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Introduction: Short Trip to The Big Guava
Review: The Club at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
Review: KLM Royal Crown Lounge at Houston Intercontinental Airport
Review: Residence Inn Tampa Westshore/Airport
Review: Indian Rocks Beach
Review: Keegan’s Seafood Grille – Indian Rocks
Review: Tampa Marriott Westshore
Review: Lemon Grass Thai Kitchen – Tampa
After an uneventful visit to Indian Rocks Beach, we made the short five minute walk across Gulf Blvd to Keegan’s Seafood Grille. Keegan’s was located at the rear of a small shopping center. The exterior of the restaurant was very “busy” to me. There were huge umbrellas on the patio, neon signs on the windows, bicycles, and even a tiki pillar. Based on this alone, it felt like a tourist trap.
There were two entrances to Keegan’s. One was to the left of the bike rack while the second was to the right of the tiki pillar. We entered through the left. There were some booths along either wall and a few other tables. The seating capacity could not have been more than 25 people. There was a bar, which remained vacant during our visit, at the back of this room.
The staff was severely undermanned. Due to this fact, it took about 20 minutes to place our order. I almost walked out, but I wanted to review the restaurant. While we were waiting, I used the hallway to walk over to the second seating area. This area had roughly the same seating capacity and a small bar. There was a couple of aquariums tucked in the corner.
As I made my way back to my seat, I noticed this picture. My initial thoughts of a tourist trap were confirmed, right?
We were finally able to place our order. I started with a red sangria. It was very sweet. The sangria also had a flavor that, while familiar, is not usually in this drink…cinnamon. I could not finish it.
To start, I ordered the charbroiled octopus and Prince Edward Island Mussels. The food arrived in approximately 15 minutes, which I thought was a decent amount of time. The entire octopus plate was delicious. I particularly enjoyed the flavor that the broil gave the octopus. The same could not be said about the mussels. The mussels were dry and rubbery. The entire dish was practically inedible.
I ordered the special of the day, grouper, as the main. The grouper was fresh and flavorful.
One dish that I missing is my son’s chicken tenders. The tenders were not worthy of a picture. I felt that it was worth mentioning that one of the tenders was cooked with plastic on it. My son found this after he took a bite. I am always paranoid about my son, so this made me freak out a bit.
Final Word
The grouper and octopus were highlights of my visit to Keegan’s. This is where the accolades stop. The amount of time that we had to wait and inedible mussels, coupled with the plastic in my son’s chicken tender ensured that I will never visit Keegan’s again. Tourist trap or not.
