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Hungry Harry's brings 'em back with family atmosphere

 
A sampler platter with pork spare ribs, chopped pork and beef with sides.
A sampler platter with pork spare ribs, chopped pork and beef with sides.
Published Aug. 24, 2016

WHERE I ATE: Hungry Harry's Family Bar-B-Que, 3116 Land O'Lakes Blvd., Land O'Lakes

WHAT I ATE: The menu is typical barbecue, chicken, pork, ribs and beef, with sauces that have enabled the restaurant to stand out since 1985 in two locations — the one I frequent in Land O'Lakes and a second in Seffner.

I ordered the pork platter and chose collard greens, baked beans and cornbread as sides.

My wife ordered the chicken platter with the same sides.

I drown mine in the hot barbecue sauce. My wife chose mild.

My oldest son ate an Angus steak burger, while my other three children ordered the macaroni & cheese from the kids' menu and were excited to learn it came with chips and a soda.

We then topped it all off by sharing a fudge brownie with a scoop of ice cream.

WHAT IT COST: The pork and half chicken platters are $9.99 a piece, the burger $6.59 and the kids' macaroni & cheese $3.99.

My wife and I drank sweet teas at $2.59 each.

And the brownie was $1.99, plus another 99 cents for the ice cream scoop.

So, a family of six dined out for less than $50.

WHAT I THOUGHT: If you are a fan of barbecue and have lived in the Tampa area long enough, or have resided near either Hungry Harry's location for any period of time, chances are you have either dined at one or know plenty of people who have.

When Hungry Harry's calls itself "famous" on its signs, it's not just a marketing ploy, so the fine quality of food does not need to be reiterated ad nauseam.

In short: It is really good.

Most importantly, my kids ate everything on their plates without a complaint.

Still, what in particular brings me back to Hungry Harry's time and again, other than the delicious food, is that it is a true family restaurant, the type of place you can take four young kids without much worry.

Seating is picnic tables that offer enough space so the kids are not squeezed together, which parents can attest leads to embarrassing public sibling fights.

The decor is simple, mostly barbecue-themed tchotchkes of pigs and roosters sitting on shelves high above where kids can reach, eliminating the concern that one of my children may break something. And the food being served in plastic trays eliminates the fear of kids knocking glass plates onto the floor.

The staff is patient as kids hem and haw while looking at the menu and do not stress if a child — or clumsy father — spills a drink.

As any parent can attest, these little things mean a lot when choosing where to eat out.

Times staff writer Paul Guzzo