From the moment we took steps into the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa, we were greeted by all of the typical things you experience at a casino: a maze of carpets, tons of people walking around with cocktails, and thousands of neon-lit slot machines. The NHIE Team have visited Hard Rock a bunch of times before and you can read all about those trips here: Hot Summer Nights Pool Party and Wine Down Wednesday.
However, as we approached Grey Salt, it was evident we were in for something extraordinary. The vast space, paired with the open kitchen, lively bar, and trendy décor make this new restaurant the ultimate casino hiding spot. The cellar has 250+ national and international wines to select from, and hand selected cocktails are sure to please every pallet. All staff members were excited to be there, knowledgeable about the restaurant, and dressed in fashionable uniforms.
Now, the best part of the restaurant, the food! The only thing hindering my ability to try everything was a slight allergy to oysters, but there were plenty of other options to fill that void. There were a handful of hor d’oeuvres from fried mortadella olives to fall-off-the-bone lamb chops that were extremely savory. Through the night we were able to enjoy cheese boards, a range of meat stations including a flavorful porchetta; sliced to order with a side of focaccia topped with tomato jam and rosemary. My favorites included a tomato gazpacho soup served with a large gulf shrimp and salmon tartar.
The name Grey Salt was inspired by chef Marc Murphy’s experiences in the culinary field with Italian, French, and Mediterranean foods. Grey Salt gives off a tranquil vibe which is captured by the interior design of the restaurant. The sand color floors play off of warm neutral colors to give off a Mediterranean atmosphere. The restaurant is aesthetically appealing, filled with jars of preserved lemons and spices scattered along the walls of the restaurant.
It is safe to say we enjoyed our experience greatly at Grey Salt, and are excited to experience it in the future moving forward! Grey Salt serves lunch from 11 am to 4 pm and dinner from 4pm to 11 pm. So, go try it for yourself!
-Clay
NHIE Guys 