I've been to Ciro's several times with groups of friends, I usually spend $70-$100 just on myself for 3 drinks (most are $12-$18 per) and 2 small plates + dessert + auto gratuity if we're in a private booth + $5 to park. Â It is by no means a bargain, but it's always a class experience with superior cocktails, and my out of town friends really enjoy it. Â I was happy to see they've made some needed improvements, such as replacing some of the heavy high top tables in the lounge with black leather couches, I think they refurbished the aquarium, and they printed new menus, which was sorely needed at the time of my last visit. Â I know that they may have some restrictions on construction because of the historic building they're located in, but it would be nice to see the bathrooms updated or at least kept in good working order. Â You have to walk through a dank service hallway to get to the unisex bathroom (kind of breaks the 1920's fantasy vibe of the restaurant), which had no toilet paper and a storage cabinet with the door falling off. Â The staff is always cordial and knowledgeable, and Ciro's remains a welcome counterpoint to the Ed Hardied throngs of neighboring South Howard nightlife.
Review Source:I really can't write how much I loved this place! Â We made a reservation b/c we wanted a private room with the beaded curtains. Â When we got there, our reservation was for a table in the bar area. :( Â We were SUPER disappointed b/c we are moving out of town in a week and really wanted to get the whole feel.
The waiters/waitresses are super knowledgeable about their drinks. Â My advice, order a drink that you are told about that isn't on the menu. Â I was skeptical, but did it and they turned out very good!!! Â My hubby and I shared the sliders and fries, and a desert. Â That was the perfect amount of food to split, although I think I could eat the fries all by myself!
If you do end up sitting in the bar area, never fear, it's a fun area too. Â The fish tank that is encased in the wall is very colorful and fun!
**don't forget, you must have the password to enter**
Came here for a surprise birthday dinner for my husband last week and had a wonderful experience. I'm pregnant so I wasn't able to enjoy the cocktails, but everyone else in our party loved them. The food was delicious, especially the duck fat fries, oysters and fondue. The service was what really made this place stand out for me. Our server was very friendly, knowledgeable, accommodating and overall likable. Loved the atmosphere and private dining areas. Will definitely be back when I can enjoy their lovely drink menu!
Review Source:Well slap on your flapper dresses and fedora's and get ready to travel back to the 1940s, it's time for Ciro's. It's classy yet cas, secretive and swanky. What's not hip is the prices, but hey, you go for the experience. Definitely book a reservation WAY in advance if you expect to get a table and at a decent time. And you've got to have one of those signature they-drank-this-back-in-the-day cocktails, it's a must. And don't forget to dim the lights!
Review Source:I love the whole ambience here! Each time I try to make myself have something other than the Kentucky Champagne, but its just so good! I did try a new dish Shrimp stuffed with blue cheese and those shrimpers were massive woah! So warm and delicious served on tiny chopped olives, so flavorful, I was pleased. I just love the dark room with the chill music.I always want that fish tank for my house :) ...someday maybe. This is a great place for a special date or a dinner with the girls.
Review Source:What a hidden little fancy place in SoHo!
We weren't really too sure what to expect. We had reservations for 4 at 7pm. I got a call around 3 that day with the password to get in. It's easy to miss the parking lot. We actually drove past it. The parking lot is right behind the condo building if you're coming from Bayshore.
We gave the password and were led to our own private booth, complete with a red curtain and a bunch of candles inside. The service was fantastic. Our waiter was quick to suggest a few drinks for us. The drink menu is huge and it took us a while to decide on something. We also ordered duck fat fries, chicken and waffles, and a large fondue. The food was great.
I knocked a star off because the music was terrible and the volume would go from being just right, then to so loud you could hardly hear your group. And, I was hoping for some more old school music, not Beyonce (and it seemed the playlist repeated after an hour, because we heard the same songs several times). I also thought the drinks were a little small for the prices ($12/13).
We would definitely come back!
One of my favorite places to get dressed up and have a drink with friends. Â Their extensive drink menu of crafted cocktails is impressive and the bartenders aka mixologists really know their drinks (my favorites are the Moscow Mule and the Tryst. Great for a birthday or special occasion there are private rooms available with curtains and candles for your privacy and to set the mood. Be sure to call ahead and get the password or you won't get into this classy speakeasy joint!
Review Source:This is my favorite go-to place when I have friends in town and want to start of the night with some great food and drinks. Â
This restaurants creates a dining experience that is fun and whimsical from start to finish. Â The restaurant is set up as a Speakeasy, so there are no signs that indicate where the restaurant may be. Â When you first arrive, you are greeted near the valet stand by a server who then points you down a path towards an unmarked door. Â Once there you knock on the door and someone opens a small window and asks for the password (be sure to call in early and get the password before you get here!). Â Once you provide the password, they let you into the restaurant which is dark, small and cozy. Â Each of the tables are private and set up behind curtains.
I have tried pretty much their entire menu (although it has changed a few times). Â But the following are my favorite dishes: duck fat fries, mushroom risotto, cheese fondue
and chicken and waffles. Along with the great food, the drinks are out of this world. Â The restaurant really plays off the speakeasy theme and places a lot of care and effort into hand crafting each of their drinks. Â The servers are very knowledgeable about each of the drinks and are able to provide great suggestions based on your preferences.
Great place, highly recommended!!!
First time here and I loved it! Â Came here with my wife just for a quick bite and a cocktail before restaurant hopping elsewhere. Â It took us two loops around the building to find the door, though it really wasn't too hidden. Â We made a reservation for 8p just before heading here and just showed them the reservation on our phone as we had not received the daily password. Â No problem and the doorman was courteous. Â Upon entering we were ushered into our private enclosed booth which was very intimate. Â The entire waitstaff was dressed to fit the 20's speakeasy theme. Â Nice atmosphere.
For our cocktails, Betty had the Foam Flash and I had the Park Slope, a variation of a Manhattan made from rye and apricot brandy. Â Both were well crafted. Â We ordered two bites as well, the duck fat fries and the crostini trio. Â The fries came with a tamarind ketchup, a chipotle sauce and an aioli and this dish was worth 4 stars alone. Â I would pass on the crostini next time, but they were ok. Â I wanted to try the grouper cheeks, but they were out. Â Next time! Â Will definitely be back.
Ciro's is all about the experience, and let me tell you they do not disappoint! Set during prohibition times, this speakeasy is a hidden gem. The only way to enter is to know the password. It all feels secretively delicious and as if you are in the know {never-mind the sign across the street pointing out this "hidden" hot spot}.
The drinks were my favorite! I love their cocktail menu. They get points for the names, originality and creativity! On the particular night we dined, I ordered a Russian Rum Punch and it was lovely to look at and of course to drink.
For eats, a friend and I shared three small plates; Duck Fries from Paris, with Love, Savory Cheese Fondue, and always a favorite; Chicken & Waffle sliders. All three were beyond filling, flavorful and fun!
Dining at Ciro's is experience and like anything worth trying, you may spend a pretty penny. But go, and go now. You won't be disappointed.
After our first attempt failed we decided to make a reso online (important detail). Was impressed they called to confirm it earlier the day of. Knew it was a speakeasy but wasn't sure what that would entail. Great greeting upon arrival, quickly seated in our reserved "room" and impressed with both the food and service.
Our server was phenomenal. Great at suggestions, feeling the mood and projecting her energy. After all it was a Wednesday night.
We kind of winged it on our first drinks but really enjoyed them. Then let our server decide our second round-both realllly liked the second. And they cost less than the first so she wasn't just increasing our bill for her benefit.
We started with the crostini trio and baked oysters. Both very good! We also got the duck fat fries and their three dips- also very very good!
The atmosphere was amazing. Dark and hidden feeling with great live music. The bar was very busy this particular night which made it feel like what a true speakeasy is known for.
Overall a great experience and can't wait to go back!
What a cool place....
I was lucky enough to be invited here by a coworker and some of his friends. Even though his reservation was for 4 and we turned into 6 when he invited myself and my husband, Ciro's was not phased on a slammed Saturday night and accommodated us.
We walked from Cheap where we began our night and checked in. We didn't know the password, but my friend's name was enough to get us in. Being Kentucky Derby weekend, people wandering the dark bar were dressed to the nines. I was immediately in love when I saw their gorgeous saltwater tank.
We were escorted back to our booth and crammed the 6 of us in. It was cozy and intimate, and such a fun night. We all ordered a few rounds of drinks and shared sips and laughs. My drink I stuck with was the Easy 8 Up (or something like this)- a beautiful mix of vodka (I know this is not true prohibition liquor...), grapefruit, pineapple and lime. I loved every drop. We then moved on to limey gimlets and Old Fashioneds.
The service was impeccable. Our waiter even requested the bartender make a special hybrid drink for one of our friends and brought the bartender back to us to introduce the genius. I gave him a round of applause.
I'd definitely recommend this really fun place. It could use a bit more theater, but that might make it campy. It's just a really cool place to bring friends when you feel like traveling back to the roaring 20's and I know we'll be back soon.
Oh Ciro's, how I thank you for living up to the hype. I had heard so many good things about this place, that I followed them on facebook for some time before giving them a try.
For my first visit, I was able to snatch up a special they advertised on facebook for a group of 10 or more, where they paid for our first round of drinks and comped us two orders of the truffle popcorn and duck fries. Reservations went smoothly, and after finding the door to get in, we were all seated in a large booth, resembling the inside of a party bus. That experience was great, except the service was really slow (they were busier than normal for a Sunday night we were told), and the music in the place is piped through this room first so it was rather loud and annoying. Made it hard to talk to each other. So, I decided to experience it in more of a date night vibe, which it seems to be better for that than large groups. For food, we got the chicken and waffle sliders, which were pretty good, but what made them was the chipotle sauce they served in lieu of the typical syrup most places offer. Portion sizes are small, more like tapas. We also shared a chocolate fondue tray with fruit galore with our friends.
For my date night, we chose a Monday night, thinking it wouldn't be busy and we could have the intimate atmosphere we desired. While our visit wasn't ideal (due to the extremely loud and obnoxious group of businessmen and their dates in the booth across from us), it wasn't Ciro's fault, and everything they were responsible for was perfect. We both got cocktails (margarita and mai tai) which were perfect. Our server was prompt and attentive. We shared a cheese and fruit tray, which came with three cheeses, almonds, apricots, and grapes. The blue cheese on this tray was worth every penny, as I've never had anything like it. I was happy we went made this choice! When I went to pay, there was a mixup in the price of the cheese tray due to the recent menu change (our menu was outdated) but they took care of it no problem. Great customer service!
Things to know:
-Intimate "booths" which are more like curtained closets with an L-shaped couch inside, fitting 2-4 in most of the booths, with some being larger. The cushions give it a laid back vibe, but everything is really classy.
-This place is DARK. If you're coming in and it's dark outside, it will take you a good 10 minutes for your eyes to adjust. Thank goodness they have lighted menus!
-Candlelight and a few small spotlights are the only lighting offered. Very intimate.
-Service is excellent, and I love how they dress to fit the roaring 20's theme.
-Food is delicious, and cocktails are one of a kind. Read the descriptions carefully!
-Be prepared to spend a decent amount of money for a night out, as most drinks are in the $12-15 range, and small plates around $15-20. They do offer specials of larger meals, but it isn't cheap. However, the food is fantastic, so one could argue it's worth it. ;)
-When making a reservation, they'll give you a password, which you'll use at the door. Ciro's is hidden on the bottom floor of a condo off Bayshore Blvd. right near the pool (in the back). Head to the left of the pool and you'll see a stairwell with a wooden door that is unmarked. Knock, and give your password to the person in the hole. The door opens outward, so be prepared!
-Parking is valet only, and it's $5. Come with cash!
So glad that my server Erica at Anise suggested this place. It's now my favorite for an expertly made stiff cocktail in Tampa. Dark, sexy atmosphere with private curtained dining booths. The drink menu reads like a history book, and the speakeasy theme both fun and classy and is carried out adorably from beginning to end by the service. I would rave about the food here, but I still haven't tried it. Who can get past the drinks?
Review Source:Popped in for a drink on our way to Hyde Park Cafe last night at the recommendation of Erica at Anise. Â Place is dark, dank and like jumping into a time machine to visit a bar during prohibition. Â We ordered a MOJITO and a RHINO, both of which were great. Perhaps one day we will return for food.
Tip: when pulling up to the building, walk around back to the courtyard. Â The door will be on your left.
There is no option but five stars for Ciro's. It defines what five stars should be.
Every facet of the experience was memorable and incredible. The duck fat fries, sliders, and chicken & waffles were each more delectable than I thought possible.
Dining with my significant other in the private, curtained booth was intimate beyond anything you can get at any other place in Tampa. Ciro's should be the number one choice for a romantic date night hands down, for any couple.
The drinks (especially the Bramble, my personal favorite over multiple visits) are Top Shelf. Not just "top shelf" like at a normal bar, but a new, previously undiscovered shelving unit made of platinum, encrusted with gems and laden with mystery. It is, with only slight exaggeration, like "drinking an orgasm".
From beginning to end, Ciro's delivers. It is not cheap - but the value oozes from every dish and drink. Expect to drop 100-150 dollars (pre tip) for two people if you want to really experience the full spectrum of offerings.
I am an imaginative person. I like to visualize myself in another time and place when I am inside Ciro's. I embrace it fully. While in the building - I feel that I have been transported to another dimension...it's that good. I have dined all over the world and this place is in my Top Five of all time.
Everything was good. Â Food all was good... the atmosphere was nice.. Â
Drinks were interesting and neat. Â Appetizer was good -- $11 for 3 crostini seemed a bit pricey -- but they were really tasty. Â Â
I found it cool to take my date there and act all cool knowing the password.. Â kind of neat.. Â I would recommend this for a third date or a nice retreat for a married night out... Â Definitely a bit awkward for a first date though...
The clientele were a mix of business casual to women dressed to impressed... so dress appropriately... Â
Nitpicking:
If you are going to the nines to make it like you are in the 20's-40's, then do everything you can..
Menus were bad-ass with the lighting -- but was that around in the 20's?
Music was Lana Del-Rey from last year... Â Play 1920's music... Â
Mirrors were a bit dirty.. Â The table next to kitchen was awkward as you looked into the kitchen the whole time -- and watched the servers do their thing...
Inside the booths were neat to hang out in.. but I watched as the people above 5'5" looked uncomfortable...
That being said, I want to take a bunch of people here -- so it was fun and cozy... so I will go again.
Truly disappointing experience - I had been really looking forward to my experience at Ciro's. Â I made a reservation for 915 PM on a Friday night, I was called early in the day by the restaurant on Friday to confirm my reservation at which time I asked if I could move up my reservation to 845 and was told it would be no problem.
We arrived at the restaurant at 830 (yes we were a little early) and checked in. Â They still had me as a 915 reservation and when I mentioned that they had ok'd the 845 time she said that the wait wouldn't be long. Â We said we'd go to the bar and she pointed at an open area with available chairs. Â We ordered drinks and then waited till 930 to be seated (there were many patrons that went ahead of us while we were waiting).
When the hostess finally came to get us, she took us a to a small high top table next to the bar, and when we said that we made reservations and were expecting a booth, she stated "Oh well you have to request that when you are making a reservation, most first timers never know it, but you'll get it next time" Well I'm not sure that there is going to be a next time.
Our waitress was nice, a little overly peppy, but that's fine. Â We already had our drinks, so we perused the menus and she told us about the specials. We opted for the Lobster Deviled Eggs, Duck Fat Fries, Slider Trio, and a Steak Special. Â
The Deviled Eggs came out first. Â There were 5 pieces (so really 2.5 eggs.....) and they were pretty good, but not GREAT and I didn't even taste any chunks of Lobster...
Then came the Duck Fries, for something that the waitress said EVERYONE loves....I was super disappointed. Â Some of the fries were really dark and some light and most were broken into small pieces. Â They also tasted SOOO greasy, like they didn't get the temperature right on the fryer. Â I sent them back. Â The second batch at least came out with full fries and were hot, but still very greasy. Â
The Slider Trio was probably the best dish we had. Â The flavors were nice, but honestly for $16, 3 tiny little sliders did not fit the bill. Â
Finally came the Steak Special. Â I expect when I order Steak at a restaurant who charges thirty plus dollars for the entree that the Steak is good. Â Well let's say that we struggled to make it through this dish. Â The waitress did not even ask us the temperature we wanted for the steak, luckily it came medium rare. Â Unluckily, it was like chewing rubber...I have never had meat SO TOUGH before at a restaurant. Â Especially one that is supposedly High End. Â If it were not for the fact that my boyfriend was starving and we wanted to get out of here, we would have sent this back as well. Â Also the steak was swimming in this orange sauce, overloading the dish with sauce is unnecessary if you have a good quality Steak.
The waitress also seemed to be displeased when we opted not to order another round of drinks. Â Overall disappointing experience, the highlight of our visit was the amusing conversation we had with the valet and doorman prior to entering the restaurant.
Too much hype for what I ended up getting. Â Truffle popcorn, total disappointment. Â Just tasted like popcorn to me. Â The best thing we got was the crabcakes, some of the best ones that I have ever had. Â I will come to this place just to have those once again.
Parking is valet and they charge $6.00 for it. Â I don't understand the need for this. Â It should be complimentary.
Also, if you are seating at or near the bar, be careful as it stinks. Â I think having carpet near the bar area is not a good idea. Â It smelled awful. Â
I would go for the crabcakes and for the experience. Â Also, friends tried the drinks and were not too impressed.
Also, service was really slow at the bar area.
Swore I wrote a review for Ciro's before, but I guess it was for the Yelp event and not the actual venue. So here we go...
Speakeasy like the 1920's?! Hidden location? Password required upon entering?! Cool, cool, and more cool! How can one not be excited?!
Very small place, but very cool setup. There's the bar, then a lobby area with tables and a couch-like setup, then a line of private booth suites. Make reservations! Request a private booth. "Suite" is misleading because it's not big. The smaller ones hold 5 comfortably, squeeze 6. But it is unique in that there are curtains that let you close off the rest of the world, so you're in your own little bubble. And everyone that works there is dressed like they're from the '20s. Cute!
Drinks are prepared by mixologists, who sure know what they're doing. You won't find your regular drink here. Why would you want to anyway? With the extensive drink menu, you have to try something new! For the ladies, I highly recommend the Bramble. Gin and blackberries.
And the food. Oh my wow, the food. Duck fries. Truffle popcorn. Fondue. Yummy! They're all appetizers to share, but when you taste it, you may want to be selfish and keep all to yourself.
I've visited Ciro's multiple times and have experienced pleasant service each time... until the most recent visit. Our group had reservations, seated in the lobby area, then moved to a booth. Sweet! But after 1.5hrs, we were being kicked out. Wait, what?! Of all the other times I've been here, this has never happened. My friends have sat in a booth til closing time. During those 1.5hrs, I did get the feeling we were being a little rushed. Usually servers are friendly, helpful, joke and have fun with you. This time was a little off. Someone ordered the absinthe presentation because it's been talked up among our group. We just HAD to see it being done. Apparently, we were shafted. No machine to drip the water. He just poured it. I thought it was still cool because I haven't seen it done before, but I feel cheated knowing there was more to it. Probably because they were busy and trying to get us out of there. Ah, the downside of Ciro's slowly becoming not a secret anymore.
Oh, and. One HUGE recommendation I wish I could give the establishment is the music selection. 1920's speakeasy should play 1920's music. Set the mood. Match the atmosphere. Instead, they play modern tunes. Fail.
So I guess if you do plan on going, pick a night you'd think isn't too busy so you won't be kicked out. But definitely make reservations anyway. They give you a password to play along.
Went here with a group of friends and had a good time. Atmosphere is very dim lit and intimate throughout the place. We were seated in a large group room which was comfortable and unique but the music was far too loud. We were told that it could not really be adjusted without affecting the rest of the restaurants music volume. So this left us all with some difficulty in hearing one another.
My main reason for giving 4 stars instead of 5: Very slow service!
Food was good. I was not honestly that impressed with the truffle popcorn, it just did not live up to its hype for me. Drink menu is phenomenal and has concoctions you won't find anywhere else. For dinner I had the crab cakes and they were delicious! Would definitely recommend.
Overall a good place to visit and a bit of a hidden gem in Tampa.
I'm a huge fan of NYC speakeasies, so I wasn't thrilled when our cab pulled up to what looks like a big apartment building. But once we gave the secret password and the hostess said, "Hey, baby, come on in," I started to warm up to the vibe of the place.
Everything inside is dark and cozy, and there are a lot of tables in curtained alcoves that looked fun for groups. Since there were only two of us, we sat at a bar table and sampled some of the appetizers and drinks. The sazarac and the elderflower gin rickey were delicious, and I loved the deviled eggs and the scallops.
We ended up leaving to check out other bars in the area, but I wish we had stayed. I'll definitely be back if I'm ever in Tampa again!
This place is definitely outside the norm as far as restaurants go in this area. Â Valet parking is available and reservations are needed to enter. Â The entrance is hidden from view from the parking lot. Â You have to knock on the door and say a specific phrase in order for them to let you in. Â My friends made the reservation and I was visiting from out of town. Â Presumably, they give you the phrase when you make a reservation...?
I'm from NY and I immediately noticed NY references on the drink menu - specifically, some of my favorite Brooklyn neighborhoods. Â The drink menu is unique and the drinks are excellent
The food is outstanding - it's good to share. Â Portions are small (it is tapas). Â I have to say that the service is slow. Â There were a few times where I would have liked another drink, but because the server didn't come often, we were unable to order. Â As a result, the bill could have been higher for the restaurant had we been able to order drinks in a timely manner. Â
I'm also not a fan of being restricted to a certain time frame to eat. Â I believe we had 1.5 hours to eat dinner before the next reservation was set to arrive. Â This reminds me of California, as many restaurants set time limits on meals. Â I understand why they do that, but it felt like we were under a deadline to finish our drinks and meal in order to be out in time...
Excellent prohibition-era themed restaurant and bar.
The limited table space requires customers pace themselves when ordering food, but doesn't seem to detract from the overall experience all that much. Seating in the booth would be a bit cramped with more than two or three people, so it's better for couples rather than large groups.
I started out with Lobster Deviled Eggs and an order for Duck Fries. Both were exceptional.
Next was the Seared Foie Gras. I loved the pairing with the strawberry marmalade, but the bread it was served with didn't really do it for me.
Followed that up with the Slider Trio. Out of the three, the Black and Bleu Juicy Lucy was the most tasty (and messy). The other two were ok, but not great.
Last but not least, I somehow managed to also eat the Prime Beef Tartare... The combination with the fried quail egg was quite good, but it was the same bread as the Seared Foie Gras and -- again -- left me merely liking a dish that I otherwise would have loved.
If I had any complaints, it would have to be how the surprise was somewhat ruined by the valet and greeter. My fiancee had no idea where I was taking her, so I wasn't thrilled when the valet told us to go to the wooden door, knock, and the viewing window would slide open so we'd give the password. But... whatever. Once we knocked on the door, though, rather than being greeted by a silent set of eyes or even just someone gruffly asking the password, it was a petite young woman who first welcomed us to "Ciro's Speakeasy and Supper Club" and then asked for the password. Â Meh. Â Still, the rest of it was fun... and the atmosphere, food, and drinks were all definitely worth the trip.
I've never been a believer in online reviews, however, I felt the need to create a profile after visiting this establishment. My girlfriend and I just dined here earlier tonight, in celebration of our 5 year anniversery, to see what the fuss was about. Let me tell you...CIROS DELIVERED!
The night started by a knock on a huge wooden door (speakeasy appropriate). The gentleman (which we later found out was the manager) opened the eyehole and was very animated. We gained entry after the password for the evening was presented. He asked us if it was our first time here, and our first time at a speakeasy. He was very accomodating, and really played into the part of the speakeasy.
The cocktails were superb. Im a bourbon drinker and I had the best Old Fashioned Ive ever had. Ive had quite a few Old Fashions in my day as well. My girlfriend ordered a Moscow Mule. Although it did not come in a copper mug, it was still outstanding. After trying the cocktails, I personally had to make my way to the bar to shake the bartenders hand. He was very courteous and gave me the historical run down on both cocktails. I did not know my dining experience would also include a history lesson. Best history lesson ever.
We ordered a few dishes. We had the cheese fondue, chicken and waffles, and beef tartar. the tartar was highly recommended and I can see why. Not the biggest portions but full of such unique flavor and fusion.
Just when we thought the night couldnt get any better, the manager (Eric), Â came to our table with 2 glasses of champagne! He really didn't have to, but he said on behalf of himself and the house Happy Anniversery.
Our dining experience was flawless, and the staff made us feel so welcomed. I highly recommend this establishment to anyone living or visiting in the Tampa area.
Amazing food, unique atmosphere, but slow service and a bit of environment annoyances stops me from giving this place the full 5 stars.
The drink menu is amazing. Â The cocktails are well thought out and very creative. Â Funnily enough, the night we came they were out of beer. Â That's one way to make sure you experience their creations. Â I've read in other reviews that the servers are very knowledgeable on the cocktails. Â Unfortunately, that was not the case for our waitress. Â One of our group asked if there was any drink without lemon, lime, or orange (she is allergic to citrus) and was told a flat out no. Â I'm very surprised that the server did not even check if a drink could be made without citrus. Â However, we were told at the beginning that they were short a bartender and that even though it was a Sunday night it was pretty busy. Â I had the Bee's Knees and it was very good.
We tried the black truffle popcorn the duck fries and the chicken and waffle sliders. Â When I first tried the popcorn I could not understand what the huge fuss was about. Â It tasted like normal popcorn. Â However, when I got deeper into the popcorn where it was drenched in truffle oil, I found it positively addicting. Â It is a must try. Â The fries were amazing as well, fried to perfection. Â The chicken and waffle sliders were fine alone, but the chipotle sauce gave it an extra kick. Â All three are must tries.
The night we were here there was no valet. Â There was just a security guard who was standing outside directing us to park in the last two lanes of the parking lot. Â If it was not for the Ciro's sign across the street with the arrow pointing to the building, we would have never found it.
The only negatives was the music was very loud in the back room where they hold parties of over 10. Â Also, it started blasting cold air on everyone and our server said that it was either an arctic tundra or overbearingly hot. Â Eventually they turned off the air and everything was fine. Â Like I mentioned earlier, service was terribly slow. Â The server was delivering our food as it came, but two of us got our chicken and waffles pretty quickly, while the last person waited a very long time. Â
I'm sure I'll be back.
Loves it!
A unique, hip spot that is not pretentious. Most of the employees wear 20's inspired garb but not in a hokey way. The drinks are phenomenal. Don't try to order a white Russian. They can't even make it. Check out the ever changing drink list or ask your server or bartender what they recommend. You would be surprised how good they can make gin and whiskey taste!
Great for a night with friends or a date. Most of the restaurant is laid out in small, cozy booths surrounded by see-through curtains. There is a big space in the back and another in the front for large parties. Sitting at the bar on a recent evening was a blast. Found the other patrons and the bartenders to be super nice, helpful and friendly.
The food is also excellent. This isn't the kind of place you're really going to get a full, traditional dinner but you can certainly fill up on appetizers, tapas, and desserts. The duck fat fries are delicious (served with a trio of dipping sauces), black truffle popcorn is very popular and the chocolate fondue is to die for (ask for extra fresh-made churros). The menu does change pretty often but these items have stood the test.
Plan on spending some money. Drinks are in the double digits. Parking is valet only. It is so worth it though. By the end of the night you won't even care.
One word of advice: the building that houses Ciro's is residential with 100+ tenants. Be respectful of them- watch your noise level coming into and out of the restaurant. That was actually several words but you get the idea. :)
Went to celebrate my birthday based on the reviews from the Yelp event I was not able to attend. Â I heard such great things. Â I had bought a Creative Loafing deal (I think it was CL) and they did not have restrictions on it so I made a reservation a few weeks out for 2 on a Sat night. Â They called the day of to confirm and give me the password.
They have valet parking which is $5 and they don't tell you about it, good thing for reviews on Yelp I knew about it and warned my boyfriend.
I thought it would be a little more "secluded" based on what I read, while you do have a private booth surrounded on all sides and a curtain in the front the other booths can see into your booth and it is very, very loud.
The portions were described as bigger than tapas, but smaller than entrees. Â We had the popcorn which was yummy and then the chicken and waffle sliders. Â I really liked the chipotle maple dipping sauce - it was thick and not too heavy on the maple side and it had a good kick. Â
There was a lot on the menu I wanted so I'll have to go back. Â The Ybor City bread pudding was a good ending to our night.
As stated by others the cocktails truly make this place. Â We sampled a few different kinds and they were all amazing. Â The server made suggestions and gave us the run down. Â No dirty martini's or olives here we were warned, fine by me I love gin!!
Spent 2 hours in Ciro's last night.....just one word describes this place...FUN!
Drinks we ordered: Â Gin with pear (don't know the name) Great! Gin with mulled Blackberry, that arrived looking like a snow cone....Tasted great...looked great.....was great (had 2!)
Service was excellent, place was packed...we could hear a bit of crowd noise, but it was easily muted by our curtained private "couch bar" spot, and we thought the whole thing was just cool.....Hey where else can you order a "Sidecar" and other true roaring 20's concoctions?
Food: Didn't order food.....this was our second stop after eating at Boca (Boca is awesome, too!)
Rumor is its the same owners as Boca....not sure about that.
Enjoy! Â We did.
Our experience at Ciro's was everything we were expecting and more. We armed ourselves with the daily password and empty stomachs and headed to Ciro's on a Monday night (I strongly recommend visiting on a non-busy Monday night). We arrived from St. Pete 40 minutes before our reservations. I called and they told us to come on in. Our table was already ready. We were unprepared for the parking only being Valet and we did not have cash on us ($5). The Valet attendant was understanding and told us where to find a close (and free) parking spot.
We knocked on the front door and gave our password. We were seated in one of the private booths right away. The hostess demonstrated how to call our waiter (which we never needed to do) and adjust the lighting in our dark and private booth. The seats are comfortable and romantic for two, but may be awkward for a double date. Our server acknowledged us right away and recommended our first drinks. The tables were also a little difficult since they are essentially two small end tables. We found ourselves having to juggle our plates and drinks and wishing for more room with just the two of us.
We ordered five different drinks between the two of us. The mojito with muddled berries was by far our favorite drink. It was really refreshing and the muddled berries were delicious.
For food we had the chicken and waffles, cheese fondue and duck fat fries. I recommend ordering the food one plate at a time. There really isn't room for more than that. The Cheese Fondue was by far the best thing we ate. It had chunks of mushrooms mixed in and the cheese was thick Gruyere. It was served with apples and bread. The Chicken and Waffles were delicious in my opinion, by my Husband was not impressed. He felt they were dry. I do use a lot more syrup than he does, so I think that was a factor. We both enjoyed the duck fat fries. They were covered in a delicious dust that tasted like Parmesan mixed with salt. The three dipping sauces were also delicious (tamaran ketchup, garlic aioli and some sort of honey mustard sauce). We couldn't finish them all between us, but it was the last thing we ordered.
Our service was also fantastic. I enjoyed every aspect of our visit and will definitely return.
I was quite intrigued the first time I came to Ciro's and had to use a password to get in. Â My friends and I were just looking for a casual place to have a drink or two and we were not disappointed. Â The bartenders have drinkmaking down to a science and put on a spectacular show conjuring up the innovative and tasty drinks they have here. Â
My first experience led me to have a birthday get together here and although I was put off by their hesitation to accomodate my group of 13, they made it a great event once we got there. Â Our server was very attentive and actually got us the private area to make sure everyone was comfortable and we would have an area to enjoy ourselves.
Ciro's speakeasy and supper club was one of the most unique and delightful culinary experiences I have ever had the pleasure to appreciate. Â I would recommend this to any and all who venture into Tampa Bay.
First you show up to Valet parking where you are greeted by a nice gentleman who tells you a little about the theme of the establishment and ensures that you indeed know the password to enter. Â Genuine speakeasy experience, if you do not know the password you do not get in. Â Well, at least they make you wait outside for a bit. Â So a reservation is highly recommended and try to make it a few days in advance as they are a rather popular place with limited seating.
Once past the main door my party and I were treated to a dim lit bar area with a nice ambience and a fish tank on the back wall, the place had a sense of the prohibition era smokey-ness without the smoke and to give you the feel of a speakeasy without the cancer and smell. Â
We were seated in a small booth with a wrap around leather bench with cushions and three small tables that varied in height so to be condensed for storage.  Our waiter was with us almost immediately after we were seated to explain  the theme of the restaurant to us, how everything worked there and the drink and food menu.  He was extremely knowledegble about all kinds of cocktails.
The drinks,  The drinks were amazing!  Every drink served at Ciro's is made with top shelf spirits by the hands of a master bartender.  Since this establishment is prohibition era themed they try to stay true to the theme and most of their drinks offered  are made from Gin, Whiskey, Bourbon, and Rum.  Though they do acknowledge that this is 2012 and will cater to preferences of those who enjoy Tequila and Vodka.
Our server was very informative when it came to drinks and very spot on with his recommendation for drinks even with the vaguest ideas of what we wanted. Â My wife asked for something fruity where she can't taste the alcohol and I asked for something made with rum and was spicy. Â I can't remember what they brought us but it was awesome.
The food was also amazing combinations of culinary creativity. Â We started out with black truffle popcorn as well as the duckfat fries. Â Both were exquisite culinary delights. Â The fries had 3 separate dipping sauces that were each unique and fantastic. Â We also had truffle cauliflower that was good if you enjoy cauliflower and the triple sliders that were fantastic as well.
To say that I would recommend Ciro's is an understatement,  This is a mandatory experience for all who visit Tampa Bay or you have missed out on a  great experience.
I've been back to Ciro's a few times since my original review. This has easily become one of my favorite spots in Tampa, so I'm bumping it up to the 5 stars they've so rightfully earned.
My favorites include the Bramble (an "adult snow cone" with gin, crushed ice and blackberries) and the cheese fondue (the BEST I've ever had). It's also hard to come here and not get the duck fat fries and truffle popcorn.
Make your reservations early. They fill up quick and you'll be hard pressed to get one of the private booths if you wait til the last minute.
I hope we were just there on an off night.
I took my husband here for our anniversary dinner. Â I was excited by all of the positive Yelp reviews. Â And I loved the idea of it being a speakeasy with a password.
The concept was cool, and the staff outfits and decor all fit with the concept. Â The menus were all sort of ratty and banged up. Â I'm not sure if that was intentional or negligent.
The drinks were only okay. Â I liked that everything was supposed to be authentic to the period, but I didn't think my Corn Fed Peach Sour was very tasty. Â
The food was not very good at all. Â We started with the duck fries, which were good. Â Then we got the sliders, which were okay but were served on cold buns. Â Yuck. Â Then we had the chicken and waffle sliders. Â The waffles were okay, the chicken was bland, and the sauce overpowered. Â We also tried the crab cakes (too much soggy breading) and the grouper cheeks (the fish was good, but the mushroom leek ragout was way way too salty).
We skipped dessert because the food wasn't good, and our waitress was rude.
On the plus side, the busboy was very sweet and attentive.
I'd consider returning for just drinks. Â I would not come back for a meal.
New York has been doing the whole "speak-easy bar" thing for awhile now, so I was curious to see Tampa's interpretation of the concept while I was down there on vacation...
First of all, I really only had the address for this place so I must have looked like a burglar walking around the building trying to find the dang entrance. I actually got stuck in the entryway at the FRONT of the apartment building proper and a security guard had to rescue me (thank you, compassionate security guard). So here is how to get to Ciro's in plain English: the entrance is in the BACK of the apartment building. There is a wall surrounding what looks to be a pool area (there is a small standalone building with a tile roof)... It is a pool area, and you must walk to a gate to get back there. On your left side is a wooden door up some steps--knock (the bell was broken when I went)...
My date and I were there early, and the place was pretty empty, so sadly we were not asked for a password, which actually I was a little relieved about. We had made same-day reservations just in case though. We were given a private booth behind a curtain--very intimate and candle-lit. Not sure if they had bigger rooms, but ours couldn't have possibly fit more than 3 people, maybe 4. It was very fun, like being on a train car, having the staff pop in through the curtain to give you food and drinks.
Everything we had was very delicious and well-prepared. The food and drinks came incredibly fast (sometimes, and this is me being picky about the time that goes into making a good cocktail, I felt the drinks came, ahem, too fast). The food was definitely tapas-style, and pretty expensive for such small portions. The cocktails could have been better but that is not to say that they weren't already VERY GOOD. But other than that it was a great experience, and one that was new for me.
Tampa needs more classy cocktail bars, so even if it's a bit pricey, it stands out among the rest as a beacon of hope next to all the trashy shitbars in South Tampa. Cheers to you, Ciro's.
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