After several delays since the summer of 2018, the crab house is finally ready to open.
DOWNTOWN TAMPA—The popular Punta Gorda-based crab house, Harpoon Harry’s Crab House Tampa, is finally ready to debut after two delays last year.
Managing partner Ronald Evans said a number of challenges arose at their space near the Tampa Convention Center at 225 S Franklin St. He said they faced several problems turning a blank, empty space into a restaurant decked out with all custom-made wood decor.
“When we went in, we didn’t know what we didn’t know,” Evans said.
“It was a lot more complicated than we ever thought, but we think it will be well received and Tampa will be very happy with the quality of our food and our service.”
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Crabs are a big part of what they do at Harpoon Harry’s, which is why Ron Evans and his partners, executive chef Eric Lackey and general manager John Lillibridge, decided to place a 10-foot-tall blue crab on the outside of the building.
The casual seafood spot offers a wide selection of crab, including king crab, blue crab, snow crab, deviled crab and stone crab claws from the Florida Keys, and a variety of seafood dishes all served from a basket such as shrimp, fresh grouper, sea scallops, calamari, lobster and more.
Evans also believes guests will love the 40-foot-long sushi and oyster bar, serving a variety of shareable platters and plates.
“Although we’re an open air, very casual seafood restaurant, we wanted to add another dimension and that’s upscale dining,” Evans said.
The space has both an indoor and outdoor bar, and two levels with a balcony for outside seating so guests can enjoy seafood and cocktails while overseeing downtown.
Harpoon Harry’s Crab House plans to open on Thursday (Jan 24) and will operate from 11a.m. to 10 p.m. during the week and from 11 a.m. to midnight or later on the weekends.
By: Monique Welsh
Source: https://www.tampabay.com/hillsborough/harpoon-harrys-prepares-to-open-in-downtown-tampa-20190117/