Taste of the Game in Tampa: Bar Hwrd
TAMPA — For all the Rebels who find themselves in Tampa supporting Ole Miss in the Outback Bowl, I present one last round of our “Taste of the Game,” our look at where to go for the best food and drinks before, during or after the Rebels’ game.
We begin 2021 with much hope for a Happy New Year, and offer you the place to go in Tampa for great libations and grub that will satisfy your taste buds: Bar Hwrd.
In the Heart of SoHo
This has definitely been a different type of season, where we’ve all had to adapt and adjust our tailgates, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still find little gems of places to enjoy the ball game and a bite to eat.
Whether you are in a grab-and-go mood or need a place to pre-game for a while, Bar Hwrd is just the spot for you in the heart of Tampa’s SoHo district. It is one of the spots to hit while you’re in town, especially on a Saturday and Sunday when they have their awesome tailgate menu. Choose to take a spot at the bar or enjoy the bay breeze on their outdoor patio. Get in a game of corn hole while you’re waiting.
Let’s get down to the food choices. If you’re like me, you want good mood food, but you want choices depending on what your game plan is. Plus if you’re staying around for a few days in Tampa, it’s always nice to have a go-to spot. Bar Hwrd is that spot!
If you’re not quite ready to commit to a full entree or if you’re bringing a crew of Rebels with you, let me suggest a selection from the “shareable” portion of the menu. I would go with either Fuego Fuego Shrimp (crispy shrimp tossed in their signature sauce) or the Burger Sliders ( three double patties topped with your choice of pepper jack or swiss with lettuce, tomatoes, onions and pickles) and an order of sweet potato waffle fries
You can never go wrong with wings on game day! They are prepared fresh on their green egg grill with 8 combos to choose from. Whether you are buying a single order, or for your group, the wings will be the perfect item to fill your appetite.
For those getting a kick-start on light and fresh, order The HWDR — romaine lettuce & spinach blend topped w/ pico de gallo & avocado and your choice of Fuego Fuego shrimp or lemon pepper chicken.
If you make it in on Saturday or Sunday, you are in for a real treat because they have an exclusive Tailgate menu that features fresh to order American Wagyu sourced from Morgan Ranch in Burwell, Nebraska, cooked to perfection on their XXL Green Egg!
Being a Texan, I can’t help but recommend brisket and you’re in luck because you can choose from Wagyu Beef Brisket Nachos or the Quesadilla. Pair that with a sweet tea or a bourbon and you are ready to tackle game day in Tampa.
Who doesn’t love brunch on Gameday? From noon to 3:00 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday, come enjoy Zonin Mimosas or the signature Loaded Bloody Marys, along with the delicious brunch menu. It’s the perfect way to enjoy a little comfort on gamedays….or after the Rebels roll the Hoosiers!
All Aboard!
#WinByTheBay!
To Reserve a table and keep up to date on all the latest info, visit:
BAR HWRD
302 S. HOWARD AVE, TAMPA, FL 33606
(813) 906-7885
BAR & LATE NIGHT TEMPORARY HOURS
Monday – Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: 5pm – Late
Friday: 5pm – 3am
Saturday: 12pm – 3am
Sunday: 12pm – Late
Lee Ann Herring-Olvedo
Herring-Olvedo sees college football the way championship programs do—from inside the personnel room. Every evaluation, every roster move, every recruiting battle tells a bigger story about identity, culture, and how a program is built to win in December, not just July.
With more than 15 years covering the SEC and the national recruiting landscape, Herring-Olvedo has built a reputation as one of the sport’s most respected personnel-driven voices—blending film evaluation, roster construction, and long-term program vision through a true front-office lens. Her coverage of powerhouse brands like Ole Miss Rebels and Kentucky Wildcatshas consistently gone beyond headlines, focusing instead on the blueprint behind winning programs: development, fit, culture, and recruiting strategy.
That foundation was formed early at Brown University, where she worked in player personnel and recruiting while competing as a student-athlete. Inside those recruiting operations rooms, she learned how elite organizations are truly built—through relentless evaluation, relationship building, projection, and trust in the board. Those experiences shaped the way she studies the game today: part scout, part storyteller, part architect.
Her analysis and reporting have appeared across major platforms including ESPN, NFL coverage spaces, USA Today Sports, and Saturday Down South. She also brought her personnel-minded approach to the airwaves as an on-air analyst for the Wake Up 502 College Football Show on Big X Sports Radio 96.1, where she became known for combining film-room detail with a wider understanding of roster identity and program trajectory.
In 2025, covering the rise of Houston Cougars football under Willie Fritz reignited the part of the sport that first drew her into football—the culture, the edge, the belief that a roster can reshape an entire city. That inspiration led to the launch of Coogs 365 Sports, a platform built to cover Houston athletics through a true scouting and recruiting lens while connecting the emotion of the game to the heartbeat of H-Town.
Now, Herring-Olvedo returns to The Rebel Walk where with an even deeper perspective shaped by years inside recruiting circles, national SEC coverage, and hands-on evaluation experience. Her return brings a familiar voice back to Ole Miss coverage—but with an evolved lens rooted in roster architecture, player development, and the modern realities of building championship-caliber football in the NIL and portal era.
For Herring-Olvedo, recruiting has never been about stars beside a name. It is about identifying competitors, projecting growth, and building a locker room capable of sustaining success. Her philosophy mirrors the best front offices in football: stack traits, trust culture, and never stop building.
