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A Burger & Fries Costs HOW MUCH at Hulk Hogan’s Hangout?

Author Geno

Is Hulk Hogan’s Hangout a tourist trap? Of course it is. It’s on Clearwater Beach. But I’ve always been curious if the food is any good at Hogan’s Hangout. As a typical 80s kid who grew up watching the WWF, at some point I knew I’d have to drop in and check out the food and pro wrestling memorabilia at Hulk Hogan’s restaurant and souvenir shop.

Hogan’s Hangout is at 499 Mandalay Avenue just a few blocks from the Pier on Clearwater Beach. There is the souvenir shop a few doors down and then the restaurant is on the corner. I’d heard that Monday night is really the best night to go if you’re an old school pro wrestling fan. Random World Wrestling Federation stars from back in the day gather for karaoke and belt out their best renditions of songs from the Hulkamania era. I’ve read that cameras are not welcome so sadly there’s no video footage of Ric Flair belting out Stairway to Heaven.

I haven’t made it out to Monday night karaoke at Hogan’s Hangout. To be honest, I wasn’t a big Hulk Hogan fan as a kid. I was more of a “Rowdy” Roddy Piper guy. Now if Roddy was still with us, I’d definitely pay whatever cover they charge to see him sing “Don’t Stop Believin’.” But I was at Clearwater Beach a few Sundays ago so I stopped in to Hulk’s place for lunch.

The Hogan’s Hangout Menu

For burgers, you can get the patty melt with cheese, caramelized onions, and thousand island dressing on rye bread. There’s a mushroom & swiss or you can go with the namesake “The Hangout” with provolone, candied bacon, fried egg, butter lettuce, tomato and onion with barbecue sauce on a brioche bun. Other handhelds include a fish filet sandwich, a Po’ Boy, grilled or fried chicken sandwiches and a turkey club.

Other Hogan’s Hangout menu items include the 499 Ribs with guava and Rum BBQ glazed baby back ribs with fries and garlic toast for $28. There are steak, shrimp, grouper and mahi tacos as well as wings. If you’re working on that perfect pro wrestling physique, there are 3 salad choices. Pro wrestling fans who remember Hulk Hogan’s pasta maker will be glad to know there are fettuccini noodles with blackened shrimp and scallops with a grouper filet on the menu for $32.

If you’re up for an adult beverage, you can get Hulk Hogan’s Hangout signature drink… “The Hulk Berry Smash.” It’s Grey Goose vodka, lime juice, simple syrup, muddled strawberries and jalapeno over crushed ice and soda water. If that doesn’t Hulk you up, there are martinis, mojitos and a bunch of frozen drinks.

Hogan's Hangout Order

My Hogan’s Hangout meal was pretty basic… a burger with fries, cole slaw and iced tea. I had to do a double take when the bill arrived.

My Hogan’s Hangout order…

I kept it simple and went with The House burger. It’s an 8oz patty, cheddar cheese, bacon, lettuce and tomato with “OMG sauce.” I don’t know if I OMG’d. But it was decent. Actually, I would even say the burger was better than average. I opted for french fries (they were not as great as the burger) and cole slaw (very good) for my sides and an iced tea to drink.

A little indigestion might have occurred, but it wasn’t from the meal. I was a little surprised when the bill arrived for $33. With the tip, it came out to $40. $40 for a burger, fries, slaw and drink? Yikes. My credit card’s been given a body slam. No thanks. Although the food was decent and service ok for a Clearwater Beach place, nothing about this dining experience was worth $40, brother.

How was it that much?

The burger was $18. The fries were an extra $2. $5 for the cole slaw!? The menu made it seem like it was a side option. Apparently you are charged $2 extra to upgrade to fries INSTEAD of the coleslaw. The way it was worded on the menu didn’t make that clear. I would not have ordered it as an extra had I known the tiny little dish would’ve tacked on $5. The basic iced tea (don’t think it was made in house… it says Brisk on the receipt) was $5. Then they sneak in one of those 3% service charges. So $33.07 before the tip, $40 after once you’ve added the meal, the upcharges, the service charges, tax and tip.

The 5 Most Overrated Restaurants in Tampa

Tampa’s restaurant scene is scorching hot, but some of the most well-known spots are just overrated tourist traps. That’s the opinion at least of our listeners. Recently on the show, I asked which Tampa area restaurants are overhyped. There was an overwhelming choice for the #1 spot. And I disagree. But this is your list not mine.

Of the 5 restaurants that made this list of the 5 most overrated restaurants in Tampa, I was surprised you named 2 fast food style spots. One had subpar burgers according to you. The other you said has drive thru lines that just make visiting a hassle. Some restaurants that made the list come with a pretty hefty bill at the end of the meal.

The biggest debate among Tampa foodies is always where to find the best Cuban Sandwich. All of us in Tampa Bay generally agree our Cuban is far superior to the runner up version in Miami. But when it comes to declaring which is the best, that’s when the debate heats up. Bodega, Columbia Restaurant, Brocato’s, or the West Tampa Sandwich Shop all usually come up in the discussion. But one of those spots was deemed the most overrated restaurant in Tampa by our listeners and online Tampa area friends I polled on Facebook and on the Tampa Reddit.

Here’s a look at the 5 restaurants that you said are just too overrated. The #1 pick shocked me. It’s the only place on Earth where I enjoy a salad as a full meal. So for you to pick this one hurts Tampa. It really does. Let’s dive in.

  • #5: Meat Market

    Meat Market is one of those South Tampa spots for the fancy and fabulous. They make it clear on their website. Don’t stroll in wearing a tank top or beachwear.  As reddit user Gator_farmer said, Meat Market is where you go to be seen… going to Meat Market. MSH0123 on reddit says the only redeeming quality is their Espresso Martini.  Cocogator adds the cookie is a must.

    The Hyde Park steak house has only a 3.5 star rating on Trip Advisor. It’s on my gotta-try list at some point so I can’t guide you either way. But it’s popularity can’t be denied.  Is it worth the price? Guywithcoolsocks said he got a mediocre pulled pork sandwich for $40.

  • #4: Goody Goody

    While many love their brunch, the burgers aren’t worthy of the hype according to my listeners.  I can’t vouch for Goody Goody.  I’ve meant to try them, but just never have.

    The Hyde Park diner has a deep history going back to the 1920s.  The milkshakes, the homemade baked pies, and the giant pancakes are are pretty popular.  Goody Goody goes back so far that the diner once had servers on roller skates.   Inside, the checkered floors and unique green and yellow color scheme takes you back in time.

    But some Tampa reddit users were not fans.  Koderdood said “never again.”  AdFirm3593 said the food is bad, the staff isn’t friendly and it was just an all around awful experience.  JungleJims4322 was told to go drunk… and “it was still so bad.”

  • #3: Chick-fil-A

    Really!?  You never see the drive thru empty at any Tampa area Chick-fil-A.  So this one making the list came as a total shock to me.  But that was the most common complaint among listeners: the drive thru line.  They say even though the lines move fast, it’s not worth the effort when the line is wrapped around the building.  I get it. The lines can get long, but my pro tip is to avoid the drive thru completely.  The Chick-fil-A app is so easy to use.  I start tapping on my phone when the craving hits.  And then just walk in and pick up my order inside the store while the people stuck in the drive thru are breathing gas fumes.

  • #2: Bern's Steak House

    When I told friends I was moving to Tampa, one restaurant was unanimously suggested to me: Bern’s.  Even the guy who performed an oil change for my 1,000+ mile journey to Florida suggested I go the first week I arrive.  I’ve still yet to do the full Bern’s experience.  Downstairs in the bar, you can get a steak sandwich for a budget friendly $20.  Or at least you used to.  This was years ago that I did that.  But between the cost and reservation process being such a challenge, I’ve never gone through the whole complete Bern’s experience.  So I can’t say it’s overrated… but you did. It came in at #2.

    One listener suggested to get a better experience at Bern’s, go on a weekday.  You’ll have more time with the server to get good suggestions.

  • #1: Columbia Restaurant

    I’m shocked that this was the #1 pick for most overrated restaurant in Tampa. The 1905 Salad alone makes a trip over the Howard Frankland to Ybor worth the trip for me. As mentioned earlier, it’s the only restaurant in the world where I can enjoy a salad as a meal. Honestly, the Cuban sandwich at Columbia isn’t my favorite in town. But that 1905 Salad more than makes up for it. I love the half and half lunch special where you can get the smaller salad and half Cuban combo.

    On Reddit user said it’s a “pretty tourist trap with overpriced ‘meh’ food.” Another said that the Ybor location is the only Columbia one where they’ve had a good meal.

    Most agree, however, that the atmosphere, architecture and history are reason enough for a visit to Columbia Restaurant. It’s a no-brainer if you need a spot to take a visitor from out of town.

Hear Geno on the air weekday afternoons. Geno's passions include fat guy food, concerts, sports, travel to Europe and South America. He loves 80s and 90s music, from MTV hairbands to old school freestyle, alternative rock to TRL era jams. Geno's radio career began in his hometown of Portland, Maine. Since then he's been on the air coast to coast from Boston to Las Vegas, Tampa to California.

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