Dear LilyOnTheLam.com Readers:
If you're a regular reader you'll know that one of my favorite local places for upscale, fun cocktailing and quality gourmet shareable plates dining is the "prohibition-style speakeasy" called Ciro's Speakeasy and Supper Club on Howard Avenue near Bayshore Boulevard in South Tampa, Florida.
You need a password to enter the dark speakeasy. Something that can be seen as either quite annoying or very charming depending on your world view. One time my response to "what's the password?" was "I am here and I have a reservation - that's the password." The hostess didn't seem too amused by my attitude and remarks. But let me tell you, after a few drinks at Ciro's my attitude is ALWAYS BETTER. ;-)
Half of Ciro's Speakeasy is composed of dark, private booths with individual waitstaff-summoning doorbells and curtains for privacy. You feel like you are stepping in to another world. The waitstaff is dressed prohibition era style and I have been there several times where patrons also came dressed in Roaring 20's outfits. When in Rome ...
When I heard Ciro's was retooling their menu, I knew I had to check it out to see what gems made it to the new menu and share this knowledge with you all.
But first - I will preface this blog post by saying that when I arrived last weekend with three friends at Ciro's Speakeasy, a lovely lady named Lauren who I believe is the Ciro's Manager (apologies if not), had my two favorite menu items (chicken and waffle sliders with a chipotle maple gravy and the French fries cooked in duck fat with a trio of dipping sauces - garlic aioli, tamarind ketchup and more chipotle maple gravy) brought over to our booth on the house. I mention this because I believe in full disclosure when I am giving my opinion/recommendation about a restaurant. (And yes, you can pretty much purchase my love and my soul with a cone of Duck-fat French Fries.)
However those of you who read my blog often, know that I have written about Ciro's Speakeasy several times before I ever received the generous and much appreciated morsels. I also tend to visit Ciro's quite often and bring "virgins" along with me, so I will gladly accept any freebies Ciro's wants to throw my way! And hey, if you want to name one of your booths after me - go for it.
If you would like to read my previous Ciro's Speakeasy blog posts, check them out below:
Lily and the Hotlantan Nicky G at Ciro's Speakeasy
Lily and Sergio the Evil Elf at Ciro's Speakeasy
Lily and Miss NL at Ciro's Speakeasy
Wow, I have written a lot of Ciro's Speakeasy posts for this blog, haven't I?
Listen up Ciro's, if you like this blog post I request two things -- One - the secret password for December for entry into Ciro's Speakeasy should be "Lily On The Lam." Last time I was there, the password was "Park Slope" which makes no sense - we're in Tampa, not Brooklyn! "Lily On The Lam" is the perfect password for a Tampa speakeasy. Just saying ...
Two - the next time I am at Ciro's, I would love a free crostini trio. I believe in the law of attraction - so I am just putting my ego and my stomach's hopes and desires out into the universe and perhaps it shall pan out! Baby loves freebies!
I have been to Ciro's three times in the past six weeks - once with Hotlantan Nicky G as referenced above, a second time with Miss Asheville 2013 (JS's MIL- yes I am talking about your DIL) and a third time with Miss Costa Rica, Miss Carrollwood and Miss Seminole Heights. (And no, I don't hang out with people with normal names.)
Each time, the food menu was a little different. On visit #2, our incredibly good-looking waiter whose name I cannot recall told us that Ciro's was adjusting its menu - testing out and trying new items that best fits Ciro's identity. In my first two tastings there were definitely some dishes that hit the mark and some that just seemed wrong for the establishment. I feigned swooning and said in my best Southern falsetto - "Lordy, Lordy me, this restaurant is having an identity crisis!"
However the last time I went to Ciro's, I was told that the latest draft of the new menu was "IT" - identity had been found! I was ready to try some new items and see if this menu was the real deal or a soap opera evil twin!
Side Note: I cancelled my cable to try to break my rampant television addiction. But it didn't work- I traded my television heroin for television methadone - the DVD. I have spent the last several months watching the original night soap opera "Dallas." I had never watched the last couple of seasons of the 14 season series. The first six or seven seasons I was as giddy as a Toddler in a Tiara mainlining pixie sticks. But then as the show jumped the shark, it became more and more painful. I am now on episode six of Season Fourteen - the last season - and I'm basically in a fetal position screaming "WHY GOD, WHY?" at my cats. But I am going to see it through - I am going to watch all episodes in all fourteen seasons if it kills me! And heaven knows, it just might ...
But enough about me, back to Ciro's Speakeasy ...
Before I tell you what I tried on the new menu, let me tell you about my favorites that I am crazy ecstatic glad are still on the menu. Chicken and waffle sliders, truffle popcorn, aforementioned duck fat-cooked French Fries and the heavenly cheese fondue. Thank you, thank you, thank you for keeping all of these items on the menu!
I am sad that the pub pretzel, the artichoke and the select your own charcuterie and cheese board are no longer on the menu. Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream discontinued their pink lemonade sorbet in 1996 and my sister Squidge and I still bemoan the loss-- so Ciro's be forewarned, my sadness at discontinued items is deep and long-running!
But enough about sadness and loss, let's talk about changes I did like. First of all, I have to say THANK YOU Ciro's for finally allowing reservations (see OpenTable.com) for smaller parties. The rule used to be for parties of 6 or more. Although I did notice the last time I went to Ciro's, the valet now costs $5 - is this a weekends only thing now ... or? Parking is tight in the Hyde Park/SoHo (south of Howard Avenue) section, so at least it was only $5.
Foodwise, the menu seems to have gotten even more eclectic-- which I adore but may not be mainstream enough. Time will tell. My friends and I ordered the crostini trio, the slider trio and the lobster deviled eggs off the new menu. (We also had the fondue, chicken and waffle sliders and duck fries off the old menu.) I ordered the "Rooter Rebellion" - a drink that currently is not listed on their menu but should be. It's a sassy rootbeer-esque concoction that is magic to my tongue.
Other LilyOnTheLam.com Ciro's cocktail favorites - Safety Drink, Lychee Love Hotel, Moscow Mule, Hemingway's Daiquiri, the Mai Tai, Gin Fizz, this Russian berry thing who's name escapes me because it's usually the 5th drink I order ... and any of Ciro's absinthe drinks! If you're looking for artsy, yum-tastic cocktails, get yourself over to Ciro's Speakeasy.
OK enough about the liquor and back to the food ... the problem with trying to mix socializing, hunger satiation and food blogging is that sometimes you get carried away with the socializing and forget to keep track of everything you are eating - so please forgive the incomplete descriptions of the food below. If you want to know all the ingredients, get yourself over to Ciro's to try their new menu for yourself.
My number one absolute most favorite new food item that I tried was the beef and avocado crostini that is part of the Crostini Trio (shown below on the lefthand side in the photo). Moist, rich, lush feel to the tongue - equal parts crunchy, chewy, creamy ... if decadence had a flavor, this is it.
There is also a piece of butternut squash hummus crostini (shown righthand side of the photo) in the Crostini Trio. When I first heard "Squash Hummus," I thought two things - #1) WORST PORN STAR NAME EVER.
And #2) Intriguing - either this is going to be really tasty or really crappy.
I am happy to report that it is extremely tasty. Flavorful and sensuous like Autumn flavors in a sporty tuxedo. It is the perfect creamy bite to nibble on when you're trying to come up with a better porn star name.
Ciro's also added a Truffled Cauliflower dish to its new menu. I didn't try it, but I reckon (I live in the SOUTH, people) that it's pretty darn good too.
On to our next item ... I absolutely adore a good burger, especially since I come from Minneapolis - the land where you can find the best "Juicy Lucy" cheese-stuffed hamburgers. So imagine my delight in seeing that Ciro's now has a burger slider trio where one of the sliders is a Juicy Lucy. We ordered two slider trios for the table. My absolute favorite of the three is an Asian-inspired burger. If I could have had three of these, I would have. Another slider was stuffed with pate - it was only ehh so so, I was expecting more since the Asian one was chock full of so many great flavors. Our Juicy Lucy - the one that I was most looking forward to was dry. However Miss Seminole Heights' Juicy Lucy was very moist and flavorful. So I'll be back to Ciro's in the future to see if I get a better Juicy Lucy!
The sliders were served on a typical brioche-style hamburger bun. It looked better than it tasted - there was nothing inherently wrong with the bun. It had decent taste and held up well to the burger and all its toppings. But flavor-wise did not add much to the party. However with the list of ingredients in each of the three sliders, perhaps a blank canvas of a brioche bun is just what the doctor ordered.
By this time in the evening I was too happily scarfing down food and quaffing cocktails to take good pictures-- so here's the chicken and waffle slider platter with only 2 of the 4 sliders remaining. Ciro's used to serve this with the chipotle maple gravy already on the slider. I am very happy they now just serve it on the side.
We were so stuffed from all of our food that we did not get the opportunity to sample any of the new desserts. Ciro's switched up the flavors in its bread pudding and there's even a cotton candy on the menu. Alas, next time for me!
Side Note: I was having a BAD HAIR DAY when I went to Ciro's, so I decided to don a chapeau to go with the Prohibition-style theme. I had a black Fedora-esque hat with a white silk flower. If you are a frequent reader of LilyOnTheLam.com, you will know that I am the world's worst photo stylist. But I am TRYING! So below is a picture of the hat I wore to Ciro's Speakeasy juxtaposed against an actor who was also known for wearing a certain hat as well.
And if Larry Hagman is not your cup of tea, here is Sharka - the Crazy Shirts Mascot - wearing said chapeau. Whoever said Hipster Cool was dead was wrong. Live fast, die young and always carry a surfboard and wear a Fedora. That's my life's motto or my name is not Squash Hummus.
P.S. A word to the Executive Chef at Ciro's Speakeasy - run down the street to the Fresh Market and get some pretzel sticks from the bakery to experiment with- your menu needs a soft pretzel dish again!
P.P.S. One more word to the Executive Chef - also get some large fat dried dates, stuff them with Cypress Grove Purple Haze goat cheese, sprinkle with minced pistachios, roll tightly in a medium-thick slice of Neuske's Canadian bacon, place a toothpick in to keep it all in place and broil. Serve with a drizzle of pear Balsamic vinegar. I'm not saying you need to put this on your menu, but it may keep your creative menu-planning ideas flowing. ;-)
Thank you Ciro's Speakeasy for the two free items the last time I was visiting. As you know from my enlarged belly and liver, I will be back for more food and more tasty cocktails in the future!
Google Affiliate Ads:
Isn't it time you bought a sassy Fedora too? Just saying ...
If you're a regular reader you'll know that one of my favorite local places for upscale, fun cocktailing and quality gourmet shareable plates dining is the "prohibition-style speakeasy" called Ciro's Speakeasy and Supper Club on Howard Avenue near Bayshore Boulevard in South Tampa, Florida.
You need a password to enter the dark speakeasy. Something that can be seen as either quite annoying or very charming depending on your world view. One time my response to "what's the password?" was "I am here and I have a reservation - that's the password." The hostess didn't seem too amused by my attitude and remarks. But let me tell you, after a few drinks at Ciro's my attitude is ALWAYS BETTER. ;-)
Half of Ciro's Speakeasy is composed of dark, private booths with individual waitstaff-summoning doorbells and curtains for privacy. You feel like you are stepping in to another world. The waitstaff is dressed prohibition era style and I have been there several times where patrons also came dressed in Roaring 20's outfits. When in Rome ...
When I heard Ciro's was retooling their menu, I knew I had to check it out to see what gems made it to the new menu and share this knowledge with you all.
But first - I will preface this blog post by saying that when I arrived last weekend with three friends at Ciro's Speakeasy, a lovely lady named Lauren who I believe is the Ciro's Manager (apologies if not), had my two favorite menu items (chicken and waffle sliders with a chipotle maple gravy and the French fries cooked in duck fat with a trio of dipping sauces - garlic aioli, tamarind ketchup and more chipotle maple gravy) brought over to our booth on the house. I mention this because I believe in full disclosure when I am giving my opinion/recommendation about a restaurant. (And yes, you can pretty much purchase my love and my soul with a cone of Duck-fat French Fries.)
However those of you who read my blog often, know that I have written about Ciro's Speakeasy several times before I ever received the generous and much appreciated morsels. I also tend to visit Ciro's quite often and bring "virgins" along with me, so I will gladly accept any freebies Ciro's wants to throw my way! And hey, if you want to name one of your booths after me - go for it.
If you would like to read my previous Ciro's Speakeasy blog posts, check them out below:
Lily and the Hotlantan Nicky G at Ciro's Speakeasy
Lily and Sergio the Evil Elf at Ciro's Speakeasy
Lily and Miss NL at Ciro's Speakeasy
Wow, I have written a lot of Ciro's Speakeasy posts for this blog, haven't I?
Listen up Ciro's, if you like this blog post I request two things -- One - the secret password for December for entry into Ciro's Speakeasy should be "Lily On The Lam." Last time I was there, the password was "Park Slope" which makes no sense - we're in Tampa, not Brooklyn! "Lily On The Lam" is the perfect password for a Tampa speakeasy. Just saying ...
Two - the next time I am at Ciro's, I would love a free crostini trio. I believe in the law of attraction - so I am just putting my ego and my stomach's hopes and desires out into the universe and perhaps it shall pan out! Baby loves freebies!
I have been to Ciro's three times in the past six weeks - once with Hotlantan Nicky G as referenced above, a second time with Miss Asheville 2013 (JS's MIL- yes I am talking about your DIL) and a third time with Miss Costa Rica, Miss Carrollwood and Miss Seminole Heights. (And no, I don't hang out with people with normal names.)
Each time, the food menu was a little different. On visit #2, our incredibly good-looking waiter whose name I cannot recall told us that Ciro's was adjusting its menu - testing out and trying new items that best fits Ciro's identity. In my first two tastings there were definitely some dishes that hit the mark and some that just seemed wrong for the establishment. I feigned swooning and said in my best Southern falsetto - "Lordy, Lordy me, this restaurant is having an identity crisis!"
However the last time I went to Ciro's, I was told that the latest draft of the new menu was "IT" - identity had been found! I was ready to try some new items and see if this menu was the real deal or a soap opera evil twin!
Side Note: I cancelled my cable to try to break my rampant television addiction. But it didn't work- I traded my television heroin for television methadone - the DVD. I have spent the last several months watching the original night soap opera "Dallas." I had never watched the last couple of seasons of the 14 season series. The first six or seven seasons I was as giddy as a Toddler in a Tiara mainlining pixie sticks. But then as the show jumped the shark, it became more and more painful. I am now on episode six of Season Fourteen - the last season - and I'm basically in a fetal position screaming "WHY GOD, WHY?" at my cats. But I am going to see it through - I am going to watch all episodes in all fourteen seasons if it kills me! And heaven knows, it just might ...
But enough about me, back to Ciro's Speakeasy ...
Before I tell you what I tried on the new menu, let me tell you about my favorites that I am crazy ecstatic glad are still on the menu. Chicken and waffle sliders, truffle popcorn, aforementioned duck fat-cooked French Fries and the heavenly cheese fondue. Thank you, thank you, thank you for keeping all of these items on the menu!
I am sad that the pub pretzel, the artichoke and the select your own charcuterie and cheese board are no longer on the menu. Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream discontinued their pink lemonade sorbet in 1996 and my sister Squidge and I still bemoan the loss-- so Ciro's be forewarned, my sadness at discontinued items is deep and long-running!
But enough about sadness and loss, let's talk about changes I did like. First of all, I have to say THANK YOU Ciro's for finally allowing reservations (see OpenTable.com) for smaller parties. The rule used to be for parties of 6 or more. Although I did notice the last time I went to Ciro's, the valet now costs $5 - is this a weekends only thing now ... or? Parking is tight in the Hyde Park/SoHo (south of Howard Avenue) section, so at least it was only $5.
Foodwise, the menu seems to have gotten even more eclectic-- which I adore but may not be mainstream enough. Time will tell. My friends and I ordered the crostini trio, the slider trio and the lobster deviled eggs off the new menu. (We also had the fondue, chicken and waffle sliders and duck fries off the old menu.) I ordered the "Rooter Rebellion" - a drink that currently is not listed on their menu but should be. It's a sassy rootbeer-esque concoction that is magic to my tongue.
Other LilyOnTheLam.com Ciro's cocktail favorites - Safety Drink, Lychee Love Hotel, Moscow Mule, Hemingway's Daiquiri, the Mai Tai, Gin Fizz, this Russian berry thing who's name escapes me because it's usually the 5th drink I order ... and any of Ciro's absinthe drinks! If you're looking for artsy, yum-tastic cocktails, get yourself over to Ciro's Speakeasy.
OK enough about the liquor and back to the food ... the problem with trying to mix socializing, hunger satiation and food blogging is that sometimes you get carried away with the socializing and forget to keep track of everything you are eating - so please forgive the incomplete descriptions of the food below. If you want to know all the ingredients, get yourself over to Ciro's to try their new menu for yourself.
My number one absolute most favorite new food item that I tried was the beef and avocado crostini that is part of the Crostini Trio (shown below on the lefthand side in the photo). Moist, rich, lush feel to the tongue - equal parts crunchy, chewy, creamy ... if decadence had a flavor, this is it.
There is also a piece of butternut squash hummus crostini (shown righthand side of the photo) in the Crostini Trio. When I first heard "Squash Hummus," I thought two things - #1) WORST PORN STAR NAME EVER.
And #2) Intriguing - either this is going to be really tasty or really crappy.
I am happy to report that it is extremely tasty. Flavorful and sensuous like Autumn flavors in a sporty tuxedo. It is the perfect creamy bite to nibble on when you're trying to come up with a better porn star name.
Ciro's also added a Truffled Cauliflower dish to its new menu. I didn't try it, but I reckon (I live in the SOUTH, people) that it's pretty darn good too.
 |
| Crostini Trio |
Sadly I had too many cocktails to remember the center crostini in the above picture- I think its like a classic tomato bruschetta but with a salty caper twist.
Apologies to Ciro's that I cannot recall the ingredients, but maybe that's a sign you need something more mind-blowing for the third crostini if I can't even recall it. Hmmm?
May I suggest a piece of bread with a thin slice of prosciutto, sliced strawberries, black pepper and a drizzle of chocolate balsamic vinegar?
Or if you wanted a non-meat option, try thinly sliced Anjou pears, Vermont white cheddar shavings and a drizzle of honey that has micro-diced pieces of crystallized ginger in it. (Place it under the broiler/salamander for extra melty, rich crunch.)
I give you these ideas free of charge, but you could always rename the Crostini Trio to "Lily's Crostini Trio" or "Crostini Trio on the Lam" in gratitude. Nothing says prohibition better than a life led on the lam!
My second absolute favorite "WOW!" item on Ciro's new menu is the lobster deviled eggs - lobster, caviar and sriracha in a gorgeous perfectly cooked hard-boiled egg white. If you want straight-up decadent elegance, order these. They're beautiful. They're deluxe. They're lusciousness on a platter. (So am I, but that's a story for another time.)
Miss Carrollwood ordered these lobster deviled eggs - she's a cool classy blonde so I wasn't surprised that she ordered a cool classy appetizer. I felt like a rich little Czarina munching away on these lobster deviled eggs. Do yourself a favor and inspire your own pre-Russian Revolution feast and regally demand a couple orders of these beauties. I won't tell Lenin and Stalin, if you won't!
 |
| Lobster deviled eggs with caviar and sriracha |
On to our next item ... I absolutely adore a good burger, especially since I come from Minneapolis - the land where you can find the best "Juicy Lucy" cheese-stuffed hamburgers. So imagine my delight in seeing that Ciro's now has a burger slider trio where one of the sliders is a Juicy Lucy. We ordered two slider trios for the table. My absolute favorite of the three is an Asian-inspired burger. If I could have had three of these, I would have. Another slider was stuffed with pate - it was only ehh so so, I was expecting more since the Asian one was chock full of so many great flavors. Our Juicy Lucy - the one that I was most looking forward to was dry. However Miss Seminole Heights' Juicy Lucy was very moist and flavorful. So I'll be back to Ciro's in the future to see if I get a better Juicy Lucy!
The sliders were served on a typical brioche-style hamburger bun. It looked better than it tasted - there was nothing inherently wrong with the bun. It had decent taste and held up well to the burger and all its toppings. But flavor-wise did not add much to the party. However with the list of ingredients in each of the three sliders, perhaps a blank canvas of a brioche bun is just what the doctor ordered.
 |
| Slider Trio |
By this time in the evening I was too happily scarfing down food and quaffing cocktails to take good pictures-- so here's the chicken and waffle slider platter with only 2 of the 4 sliders remaining. Ciro's used to serve this with the chipotle maple gravy already on the slider. I am very happy they now just serve it on the side.
We were so stuffed from all of our food that we did not get the opportunity to sample any of the new desserts. Ciro's switched up the flavors in its bread pudding and there's even a cotton candy on the menu. Alas, next time for me!
Side Note: I was having a BAD HAIR DAY when I went to Ciro's, so I decided to don a chapeau to go with the Prohibition-style theme. I had a black Fedora-esque hat with a white silk flower. If you are a frequent reader of LilyOnTheLam.com, you will know that I am the world's worst photo stylist. But I am TRYING! So below is a picture of the hat I wore to Ciro's Speakeasy juxtaposed against an actor who was also known for wearing a certain hat as well.
And if Larry Hagman is not your cup of tea, here is Sharka - the Crazy Shirts Mascot - wearing said chapeau. Whoever said Hipster Cool was dead was wrong. Live fast, die young and always carry a surfboard and wear a Fedora. That's my life's motto or my name is not Squash Hummus.
P.S. A word to the Executive Chef at Ciro's Speakeasy - run down the street to the Fresh Market and get some pretzel sticks from the bakery to experiment with- your menu needs a soft pretzel dish again!
P.P.S. One more word to the Executive Chef - also get some large fat dried dates, stuff them with Cypress Grove Purple Haze goat cheese, sprinkle with minced pistachios, roll tightly in a medium-thick slice of Neuske's Canadian bacon, place a toothpick in to keep it all in place and broil. Serve with a drizzle of pear Balsamic vinegar. I'm not saying you need to put this on your menu, but it may keep your creative menu-planning ideas flowing. ;-)
Thank you Ciro's Speakeasy for the two free items the last time I was visiting. As you know from my enlarged belly and liver, I will be back for more food and more tasty cocktails in the future!
Google Affiliate Ads:
Isn't it time you bought a sassy Fedora too? Just saying ...
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