Grillsmith - Carrollwood

Today I had the pleasure of being treated to a birthday lunch at the Carrollwood Grillsmith, a restaurant I had not been to in some time. I am beyond thrilled with the experience! Being a disabled senior, I do not get to frequent the restaurant scene. But that has not curbed my talents of being critical on how the experience should be. Years ago, as a hotel exec, I would frequently train Cornell Univ hotel students in becoming GMs, working with hotel, restaurant, and lounge functions. I enjoyed in using these skills in "grading" Grillsmith. We were graciously greeted and led to our table where we met our server, Mike. There wasn't one category where Mike didn't score a 10/10, often exceeding it. I asked him about an item I had never seen on a menu before...Grouper Fish Tacos...it grabbed at my taste buds. After giving its description in more detail, including its sauce, I asked if it was one of his faves....he confirmed it. I have a habit of asking a server as to his/her favorite...he/she won't recommend something that could hurt their tip...lol. Yep, I ordered the tacos with the asparagus as a side. The Voodoo shrimp was ordered as an appetizer and the others ordered their meal. The appetizer, then the meals, were promptly servec. The tacos were OUTSTANDING!! Something kept picking at my brain....the sauce from the voodoo shrimp would be incredible on the grouper tacos. Yay, I have another meal of this as I could only eat one of the two tacos! As we were all eating, other staffers kept tabs on whether we needed water or anything....a well trained team is obviously at this restaurant. When our meal ended, I commented to Mike about the shrimp sauce on the tacos....his eyes lit up...."I never thought of that...I'm going to do that myself!" We high-fived! After paying the tab and thanking him profusely, my family dropped me off home. I immediately called Grillsmith and asked for the manager. Allison came on the line and she so graciously treated me with professionalism and patience as I reiterated my experience! Thank you Grillsmith for your help in making my birthday lunch special!!

Excellent food and service! We went before the Bucs 430 game and couldn't have picked a better place. The brunch selection was fantastic and my ribs and my son's breakfast burrito were amazing. Save room for dessert because the pineapple upsidedown cake and bannanas fosters sundae was unbelievable. We will be back.

Our server Danielle made the 10/10 experience go to 100!!! She was perfect. The most amazing service we have had in a long time in FL. The food was great but the service is what made us want to come back to Grill Smith. Thanks again and wishing her nothing but the best. When we go back we will be sure to ask for her. I would like to try their brunch. My favorite drink was the Watermelon cold press with coconut water. It was so refreshing!!!!

Kaitlyn was sweet to us. Atmosphere was decent. Great weekly specials make a reason to return. The green beans we’re way over cooked. People should eat veggies because they are healthy not because they are cooked in fat. The steak was cooked as requested - Pittsburgh style. Ahí Tuna and crab cake apps were super.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We came to Grillsmith in Carrollwood for my mom’s 69th birthday—her one request? Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Not only did they have it (which is surprisingly hard to find!), but it was easily one of the best we’ve ever had. Warm, nostalgic, and elevated in the best way with vanilla ice cream, roasted pineapple, and a caramel drizzle that made the whole dish sing. But the cake was just the cherry on top of an absolutely incredible meal. From the moment we walked in, the staff made us feel so welcomed and cared for—it felt like dining with friends. Every dish was perfectly cooked and beautifully plated. We had the ribs (fall-off-the-bone tender and glazed to perfection), the shrimp-topped market white fish with green beans and rice (flavorful and fresh), and every bite tasted like it was crafted with intention. This was our first time at Grillsmith, but definitely not our last. Carrollwood is their largest location, and it shows—they’ve nailed the atmosphere, the hospitality, and most importantly, the food. A huge thank you to the team for making my mom’s birthday so special. You’ve got lifelong fans in us!

The primary reason for their good rating is the phenomenal service we received from Mike tonight. He was just terrific and took great care of our table. He brought extra bread when requested and got the outside TV turned on to the game I requested. Thank you Mike! Now for the restaurant itself. This was our 1st time trying Grillsmith. Unfortunately there were already reservations made for indoor dining when we arrived around 5:30pm so we ate outdoors which was just fine due to the pleasant weather. Prices are what seem to be the going rate these days which is easily +$20/person. As for the food, for the most part everyone was satisfied with what they ordered. Unfortunately my steak was dry and lacking any real taste. Certainly below my expectations. Overall, I think I would return but definitely not to order the steak.

Sucks to see the negative reviews. So here’s an honest one that’s positive. After a quick 10-minute wait on a busy Saturday night we were seated. Quick drink service. Tasty complimentary bread sticks. Ordered the port wine filet and the 16oz ribeye. Both steaks perfectly cooked to temp. Balsamic green beans were the chefs veg and tasty! The au gratin potatoes are definitely worth the $2.5 up charge as it was seriously creamy and delicious. Service was prompt and friendly, and the food was great. Definitely worthy of a great review and future dinner visits to come!

We went on Veterans Day, and it was our first trip to Grillsmith. The wait for food was nearly an hour because the restaurant was packed. The service, however, was excellent. Our server, Mike, was very attentive and accommodating, keeping our drinks full and bringing us a few orders of breadsticks while we waited. He truly made the wait feel shorter and provided top-notch service. The food was fantastic. Although they had run out of the ribeye, I ordered a skirt steak, and it was perfect. The potatoes au gratin were delicious, and the green beans were well seasoned. It was a great experience with a fantastic atmosphere.