Fine Wine & Esoteric Spirits

This is a dive all the way… but I’m ok with that. It’s within walking distance from my office so I have stopped by a time or two for a greasy bar food lunch (because sometimes it’s just one of those days). Great 50 cent wings on Wednesdays and they actually do a bang up job on their pizzas. Very thin crust and great flavor for 5 bucks can’t beat that. Half of the establishment is a dark smokey bar and the other half is a liquor store. Medium size selection in the store but very helpful staff. Overall you get what you pay for and this is a great option when you’re in a hurry.

GREAT smokey little dive. Bartenders are always friendly. Attached liquor store is also a very nice plus.

I was in a Father’s Day Dilemma. The website I ordered a gift from was nowhere near ready to send my dad’s bottle of single malt to him. He lives in Tampa, I live in the San Francisco Bay area. The kind folks at Fine Wine & Spirits Warehouse went above and beyond the call of duty, making sure my dad received his Father’s Day gift on time.
They were cheerful about it, called me back to firm up arrangements, were reasonable about pricing, I’m thrilled, Dad’s thrilled, it was a big win-​win all around.
These folks know service. Highly recommended.
Thanks, guys!

They say you should never judge a book by its cover, and I am guilty as charged. For the last two years, several people have told me to try the wings at one of South Tampa’s finest dive bars, Warehouse Lounge, and I have been putting it off and putting it off until today. Being that it was my day off and a few of my buddies were on vacation, I decided to invite them to join me for Wingsday at the Warehouse. (Truth be told, I did not want to go alone.)
On Wednesdays, they feature $ 0.50 wings, so I ordered 30. Ten Honey Mustard, ten Garlic Parm and ten Hot. I was intrigued by the Honey Mustard, as I always like to try something different. Out of the three, it was my favorite. The wings were average in size and all three variations were fried nice and crispy. I enjoyed the Honey Mustard wings and preferred them over the others. They were nicely coated with the sauce and had good flavor.
I was looking forward to trying the Garlic Parmesan after hearing from several people that they were tossed with large chunks of fresh garlic. While I did see the large pieces of garlic, I found the wings to be dry and lacking flavor and didn’t see an ounce of Parmesan. They were not «bad» but I would have preferred more of a true Garlic Parm flavor.
The hot wings were just average. I love hot wings with flavor and found these to be a bit bland. If I were to order wings from here again I would probably try a mixture of hot and garlic. Other wings sauces include medium, mild, teriyaki, blackened and jerk. Every Wednesday they feature $ 0.50 wings which is a great deal.
The highlight of my visit was browsing through their wine/​liquor store. It had been several years since I stopped in and forgot about their incredible wine selection. Although small, they feature a fantastic selection which includes some of my favorites such as this bottle of Two Left Feet by Mollydooker Wines. A beautiful blend of Shiraz, Cabernet and Merlot, it has notes of dark berry and plum fruit with lots of spice.
Another incredible find was a 2009 Hugh Hamilton Jekyll & Hyde Shiraz Viognier which is 95% Shiraz and 5% Viognier. With scents of blackberry compote, warm plums and mulberries, the palate will be treated to hints of violets, chocolate and bacon. I, of course, just had to pick up a bottle
If you are looking to pick up some great wines for your next gathering, be sure to stop by the Fine Wine Warehouse on Gandy. With a knowledgeable staff and a great selection of wine and hard to find spirits, there is something for everyone.

I had them put together a case of wine for a party we had and they got us some great deals and awesome wine. The wine guy, Tom, was very helpful and knowledgeable. The owner, Mike, is very helpful as well and responds to emails quickly.

Looking for the ‘warehouse’ part of the title? It’s easy to accidently wander into the bar– step into the front doors to go wine shopping.
SELECTION
This ‘warehouse’ can fit into my apartment’s living room, but every inch is bursting with something to sell. I question whether fat people can walk the aisles… not that I care. You’ll see all your major old and new world wines represented– even a couple Florida-​grown ones. There’s also a good number you won’t see in your typical supermarkets. Great if you seek some off-​the-​beaten road wines at great prices.
SERVICE
The staff was great– they left you alone to do your browsing, but when it looked like you wanted to chat, they were all for it. Although they’ve looked like motorcycle club, beer-​chugging bartenders, recommendations have always been spot on.