Wild At Heart – Lowry Park Zoo

All you can drink, all you can laugh, amazing catering… What more can you ask for? Animals? WELL THEY GOT THAT TOO! Really cute couples stuff… I told the program coordinator that this was our first tampa event experience and she made she we had the best valentines ever! Will be going back!

I had no idea what to expect… was really a different and interesting Valentine’s experience.
When we first arrived, we are guided to a line before getting to Manatee Circle to take photos which we are told some are complimentary and others available for sale at the end of the evening. When we get up to have our photos taken, the photographer enthusiastically tells us to do several different things. we’re in front of a green screen so we have NO idea what the backgrounds are but the one photo we received at the end of the night was very nice.
Then, we move to just past Manatee Circle and there is an animal handler with a very cool Barred Owl on his arm and a hammy sloth… it was so active and appeared to be posing for photos and really interacted with the crowd — looking at everyone, moving ever so slowly (kind of like sloths do) and bending over backwards hanging onto its branch-​like structure — it was so cute.
Then we walked… and walked (I knew I shouldn’t have worn these high heeled boots!) and head to Africa Circle where they have 2 open bars with pretty long lines but moved pretty quickly. My first request for a glass of wine had about an inch of wine in it — everyone else seemed to have ¾ filled glasses so rather than have that, go back, wait and then again — I just got right back in line and got another glass. After a couple sips of the small serving, I put that in the 2^nd glass which lasted me for most of dinner.
In this area, they also hand passed hors d’oeuvres but was pretty scarce — appeared there were not enough to give to more than just a few people at a time, my husband and I were offered a deconstructed BLT, which was good… we overheard there were lobster wontons but couldn’t seem to get our hands on one.
We were offered another deconstructed BLT. Then we moved a little past the Lodge entrance and then we were able to try the lobster wonton. And then, there were strawberry bruschetta with a balsamic glaze. Now THAT was my favorite, the lobster wonton was my husband’s favorite but wished it been just a little better and the BLT was on an interesting not cracker, not bread but that was the best part of it.
Although there appeared not to be enough, I mean for as many people as were there… having 4 total pieces was enough because we knew a full dinner was coming.
We entered the Lodge — a beautifully decorated hall with OH so many tables, we sat with 3 other couples, everyone was nice, there was a little bit of live entertainment during dinner, salads were already set and community dressing, bread waiting in a basket, water and butter ready… the tables were covered in a red tablecloth and the napkins were zebra print and nicely done center pieces… even the ceiling was lined in flowing fabrics and again 2 bars set up inside, one for beer and wine the other for other cocktails and champagne.
After the salads, we were brought a full dish with a fabulous, tender beef with gravy/​sauce (we’re still not sure exactly what it was) and a breadcrumbed salmon, carrots, asparagus, garlic mashed potatoes and a heart shaped thing that may have been polenta? Everything was very good, my husband said his meal was barely warm, mine was fine — otherwise I would have requested it be heated… But all was very, very good!
I’ve been to a few Lowry Park Zoo events and this is the 2^nd that included food and I have to say, as I did in my other food related Zoo event that the food is great. And you just wouldn’t imagine that the Zoo creates these great eats!
And for dessert — a spoon shaped cookie partially dipped in chocolate with crème brûlée in/​on it with. You eat the entire thing. And there was a ½ grilled peach with bourbon peach things in the peach center. Both very very good.
I was not aware there was coffee until leaving the Lodge — it was on the other side of the hall from where my table was. Otherwise I probably would have had some with dessert since it was pretty chilly outside and I knew we would be spending the rest of the night walking outside to different animal exhibits.
That’s when the Saints and Sinners tours began and the start of the highlights. The Saints tours were a cleaner version of the Sinners tours — we opted for the Sinners tour. ;)
We started with the elephants, then moved to the pygmy hippos, the to the penguins and somehow got behind on the way to the pigs and ponies and got distracted by the goats — I could not help myself so I pet and fed as many goats as I could! They were so cute! These were great fun things in addition to dinner that made this special.
That topped of the night with a final call with Sangria, walked through an area with fire pits and finally headed out of the Zoo. All in all a great event.
Definitely something to plan on for a different, fun Valentine’s experience. Definitely worth wearing those heeled boots and doing all the walking. It’s a very neat offering by Lowry Park! Kudos!

What a great way to celebrate Valentine’s day!
Complimentary photos were taken while waiting for the event to start. At 6:30, we were led to Africa, where two bars were set up with free-​flowing cocktails. There was a bit of confusion, as to which cocktail line to wait. One was for wine and liquor and the other for wine, beer and soda.
The hors d’oeuvres were good, but very hard to catch a server. The servers often ran out of food before reaching the «crowd». We had strawberries with basil and a balsamic glaze on a baguette, as well as a deconstructed BLT.
Dinner started with a typical salad followed by a cut of beef (appeared to be chuck roast with gravy on top), panko crusted salmon, polenta, asparagus and mashed potatoes. The food was good, but the server had initially told me it was fillet and chicken.
Dessert consisted of chocolate crème brûlée spoons and grilled peach halves. Both were good, but I was hoping for more selection, as in previous years.
After dinner, we were led on a tour through the zoo. We were able to see the pygmy hippos, giraffes, elephants and ended in the Walaroo station. Fire pits, chairs, and an open bar was available in the Walaroo area. Each fire pit had a guide telling stories about Australia and the animals. We also had the option of seeing the goats and llamas in this area.
At 10:00, we were informed the event was over and asked to leave the zoo. I highly recommend Wild at Heart and look forward to next year.

Why 5 stars? Because this went from an unknown to an annual tradition.
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That’s right. After one visit, I officially never want to miss Lowry Park Zoo’s Wild At Heart.
I kid or exaggerate you not… the food at this event was on par with any restaurant in Tampa Bay. Yes, I am including the big boys — Bern’s, Capital Grille, Ruth’s Chris, you name it.
The cesar salad, steak, fish, buttery mashed potatoes, and asparagus were all 5-​stars across the board — a clean sweep. Again, I reiterate — shockingly delicious. 5-​star restaurant delicious.
There were these little shooters with some kind of caramel pudding or something — I don’t know what they were, I just know that I wanted to eat about 60 of them. They also had red velvet cakes with cream filling in the shape of hearts, which always gets your date all riled up. And last but not least, was a build-​your-​own-​dessert waffle stand with cream cheese, whip cream, and assorted fruits. So essentially by the end of the night, I gained 28 lbs… but I was much more jolly.
Who knew, Lowry Park Zoo? Who knew?
They’ve impressed me many times with other events, but this one really crossed the greatness line for me. I haven’t even mentioned the animal encounters and the general romantic setting. My fiancé (who became my fiancé one night after this) and I aren’t very into the whole Valentine’s Day thing, but this was a really great night for both of us. Anytime you can see a porcupine, an owl, a singing dog, and a sloth while also scoring a romantic, high-​class dinner… you win.