Came here on a Tuesday night with some friends after hearing good things about the food. Disappointed we couldn't sit outside but that's Florida summer weather for you. You can't go wrong with Fish Tacos in the area, but these were especially delicious. The chips that came with the meal were excellent as well. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their meals ( mostly fish tacos) as well  and both the food and drinks were reasonably priced.
My only complaint was that our waiter screwed up our drink order but it wasn't a big deal. I'll definitely be back to sample the rest of the menu.
Thankfully Jack Willie's Original Tiki Bar & Grill is under new management, as the previous ownership had run this place into the ground -- netting it several Health Department and "Dirty Dining" citations.
But all of that has changed, and Jack Willie's is back to being an excellent place to hang out on the northern end of Old Tampa Bay. The restaurant and famous tiki bar sit right against the bay, and you can watch the sunset along with the sandpipers, the cranes, the tarpon, and other critters while you enjoy something to eat or have a frosty cold beverage outside under the thatched roof tiki hut. You'll find Jack Willie's right near the intersection of Tampa Road and St. Petersburg Drive in Oldsmar.
If my memory serves me correctly, Jack Willie's was originally started by a couple of guys from the New York Yankees baseball team as their take on an old Florida fish house / tiki bar. The back room of the restaurant is filled with autographed photos, bats, baseballs and other Yankees memorabilia.
For years this had been a spot to order their crab cakes, grilled grouper sandwiches, or sushi-grade tuna served over a big bowls of greens with an Asian-inspired sesame dressing. And I am really glad to say that the kitchen is back to cranking out some mighty tasty (and thankfully, Health Department-approved) meals.
The menu is full of seafood prepared as you like it, along with soups, salads, appetizers, burgers, wraps, sandwiches, and full entrees including steaks and chicken.
Jack Willie's is a great place to visit on the weekends when you can sit outside, under the thatched roof of the tiki hut, and enjoy your favorite drink. On the weekends and in the evenings there is a small house band that plays a lot of classic rock mixed with Jimmy Buffet beach songs. Kind of a funky mix, but it's popular with the locals.
Don't be surprised if the parking lot is filled with motorcycles as Jack Willie's is a popular gathering spot for people on their long weekend rides.
We were there on a Saturday evening after a very filling meal elsewhere, so we found an open table outside and listened to the music while enjoying a few drinks. Later in the evening we split an order of blackened grouper bites, and toasted the fact that Jack Willie's is back in action!
I wasn't sure what to expect with the new ownership taking over and practically razing the interior of an old favorite spot, but I think we're gonna be ok. We've lost the pool table, but we've got dollar beer. We've lost some regulars after the initial closing, but we've got flame-licked burgers. The trade-offs at this place are alright with me. On every other Thursday they offer bike-night Jack burgers for 5 buckaroos which  pretty much outshine most burgers in the area by simply arranging really fresh ingredients with spot on cooking technique. Still like the place, hope it holds up!
Review Source:Just went back to try the food since the new management took over, and it was excellent. Â Grouper sammich was way better than the one offer by the previous owners. Â The filet was a nice size and pleasantly thick. Â I love me some grouper sammiches, but I think the story to write about here was the burger my chica got. Â Damn if that thing was flame grilled to tasty perfection. Â It's just hard to find a freaking burger grilled over an open flame these days after the fall of BGR. Â Honestly, I cannot see going back to Jack Willie's and ordering anything but this burger!
Review Source:We went for the first time on Sunday.They have 12oz. Bud, Bud light, & Miller Light drafts for $1.00. They have a 2 man band that starts at 2, they were good and not to loud. Nice crowd and biker friendly. Our server Stephanie was AWESOME, she was on point with everything!!! We ordered the mushrooms which came out very fast and they were good. Next we ordered the hot wings, they were very meaty with good flavor. Next time I will order extra hot next time cause I like to sweat when I eat hot wings. Next we ordered the fish and chips, holy HUGE PORTIONS and again very good. All that food,12 drafts and leftovers for less then $40.00!!! This is definitely our new Sunday stop.
Review Source:stopped in tonight for a quick glass of wine and a bite. Â I almost requested they make my dinner salad all spinach but I forgot and was pleasantly surprised to see the salad was made with mixed greens and not iceberg lettuce. Â It was delicious as was the chili! Â Please give this little gem a try & see for yourself instead of listening to the reviews from when it was under the previous owners.
Review Source:Pleasantly surprised! I had heard a lot of mixed things about Jack Willie's. Â i heard it was a a fun local place for live music but shouldn't expect much form the food. My experience was actually just the opposite. Â I went tonight to enjoy the balmy fall weather and everything else was a bonus. Â
We showed up around 7:30 and were greeted by a lovely server.  We ordered grouper bites blackened that were very tasty.  For dinner my girlfriend ordered a Chef's Salad with grilled mahi which came with cantaloupe which was a nice touch.  The presentation of the salad and freshness were fantastic.  My buddy ordered the fried mahi sandwich with onion rings.  He enjoyed it thoroughly.  Especially, the onion rings. I had the crab stuffed shrimp whcih was surprisingly tasty!  It came with  a side salad which I was delighted to see was NOT iceberg lettuce.  Yay for the little things!!!!! I also had the sweet potato fries which were good, but needed their own dipping sauce.
As for the live music...well...they had a lot of heart. Â However, as someone who spends a lot of time listening to live music, these guys were passionate but pitchy and off-key. Â I was far more disappointed by the music than the food, which was a shocker based on what i'd heard. Â The lead singer was a cross between Gene Simmons and meatloaf. Â The server told me that these guys are the house band. Â That alone would make me think twice about going on a regular basis. Â Change is good. Â Maybe expanding the live entertainment is something the new owners can conquer next.
I'll be back regardless, frequency will depend on the consistency of food and live music. Â Thumbs up for a new experience!
Tiki bar? Cold drinks? Great music? Minimal tourist?! I'm there!
I have an aunt that lives down the road from Jack Willies. My first night in town, this was always my go to place. There used to be an employee named Mike, he was a true Floridian. He would have my friends smiling all night long! Great guy!
At night the live music can get a little loud, but, it is Florida, you are on vacation....cut a rug!!!!
Also, I loved this place because it was a great place for the whole family (well the 21+ variety) young cousins, older aunts and uncles could all have a blast!
Although the atmosphere is nice, don't expect great food or service here. Â We had a coupon from the Entertainment book. Â The waitress was giving us a hard time about the coupon for no apparent reason. Â We had to speak to the manager to redeem the coupon. Â The food and service here are mediocre. Â Prices here are more than what I expected (good thing we had the coupon). Â To sum up Jack Willie's, this place is better known for their atmosphere and drinks, not their food.
Review Source:Great atmosphere the outdoor dining area right on the water is cool, came here for lunch while traveling on business. I had a light lunch which was seared Ahi tuna with a cole slaw type salad. It was tasty and not to filling, it hit the spot. the people at the giant tiki bar seemed to be enjoying themselves, looks like a great local hang out spot. The service was good even though she had just started. The wildlife was nice to watch with the fish and the birds and the signs said manatee's. Next time I roll into  this part of town I will stop here for sure.
Review Source:This is a fun local bar on old Tampa Bay in Oldsmar. We have our company Christmas party here each year. Â They have a real tiki bar outside! Â Out back, I have even seen live alligators sitting on the sea wall! The food here is not to miss. They have a the best crab cake i have eaten. Â Their blackened shrimp appetizer is very good. Â The hot wings are also very good. Â The bar-b-que flank steak is awesome!
The staff is always friendly and quick. Â Oh yeah, they have good drinks too! Â Lots of locals with big $$ cars hang out here! Â Fun to watch that!
Jack Willies has a fun atmosphere, they have the largest Tiki Bar in Tampa Bay. Â As soon as you get there you will see a lot of people outside enjoying the live music and lots and lots of drinks!!. Â For those of you who want to sit inside, there are tvs showing sporting events. Â The food is pretty good, they have a mix of the usual burgers and sandwiches, but also mix it up with some fancier stuff like parmesean encrusted salmon or crab cakes. Â So there is something for everyone, and definently a good place to go with you buddies.
Review Source:
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,607 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,970 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,306 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,904 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,983 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
