Tarpon Turtle Grill & Marina

Overall, a 4. I wanted so badly to give this place a 5 but just couldn't. My reason is pretty simple, the dollar value for the plates just isn't there for us. The Ceasar wrap was solid, should have been around $12. The Cajun pasta was pretty good, but far from a $26 dish. Id say it needs to be $16-$18 tops. The portion was something I've actually never seen before with a $20+ pasta dish, we were shocked. I'll gladly pay $26 for a good pasta meal, this just wasn't it... Rustie Bellies Cajun chicken alfredo demolishes this dish, for $18. Now, our starter was 🔥. The avocado shrimp ceviche was very good. It was also a little pricey, but, the presentation and taste cancel that out. We were a fan of this and felt it was the "star of the show" Staff was great. Location is great. Atmosphere couldn't be better. We discussed it and think this place excels at being a place to snag and share an app plate and have some drinks and just chill to the Lake Tarpon vibe. 😉

Really great experience! The coconut shrimp had a nice flavor and the pineapple sauce was great. Lobster bisque was very good. I tried the shrimp Alfredo on special and my husband had the short ribs. My alfredo had a good flavor, very peppery but I liked it. The short rib sauce was very salty which we personally enjoyed but everyone may not. The drinks were also delicious and strong. Key lime pie was good! Our server Haley was awesome, always checking if we needed anything and just the best service. I do wish they offered a grille shrimp dinner but you can add it à la carte for $7. Out of the 3 restaurants we tried in the area, this was our favorite!

Tarpon Turtle Waterfront Grill & Marina has a beautiful location right on Lake Tarpon and definitely gives off that relaxing Florida waterfront vibe. This was my second visit here — first for Mother’s Day last year and this time for a birthday celebration. We made reservations and requested patio seating, which was fine at first because the area felt quiet and semi-private for our group. Unfortunately, the table placement ended up being extremely uncomfortable due to the lack of airflow. We were seated in a corner blocked by a brick wall with almost no air circulation, despite there being a nice breeze elsewhere outside. We politely asked about moving to another nearby table with better airflow, but were told they were reserved — even though those tables remained empty the entire time we were there. The seating setup also wasn’t ideal for our group. We had backless bar stools while many nearby tables had chairs with backs, and the table/chairs themselves had noticeable dust and even cobwebs that we had to wipe down ourselves. The food overall was good though. The Breakfast Flatbread was delicious, the shrimp avocado ceviche was fresh, and the fish dip with warm pita bread was solid. The French Toast Melt was good too, although I do think syrup should automatically be included or at least offered. The bottomless drink specials were honestly a great deal. Bottomless mimosas and sangria for around $25 is worth it if you plan on having a few drinks, especially since individual cocktails were around $9 each. The service unfortunately felt a little disorganized. Our server was kind, but difficult to communicate with because she had lost her voice, and it was often hard to locate her when we needed something simple. Overall, the location and atmosphere have a ton of potential, and with better attention to comfort, seating, airflow, cleanliness, and service details, this could easily be a much stronger experience. Right now, I’d say it’s more of a 3-star visit for me, even though the setting itself is absolutely beautiful

The interior layout and waterfront view was nice. Our server was kind of disinterested and not very considerate when it came to making sure our food was prepared correctly (steak cook and dietary restrictions). The Brussels sprouts were burnt and oily. No steak sauce but they serve steak? The garlic parm wings and wedge salad were good. I wouldn't recommend to be honest. Our stomachs were pretty messed up afterwards.

Had brought our Power Plates lunch group to Tarpon Turtle and they did a wonderful job taking care of 30 people. Our servers got our food out all at the same time and quickly. Everyone's order was correct and the food was great. The outdoor space is amazing and perfect for gatherings and events. Highly recommended!