Today we visited Ceviche Tapas in Downtown St. Pete. They recently closed their original location on Beach Drive to renovate a space {previously housing Moon Under Water} on Beach Drive in March 2021; After a long wait they finally re-opened in August and we were there to check out the new menu.
To note: our first choice is always outdoors seating and this new location for Ceviche has a very nice patio with over head fans as well as sidewalk seating which is pretty much the norm all along Beach Drive. As for the inside I can't comment on that because I never entered the building during the time I was there.
I was glad that they kept some of our old favorites on the menu, such as the oxtails and cold seafood ceviches as starters. Most of their menu is gluten free to note, but they still do not have a dedicated fryer in the new location so still no patatas bravas for me.
Striped Jumpsuit: Red Dress
Clutch: Louis Vuitton
Belt: Ettika
Bangles: Ettika
Lariat Necklace: C/O Ettika
Earrings: C/O Ettika
Lipstick: MAC Tarnished Reputation
Iberian Oysters (gluten free)
East coast oysters, gazpacho mignonette, crispy Jamón
The new menu items were the main reason for our visit today. Due to Covid-19 and recent Global Warming incidents I guess all over seafood is out of stock or there is a price increase (in particular snow crabs, king crabs, and blue crabs). So, the crab dish was not available this night (they did not disclose the reason why totally, but there were a few seafood dishes unavailable).
We pretty much liked everything we had except two items, the Snapper ceviche was way to fishy tasting and smelling and the texture was very very odd and also the oysters. I am an oyster lover, but I am not a gazpacho lover and these two things never never should mix in my opinion. Also, to boot they served raw oysters on top of a paper towel covered in ice and its near 100 degrees outside so it melted immediately and the ice water mixed in with the raw oysters thus changing the taste. The whole thing was a mess, and the oysters were full of shells and grit.
So, this was maybe the first week they re-opened or the second week and service was slow and touch and go, but our waitress was great and management was great and that has not changed. We had a good foodie experience outside of the aforementioned and would continue to be customers. There were- as I mentioned- quite a few menu items unavailable at the time we visited; So, I am looking forward to returning after they have been re-opened for a few months.
Snapper Crudo (gluten free)
Citrus, ginger, garlic, avocado
Pulpo(gluten free)
Octopus, lime juice, capers, cilantro, chilies, pickled red onion, evoo
Deviled Eggs (gluten free)
Crispy chorizo, smoked paprika
The deviled eggs, pork belly, and scallops were also new menu items which I would recommend. The scallops were phenomenal and I would highly recommend them, they were cooked perfectly and honestly, they made the whole meal worth it for me. They also were the most expensive tapa(s) we had at over $30.
Next, would be the pork belly which was also cooked perfectly, it didn't have too much fat and contained a nice sear. The meat based tapas go so well with yellow rice so I was so sad to hear it's no longer on the menu.
I always love a good deviled egg, but these left a little to be desired, they needed a little salt & acid in my opinion, but I would order them again and recommend them as a starter.
Pork Belly (gluten free)
Spicy quince, sherry glaze
Rabo de Toro (gluten free without the potatoes)
Oxtail, red wine, potatoes
Vieiras (gluten free)
Scallops, corn and chorizo relish
Basque cheesecake (Not gluten free)
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