Gulfport, Florida USA
Cuisine Style: American
Average Price: $
Overall Rating: 1/5
Dined in: December 2016
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:
The newest restaurant in Gulfport meets with a group of locals that love their restaurants, local ownership of businesses, locally bought produce with sustainable practices and overall sense of community. The restaurant is called Manatees on the Bay where they feature mainly American foods and local Tampa favorites from classic burgers, fish and chips, Cubano sandwiches and country fried steak.
My wife, daughter, and I were in Gulfport enjoying the later morning before the start of the lunch business hours when we went up to the second floor of the Manatees on the Bay restaurant. A good name for the restaurant considering the Boca Ciega Bay was across the street, which had a fair share of manatees that called it home. The restaurant used to be called Spinnakers which was going to be featured on the Food Network, but it ran into troubles and eventually closed. We had dined with the Spinnakers name once with my wife and brother earlier in 2016.
We sat down at a cocktail table, one of a few with a mixture of tables and the bar, all in an enclosed patio, that unfortunately allowed smoking, as it was considered by Florida law an outdoor area serving alcohol and food. The bartender was running the entire show and was completely slammed as there were many tables occupied, a few people sitting at the bar and us. Being in the service industry and in the past working as a server, I would have had trouble working the entire room, and the poor bartender could not keep up. So needless to say it took a while to get drinks and food, and it was a shame that the restaurants first floor which was practically empty couldn’t send anyone up beside a food runner to help this poor guy.
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| Manatees on the Bay / Truffle Mac and Cheese |
We ordered a quick bite of the truffle macaroni and cheese entree (pictured above) that all three of us shared. The dish came with blackened chicken, panko bread crumbs, bacon, and truffle cheese sauce. It was a nice dish and we would have enjoyed trying other things but it would have taken to long. Hopefully when we return they will have more help.
Dessert:
We did not have dessert during this visit
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Other noteworthy American Cuisine articles and restaurants similar to Manatees On The Bay:
Also known as American fare, comfort, or classic American, as large as the United States is, it also encompasses many cuisine variations. These include the native Indian prior to European colonization, Hawaiian, and not forgetting the melting pot of immigrants that came and fused their styles together to make America. This list will be of restaurants that represent the broader base of American cuisine, using styles from all parts of the country on their menus. Pot roast, chicken fried steak, BLT’s, and hamburgers make up some of the junk we eat. This section is not to be confused with New American Cuisine techniques. New American is listed in a separate section of the ‘Food Glossary’.
91 Wood Fire Oven Refined rustic American fare in Canton, Ohio
Charleston’s Restaurant Casual American eatery; reviewed in Indianapolis, Indiana
Cypress Refined creative American eats in Charleston, South Carolina
Grace 17.20 Modern and contemporary American cuisine in Peachtree Corners, Georgia
Reflections Bar and Grill American favorites in the Westin Hotel at the airport in Detroit, Michigan
The Biltmore Dining Room Seasonal American cuisine in Asheville, North Carolina
The Zink Kitchen + Bar Modern and sleek American cuisine in Centennial, Colorado
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other Gulfport restaurants and articles on Wine Dine and Play:
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Old School Rustic Tuscan
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Weekly, Organic, Sustainable
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Waterfront Bar with American Bites
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Southern Inspired Comfort Eats
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A Few Florida Favorites:
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American Grill with an Asian twist
Palm Harbor, Florida, USA
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Eclectic and casual style seafood dishes
Melbourne, Florida, USA
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Laid-back bar with cocktails, wine, & Cigars
Key West, Florida, USA
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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 Manatees On The Bay a 0.5 out of 5 stars, meaning that they were a very basic dining experience below the level most restaurants. The first review score was 0.5 of 5 stars, so they have improved from my last visit and review.
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
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Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings for Manatees On The Bay
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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
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5
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4
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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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5
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3
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2
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Customer service
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8
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4
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3
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Alcohol and other beverages
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4
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4
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0
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Total regular points awarded
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35
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24
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13
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Total percentage — less the Bonus
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0.657142857142857
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“Wow” factor BONUS
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5
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0
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0
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Total bonus percentage
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0
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Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
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0.6231424577142857
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Stars Awarded (see chart below)
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0 - 5
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0.5
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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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0.1 of 5 Stars:
A very Basic Experience
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Corkage fees:
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Manatees On The Bay 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 at Manatees On The Bay::
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American
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Pescatarian, Vegetarian Options
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Reservations:
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Not Required
Walk-Ins:
Accepted
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Dress code:
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Casual attire
It’s Florida, everybody wear’s 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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Manatees On The Bay:Experiences:
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Great outdoor dining, Rustic, Scenic views, Hole-in-the-wall, 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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Manatees On The Bay has a public lot 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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Low
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Smoking:
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Manatees On The Bay is a non-smoking restaurant
WARNING: has a smoking patio and second-floor deck
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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)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
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Currency:
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Price
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$
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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:
$6.00
Manatees on the Bay:
3128 Beach Blvd South
Gulfport, Florida 33707
Contact Information:
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Maître d or host:
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+1 727-592-2842
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Email Us:
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Serving hours:
Eastern Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC - 5:00)
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Daily: Mon - Sun
10:00 am - 02:00 am
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Social Media
And
Accolades for Manatees On The Bay:
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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…
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High-end steakhouse chain with aged prime cuts
Akron, Ohio, USA
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Colorfully inspired twists on American Classics
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
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Upscale Pan Asian Fare w/sushi
Orlando, Florida, USA
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“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
TTFN
