Underwhelming Experience at What Should Have Been a Vibe
From the moment we walked in, The Gin Joint appeared like it was going to be a whole vibe—but unfortunately, the experience fell flat quickly.
Upon check-in, we were immediately told we only had the table for two hours. Not exactly the warmest welcome, especially for a place that markets itself as a relaxed, upscale lounge. Despite plenty of empty tables, our party of three was seated in a dark corner with absolutely no view of the live music—the main reason we chose to dine here in the first place.
The menu itself felt oddly mismatched with the ambiance. Heavy, dense entrees that didn’t pair well with the cocktail-forward, music-centered atmosphere. We ordered an appetizer, and the server promptly took our menus and placed them in a nearby chair—no offer to help us navigate the rest of the menu or suggest pairings.
Unfortunately, the service didn’t help redeem the night. Our server seemed inexperienced and unsure, offering little guidance or attentiveness. And the hostess (ironically named Champagne) was dismissive and sarcastic when we asked about changing tables—completely unwilling to accommodate or even acknowledge our concerns.
Overall, The Gin Joint looks like it should be the place to be—but between the rigid seating policy, disconnected menu, and lackluster service, it ended up being a disappointing evening.
Tamara Smith
Underwhelming Experience at What Should Have Been a Vibe
From the moment we walked in, The Gin Joint appeared like it was going to be a whole vibe—but unfortunately, the experience fell flat quickly.
Upon check-in, we were immediately told we only had the table for two hours. Not exactly the warmest welcome, especially for a place that markets itself as a relaxed, upscale lounge. Despite plenty of empty tables, our party of three was seated in a dark corner with absolutely no view of the live music—the main reason we chose to dine here in the first place.
The menu itself felt oddly mismatched with the ambiance. Heavy, dense entrees that didn’t pair well with the cocktail-forward, music-centered atmosphere. We ordered an appetizer, and the server promptly took our menus and placed them in a nearby chair—no offer to help us navigate the rest of the menu or suggest pairings.
Unfortunately, the service didn’t help redeem the night. Our server seemed inexperienced and unsure, offering little guidance or attentiveness. And the hostess (ironically named Champagne) was dismissive and sarcastic when we asked about changing tables—completely unwilling to accommodate or even acknowledge our concerns.
Overall, The Gin Joint looks like it should be the place to be—but between the rigid seating policy, disconnected menu, and lackluster service, it ended up being a disappointing evening.
Jessica L
Eek this place is trying to be LA vibes and ultra exclusive but the service doesn’t cut it. Super rude staff. Ok food. The amount of effort it takes to make a reservation sets you up for a good vibe night, but was so disappointing. Wont be going back. Recommend to just sit at the bar if anything.
John P
Vibe, drinks and food are all strong here.
However, our group got scolded by an employee named “Blue” for adding people to our party in front of the entire group. Shocking that that this quality of an establishment would employee someone like her, scolding guests in front of the entire group like children
kitty banguero
Girls night out was a success! The food was super tasty and our server Nemma kept the drinks flowing and made sure our birthday girl had a great time 🩵
Craig Lourenco
Entertainment was awesome
Kevin Jones
A nice place to have a drink and chill…good atmosphere and drinks.
Shekesha Jefferson
This is a nice place to visit. The food was delicious. The atmosphere is enhanced by live music, creating a wonderful experience.
Kate Christianson
This place is fabulous! We sat at the bar and had some of the best service. Justin and Gavin were amazing. The food was also wonderful, the octopus was our favorite. We loved the live music and the hand crafted cocktails.
One of my favorite spots in Tampa . Amazing, great live music delicious drinks and ambience
Alexis Casiano
Gin Joint’s drinks and atmosphere never disappoints us!! If you love lavender I definitely recommend the west ends cocktail.
Kelvin Turner
We decided to try CW's on a whim and are glad we did. All the staff we interacted with seemed interested in making sure we had a good experience. We were lucky to get seats at the bar as soon as we walked in. Even on a busy Friday night, Roger and another bartender took time to discuss gins and listened to what we liked and didn't like as we tried different selections. The band was great. Overall, CWs is a classy joint that we'll be sure to visit again.
Anthi Mad
Came once and did not have a good experience. Gave it a second try, and once again, did not have a good experience.. I’d be a fool to try it a 3rd time.. (both times just for drinks).
Eduardo Perez Jr
Gin Joint delivered an exceptional experience from start to finish. The service was amazing—our waiter was incredibly knowledgeable, and every recommendation was spot on, from the cocktails to the food.
The octopus was cooked to perfection—tender, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The oysters were also fantastic, fresh and packed with delicious flavor.
The cocktails were another highlight—creative, well-balanced, and crafted with precision.
Underwhelming Experience at What Should Have Been a Vibe From the moment we walked in, The Gin Joint appeared like it was going to be a whole vibe—but unfortunately, the experience fell flat quickly. Upon check-in, we were immediately told we only had the table for two hours. Not exactly the warmest welcome, especially for a place that markets itself as a relaxed, upscale lounge. Despite plenty of empty tables, our party of three was seated in a dark corner with absolutely no view of the live music—the main reason we chose to dine here in the first place. The menu itself felt oddly mismatched with the ambiance. Heavy, dense entrees that didn’t pair well with the cocktail-forward, music-centered atmosphere. We ordered an appetizer, and the server promptly took our menus and placed them in a nearby chair—no offer to help us navigate the rest of the menu or suggest pairings. Unfortunately, the service didn’t help redeem the night. Our server seemed inexperienced and unsure, offering little guidance or attentiveness. And the hostess (ironically named Champagne) was dismissive and sarcastic when we asked about changing tables—completely unwilling to accommodate or even acknowledge our concerns. Overall, The Gin Joint looks like it should be the place to be—but between the rigid seating policy, disconnected menu, and lackluster service, it ended up being a disappointing evening.
Underwhelming Experience at What Should Have Been a Vibe
From the moment we walked in, The Gin Joint appeared like it was going to be a whole vibe—but unfortunately, the experience fell flat quickly.
Upon check-in, we were immediately told we only had the table for two hours. Not exactly the warmest welcome, especially for a place that markets itself as a relaxed, upscale lounge. Despite plenty of empty tables, our party of three was seated in a dark corner with absolutely no view of the live music—the main reason we chose to dine here in the first place.
The menu itself felt oddly mismatched with the ambiance. Heavy, dense entrees that didn’t pair well with the cocktail-forward, music-centered atmosphere. We ordered an appetizer, and the server promptly took our menus and placed them in a nearby chair—no offer to help us navigate the rest of the menu or suggest pairings.
Unfortunately, the service didn’t help redeem the night. Our server seemed inexperienced and unsure, offering little guidance or attentiveness. And the hostess (ironically named Champagne) was dismissive and sarcastic when we asked about changing tables—completely unwilling to accommodate or even acknowledge our concerns.
Overall, The Gin Joint looks like it should be the place to be—but between the rigid seating policy, disconnected menu, and lackluster service, it ended up being a disappointing evening.
Eek this place is trying to be LA vibes and ultra exclusive but the service doesn’t cut it. Super rude staff. Ok food. The amount of effort it takes to make a reservation sets you up for a good vibe night, but was so disappointing. Wont be going back. Recommend to just sit at the bar if anything.
Vibe, drinks and food are all strong here.
However, our group got scolded by an employee named “Blue” for adding people to our party in front of the entire group. Shocking that that this quality of an establishment would employee someone like her, scolding guests in front of the entire group like children
Girls night out was a success! The food was super tasty and our server Nemma kept the drinks flowing and made sure our birthday girl had a great time 🩵
Entertainment was awesome
A nice place to have a drink and chill…good atmosphere and drinks.
This is a nice place to visit. The food was delicious. The atmosphere is enhanced by live music, creating a wonderful experience.
This place is fabulous! We sat at the bar and had some of the best service. Justin and Gavin were amazing. The food was also wonderful, the octopus was our favorite. We loved the live music and the hand crafted cocktails.
Great service, great food, cool atmosphere
Restaurantji Recommends
One of my favorite spots in Tampa . Amazing, great live music delicious drinks and ambience
Gin Joint’s drinks and atmosphere never disappoints us!! If you love lavender I definitely recommend the west ends cocktail.
We decided to try CW's on a whim and are glad we did. All the staff we interacted with seemed interested in making sure we had a good experience. We were lucky to get seats at the bar as soon as we walked in. Even on a busy Friday night, Roger and another bartender took time to discuss gins and listened to what we liked and didn't like as we tried different selections. The band was great. Overall, CWs is a classy joint that we'll be sure to visit again.
Came once and did not have a good experience. Gave it a second try, and once again, did not have a good experience.. I’d be a fool to try it a 3rd time.. (both times just for drinks).
Gin Joint delivered an exceptional experience from start to finish. The service was amazing—our waiter was incredibly knowledgeable, and every recommendation was spot on, from the cocktails to the food.
The octopus was cooked to perfection—tender, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The oysters were also fantastic, fresh and packed with delicious flavor.
The cocktails were another highlight—creative, well-balanced, and crafted with precision.
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