Rick's on the River - Tampa's Hidden Gem is Off the Beaten Path

The best restaurant off the beaten path in Tampa, Florida, is hands-down Rick's on the River. Located just minutes from downtown Tampa, near the Riverside Heights area, you better set your GPS to 2305 N. Willow if you're unfamiliar with the area.

Rick's is not in an area catering to the tourist trade (although out-of-towners will feel right at home) and can be hard to find. But, whether for a quick lunch on the outdoor patio, drinks after work, or beers and snacks watching the Bucs game, Rick's is where the locals go for a good time.

My first visit to Rick's is still my most memorable. It was Thanksgiving Day, my car was broken down, and I was home with five of my six children with no food in the house.

I was aware of Rick's from billboards in the area, and I knew it was within walking distance of the house. After calling to make sure they were open, we headed over. Famished after the walk, we went to the bar to place our order for some chicken fingers and a couple of grouper sandwiches. My heart sank as I was told they were not serving from the menu.

But, as quickly as my countenance dropped, it was bolstered. The bartender informed me that, in about 15 minutes, at noon, they were going to serve an entire Thanksgiving dinner - on the house! So, we took my meager food budget and ordered sodas (for the kids) and a margarita (for me). We sat outside at one of the picnic tables and watched the boats sail down the Hillsborough River. At just past noon, our waitress brought us out heaping plates of food - turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, and rolls. And, of course, pumpkin pie for dessert.

Even after giving the waitress a $10 tip, I came out having spent only about $25 on the six of us.

Since that fortuitous Thanksgiving, we've spent many an afternoon - and a few evenings - on that patio at Rick's with family and friends.

The dress is casual, the service good, and the ambiance - well, think roadhouse meets Key West beach house. And, then there's the food.

For starters, we favor the beer battered onion rings served with roumalade sauce ($5.49). Smoked fish spread ($4.99), raw oysters ($8.99/dozen), mozzarella stix ($6.89), and steamed mussels ($6.99) are just a few of the other items offered as appetizers.

The grouper is always a favorite with my kids. ($8.79) They order it fried, but it is available grilled, blackened or jerked as well. I usually get the grouper filet ($8.98) grilled to avoid the bread. The kids also like the chicken wings (6 with fries for $5.99) and Philly cheese steak sandwiches.($7.19) The cheese steaks come loaded down with sautéed mushrooms, onions, peppers, and provolone cheese.

My children are trained to order water when we eat out - the cost of six sodas usually equals the price of an entrée. Rick's does charge 25 cents for a cup of water, but I still come out ahead of the sodas, sweet tea and lemonade ($1.89 each).

While it's the kind of restaurant where you expect the menu to be heavy on the fried items (and it is), there are loads of healthy alternatives as well.

Chicken breast, buffalo chicken, and Caesar wraps ($6.49 each) cater to those looking to cut down, but not totally eliminate, the carbs.

There is also a variety of salads on the menu, including a Caribbean mix of greens and fruit that can be topped with either grouper or chicken ($7.99) and a seared Ahi Tuna Salad with sesame dressing and wasabi ($8.49), along with the standard house ($3.99), Caesar ($4.99), and chef ($6.99) blends.

This is a family-friendly establishment, and the children's menu has something for even persnickety eaters. Prices range from $4.59 to $5.49 and include the familiar kid's fare of corn dogs, grilled cheese, and burgers along with the house specialties of chicken or grouper fingers.

In the evening, there is live music on the patio. Local Tampa musicians produce heavy doses of classic rock and are sometimes interrupted with an evening of folk music. In the winter, space heaters light up to make this an enjoyable outdoor experience year 'round. (And, yes, it does get cold in Florida!)

For those who just can't handle eating outdoors, there is ample indoor seating, along with pool tables.

Rick's carries an extensive array of bottled beers, including St. Paulie Girl, Beck's Dark, and O'Doul's. Offerings on tap include Blue Moon, Coors, and a variety of Budweiser brands. A full-bar is also available.

For the sports fanatic, the televisions are usually set to a game. That's a given when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are playing.

You can arrive by boat, car, or, if you live in the area as we do - walk. There is plenty of free parking. Dockage while you eat is complimentary, but you can also tie up your boat for the night for $1.00 per foot. A boat ramp can be used for $10.

The restaurant/bar has a rather unusual component - across the parking lot is Rick's Salon, a full service hair salon that caters to both men and women.

The restaurant opens daily for lunch at 11:00 a.m. Closing time is 1:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 3:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. A pavilion can be rented for private parties.

Rick's accepts cash, Visa, American Express, MasterCard, and Discover.