Raccoon's Bar and Grill

long story ,short... poor management

It has been a long time since I have been here and it has really changed for the better. I live right around the corner and took some familly "adults" members visiting the weekend after Xmas so we decided to go there. Also the band was really good. Skunk something. Can't rember their name exactly but really good. I did not eat so I can't rate their food but what I saw looked nice. We enjoyed the band and aphmifere. Would like to know if that band plays there all the time.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 4

Love karaoke Wednesdays.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Fun environment, good bands!

Kid-friendliness: Not kid-friendly. It's a bar

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I just left a place that seemed promising at first glance. After unpacking my 10-month-old and my 7-year-old, I excitedly told my daughter we would have wings for dinner. This spot was close by, proudly advertising itself as a bar and restaurant. However, upon arrival, we were greeted by an unexpected sign warning that no one under 21 is allowed after 9:30 PM. It was only 5:40 PM on a Wednesday!

Inside, the ambiance was less than ideal. There was just one man at the bar and a group of four eating, but the music played was anything but family-friendly. The bartender approached us with a notice that this establishment wasn’t really a restaurant and that we couldn’t stay long due to the explicit tunes blaring in the background.

So here I am, stranded in rush hour traffic, desperately searching for another place to fulfill my wing craving. Thanks a lot, Karen! We definitely won’t be returning to this “local gem.” We’ll stick to places we know are kid-friendly, like Duke's or Keith's, which both manage to create that inviting bar-restaurant vibe without a trashy crowd. Lesson learned: next time, I'll double-check the vibe before bringing my kids!

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Go see IVY, best bartender in Tampa, Brandon and Riverview.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Awesome!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Raccoons Bar and Grill serves up some of the best food around with unbeatable prices! The menu has a great selection, and every dish is full of flavor and cooked to perfection. The service is friendly and welcoming, making it a perfect spot to relax with friends or family. Whether you’re there for drinks, dinner, or both, you’re sure to leave satisfied. Highly recommend! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Mazzarella Sticks, Chicken Wings

I recommend Karaoke on Wednesday at Raccoons Bar and Grill

Service was slow. Only one server/bartender

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 3

Great neighborhood bar. Bartender was very friendly and the beer was cold. They had upped the prices from what was on the menu. But still very reasonable.

Atmosphere: 3

Service: 4

100% thought I was walking into a Star Wars cantina, but it's a cool local spot with cold drinks and live music.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Biker, dive bar, no points deducted for that.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 3

I’m writing this review for the second time, so here’s the context: I’m a Black man, though my race isn’t the main point of this story. I’ve been a regular at Racoons for the past five years, and while I’ve had a generally positive experience, something happened tonight that I need to address.

I believe this encounter was based on jealousy and the response from the bartender Ivy, keeping face with her base customers and instead of applying logic to the situation, making it clear to those watch that I'm the one causing the problem. Was race apart of it? I'll let you decide.

Racoons has always been a great spot with a welcoming atmosphere, and I’ve always appreciated the friendly staff, including Christine and Steve. However, tonight, while I was casually talking with a patron about fitness (I’m a bodybuilder), a man who wasn’t even involved in the pool game but was just observing, told me to lower my voice. I was speaking at a normal volume, and I was having a conversation with a woman and her husband about getting in shape.

When I asked him who he was addressing, he didn’t respond directly, but the situation escalated when another patron accused me of being disrespectful. I tried to explain the situation to Ivy, the bartender, but instead of understanding, she told everyone to leave, siding with the other patrons without asking for my side of the story.

I’ve been a loyal customer for years, and I’ve never caused any trouble. I was disappointed that those I respect didn’t come to my defense. While I’m not saying the bar itself is racist, the way Ivy handled the situation was unacceptable. I believe she should either be retrained or removed, as this kind of behavior undermines the positive environment that Racoons is known for.

I’m deeply upset by the lack of support from the staff and the unfair treatment I received. As a paying customer, I expect better. I would defend Racoons and its staff under normal circumstances, but in this case, I feel let down. My wife is white, so race is not an issue for me here; it’s about fair treatment and respect. She needs to be removed or retrained. My biggest issue is the people I would risk my life for to protect, stood their and did nothing. They might say they did not see it, but really, a big black guy in an all white bar stands like a fly in a bowl of milk. I believe they just did not want to get involved because of appearances.

Very Very disappointed!!!!!

Very disappointed. If you have been treated as such, find another bar, Just saying. It's not just Ivy's fault....It's a cultural thing. ether treat each patron as equal or close your bar.

I hope this feedback helps improve the situation.

Kevin - I Never Lie

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Been going there since it opened, live right up the street. Wife and I go a couple times a month to eat.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Chicken Wings, Beer Glass