian
- Entrees
- Sides
- Desserts
We enjoyed a few small bites and salads on this visit, but look forward to returning in the future to sample some entrees as well. We began with some of the okra fries ($5) appetizers, tossed in lime juice and kosher salt, served with a house-made ketchup. My wife is not a big oyster fan, but I love them, so while we enjoyed the okra, at the same time I ordered a half dozen charbroiled oysters ($12) cooked on the barbacoa grill with some garlic butter, grated parmesan, and Romano cheese. The Oysters were fresh from the gulf coast, and you could also order regular oysters on the half shell.
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| Charbroiled oysters |
Next, we ordered a few more small bites starting with the crab macaroni and cheese ($10) which was okay but could have been better. The seashell pasta noodles were covered in a house-made lager beer sauce with four kinds of cheese, parmesan panko crust, and blue crab. Though it was very cheesy, the lager flavor did not match well with the cheese in my opinion.
My wife enjoyed the roasted beets and poached pear salad ($9), one of six on their menu to choose from. The pears were poached with saffron, and the plate was covered with balsamic charred onions, goat cheese, toasted almonds, and watercress lettuce. The salad was tossed in a blackberry honey gastrique, and for an additional five dollars, she added some yellowfin tuna to the dish.
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| Roasted beets and poached pear salad |
With these items, the white cheddar popcorn mashed potatoes ($4) under the sides portion of the menu looked very interesting, to say the least. Russet potatoes are boiled down, mashed up with garlic, leeks, and cheddar cheese, then all whipped together and topped with a garnish of popcorn pieces. Not only did it taste fantastic, I give it high points for presentation and originality.
With our small bites, we also shared some jalapeño corn muffins ($5) that the bartender told us about, so we added them on. With our food, my wife had a glass of rosé from K Vintners Charles collection based out of Columbia Valley, Washington. From the webpage, the tasting notes are described as aromas of watermelon, grass, wet stones and citrus and they carry through the palate, but in a more dynamic way finishing with bright acidity.
I enjoyed a 2014 Meritage from Robert Hall Winery based out of Paso Robles, California. This wine won the gold medal in the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition 2017 and scored 88 Points in a Wine Enthusiast tasting. According to the tasting notes provided by the winemaker, there were aromas of black currant, cassis, and ripe plum, complemented by intriguing earthy notes and cedar. The color is a deep ruby red, dense, and reflects the intensity of the vintage, the vineyard, and the careful selection of their finest lots. On the palate, the wine shows the exceptional depth of flavor with firm but velvety tannins. The classic blend of noble grapes produces a wine of finesse and character featuring their Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec. Overall it was a nice visit and a place my wife and I will return to. I believe that the customer service could have been better overall, and that did lower the overall star ranking of this restaurant, but small changes can raise them up in no time at all.
The story of the Princess Ulele:
As the story goes, in the 1500s, near the dawn of Spanish exploration in Florida, the Tocobaga tribe of the Tampa Bay area captured three Spaniards and sought to exact revenge for the brutal actions of explorers who had landed 11 years earlier. Pánfilo de Narváez, the leader of that expedition had cut off the nose of the Tocobaga chief then fed his mother to the dogs. So with a new group of Spaniards in his clutches, Chief Hirrihigua had his marksman use two of them for target practice and the third, a teenager named Juan Ortiz, he ordered roasted to death.
The chief's daughter, Ulele, took pity on Ortiz and threw herself onto his body until her father agreed to spare his life. Historians are mindful of the similarities between this tale and another famous clash of New World with old — John Smith and Pocahontas, seven decades later. Some think the British explorer Smith studied dispatches from North America including, perhaps, the story of Ulele and Ortiz, before heading to Jamestown. To embellish accounts of his own adventures, Smith may have added in elements of the Florida story — replacing the threat of fiery death with the threat of a fatal clubbing.
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Other Tampa restaurants and articles on Wine Dine and Play:
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Upscale eatery with butchery at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
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Prohibition-themed New American cuisine Restaurant - password required
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Vibrant spot for classic Spanish dishes & tapas
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Eclectic & innovative gastropub using molecular gastronomy
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Creative Mexican eats & decor
Tampa, Florida, USA
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Café chain for health-minded breakfast, brunch, & lunch
Tampa, Florida, USA
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A Few Florida Favorites:
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Waterfront Bar with American Bites
Gulfport, Florida, USA
|
Cal-Italian Cuisine, At the Sundial
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
|
Eclectic Beachside Bistro at the Grand Plaza Hotel
St. Pete Beach, Florida, USA
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New American Cuisine
Tampa, Florida, USA
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Global seafood with a comfort feel
City of Anna Maria, Florida, USA
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Stylish chophouse chain with surf ’n’ turf
Brandon, Florida USA
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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 in, I give Ulele a 3 out of 5 stars, meaning that they exceeded my expectations and were far above the average dining experience of most restaurants.
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings
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Max Points Possible:
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Total Points Awarded:
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Total Points deducted:
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Ambiance
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9.5
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9
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0.5
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Food quality
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9
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6
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3
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Plate presentation
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8
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7.5
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0.5
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Customer service
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7
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3.5
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3.5
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Alcohol and other beverages
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10
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8
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2
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Total regular points awarded
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43.5
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34
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9.5
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Total percentage — less the Bonus
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0.781609195402299
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“Wow” factor BONUS
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5
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2
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0
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Total bonus percentage
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0.0459770114942529
|
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Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
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0.827586206896552
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Stars Awarded (see chart below)
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0 - 5
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3
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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:
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3 of 5 Stars:
83% Rating with a 2 point “wow” bonus
Exceeded my Expectations in a Dining Experience
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Wine List:
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Wine rating:
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5 of 10
Old World selections:
France, Spain
New World selections:
California, Oregon, Washington State, Virginia
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Corkage fee’s:
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This Restaurant does not list any corkage fee’s however, most American restaurants charge
$25.00 per bottle
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Restaurant style:
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Casual dining
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Cuisine Style:
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American, Native American, Seafood
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Farm to Fork, Gluten Free, Low Carb, Pescatarian, Vegan Options, Vegetarian
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Reservations:
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Not Required, But Recommended
Walk-Ins:
Accepted, but not guaranteed
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Dress code:
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Casual to Conservative attire
It’s Florida, everybody wears flip-flops!
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Child policy:
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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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Place for foodies, Trendy, Business parties, Hotspot, Great bar, Great outdoor dining, Good for special occasions, Beautiful décor, Rustic, Classy, 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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Valet or Street meter parking
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Wifi
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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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Loud
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Smoking:
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Nonsmoking restaurant, and nonsmoking 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 (pricy)
$£€¥ 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:
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Price
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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£
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Canadian Dollar (CAN)
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$$
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Chinese Yuan (CNY)
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¥¥¥¥
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European Union (EUR)
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€
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Alcohol prices:
$24.00 USD
Ulele Restaurant:
1810 North Highland Avenue
in Tampa Heights
Tampa, FL 33602
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
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Maître d or host:
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+1 813 999 4952
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Online reservations
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Email Contact:
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Serving hours:
Eastern Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC - 5:00)
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Sun-Thur
11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Fri-Sat
11:00 am - 11:00 pm
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Social Media
&
Accolades:
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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…
|
Hip burger chain with space-age decor
Midtown, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
|
Colonial Portuguese Fusion with tapas
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
|
Posh and artful French cuisine + culinary experimentalism at Intercontinental Hotel
Festival City, Dubai, UAE
|
Other Pictures:
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| Princess Ulele Statue |
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| Okra Fries |
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| Crab mac and cheese |
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| Muffins |
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| Popcorn mashed potatoes |
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| Gothic dining room |
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| Barbacoa grill |
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
