Lunch Report: Carmines in Ybor City...

One of our normal stops during a visit to Tampa includes The Columbia in Ybor City. This visit, instead of Columbia, we grabbed a late lunch in a place called Carmines and enjoyed some Cuban sandwiches, deviled crabs and calamari.Unfortunately, we did not have the time this trip to really spend anytime walking around in Ybor, but it is on our list of things to do next visit. From the few pictures I took, you can tell that it is a place you could spend some considerable time browsing around. Speaking of browsing, see them all over at Flickr.I had gotten in the mood for deviled crab by ordering one from La Septima in Brandon the previous night, but because I was so eager to get it, I simply unwrapped it and inhaled it without even thinking of taking a "before" picture.When we went into Carmines, I opted for half a Cuban and the devil crab. Once again, I am only slightly embarrassed to report that I consumed the entire devil crab without photo even though my camera was sitting in front of me.This is a picture of my sister's devil crab, obviously a work in progress. I know, this is below my normal standards for visual presentation of food I like, but I love me a deviled crab, and this will just have to do. I promise to do better.

By the way, can we get devil crabs in San Antonio? Somebody, notify me pronto!My wife ordered up a plate of calamari as an appetizer and it was quickly passed around the table for people to pick off of. I'm a firm believer that you have to eat calamari as soon as it comes to the table, piping hot. Once around and I shan't be picking off of it. But it was good and my wife and brother-in-law really enjoyed it.My brother and sister-in-law both had salads and the size was good and the looked great. Look at the shrimp!
The rest of us went with half Cubans, the sandwiches, not the cigars. Excellent! I know it is a simple little sandwich, but just wonderful, especially when you only get to experience it - the real thing - every so often.

I don't want to sound like a travel agent, but if your travel plans ever include heading south of Disney and going into the Tampa area, you sure ought to make time to visit Ybor City, and you couldn't go wrong with a stop into Carmines.