Laid-Back On The Water Floribbean Bar
Dunedin, Florida USA
Cuisine Style: Bar and Grill
Average Price: $
Overall Rating: 0/5
Dined in: August 2018
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:
Marker 8 On The Water Zomato rating:
Marker 8 On The Water Tiki Bar and Grill is located at the Beso Del Sol Resort known to the locals for causal fare Floribbean and American staples like Cuban sandwiches, conch fritters, and quesadillas, along with beer, and mixed cocktails that they advertise as the best run runners north of Key West. They do have the dockside carryout food and liquor delivery service in Dunedin which is a bonus for those wanting a quick bite without leaving the boat. You can also have a 1980s flashback and play trivial pursuit with the available editions they have on hand.
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| Marker 8 / Happy Hour |
My wife and I were on a day trip exploring the area and stopped in for a few cocktails and a quick bite, with my wife having a Milagro tequila and grapefruit made from hand-picked blue agave estate owned, versus purchasing from outside sources. I had a local beer from the Tampa Bay Brewing Company called Reef Donkey which is slang for the greater amberjack gamefish which inhabits the coastal wrecks and reefs around Florida. At 5.5% ABV and 36 IBU’s the beer makers tasting notes list this dry-hopped American Pale Ale that drinks like a session IPA. Motueka, Equinot, & Citra hops give this beer a lemon/lime aroma with a citrus/tropical fruit flavor.
We ordered two dishes from what looked like the appetizer or starter portion of the menu since each page did not have a title. An assumption that the page had shrimp cocktail, salads and sweet potatoes French fries gave that away while the second page listed sandwiches. Once ordered, which took a long time just to get the attention of the bartender who was busy in some way as there were very few customers, so what that busyness was I’m not sure, but between that and the service she did give was mediocre at best. When the starters arrived they were brought in to go boxes. I’m not sure if all food was like that, or if this was a message that she wanted us to leave. The choice selections were a fish spread and some cordon blue bites.
Fish Spread Rating Chart:
THE BEST - Top notch quality, excellent flavor profiles, memorable presentation, rare ingredients, organic, non-GMO, sustainable, local, immense-colossal quality of fish, and extravagant smoke flavors
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DAMN GOOD - Fantastic smoke, exceptional quality, eclectic flavor, nice display, dedicated local sourcing, beautiful quality fish, possibly sustainable, non-GMO
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GOOD - delicate, Enhanced ingredients, nice flavor, fresh taste, great smoke, common arrangements, in state local, superior quality fish
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BETTER - Nice ingredients, higher-desirable quality, okay flavor and taste, good smoke content, maybe from in-state sources, but possibly a GMO
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OKAY - Nothing amazing, a regular spread, fair quality, highly probable GMO product, might be from the state, most likely not, fabricated or mainstream smoke products
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BAD - Taste old, horrible seasoning, cheap smoke, manufactured, heavy GMO product, not local, bad smell
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The fish spread chart above I put together nearly two years ago, as my wife and I enjoyed going to the many restaurants around the Tampa Bay and beyond to try this uniquely Floribbean food. I would rate this Marker 8 fish spread as okay. It was nothing amazing, just a regular spread that you can buy anywhere, with fish that could be caught from anywhere or even GMO farm-raised fish, with basic products for smoking and flavor. The menu listed it as locally caught amberjack, which I have had several other restaurants, and the quality was much higher. I did not let the bad service affect my review of the food offered, this was strictly based on taste.
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| Marker 8 / Fish Spread |
The cordon blue bites were served with a remoulade sauce which is great for fish products or NOLA cuisine using fried chicken, but not something I would pair with cordon blue. The small balls were filled with cheese and ham, battered then deep fried. Like any fried food, it is a comfort style food and goes down well. The remoulade sauce was also decent, but threw me off with the flavor of the ham and melted cheese. I wasn’t disappointed, just surprisingly interested in that type of pairing.
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| Marker 8 / Cordon Bleu Bites |
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Other noteworthy Floribbean articles or restaurants similar to Marker 8 On The Water:
Floribbean cuisine is found in varying forms in Florida restaurants The essence of what makes a particular dish "Floribbean" is similar to that of certain other aspects of variable Floridian culture: it is influenced by the American Indian tribes native to the area, along with immigrants from all over the world, but especially from Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Greece. Highlighted recipes include key lime pie, barbecue, tropical barbacoa, and smoked fish spreads.
Miller’s Ale House Casual Floribbean and American pub chain; reviewed in Brandon, Florida
Sloppy Joe’s Bar A landmark bar/pub serving Floribbean and American classics since 1933 Key West, Florida
The Floridian Restaurant Modern and locally sourced café for southern grub in St. Augustine, Florida
The Getaway A local chain serving Floribbean foods in an outdoor beach atmosphere, in St. Petersburg, Florida
Ulele Rustic chic for native American and Floridian fare in Tampa, Florida
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other Dunedin restaurants, and articles on Wine Dine and Play:
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Homey seafood eatery in a 1903 cottage
Dunedin, Florida USA
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An Eclectic Blend of American and European
Dunedin, Florida USA
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A few Florida restaurant favorites:
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Music, food, and wine near pier 60
Clearwater / Beach, Florida USA
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California cuisine & fine dining chain
Orlando, Florida, USA
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Contemporary Twist on American favorites
Palm Beach, 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 Marker 8 On The Water a 0 out of 5 stars, meaning that they did not exceed my expectations and were not above the average dining experience of most restaurants, and service was very poor.
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings for Marker 8
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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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11
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6
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5
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Food quality
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11
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5
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6
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Plate presentation
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8
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5
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3
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Customer service
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12
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4
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8
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Alcohol and other beverages
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9
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7
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2
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Total regular points awarded
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51
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27
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24
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Total percentage — less the Bonus
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0.529411764705882
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“Wow” factor BONUS
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5
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1
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0
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Total bonus percentage
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0.0196078431372549
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Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
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0.549019607843137
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Stars Awarded (see chart below)
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0 - 5
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0
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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 of 5 Stars:
55% Rating with a 1 point “wow” bonus
A Poor Dining Experience
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Restaurant style:
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Casual dining
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Cuisine Style at Marker 8 On The Water:
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American, Bar & Grille, Floribbean
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Farm to Fork, Gluten-free choices, Grass Fed, Halal, Local, Low Carb Choices, Non-GMO, Organic, Pescatarian, Sustainable, Vegan Options, 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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This Restaurant and bar are strictly for patrons who are 21 years and older.
Hire a Babysitter!
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RESTAURANT NAME Experiences:
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Hotspot, Great bar, Great outdoor dining, Hole-in-the-wall, 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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Marker 8 On The Water has a private lot
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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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Medium
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Smoking:
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WARNING: Marker 8 On The Water is a smoking bar and Grill
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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)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
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Price
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$
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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:
$15.00 USD
Marker 8 On The Water:
Beso Del Sol Resort
1420 Bayshore Blvd
Dunedin, Florida
34698
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
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Maître d or host:
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+1 (727) 738-5000
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Website Contact:
Email Us:
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Serving hours:
Eastern Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC - 5:00)
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Daily
12:00 pm - 10:00 pm
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Social Media
And
Accolades for
Marker 8 On The Water:
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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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Modern Italian and Southern
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
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Classy American fare with steak and seafood
Griffin, Georgia, USA
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High-end elegant steakhouse with sustainable seafood
Charleston, South Carolina, USA
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Other Marker 8 On The Water Pictures:
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| Marker 8 / Pool and Bar |
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| Marker 8 / Bar |
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| Marker 8 / Lunch Meal |
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
