The Tampa Water Taxi Company is offering a new service to Water Works Park and the popular restaurant Ulele along the Hillsborough River thanks to a new dock, according to owner Captain Larry Salkin.

"They put a dock at Water Works Park after the park has been renovated," he said. "As soon as they were done, we started offering service to it from downtown."  

Salkin said a one-way trip from Davis Island takes about 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the water conditions, and costs $7. That same trip by car takes at least 12 minutes.

"It’s less than what you pay in a cab. Plus, you get to see all the beautiful sights along the river," said Salkin. "We operate seven days a week, from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. or later by reservation."  

Ulele customers said they like the idea of arriving at the restaurant by water taxi.

"I can relax, enjoy a couple glasses of wine at Ulele and take a ride down the river. I love it," said Scott Skornschek. "This is what Tampa needed."

"It’s a wonderful idea and you don’t have to worry about parking because you’re coming on the boat," said Mary Jane Skornschek. "It’s fun. It makes it more a Florida experience."  

Salkin began offering water taxi rides eight years ago, when he moved to Tampa from New York City and has been looking at ways to expand his service ever since.

"We actually do it for a number of restaurants but this is now a new location for us," he said. "We also go to Malio’s, Ricks On The River, the restaurants on Harbour Island."

Salkin said he's working on offering other new services on the water this fall.

"Weddings on the water. Where you’ll have at a really low cost, be able to take 25 guests, have an officiator actually do your wedding on the water," he said. "Our other product that’s coming out is a gondola ... A beautiful gondola that will accommodate a small group of people for a romantic outing, some wine on the water."