Anise Global Gastrobar

Was not disappointed by anything we ordered, from the buns to the ramen. Breakfast or brunch was perfect.

After a night of brewery hopping in Tampa, and skipping dinner, my guy and I were starving! I looked on Unilocal to find somewhere that was open at midnight, and I came across Anise Global Gastrobar. The pictures looked amazing, the reviews were great, and they were open ’til 2AM. Sold!
When we get there, the place is PACKED and we are put on a waiting list. A wait list at midnight? Crazy! We thought that this place must be good to have a wait list at midnight! Anise is super cute and trendy; you’d think you were in NYC or Chicago, not Tampa. Cool décor, tall walls/​windows, etc. It was just a very neat vibe! Straight ahead is a bar and we decided that after we hit the little boy’s/girl’s rooms, we’d have a drink.
Sadly, the restrooms were disgusting. At least the one I was in was. There are two single/​individual/​private bathrooms, but they are both co-​ed. I must have been after a dude, as the seat was up, there was urine all over the floor, and I didn’t even feel good about my «cover and hover» method. It was really gross.
We make it to the bar and as I’m walking up the two small steps, my shoes stick to the floor and I, no joke, walk out of my shoes. EW! My shoes are stuck and now my right food is accidentally on this disgusting sticky floor. Awesome. I had to hold on to the railings in order to put my foot back in my shoe and lift it off the ground. I can’t even make this stuff up. It was BAD!
We are finally sat at a table that had a reserved sign on it. The table was empty when we got there, and the whole time we waited, but they removed the reserved sign after we were there about 20 – 25 minutes allowed us to sit. We ordered a cheese plate and two different kinds of stinky buns (bao) and a few minutes later, the server came back and told us we were out of one of the cheeses we wanted. No biggie, we selected another one. The cheese plate had French bread, almonds, and honey and it was perfect. The stinky buns were really good too. We got the pork belly and crispy chicken ones and while the plan was to split them, we each had a bite of both and we both had our favorites, so he had the chicken and I had the pork belly. Win Win.
Overall, I really liked this place. They definitely have room for improvement with the gross bathrooms and bar floors, but the ambiance and food will absolutely bring me back when in town again next time.

My BF and I came here one night last summer since we were staying in a nearby hotel, with no car, and they were open — and we had the loveliest time. Their kitchen had just closed and the owner, Brian, had them make us a dessert because he overheard that we hadn’t eaten all day. The drinks are as delicious as they are beautiful, and the employees are even more wonderful. We spent a good 3 hours speaking with Brian and the other bartender (I believe his name was Ryan), and they are two of the nicest, most genuinely passionate individuals I’ve ever encountered. My BF and I are both in the hospitality industry and have a passion for craft drinks and we sing this place’s praises to everyone we know, including our own bar guests.
We’re planning another trip up just to come back (: love you guys!

Trendy, unique foods, delicious drinks.
My friend and I stumbled upon this place. We were planning on eating at Taps before a showing of the Lion King, but they were packed. We quickly changed course and walked here. It was also packed, with a 20 minute wait for a table, but they have a full service bar. We sat on the couch with free standing little tables where we could put food and drinks and we couldn’t have been happier. There are waitresses that walk around to take orders at the couches, so it was perfect.
This place has a great atmosphere. I could draw serious inspiration for additions to my wardrobe just by looking around this restaurant. It is trendy without taking itself too seriously.
I got the blackberry sangree and it was amazing. Super light and refreshing. I also got the stinky bunz. I’m glad they aren’t actually stinky. My friend and I were joking about what would happen if the name was literal. I chose the chili beef and the curry chicken. Both were phenomenal. You can substitute lettuce for the bun, but I think that would take away a certain something that makes it so good. The curry chicken has a sweetness to it that surprised me. It is definitely unique.
I would highly suggest this place to anyone going to downtown Tampa.

My fiancé and I encountered the Stinky Bunz food truck ages ago and absolutely loved it. Shortly after that, the truck closed and this place opened up… we just didn’t make it there till now.
The food was amazing. We had 2 Stinky Bunz as an appetizer (pork belly for me, Chinese BBQ pork for him). We both preferred the pork belly but his was good too.
He had the Spicy Bulgogi Bento Box with chicken and really liked it. Had a good kick to it without being too spicy.
I had the ramen and it was really delicious. Pork belly, mushrooms, fish cakes, scallions, and a half of a hard boiled egg. Yummy broth and noodles too. We’ll definitely be going back.

After the play drinks with Amanda, wow what a place! Amazing food, even better drinks… Definite late night hot spot! Enjoy Carlos’s hand crafted cocktails!

Still some shortcomings with service but food was very good on my latest visit. I had the chili beef bowl, friend had the jap chae with chicken and we shared the dessert stinky buns. All tasty!
And they’ve reupholstered the seating since my last visit so that was nice to see. Now if they can focus a bit more on service, they’ll be back to 5 stars.

This restaurant is located on the ground floor of our building and has not disappointed.
This is a fusion of Japanese and Chinese and Korean BBQ with a spicy flair. It has an eclectic feel when you walk in and the service is always spot on.
I’ve had the Beto box for lunch with bulgogi, super delish and the tacos for dinner, also super delish.
There is outdoor seating and this place looks pretty hip at night too.
I’ll keep coming back and trying new things… The one thing I wish they would change is the smoking by employees out the side door… GROSS!

Great food, even better music and I recommend the drinks! If you love drinks that are not sweet or sour have the vieux carre !! Whoa!
In addition, Carlos, the manager is amazing! I recommend him! He bartends as well and he makes great recommendations! Had a great time with my babe. First time in Tampa and I will most definitely come back !! Came on a Monday night! 10ish!

This place is amazing, and was my favorite place in Florida.
I came by around 4 during their happy hour, which was overall very quiet except for over at the bar. The staff was friendly, checking up on us at all the appropriate times, and the prices were reasonable.
Their buns were the perfect appetizer and. guys, the ramen. Get the kimchi ramen. Take it from me, 1) a Korean and 2) a ramen connoisseur. In fact, I’m semi-​appalled by the fact that I don’t even have a Ramen List going on on my Unilocal account and this just may inspired me to make one. I don’t mean to hype it up, but it’s just a great bowl of ramen and everything just works.
(Un)Fortunately, we ordered every drink on the happy hour menu, sans their sangria, and it was mostly all good (and definitely good for $ 6). I don’t know if it’s the same during peak hours, but the bartender really spent some time making the drinks. Their Rye Old Fashion was incredibly smooth, and their Seven Year Island was probably one of the most strong. Their Moscow Mule was quite gingery, but in a good way. Everything else was good but not incredibly memorable.
Anyway, if I was from Tampa, this would be my spot.

We were looking to expand our food location limits, so decided to go to some downtown places. There are quite a plethora, to my surprise. But hey, I do not venture out of my area often. Well, with Emilio M. being able to drive again, I was all for checking out some new places.
I had heard some good things about Anise, and was interested in trying it out. Side note, we watch WWE Divas (don’t judge, it’s entertaining) and Niki Bella and John Cena went there. Emilio was all about the sticky buns, and I was all about the Ramen. Ramen is sooo good, and just a college fad.
From the outside, it does not look like much. Inside, it is not too large, but has a nice layout. We sat at a table near the window, and were promptly waited upon. We went during lunch on a weekend, and surprisingly it was not busy at all. They also offer an outside seating option.
Emilio ordered a variety of sticky buns, and was extremely happy. I tried one of the buns and was not disappointed either. I ordered one of their Ramen dishes, and was not disappointed. The server was nice and efficient.
Overall impression: I would definitely go back.

I was really excited to be trying Anise before a play with my mom at the Straz. Unfortunately, it was an overwhelmingly «meh» experience.
It’s walking distance, so we could park early in the garage before the Broadway show, and I’d seen and heard good things. I have high hopes for tooty-​falooty gastropubs, and with great restaurants in the area my bar is high. But unfortunately Anise really didn’t even meet the bar for casual and tasty.
There were two things that definitely won the night, and that I would definitely be willing to come for again: the truffle fries and the cocktails (conveniently on happy hour!) I had the hibiscus margarita, mom had two Seven Year Islands – both were out of this world. The truffle fries were crisp and fresh and had a wonderful dipping sauce. YUM! If that was the only food I’d had, I’d probably have given them a full five stars.
Unfortunately we were profoundly underwhelmed with the main courses – duck confit tacos and the pork belly bowl. Both felt like they were lacking seasoning and that wow aspect that makes a gastropub work. If they had been our only food, they’d be getting two stars and I’d never be back. Instead, I’m left with mixed feelings. Maybe I’ll be back for happy hour, but it’s hard to justify a second chance with so many other fabulous choices right down the street.

I love this place and it is a great location if you want to have dinner before a show at the Straz, Tampa Theatre or if you are going to the museum across the street. They have a lot of great pub food with an «international» flair. I’ve had or tried a variety of their food, including the pork belly bowl, the duck tacos, shrimp tacos, the lobster roll and the truffle tater tots. Everything is very tasty. Many of my friends raved about the truffle tots but I wouldn’t order them, just not for me. The lobster roll and the shrimp tacos both have sirracha candied bacon… so good! The pork belly bowl is sweet and spicy and just awesome, probably my favorite thing. Another friend of mine got the stinky buns and she also said they were good. Prices are reasonable as well. These are not huge dinners, but just the right amount to eat before going out.
This month we went with a big group for dinner before a show and to celebrate my birthday. We made a reservation and our table was ready when I arrived. We had a dozen people and only one server, but she was great, super nice and got just about everything right which is a feat with a big group getting lots of drinks and food all at different times. She did get help bringing out food but several of us thought the manager or a guy that seemed like he may be the manager should have been helping her more at the end when we were trying to pay.
Another thing I like about this place is the cocktails. They have great cocktails and good happy hour prices. My favorites are the kurrant bramble and the hibiscus margarita. I had a Moscow mule and it was also tasty but not as good as the other two in my opinion. Also, I tried my friend’s «Girl next door» and we both thought it was not as good as the others.
I would definitely recommend this place to eat over many other nearby places.

I went here on a Friday night and it was crowded. They have a good list of different cocktails at their full bar for you to choose from. Many of which are exotic mixtures of concoctions.
The decour is a well put-​together modern, global theme with sailing ships on the wallpaper throughout the restaurant. There is a very beautiful collage of National Geographic-​esque pictures on the back wall of the bar. There is a decent amount of seating available inside and outdoors. We had the pleasure of eventually being seated outside on a lovely fall night.
Weekend nights are pretty popular so making the reservation is strongly suggested. We did not. Therefore, we had to wait an hour.
The food is very good. We had an order of their famous «stinky buns» which came in three. Each one of them with a different meat. My favorite was the fried shrimp one. We also had their Japanese Ramen which in my opinion was better then ones I’ve had from other places recently. Their standard and only one comes with pork belly. Unfortunately, mine was a little overlooked/​burnt and therefore chewy. It was still tasty for the parts that were not though. The rest of the menu appears to be somewhat Asian themed in cuisine.
I would recommend this place for anyone looking for a trendy night out in town to a nice restaurant.

Excellent cocktails and ramen all overlooking Curtis Hixon in the center of the action downtown. The Jap Chae is a vermicelli type dish, versus the regular broth and pork belly heavy Ramen on the soup menu. They also offer a wide variety of burgers which I will have to try next time.
If nothing else enjoy a cocktail here before or after an event at Curtis Hixon. Their Old Fashioned and Nigori versions are outstanding. The urban modern décor is cool but trendy, overall great place for dinner when in this area.

Two things I love about this place are location and tater tots! I am not a fan of tater tots in general, but these are not your typical tater tots. They are light and crispy with a very subtle hint of truffle and come with a lemon crème fraîche. They are absolutely addictive and a perfect starter to a meal or bar snack.
I have to give credit to Anna for dragging me back to Anise for those tater tots. My first meal at Anise a couple years ago was unmemorable and I was never compelled to return. Since Anna’s raving of their tater tots and ramen, I’ve been back a couple times and am now a fan. Even their ramen is pretty outstanding. The broth isn’t overly salted and comes with crispy pork belly. The egg, fish cake, and mushrooms are also excellent additions to my new favorite comfort food.
The stinky buns are on my list to try next. I had their shrimp taco, which would have been great, but it looked like it was sitting for a while and there was a dark «vein» in one of my shrimp. I was not impressed with their duck wings. Their jap chae is surprisingly really good!
Aside from the tater tots, you can’t beat their location. They are in a prime spot across Curtis Hixon Park. The outdoor patio is ideal for those perfect weather days. You have a view of the stunning park, the beautiful minarets of UT, and dine along the towering buildings of little downtown Tampa. Inside the ceilings are high and the bar is elevated giving a grandiose feeling. I just wish their bathrooms weren’t unisex. I’m willing to wait longer to not have to share.
They have a decent happy hour crowd from what I’ve seen. Something that seems to be lacking in Tampa in general. The bartenders are friendly and efficient. Drinks are made well and quickly.
Parking is either across the street in the lot or metered parking on the street. You’ll be close to the museums, the park, the Straz Center, so it’s a great pre or post party place if you have other plans.

Anise may be the best offer for food in downtown area. It is very close to library, the park, performance art that make a very easy access and reach. The interior is modern and nice. It has a very nice bar area.
We were here after a Unilocal event since it is a walking distance. For Thursday night, they are still a lot of people after 9:30 pm. There is lively of this location. No wonder my friend like it here.
The food is good mix of Asian fusion, Mexican, and American favorite. I have tried the ramen bowl with pork belly. The soup base is pork bone base very close to the tonkutsu of Sapporo Japan. This bowl is actually reinvented with the ingredient and change from traditional ramen bowl. The pork belly is fried to give more flavor to release to the soup. Usually fried pork belly soak the pork oil. When it mix up with liquid, it release the belly oil into the soup. Clever ideal. I like this bowl and I also prefer the the tradition pork belly. So this ramen has potential.
Overall the service is good. I like the atmosphere of the restaurant.

So I found myself, by myself in downtown Tampa on Halloween night. Hotel concierge mentioned this place, kinda in passing.
I considered some other eateries in the area, but opted to try Anise. The reviews are spot on. This place is awesome.
Food is simple and tasty, nothing fussy!
I had started with the chili beef and red curried crispy chicken stinky buns… OMG good, and no they don’t stink! They’re amazingly good.
Then I had the Ramen noodle soup for my entrée. It had bacon, pork belly, fish cake, mushrooms, & the kitchen sink!
It’s a popular dish. You can’t go wrong here. I had my meal and a few craft beers at the bar. Turned out to be a good idea. Mr. JASON was the bomb, cool guy; no wonder he’s the head bartender.
Would love to come back here time and time again.

We had lunch at Anise today (a group of 6 of us). They do not get busy during their lunch hours. Reservation not needed. We ordered the tater tots as an appetizer to share. We were really disappointed that they didn’t have a truffle taste, even though they were «Truffled Tator Tats». I ordered the japchae noodles with the seared tuna. I thought it was just okay. They only had 2 other tables that they were serving and yet the service was really. An empty restaurant but 1.5 hours for lunch? I think they can do better.
Not my cup of tea. Won’t be back.

I love this place! I just love everything about it. First, you have the super cool atmosphere: great chandeliers, fun wallpaper, hip, happy vibe. Second, the service: servers are friendly and efficient. Third, the food: oh, the food… And finally, the cocktails: interesting, unique, and very well executed.
Every visit I have their truffled tator tots with lemon crème fraiche. Crunchy exterior, soft interior, crazy good. Seriously — do not leave here without trying these.
For my meal I have tried a variety of items. Favorite: ramen — 5 stars. Followed closely by the pork belly stinky bunz — 5 stars. Lobster BLT — 4 stars. Last night I had the Jap Chae: gluten free noodles and sautéed vegetables topped with seared tuna — 3.5 Stars. Friends of mine swear by the burgers, but it’s very hard for me to try something other than the ramen.
Dessert rocks — I had the S’more dessert which was a huge toasted marshmallow served with a rich chocolate torte. The marshmallow was amazing — it actually tasted like it had been roasted over a camp fire. So good!
Cocktails are 5 stars every visit. I keep trying different ones, and have loved all of them. Current favorites are the Kurrant Bramble which is gin, fresh berries, crème de mure & cassis and the Moscow Mule which is vodka, house ginger syrup, lime & ginger beer. Both of those are only $ 6 during happy hour — sweet!
Final note — they don’t have private parking, so you will have to park at a nearby meter or parking lot and pay. It’s worth it, though, so give it a try!