In keeping with the surrounding festivities, Harpoon Harry’s Crab House celebrated its grand opening with an pirate-style fete Jan. 26.
TAMPA, FL — With all of the swashbuckling taking place over the weekend during the Gasparilla Pirate Festival, you might have missed the opening of Tampa’s newest dining option.
In keeping with the surrounding festivities, Harpoon Harry’s Crab House celebrated its grand opening with an pirate-style fete Jan. 26.
Located in the Tampa Convention Center at 225 S. Franklin St., Harpoon Harry’s in Tampa occupies a 10,000-square-foot space previously used by the Tampa Bay History Center.
Punta Gorda-based Smuggler’s Enterprises opened the first Harpoon Harry’s in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, four years ago, followed by its Punta Gorda restaurant. It also owns Captain’s Table, Laishley Crab House, Muscle Car City Diner and Smuggler’s Culinary Catering.
The Tampa Harpoon Harry’s is located in the heart of the $3 billion Water Street Tampa mixed-use district where Smuggler’s Enterprises has spent $3.6 million transforming the 10,000-square-foot space in the convention center.
Instead of a cookie-cutter design, Smuggler’s Enterprises CEO Ron Evans opted for a distinct look for each restaurant. At the Tampa restaurant, for instance, diners will find a bar made from a 1926 truck.
In July 2017, Mayor Bob Buckhorn announced that Harpoon Harry’s had been awarded the lucrative contract to rent the space in the convention center after the company submitted a proposal for an open-air concept incorporating roll-up doors along Franklin Street, seating for 400 to 500 people with mezzanines and a sushi bar.
Under the direction of Executive Chef Eric Lackey, the restaurant’s menu has no shortage of crabs as fitting the restaurant’s moniker — Alaskan king, snow, Dungeness and a combination steam pot with Dungeness, mussels and Cedar Key clams. Diners will also find oysters served three ways and fish dishes including Chilean sea bass, stuffed hogfish and Seafood Papardella.
Additionally, the restaurant serves steaks, lamb chops and Drunken Creole Chicken.
Harpoon Harry’s is open Sunday through Thursday from 3 to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 3 to 11 p.m.
On Wednesday, Jan. 30, the public is invited to stop by for a Tampa Bay Lightning Watch Party. The party starts at 7 p.m., an hour before the puck drop. It will feature autographed prizes, the Thunderbug and the Lightning Girls.
Call (813) 321-4040.
By D’Ann Lawrence White, Patch Staff
Source: https://patch.com/florida/southtampa/harpoon-harrys-opens-tampa-perfect-place-crabs