Article courtesy of Tampa Bay Eats Out
Last Wednesday one of my friends and I spent the evening in the Council Oak lounge at the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa enjoying their special Wine Down Wednesday menu. This was my first time and Council Oak, but will definitely not be my last. The food and relaxed atmosphere was fantastic and I am so excited to start recommending it to people. There was a great musical duo playing everything from classic rock songs to more contemporary hits, giving the lounge a different feel from the rest of the casino. We also had a wonderful server named Kareles who answered all of our questions, recommended wine and was very knowledgeable of all the food.
So, now it’s time to talk about the best part…the food and wine! The Wine Down Wednesday menu is available from 4pm to 9pm and offers select appetizer size dishes and a variety of wines for $10 each. The wine menu has select wines that may not always be available by the glass, giving you the opportunity to try something new without having to order a whole bottle. I tried out the 2013 Buckhorn Sauvignon Blanc as well as the 2012 Chalone, “Estate Grown” Syrah and was very pleased with both.
Bread Basket: This was not your traditional bread basket. Freshly baked pizza bread, cheesey bread sticks and classic bread served with olive tapenade, garlic aioli and butter on the side. I’m pretty sure this is the best bread basket I’ve ever received at the start of a meal.
Council Oak Chips: As HUGE fans of blue cheese and truffle oil, when we spotted these chips on the menu there was no doubt we were ordering them. And let me tell you, they did not disappoint. I could eat these chips for breakfast, lunch and dinner that’s how good they were. The chips were thinly cut, super crispy and topped with blue cheese crumbles and a white truffle oil drizzle. My taste buds were in heaven.
Barbecue Oysters: I’m always down for some good barbecue oysters and these definitely hit the spot. Topped with Carolina style barbecue sauce and Council Oak Bacon, the oysters had a sweet and savory aspect to them that was really nice.
Grilled Flatbread: Who doesn’t love a good flatbread?! Seeing as Council Oak is a steakhouse, it would have been a shame to not try a dish that included some steak. This flatbread is topped with perfectly cooked Prime New York Strip, Arugula, Heirloom Tomatoes, Blue Cheese and a Balsamic Drizzle. The flavor combination in this dish will leave your mouth watering for more.
Ybor Crab Croquets: I loved seeing this “ode to Tampa” dish on the menu at Council Oak. I’m always a little nervous with crab dishes, such as crab cakes and deviled crab, because there are so many restaurants that use too much filler and not enough actual crab. That was absolutely not the case here, the croquets were full of crab meat and complimented with a delicious chilau aioli!
And to finish it off, we ordered TWO desserts because they sounded too amazing to pick just one! (These aren’t on the Wine Down Wednesday menu but if you ask your server they will bring out a menu with plenty of yummy dessert options.)
Drunken Banana: Cinnamon Buns, Vanilla Bean Gelato, Bananas and Myers Rum Sauce. Need I say more?
Council Oak 151 Volcano: This may be the most insane dessert I have ever experienced in my life, and I’m not upset about it at all. This isn’t just a dessert, it’s a table-side show. Your server brings out the vanilla bean ice cream covered in Heath Bar crunch before pouring 151 rum over top and asking, “Are you ready for the flame?” Of course you are ready for the flame…
The end result: creamy, cold ice cream with warm melted heath bar on top and the perfect amount of 151 rum left over. I couldn’t create a more perfect adult dessert in my wildest dreams, it was the perfect end to the night.
