Tampa’s dining scene continues to diversify and satisfy with its multi-cultural flavors, range of price points and endless creativity. Below is a list of a few of the new and soon-to-be-open dining spots that will be sure to lure you out of the house, have you pass on accessing the Uber Eats app and detour you from the nearest drive-through window.
Confirm days and hours of operation before embarking on an eating adventure. Openings are often delayed or may feature limited hours, so know before you go.
You’ll want to explore, eat and enjoy these sooner, rather than later, because there are even more waiting in the wings to wait on you.
You Can Count on Authentic New York-Style Bagels - and more - at 18 Bagels Co.
Made-from-scratch bagels are just one of the menu items to be featured at this South Tampa newcomer. Using technology to replicate the same water system that makes New York bagels so iconic, the owners of 18 Bagels Co. anticipate offering specialty bagels (think onion poppy or Oreo bagel with cookies and cream cheese) along with deli sandwiches, sweet treats and a well-stocked coffee bar featured locally roasted Brew Life Coffee. When a former bagel spot went dark, business partners Ean and Jaclyn Mendelsohn and Jordan Levy took the leap and got ready to go into the bagel business. No doubt, we’ll be toasting and boasting about their bagels very soon.
“That Mexican Place” Nueva Cantina Brings its Flair and Flavor to Tampa
Nueva Cantina hopes to follow in the successful footsteps of its original, two-year-old St. Petersburg location when it launches a soft opening in South Tampa in June. The popular Mexican restaurant brings its own brand of “sabor,” or flavor, to the site previously occupied by Love’s Artifacts on South MacDill Avenue. Look for three full bars, indoor and outdoor seating for just shy of 200 folks and vibrant murals by local artists, the Vitale brothers. Expect to enjoy the same homemade, authentic, contemporary cuisine that has made this a favorite 4th Street dining destination in St. Pete.
Poké Fish Will Bowl You Over with Its Fresh Fish, Tasty Toppings and Quirky Combinations
It’s fast, it’s fresh and it frequently features fish. Now open, Poké Fish lets guests build a bowl or select from specialty bowls for a taste of a staple that hails from the Hawaiian culture. Poké is chopped, seasoned raw fish that can be piled on to a base (rice or slaw, for example), topped with a choice of seafood, organic tofu or free-range chicken, mixed with veggies or cilantro and marinated with a variety of oils, sauces and pastes. Then, just like an ice cream sundae, sprinkle away with fruits like mango and pineapple, crispy critters such as wonton strips and toasted coconut or go exotic with red or orange tobiko or futikake. If that’s not enough, lavish it with a little sweet wasabi mayo or Thai peanut sauce (there’re more options but too many to mention).
WTR Pool & Grill Has No Peer When it Comes to Pier-Side Dining
This welcome addition to local venues boasting waterfront views plans to begin greeting guests July 17. WTR Pool & Grill shares the south Rocky Point coastline with the Godfrey Hotel and Cabanas, a newly renovated resort-style property that formerly was the Best Western Bay Harbor Hotel and Hogan’s Beach, a restaurant and bar named for wrestler Hulk Hogan. The newly renovated, revitalized restaurant lays claim to being Tampa’s only pier-side dining and poolside party facility. Its upscale menu can be enjoyed in the comfort of a chaise lounge overlooking the pool or while seated around a table boasting views of the bay bordering the Courtney Campbell Causeway. The menu represents a blend of “fresh Florida seafood and American fusion cuisine” and cocktails that will range from signature frozen drinks to spiked lemonades.
Want to know where to go for fine dining to casual fare throughout the Tampa Bay area? Simply register at 813Area or 727Area. It's easy and free!
