Tampa Bay Cafe - Clearwater

I had a turkey panini, it was very good. However The price is way jacked up even for an airport.

I ordered a Cuban sandwich without any sides and a bottle of water for $11. I could have accepted the price if the meat in the sandwich hadn't tasted like bologna. The staff at the counter were very friendly, but unfortunately, all the tables were dirty.

I was just compelled to pay $5 for a cup of yogurt during a flight delay. I usually expect higher prices at airports, but this feels like blatant theft that they're able to get away with due to their monopoly in this small airport.

If you're in need of coffee, I recommend stopping by Starbucks on your way. The coffee here had a smoky, burnt taste, and they only offer artificial creamer—no half-and-half available! The only real milk options are 2% low-fat or chocolate, and using the 2% actually made the coffee taste worse. Additionally, the banter among the staff was distracting; I found the bartender's repeated comments about not allowing religion, politics, or Alabama fans at the bar particularly off-putting. Overall, we were left quite unimpressed.

This is the only spot in the airport where you can find food and drinks. There's a bar nearby that seems to be a separate entity, but regardless, this is definitely the lone option for meals. Just to clarify: this is the *only* place at the airport serving food, which means the prices are pretty steep. I ordered a pressed Cuban sandwich, and it was just... okay. Given that it’s an airport, I didn’t have high expectations, but I still thought it would be better for the price I paid. The sandwich had only a thin layer of the usual Cuban ingredients—it barely resembled a true Cuban sandwich. The vibe here feels a bit like a food stand at a baseball game. They offer more than just hot dogs and hamburgers, but the overall atmosphere feels a bit cheap. Service is decent enough, but since they’re the sole option around, that's unlikely to change. So, overall, it’s best to arrive at the airport with a full stomach. However, if you do find yourself hungry, make the best of it. Safe travels!