Festive Bar And Lounge With Casual Mexican And Tex-Mex Fair
Treasure Island, Florida, USA
Cuisine Style: Mexican, Tex-Mex
Average Price: $
Overall Rating: 1/5
Dined: May 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:
VIP Lounge & Mexican Restaurant Zomato rating:
VIP Lounge & Mexican Restaurant Culinary Team:
Nick Rapisardi & Nilo Aquilar
VIP Lounge & Mexican Restaurant started as a small hole-in-the-wall spot serving festive Mexican and Tex-Mex fare in a very laid-back bar and lounge since 1993. They began by only offering three types of meat on the menu, then over time as the lounge grew to a restaurant the menu expanded. They listened to their customers and regulars changing the menu around based on the popularity of food and beverage, ordering alcohol that you as the customer wants and prefers. For reservations, they are on a first come first serve which also includes no call ahead seating.
As the restaurant gained in popularity with locals and out of towner’s, who had been given the recommendation to come, the VIP owners upgraded the site and expanded to open a back-side patio. Every time my wife and I drove by no matter the time of the day, the place was packed out. When we did stop in we came through the back entrance patio where you can sit and eat, but beware of the smoking that is allowed. If you choose to dine inside as we did, the back entrance means you pass through the kitchen. The back door does have an air curtain but we did not notice a screen door between the hallway and kitchen to the outside. This is a concern considering the kitchen is right their, open to the outside. Once inside the space expands for more tables and booths plus a large bar able to seat upwards of 20 people, where we sat. The bar and dining room are all in one where the bartenders are the dining room servers, and the dining room staff will get behind the bar to make drinks as well. It is almost like a laissez-faire or let-go style way of customer service to not get involved, yet that style has its ups and downs depending on how busy or slow the dining room and bar can be.
VIP Lounge & Mexican Restaurant Menu:
- Appetizers
- Tacos
- Entrees and Bowls
- Gringo Food
- Desserts
My wife had a Patron Bianco while I had a Negra Modelo on draft and we both started with a chips con salsa from the appetizer menu. This dish was a basket of fried corn tortilla chips with a Mexican-style cheese dip with a twist. From there you can request add ons for an extra cost. Though VIP Lounge & Mexican Restaurant is a hole-in-the-wall and classified more as a bar or lounge it does have unique flavor profiles with its food, a sign of trying to up the game. Starting with the cheese dip having light spice and you could taste the flavors from the cooked roux and not that of a canned sauce. If it was a canned sauce, then there must be a ton of preservatives and taste modifiers to make it like the real thing.
My wife had the mini chicken enchilada plate topped with a house-made burrito sauce, and shredded cheese served with rice and bean sides as well as a mixed Mexican salad. The choices for enchiladas are ground beef, shredded beef, chicken, or pork. The Mexican salad has a small portion of shredded lettuce, black olive, tomatoes, and sour cream. The presentation was not unlike any other enchilada plate from any Mexican restaurant out there, though it did have eye appeal with the contrast in colors. The chicken inside was a little overcooked and dry though with the extra sauce on top, it was hard to tell. One issue I have had trouble with in the past is overcooking shredded chicken, and trying to find a happy medium. Finally, it took slightly undercooking the chicken, then submerging it in a sauce before stuffing it into a tortilla, where the chicken would cook up the rest of the way while in the oven baking.
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| VIP Lounge & Mexican Restaurant / Chicken Enchilada |
For my entree I had a daily special called the chicken wonton platter using the same chicken that was in my wife's enchilada dish, though with less sauce, so you could taste and feel the dryness from it, though he spice profile was heavier, which did pair nicely with the cheese, vegetables, and guacamole topping for the wonton. The guacamole itself did Tate a bit bitter possibly from the use of too much lime would be my guess.
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| VIP Lounge & Mexican Restaurant / Chicken wonton |
Over-all with a little tweaking their food could go from basic Mexican and spiced Tex-Mex hints to something that will push VIP over the top and other Mexican restaurants would not be able to compete. The customer service motto mentioned above is unique with everyone in the dining room working together where bartender works as a server and the server goes behind the bar. In a busy and fast-paced lounge-like VIP is, the customer service part does get lost because of how busy the service staff is. This platform has great potential, but more staff is needed for it. I can see the bar tender and service staff view of not wanting more staff because that takes money out of their pocket. So if they stay with the same style, then the service staff needs to up the game, or they will lose customers because of it.
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 Mexican or Tex-Mex food articles and restaurants similar to VIP Lounge & Mexican Restaurant:
Mexican cuisine is primarily a fusion of indigenous Mesoamerican cooking with European, especially Spanish, with elements added after their conquest of the Aztec Empire in the sixteenth century. The staples are native foods, such as corn, beans, avocados, tomatoes, and chili peppers, expanded greatly after the European occupation which introduced rice, cheese, and domesticated animals. African and Asian influences were also introduced into the mixture during this era as a result of African slavery in New Spain and the Manila-Acapulco Galleons. Over the centuries, regional cuisines based on local customs reverted back to ancient ways while incorporating the new European foods, and areas such as those in Oaxaca, Veracruz, and the Yucatán Peninsula took on a new identity which resulted in traditional Mexican cuisine being inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2010. Not all Mexican is created equal, as a good portion of American Mexican restaurants is a blend of Tex-Mex or “Gringo” Mexican with less flavor and spice.
Tex-Mex is a fusion of United States cuisine and Mexican cuisines, deriving from the culinary creations of Tejanos. It has spread from border states such as Texas and others in the Southwestern United States to the rest of the country as well as Canada. Tex-Mex is most popular in the state of Texas.
Benji’s Cantina An innovative approach to Tex-Mex cuisine in Austin, Texas
Güero's Taco Bar Landmark Mexican restaurant on Congress Ave. in Austin, Texas
Hablo Taco Mexican-blend joint known for tacos and margaritas in Tampa, Florida
Nitally’s A Fusion of Thai and Mexican Cuisine from a husband and wife team in St. Petersburg, Florida
Nueva Cantina Vibrant, authentic, and contemporary Mexican cuisine in St Petersburg, Florida
Poppo's Taqueria Gourmet organic Taqueria Street Food, City of Anna Maria Island, Florida
Sparkman’s Wharf An outdoor Channelside venue with a beer garden, coffeehouse, and 10+ restaurants in Tampa, Florida
Wipeout Bar and Grill Surf shack theme with California and Mexican cuisine in San Francisco, California
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other Treasure Island restaurants, and articles on Wine Dine and Play:
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Italian eatery in the Thunderbird Resort
Treasure Island
|
A few Florida restaurant favorites:
|
Rustic Italian bistro with modern takes on classic dishes
Winter Park
|
Chain eatery for creative pies
Tampa, Florida, USA
|
German Bites in Bavarian-style Tavern
Ruskin, Florida, USA
|
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 VIP Lounge & Mexican Restaurant a 1 out of 5 stars, meaning that they were an average dining experience similar to most restaurants, but would have scored higher if the customer service and food or plate presentation had more time and attention dedicated to it.
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings for VIP Lounge & Mexican Restaurant
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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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10
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8
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2
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Food quality
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11
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8
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3
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Plate presentation
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10
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7
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2
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Customer service
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12
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7
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5
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Alcohol and other beverages
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10
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7
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3
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Total regular points awarded
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53
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37
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15
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Total percentage — less the Bonus
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0.69811320754717
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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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0.69811320754717
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Stars Awarded (see chart below)
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0 - 5
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1
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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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1 of 5 Stars:
70% Rating with a 0 point “wow” bonus
An Average Dining Experience
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Corkage fees:
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VIP Lounge & Mexican 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 at VIP Lounge & Mexican Restaurant:
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Mexican, Tex-Mex
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Pescatarian, Vegetarian Options
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Reservations:
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Walk-Ins:
Accepted, but not guaranteed
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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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VIP Lounge & Mexican Restaurant Experiences:
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Contemporary, Lounge, Hotspot, Great bar, Rustic, 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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VIP Lounge & Mexican Restaurant has 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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Medium
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Smoking:
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VIP Lounge & Mexican Restaurant is a non-smoking restaurant WARNING: has 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)
|
$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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£
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Canadian Dollar (CAN)
|
$
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Chinese Yuan (CNY)
|
¥¥¥
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European Union (EUR)
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€
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Alcohol prices:
$11.00 USD
VIP Lounge & Mexican Restaurant:
10625 Gulf Blvd
Treasure Island, Florida
33706
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
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Maître d or host:
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+1 (727) 360-5062
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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
10:00 am - 11:00 pm
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Social Media
And
Accolades for VIP Lounge & Mexican Restaurant:
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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.
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Other VIP Lounge & Mexican Restaurant Pictures:
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
