Willard's Tap House

Willard's Tap HouseWillard's Tap House
Willard's Tap HouseWillard's Tap House
Bar, Eatery

12500 Starkey Rd
Largo, Florida, 33773-2615
United States

(727) 581-8600 | map
willardstaphouse.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.57
Reviews:
22
Ratings:
39
pDev:
12.04%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by miragetheautobot:
Photo of miragetheautobot
Rated by miragetheautobot from Florida

4.42/5  rDev -3.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.75

Jul 06, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of clayrock81
Reviewed by clayrock81 from Florida

3.92/5  rDev -14.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Went on a rainy afternoon and watched some of the Rays game with a handful of other regulars. Real friendly vibe and service was great (got a couple free samples and hard to be slow when there's only a handful of people). Beer selection varies between local, national and international with a variety of styles so no complaints. Found a couple good beers and they were priced well so no complaints there, either. Parking and room could be an issue if going on a crowded day/night, but for me this time these were not an issue. Worth checking out if you're in the area.
May 02, 2022
 
Rated: 4.6 by aasher from Indiana

Feb 21, 2018
Photo of SunDevilBeer
Reviewed by SunDevilBeer from Massachusetts

3.44/5  rDev -24.7%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.25 | selection: 4
Divey place in a dingy-looking, worn strip mall.

Pretty bare bones type of joint, servers were friendly if a bit slow. Nice selection of local and other beer-geek type beers. Pricing pretty average, and no Happy Hour either (Boo!).

Had a few beers and split. Frankly wouldn't come back here again and wouldn't recommend for anyone to go too far out of their way to visit.
Apr 13, 2017
 
Rated: 5 by BeerDeputy from Florida

May 11, 2016
 
Rated: 5 by Blitzstyle from Florida

Apr 02, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by Dicers from California

Mar 14, 2016
 
Rated: 4.14 by indurTheB from Florida

Mar 03, 2015
Photo of BigJace21
Reviewed by BigJace21 from Florida

4.9/5  rDev +7.2%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 5
Employees are very helpful. Cool place to hang out close to home. No food but you can order from the pizza place next door and they'll bring it to you.
Feb 15, 2015
 
Rated: 4.73 by misternebbie from Pennsylvania

Feb 03, 2015
 
Rated: 4.75 by howiebear from Florida

Nov 19, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by metalbassist1993 from Florida

Aug 29, 2014
 
 
Rated: 4.75 by kjkinsey from Texas

Aug 15, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by Texasfan549 from Texas

Jul 20, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by spointon from Illinois

Jul 10, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Bier4all from Florida

May 17, 2014
 
Rated: 2 by Notacraftdrinker from Florida

Apr 27, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by tfsimpkins from Florida

Apr 11, 2014
 
Rated: 4.07 by dbl_delta from Pennsylvania

Jan 27, 2014
Photo of badboy7113
Reviewed by badboy7113 from Florida

5/5  rDev +9.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
This is the best craft beer bar I have been to. Bartenders pour a really good beer and are very good at matching people with beers they are interested in. Fun environment, event nights are very fun. Prices are very good comparable to other bars. People also frequently bring bottles for bar and staff to try out.
Apr 17, 2013
Photo of lordofthewiens
Reviewed by lordofthewiens from New Mexico

4.28/5  rDev -6.3%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4.5
Willard's is a small place located in a strip mall off a main drag. It was a bit on the grungy and dark side, even on a sunny afternoon. There was a U-shaped bar that seated 16-18 people, 10 high top tables, and a couple regular tables. Two TVs. The decor consisted of collections of bottles and coasters.
My wife and I arrived on a Wednesday afternoon, shortly after they had opened. They were cleaning lines, so the selection was limited, at least initially. More beers quickly became available. There were 40 beers on tap. Ten of these were called the Local 10, and these included local beers such as 7th Sun, Cigar City, Swamp Head, Cycle, Barley Mow, and Dunedin. A nice touch. The blackboard with the beer listings included the ABV and was color-coded, also a nice touch. We had a couple Jai Alai IPAs, one of my favorites.
We spent a pleasant time there. Excellent beer selection. Service was adequate. It looked like you needed to be a local to get the better service.
Feb 24, 2013
Photo of MarcatGSB
Reviewed by MarcatGSB from Michigan

4.34/5  rDev -5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
Stopped by Willard's after a real nice meal at the Cajun on the Bayou. They have 40 taps, clearly listed on a large chalk board with a color coding system by style. Nice touch.
It has a pretty simple decor, which is nice, not too busy. A couple TV's but no one, not one person was even the least bit interested. They had a nice selection of local Florida brews, and some great American craft, with some Belgian's mixed in there too. A very impressive bottle selection as well, although I attempted to order a Cascade that was out of stock, oh well. A real friendly, neighborhood style craft bar. Awesome stuff.
Dec 29, 2012
Photo of PorterLambic
Reviewed by PorterLambic from Florida

4.58/5  rDev +0.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5
Let's start with the important stuff: 40 taps and a beer engine.
Decor is nothing special, almost an old style, 70's bar vibe inside.
Lots of beers from Cigar City, Dunedin, Tampa Bay Brewing, Florida Ave/Cold Storage and other home state breweries to go with Lagunitas, Bell's, DFH and Highlands.
Two rows of shelves ringing the place hold hundreds of 'dead soldiers' from way too many breweries for me to count.
Knowledgeable staff and friendly, too.
They've a mug club for serious regulars.
If I ever get in this area again, I'll stop in for sure.
Mar 12, 2012
Photo of GuttaMane138
Reviewed by GuttaMane138 from Florida

4.94/5  rDev +8.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Willard's is everything you would want in a Tap House. Very little food served (Fish Spread is really good), but I go there for the beer so no complaints here. Friendly, knowledgeable employees who make the experience very enjoyable. The regulars are really great people and I felt very welcome. Beer selection never disappoints, and the different styles are well represented. The location is not too bad, off Starkey Rd between Ulmerton and Bryan Diary (102 Ave). I highly recommend Willard's, definitely the best place to get beer in Pinellas County.
Feb 19, 2012
Photo of Deadheadbill
Reviewed by Deadheadbill from Florida

4.28/5  rDev -6.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
Willards is awesome, with a great beer selection, knowledgeable friendly staff and a warm inviting decor. The forty taps range from wheat beers to Belgian Sours with everything in between. Friendly, knowledgeable owners and staff make it a pleasure to sit and enjoy a few craft beers in this place. There is no food to speak of (crackers and chips and dip are about it), however they invite you to bring in food from one of the surrounding restaurants and even have started having food trucks occasionally. The only issue is at times the music can be loud which is less than conducive to conversation. Still overall one of the best beer bars around.
Feb 09, 2012
Photo of Drizd
Reviewed by Drizd from Florida

4.8/5  rDev +5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 3
Willard's Tap House is one of the best places to drink in the Tampa Bay area. I came here for my first drink when I turned 21, tried some other bars over the following few months, then came right back to Willard's and have been going ever since.

With 40 taps and a variable beer selection this is the place to get your craft beer fix. I like to walk in and ask them "What's good?" and the extremely knowledgeable staff will direct me to a delicious beer every time. The food selection is slim (they don't have a kitchen), but they do offer a variety of snack foods that are enough to keep you going through the night. The atmosphere is fantastic. The regulars are extremely friendly and music selection never disappoints. Don't expect the sports bar feel. The people that come here are here to share good beer and good times.

If you are in the area I definitely recommend visiting Willard's Tap House. You'll be glad you did.
Jan 19, 2012
Photo of CampusCrew
Reviewed by CampusCrew from Florida

4.64/5  rDev +1.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5
Nice little simple, but perfectly exected craft beer pub. Of course, not crap on tap, knowledgable bar staff, over 20 on tap and always rotating. They even used correct glassware in most cases. Loved the menu above the tap handles. Large chalk board, color coded, easy to read because of how large it is. Plus, they even had a section where they show what's coming up on draft. I really like the simple set up of the bar too. Tons of ordering access. if I owned a beer bar i would do alot of things similar. I took some mentel notes.

I didn't have food there but I think they only had small snacks and appetizers. Not sure....
Jan 27, 2011
Photo of ninaturner
Reviewed by ninaturner from Florida

4.86/5  rDev +6.3%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
I love Willard's. I have yet to have a bad experience there. Great beers on tap and a great selection. The owner is an awesome and friendly guy... as mentioned in another review, he will stop to have a chat with you any time. The other bartenders are friendly and helpful as well.

The atmosphere is also great and they are always hosting fun events such as "keep the pint night." Willard's is the type of place you walk into and you automatically feel at home. You can order pizza from a few places down and have it delivered. They also have some snacks available to purchase. I don't think they mind if you bring in your own food to snack on.

They mean what they say in their slogan -- "No crap on tap!"
Dec 24, 2010
Photo of lackenhauser
Reviewed by lackenhauser from Maryland

4.88/5  rDev +6.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
WOW! What a place. Only been opened a few months but WOW! Atmosphere is very "bar like" with a lot of empty bottles lining the upper walls and tin tacker signs hanging around. Top quality beers and selection all around. I had 2 different Cigar City brews but the selection ran from DFH Pumpkin to Old Rasputin to Victory Old Horizontal to Blue Point to Allagash to Cigar City to Anchor and on and on.

We called ahead to be sure they were open for a Sunday. When we got there some employees and friends were loading beer to go camping but nobody to actually serve us. Said it would be 10 or 15 minutes and we would need to wait. Well then they said come on in and got us a beer and made us feel very welcome until the bartender got there. The bar keep himself was very knowledgeable and personable.

Prices were about right for the high quality beers they had 6 to 7 bucks a pint but that's to be expected. They even had BUD for my non craft brother Bill.

Did not see a menu or try any food. Next time I am in town I will be back!
Nov 08, 2010
Photo of jwilson
Reviewed by jwilson from Florida

4.9/5  rDev +7.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4
Nothing but great things to say about willards tap house. The staff is great and always knowledgeable about the beers. The selection is is awesome, 40 taps offering something for everyone including a rotating rootbeer which my wife loves. The atmosphere is very laid back and the regulars are always welcoming .A small snack menu, the smoked fish spread is delish and served with gourmet hot sauce ,plus there is a great restaurant a few doors down and they will deliver right to the bar . If your a fan of great beer and cool atmosphere then willards is not to be mIssed whenever in the area .
Jul 15, 2010
Photo of regspeir
Reviewed by regspeir from Pennsylvania

4.44/5  rDev -2.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
I feel like we are very spoiled in SE PA - such great distribtion of stuff from all over, but especially great bars. Florida is NOT a place I expect to find anything that rivaled here but I was in for a surprise when my sister took me to Willard's on a visit to Largo. This is such a comfortable and friendly place. There was a sample or so if I wasn't sure, but the owners and staff knew their stuff. Staff this friendly, knowledgeable and giving of their time, attract what matters 2nd most to me - a great mix of people. But the MOST important factor is the beer and they had that covered too - near 40 taps that had enough variety to make any BA happy. My only regret was that they had no real kitchen or hot food but I am betting that changes. Next trip to Florida you better beleive I will be back. Hopefully this place is successful - these people deserve it.
Jun 26, 2010
Photo of bob727
Reviewed by bob727 from Florida

4.84/5  rDev +5.9%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Willard's is a great new addition to the Tampa Bay Brew scene! 40 taps of awesome craft beer. The local breweries are always represented and a wide selection of IPA's and a few select imports too. The place is great, not at all pretentious and the staff is very knowledgeable and friendly! The owners will even stop what they're doing to have a chat with you about beer or food or hockey... the rotation of taps is quick and they get a lot of limited and hard to find kegs.

A must stop for anyone doing the Tampa Beer Crawl.
May 06, 2010
Photo of AndyTheGray
Reviewed by AndyTheGray from Florida

5/5  rDev +9.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Hands down, Willard's is the best beer bar in town. The first time I walked in I was blown away by the selection. Before Willard's you would be lucky to find a bar in the area with one IPA on draft. What's a hop head to do? Well it isn't a problem anymore; Willard's usually has at least six or seven beers on tap that would appease even the most discriminating hop fanatic. Upon my first visit I scanned the beer list and was shocked to see Weyerbacher Double Simcoe, Stone IPA, Cigar City Jai Alai, Dogfish Head 60 min, and more. Within the next few weeks they got Hopslam, 90 min, Hops Infusion, Sierra Nevada Bigfoot; the list goes on and on (all on draft mind you). If hops aren't your thing, never fear; they have a wide variety of stouts, porters, wheats, Belgians, lagers, brown ales, etc... literally something for everybody. The kegs get changed out all the time so no stale beer, and each visit there's usually a few new brews. The staff is always friendly and helpful, the clientele are generally fun, interesting people, and the prices are the best in town for this caliber of beer. So if you like good beer come out to Willard's. 40 draft beers with no crap on tap make this the best choice for beer in the area.
Mar 07, 2010
Photo of cyrusthepup
Reviewed by cyrusthepup from Florida

5/5  rDev +9.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
My wife and I visited Willard's a couple of weeks ago after a friend recommended that we try it out. Willards is located in the Ardosy Plaza about a half mile south of Ulmerton on Starkey Rd. Went on a Saturday night and there was quite a diverse crowd of people there. Everyone was talking BEER (how appropriate)!

The quality was exceptional. All of the beers are served in the appropriate glassware and temperature.

The service was nothing less than exceptional. All of the staff is very knowledgeable about what they have to offer and they are also very attentive to the customers needs.

The selection of beers is the best in the area. There are forty taps and they also support the local breweries (Dunedin and Cigar City) by having some of their beers in the rotation. They carry everything from imperial IPA's/stouts to ciders. Finding a quality beer at Willard's is certainly not an issue.

They don't have food just some bar snacks. You can order food from local establishments and bring it in if you like.

Finally a quality place to get a quality pint in central Pinellas. I highly recommend Willard's and will be visiting there frequently.
Feb 23, 2010
Photo of marksto
Reviewed by marksto from Florida

4.44/5  rDev -2.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
Willard's opened a few weeks ago, the latest in a series of beer-dedicated bars to pop up in the Bay area. You gotta love that.

Was able to stop in for a couple pints yesterday after a freind came to town and was staying nearby. A quaint space with large bar and some tables in a small strip center off of Ulmerton Rd. A big chalkboard lines the back bar with the all the names and style descriptors of thier 40 offerings on tap . A nice range of beers from imports, Belgians, and a big lineup of US craft offerings.

Although a previous review mentioned they had one tap with Bud Light, I didn't see it. If it's still there they must have it in (appropriately) very small print...

The bartender mentioned they have a plan to offer bottles but they are not in yet. For now it's just drafts. Staff was enthusiastic and knowledgable. Foodwise they only have some bar snacks, so if you're hungry eat before you come.

Overall, another solid addition to the ever-expanding beer bar scene in Tampa Bay and mid-Pinellas.
Jan 31, 2010
Photo of tblfan04
Reviewed by tblfan04 from Florida

5/5  rDev +9.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
I was driving home and to my surprise I saw the open sign on so I stopped in on a Friday night with a good crowd of beer guys. the staff was very friendly and knowledgeable and the selection was fantastic with 40 taps with a coming soon list. Prices are very reasonable and the atmosphere was great,They have one big screen up and again to my surprise they were playing a hockey game, finally a good bar that will play the hockey game. I will be back for sure and highly recommend this place to everyone.
Jan 23, 2010
Photo of gatorssuperman
Reviewed by gatorssuperman from Florida

4.94/5  rDev +8.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Finally, a great friendly craft beer bar in central Pinellas .It has been a long time coming but Willard's Tap House is open. I had the chance to go this weekend and had a great time . They have a great selection of taps (40 different beers) and a very helpful staff that matched my friends and I to certain beers. Prices are unbeatable about a dollar less then others. The atmosphere is simple but nice. This place is a must try for any craft beer fan. I will definetly be a regular at Willard's. A+
Jan 20, 2010
Photo of TheFightfan1
Reviewed by TheFightfan1 from Pennsylvania

4.55/5  rDev -0.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 5
My wife and I are on vacation and this is the opening weekend for this place. I must say this place surprised me when I went in. A few people on a Friday night. Not very crowded. A small bar indeed but is comfy. Amazing tap selection and to my surprise not loaded with macro's. Chimay,Two hearted also local breweries from Cigar city to Dunedin. Out of there 40 taps one macro of Bud Light.

The service is amazing the bartender's walk over to your table and ask what you need when they aren't busy. Some of the best service I have ever received at a bar. They actually take the extra effort to pour into the proper glassware and serve at the proper temperature. Always a plus.

The only downside is that they don't serve food. You have to walk down the strip to the pizza place.

A very nice place for BA's to gather and the staff was very helpful and friendly.If you are in the area and you want some good beer stop in.
Jan 16, 2010
Willard's Tap House in Largo, FL
Place rating: 4.57 out of 5 with 39 ratings