The results are in for Creative Loafing’s 2019 Best of The Bay reader’s poll and you, the readers, didn’t hold back. Here you’ll find Tampa Bay’s best restaurants, coffee shops, food trucks, sushi spots and more, all determined by you and your neighbors. If you don’t see your personal favorites here, maybe this will lead you to a few new places to try! Read the full 2019 Best of The Bay issue here. 

Best Tacos Winner: Casita Taqueria, casitatacos.com Second Place: Lolis Mexican Cravings, bartaco.com Photo via casitatacos.com
Best Grouper Sandwich Winner: Big Ray’s Fish Camp, bigraysfishcamp.com Second Place: Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill, docksidedavesgrill.com Photo via Big Ray’s Fish Camp/Facebook
Best Food Truck/Vendor Winner: Mr. C’s Grilled Cheese, csgrilledcheese.com Second Place (Tie): BarbieCue, funnelvisionfoodtruck.com Photo via Mr. C’s Grilled Cheese/Facebook
Best Local Cookies Winner: Bake’n Babes, bakenbabes.com Second Place: Bella’s Bakes Cakes and Bagels, katiesfinecookies.com Photo via bakenbabes.com
Best Local Craft Beer Event Winner: 97x Beer Festival at the Mahaffey, events.97xonline.com/97xcraftbeerexperience Second Place (Tie): Beer & Burger Throwdown, tampabaybeerweek.com Photo by Chris Fasick
Best Vegetarian/Vegan Restaurant Winner: Golden Dinosaurs Vegan Deli, goldendinosaurs.com Second Place: Vegan International Co. Kitchen & Market, facebook.com/thegreentablerestaurant Photo via goldendinosaurs.com
Best Ramen Winner: Ichicoro Ramen, ichicoro.com Second Place: Buya Ramen, ramenandwaffles.com Photo via Ichicoro Ramen/Facebook
Best Italian Restaurant Winner: Bella’s Italian Café, bellasitaliancafe.com Second Place: Little Italy’s Family Restaurant & Catering, villagallace.com Photo via Bella’s Italian Café/Facebook
Best Sports Bar Winner: Ferg’s Sports Bar & Grill, fergssportsbar.com Second Place: Sunset Lounge, cjsontheisland.com Photo via Ferg’s Sports Bar & Grill/Instagram
Best Local Coffee Winner: Kahwa Coffee, kahwacoffee.com Second Place: Cafe Vinto Tinto, eastlickcoffee.com Photo via Kahwa Coffee/Facebook
Best All-Around Restaurant Winner: Bern’s Steak House, bernssteakhouse.com Second Place: Gigglewaters, gigglewaters.com Runner Up: Deviled Pig, deviledpig.com/ Photo via Bern’s/Facebook
Best Kombucha Winner: Mother Kombucha, motherkombucha.com Second Place: St. Pete Ferments, bigeasybucha.com Photo via Mother Kombucha/Facebook
Best Cuban Restaurant Winner: Las Palmas Latin Grill, laspalmaslatingrill.com Second Place: Bodega on Central,
Best Waterfront Dining Winner: Fresco’s Waterfront Bistro, frescoswaterfront.com Second Place: Cajun Cafe on the Bayou, facebook.com/OystercatchersRestaurant Photo via Fresco’s Waterfront Bistro/Facebook
Best Fried Chicken Winner: King of the Coop, kingofthecoop.business.site Second Place: Southern Fresh, fatrabbitpub.com Photo via King of the Coop/Facebook
Best Thai Restaurant Winner: Ban Thai, banthaiandsushi.com Second Place: Thailand Restaurant, thaimex.co Runner Up (Tie): Phoedin,
Best Splurge Restaurant Winner: Bern’s Steak House, bernssteakhouse.com Second Place (Tie): FarmTable Cucina, ulele.com Photo via Bern’s Steak House/Facebook
Best Kava Bar Winner: Bula Kafe, bulakafe.com Second Place: Mad Hatters Ethnobotanical Kava Bar, zenfinitea.com Photo via Bula Kafe/Facebook
Best Neighborhood Bar, Hillsborough Winner: Bullfrog Creek Brewing, bullfrogcreekbrewing.com Second Place: Br? Florida Growler Bar, fatrabbitpub.com Photo via Bullfrog Creek Brewing/Facebook
Best Pasco Restaurant Winner:Boulevard Beef & Ale, boulevardbeefandale.com Second Place: The Local Fresh Grill of Pasco, italianrestauranttampa.com Photo via boulevardbeefandale.com
Best Middle Eastern Restaurant Winner: Byblos, byblostampa.com Second Place (Tie): Beirut Cafe, gengizkhan.com Photo via byblostampa.com
No Diggity plays First Chance Last Chance in Tampa, Florida on June 28, 2017. Credit: Cathy Salustri
Best Mexican Restaurant Winner: Casa Tina Mexican & Vegetarian Cuisine, casatinas.com Second Place: Miguel’s Mexican Seafood & Grill, viplounge-fla.com Photo via Google Maps
Best Outdoor Dining Winner: Cassis St. Pete, cassisstpete.com Second Place: Whistle Stop Grill and Bar, gigglewaters.com Photo via Cassis St. Pete/Facebook
Best Ribs Winner: Barbiecue, barbiecue.com Second Place: Brady’s Backyard BBQ, facebook.com/deepsouthfamilybbq Photo via Barbiecue/Facebook
Best Local Distillery Winner: Cotherman Distilling Co., facebook.com/CothermanDistillingCo Second Place: Florida Cane Distillery, kozubadistillery.com Photo via Pair O’ Dice Brewing Company
Best Steakhouse Winner: Council Oak Steaks & Seafood (in Seminole Hard Rock), facebook.com/CouncilOakSteaksandSeafoodTampa Second Place: Bern’s Steak House, charleyssteakhouse.com Photo via Council Oak Steaks & Seafood/Facebook
Best Wine Bar Winner: Cru Cellars Palma Ceia, crucellarstampa.com Second Place: Annata Wine Bar, thesipswinebar.com Photo via Cru Cellars Palma Ceia/Instagram
Best Mac ‘n’ Cheese Winner: Deviled Pig, deviledpig.com Second Place: Gigglewaters, facebook.com/deepsouthfamilybbq Photo via Deviled Pig/Facebook
Best Wings Winner: Dunedin Brewery, dunedinbrewery.com Second Place: The Fat Rabbit Pub, thebierboutique.com Photo via Dunedin Brewery/Instagram
Best Seminole Heights Restaurant Winner: Ella’s Americana Folk Art Cafe, ellasfolkartcafe.com Second Place: Rooster & the Till, 3dotdashvegankitchen.com Photo via Ella’s Americana Folk Art Cafe/Facebook
Best Palm Harbor Restaurant Winner: Iron Oak New American BBQ, facebook.com/IronOakBBQ Second Place: Thirsty Marlin, giovannisfreshkitchen.com Photo via Iron Oak New American BBQ/Facebook
Best Smoothies Winner: Froyo Fresh, froyofresh.com Second Place: Escape Root Juicery, rawsmoothieco.com Photo via froyofresh.com
Best Tequila Bar Winner: Gigglewaters, gigglewaters.com Second Place: Red Mesa Cantina, besitoardmore.com Photo via gigglewaters.com
Best Poolside Bar Winner: Hollander Hotel St. Petersburg / Downtown, hollanderhotel.com Second Place: Marker 8, eatpokefish.com Photo via hollanderhotel.com
Best Tapas/Small Plates Winner: HopScotch Cafe, hopscotchcafedunedin.com Second Place: Ceviche Tapas St. Pete, kitchenandbaratsafetyharbor.com Photo via HopScotch Cafe/Facebook
Best Late-Night Restaurant Winner: Ichicoro Ane, ichicoroane.com Second Place: Gigglewaters, pacificcounter.com Photo via Ichicoro Ane/Facebook
Best Mini Doughnuts Winner: Little Donut House, littledonuthouse.com Second Place: Snowshack, fraysdonuthouse.com Photo via Little Donut House/Instagram
Best Salad Bar Winner: Locale Market, localegourmetmarket.com Second Place: Sweet Tomatoes, wholefoodsmarket.com Photo via Locale Market/Facebook
Best Pad Thai Winner: Nitally’s Thai Mex, thaimex.co Second Place (Tie): 9 Bangkok Restaurant, eathawkers.com Photo via Nitally’s Thai Mex/Facebook

Best Tampa Heights Restaurant

Oak & Ola
Finalists: Rocca, Lee’s Grocery Credit: Photo via Oak & Ola
Best Seafood Restaurant Winner: Oystercatchers, facebook.com/OystercatchersRestaurant Second Place: Cajun Cafe on the Bayou, rustybellies.com Photo via Oystercatchers/Facebook
Best Poke Restaurant Winner: Pacific Counter, pacificcounter.com Second Place: Poke Rose, eatpokefish.com Photo via Pacific Counter/Facebook
Best Sushi Restaurant Winner: Pisces Sushi and Global Bistro, piscessushibistro.com Second Place: Ikigai Sushi Take Out, pacificcounter.com Photo via Pisces Sushi and Global Bistro/Facebook
Best Margarita Winner: Red Mesa Cantina, redmesacantina.com Second Place: VIP Lounge & Mexican Restaurant, bartaco.com Photo via Red Mesa Cantina/Instagram
Best Neighborhood Bar, Pinellas Winner: Sips Wine Bar, thesipswinebar.com Second Place: Reboot Arcade & Bar, troubledwatersbeer.com Photo via Sips Wine Bar/Facebook
Best Southern Cooking Winner: Southern Fresh, southernfreshrestaurant.com Second Place: Deviled Pig, ellasfolkartcafe.com Photo via Southern Fresh/Facebook
Best Local Hot Sauce Winner: Tampa Bay Hot Sauce Company, tampabayhotsauce.com Second Place: Florida Heat (Dunedin Brewery), fatrabbitpub.com Photo via tampabayhotsauce.com
Best Tea Shop Winner: TBD @ 301, tbdcafe.com Second Place: The Garden Of Tea – High Quality Botanicals, steepstation.com Runner Up (Tie): Tebella Tea Company,
Best Lobster Roll Winner: The Boardwalk Grill, http://johnspassvillage.net/theboardwalkgrill Second Place: Got Lobstah, casualclam.com Photo via The Boardwalk Grill/Facebook
Best Liquor Store Winner: Total Wine & More, totalwine.com Second Place: Luekens Liquors, abcfws.com Photo via Total Wine & More/Facebook
Best Local Beer Winner: Troubled Waters Brewing Carter’s Peanut Butter Porter, troubledwatersbeer.com Second Place: Green Bench Sunshine IPA, crookedthumbbrew.com/harborlager Photo via Troubled Waters Brewing/Facebook
Best Safety Harbor Restaurant Winner: Whistle Stop Grill and Bar, whistlestopgrill.com Second Place: Marker 39 Floribbean Cuisine, gigglewaters.com Photo via whistlestopgrill.com
Best New Brewery, Hillsborough Winner: Zydeco Brew Werks, zydecobrewwerks.com Second Place: Tampa Beer Works, baycannon.com Photo via Zydeco Brew Werks/Instagram
Best Diner Winner: 2nd & Second, 2ndandsecond.com Second Place: Skyview Restaurant, tripsdiner.com Photo via 2nd & Second/Facebook
Best Greek Restaurant Winner: Acropolis Greek Taverna, acropolistaverna.com Second Place: Hellas Restaurant and Bakery,
Best Charcuterie Winner: Annata Wine Bar, annatawine.com Second Place: Sips Wine Bar,
Best Guacamole Winner: Besito Mexican Restaurant, besitoardmore.com/tampa Second Place: bartaco, poblanosmex.com Photo via Besito Mexican Restaurant/Facebook
Best Cuban Coffee Winner: Bodega on Central, eatatbodega.com Second Place: Cafe Perez @ 22nd Street Coffee Shop,
Best Barista Winner: Bridget – Starbucks Safety Harbor, starbucks.com/safetyharbor Second Place: Logan Runnells – Cafe Vino Tinto, facebook.com/cafevinotinto Runner Up: Lacey Henning – Union by Commune + Co., communeandco.com/union Photo via Starbucks/Facebook
Best Coffee Shop Winner: Cafe Vino Tinto, facebook.com/cafevinotinto Second Place: 22nd Street Coffee Shop,
Best Dunedin Restaurant Winner: Casa Tina Mexican, casatinas.com Second Place: HopScotch Cafe, dunedinbrewery.com Photo via Casa Tina Mexican/Facebook
Best Gay/Lesbian Bar Winner: City Side, citysideloungetampa.com Second Place: Enigma, madhattersteabar.com Photo via City Side/Facebook
Best Brewer Winner: Dave Peitzman – Tidal Brewing Company, tidalbrewingfl.com Second Place: Adam “Brew Swillis” Deimling – Dunedin Brewery, dunedinbrewery.com Runner Up: Michael Hogan, motherkombucha.com Photo via Tidal Brewing Company/Facebook
Best Barbecue Restaurant Winner: Dr. BBQ, drbbqs.com Second Place: Deviled Pig, deviledpig.com Runner Up: 4Rivers Smokehouse, 4rsmokehouse.com Photo via Dr. BBQ/Facebook
Best Cold-Pressed Juice Winner: Escape Root Juicery, facebook.com/escaperootjuicery Second Place: Clean Juice,
Best Beach Restaurant Winner: Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill, frenchysonline.com/frenchysrockaway Second Place: Salt Rock Grill, saltrockgrill.com Runner Up: VIP Lounge & Mexican Restaurant, viplounge-fla.com Photo via Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill/Facebook
Best Food Festival Winner: Frogman Feast, facebook.com/frogmanfeast Second Place: Beer & Burger Throw Down, tampabayvegfest.com Photo via Frogman Feast/Facebook
Best Brunch Winner: Gigglewaters, gigglewaters.com Second Place: Oystercatchers, facebook.com/OystercatchersRestaurant Runner Up: Marker 39 Floribbean Cuisine, marker39.com Photo via Gigglewaters/Facebook
Best Hotel Restaurant Winner: Giovanni’s Fresh Italian Kitchen, giovannisfreshkitchen.com Second Place: Oystercatchers, hollanderhotel.com/thetaproom Photo via Giovanni’s Fresh Italian Kitchen/Facebook
Best Hotel Bar Winner: Hollander Hotel St. Petersburg/Downtown, hollanderhotel.com/thetaproom Second Place: The Canopy, fenwayhotel.com/hifirooftopbar Photo via Hollander Hotel St. Petersburg/Downtown/Facebook
Best Fish & Chips Winner: Jacks London Grill, jackslondongrill.com Second Place: Cricketers British Pub & Restaurant Dunedin, whistlestopgrill.com Photo via Grain and Berry/Facebook
Best Food Blogger Winner: Jenn Thai – This Jenn Girl, thisjenngirl.com Second Place: @thisbabeeats, ilovetheburg.com Photo via This Jenn Girl/Facebook
Best Chef Winner: John Kennedy – Locale Market, localegourmetmarket.com Second Place: Adrienne Godsell,
Best Doughnuts Winner: Marker 39 Floribbean Cuisine, marker39.com Second Place: Dough,
Best Bakery (Bread) Winner: Mazzaro’s Italian Market, mazzarosmarket.com Second Place: La Segunda Ybor, lasegundabakery.com Runner Up: Alessi Bakery, alessibakery.com Photo via Mazzaro’s Italian Market/Facebook
Best Chicken Sandwich Winner: PDQ, eatpdq.com Second Place: The Wheelhouse,
Best Banh Mi Winner: La V, lavfusion.com Second Place: Saigon Deli, facebook.com/Saigondeli Runner Up: Alesia Restaurant, alesiarestaurant.com Photo via La V/Facebook
Best Health-Food Market Winner: Rollin’ Oats Market, rollinoats.com Second Place: Vine & Grind, naturesfoodpatch.com Photo via Rollin’ Oats/Facebook
Best Bartender Winner: Jeremy Richardson – Sips Wine Bar, thesipswinebar.com Second Place: Kaela Hoffman – Mad Hatters Ethnobotanical, madhattersteabar.com Runner Up: Josh Toner – The Drunken Clam, drunkenclambar.com Photo via Sips Wine Bar/Facebook
Best Bagels Winner: St. Pete Bagel Co. , www.stpetebagelco.com Second Place: Bella’s Bakes Cakes and Bagels, bellasbakescakesandbagels.com Runner Up: Clearwater Bagels, facebook.com/clearwaterbagels Photo via St. Pete Bagel Co./Facebook
Best Ice Cream/Gelato/Frozen Yogurt Winner: Tanya & Matt’s Ice Creamiest, icecreamiest.com Second Place: Paciugo Gelato & Caffe, orangecyclecreamery.com Photo via Tanya & Matt’s Ice Creamiest/Facebook
Best Desserts Winner: The Dessert Spot at Toffee to Go, toffeetogo.com/thedessertspot Second Place: Bella’s Bakes Cakes and Bagels, beansandbarlour.squarespace.com Photo via The Dessert Sport at Toffee to Go/Facebook
Best Frosé Winner: Franklin Manor, thefranklinmanor.com Second Place: Pacific Counter, thesipswinebar.com Photo via Franklin Manor/Facebook
Best Breakfast Winner: The Scrambled Egg, facebook.com/TheScrambledEgg Second Place: Mom’s Place Restaurant, momsplacetampa.com Runner Up: Bella’s Bakes Cakes and Bagels, bellasbakescakesandbagels.com Photo via The Scrambled Egg/Facebook
Best Bargain Restaurant Winner: The Stone Soup Company, www.xsoup4u.com Second Place (Tie): El Cap, facebook.com/elcap Second Place (Tie): Fresh Kitchen, eatfreshkitchen.com Photo via The Stone Soup Company/Facebook
Best Draft Selection Winner: Yard of Ale St. Pete, yardofale.com Second Place: Troubled Waters Brewing,
Best Soup Winner: The Stone Soup Company, xsoup4u.com Second Place: Yankee Bean, partsofparis.com Photo via xsoup4u.com
Best Dive Bar Winner: Mahuffer’s, facebook.com/Mahuffers Second Place: The Liquid Therapy Bar, facebook.com/HarborBarPatio Runner Up (Tie): Tiny Tap Tavern,
Best Local Foodie Instagram Account Winner: @thisbabeeats, thisbabeeats.com Second Place: @thegirlwiththewhisktattoo, thisbabeeats.com Photo via thisbabeeats/Instagram
Best Cuban Sandwich Winner: The Stone Soup Company, xsoup4u.com Second Place: Yankee Bean, eatatbodega.com Photo via The Stone Soup Company/Facebook
Best Chinese Restaurant Winner: Yummy House China Bistro, yummyhouseflorida.com/yummyhousechinabistro Second Place: Zom Hee Chinese Restaurant,
Best Ybor City Restaurant Winner: The Stone Soup Company, xsoup4u.com Second Place: Columbia Restaurant, thebricksybor.com Photo via xsoup4u.com
Best Whiskey Bar Winner: Gigglewaters, gigglewaters.com Second Place: Haven, facebook.com/Room901 Photo via Gigglewaters/Facebook
Best Waitstaff Winner: Sips Wine Bar, thesipswinebar.com Second Place: Marker 39 Floribbean Cuisine, whistlestopgrill.com Photo via Sips Wine Bar/Facebook
Best Tampa Restaurant Winner: Bern’s Steak House, bernssteakhouse.com Second Place: Ulele, bellasitaliancafe.com Photo via Bern’s Steak House/Facebook
Best Restaurant That Delivers Winner: Pacific Counter, pacificcounter.com Second Place: Paul’s Chicago Pizza, bossbitchpizza.com Photo via Pacific Counter/Facebook
Best New Brewery, Pinellas Winner: Troubled Waters Brewing, troubledwatersbeer.com Second Place: Antibrewery, ifibrewedtheworld.com Photo via Troubled Waters Brewing/Facebook
Best Local Brewery Winner: Troubled Waters Brewing, troubledwatersbeer.com Second Place: Dunedin Brewery, bullfrogcreekbrewing.com Photo via Troubled Waters Brewing/Facebook
Best Happy Hour Winner: Sips Wine Bar, thesipswinebar.com Second Place: The Liquid Therapy Bar, cjsontheisland.com Photo via Sips Wine Bar/Facebook
Best Brunch For Boozing Winner: Gigglewaters, gigglewaters.com Second Place: Gaspar’s Grotto, gasparsgrotto.com Runner Up (Tie): Clear Sky Draught Haus, clearskydraughthaus.com Runner Up (Tie): Datz, datztampa.com Photo via Gigglewaters/Facebook
Best Gourmet Market Winner: Mazzaro’s Italian Market, mazzarosmarket.com Second Place: Southern Steer Butcher,
Best Clearwater Restaurant Winner: Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill, frenchysonline.com/frenchysrockaway Second Place: Cello’s Lunch House,

Best Sommelier

Jayme Kosar
Finalists:Sophie Moss, Ryan McSwiggin – Lilac Credit: Photo via Jayme Kosar/Instagram
Best Indian Restaurant Winner: Flames Indian Cuisine, flamestampa.com Second Place: The Twisted Indian, gatewaytoindiastpete.com flamestampa.com
Best Cocktails Winner: Gigglewaters, gigglewaters.com Second Place: Sipping Nomads,
Best Bakery (Pastries) Winner: Mazzaro’s Italian Market, mazzarosmarket.com Second Place: Alessi Bakery, alessibakery.com Runner Up: The Scone Age Bakery, sconeagecafe.com Photo via Mazzaro’s Italian Market/Facebook
Best Grilled Cheese Winner: Gigglewaters, gigglewaters.com Second Place: Central Melt, fatrabbitpub.com Photo via Gigglewaters/Facebook
Best Key Lime Pie Winner: Bella’s Bakes, Cakes, and Bagels, bellasbakescakesandbagels.com Second Place: Marker 39 Floribbean Cuisine, jjgandys.com Photo via Bella’s Bakes, Cakes, and Bagels/Facebook
Best Sangria Winner: Columbia Restaurant, columbiarestaurant.com Second Place: Ceviche Tapas St. Pete, marker39.com Photo via Columbia/Facebook
Best Acai Bowl Winner: Grain and Berry, grainandberry.com Second Place: Nékter Juice Bar, nekterjuicebar.com Runner Up: Escape Root Juicery, facebook.com/escaperootjuicery Photo via Grain and Berry/Facebook
Best Local Gourmet Popcorn Winner: Salty Sisters Gourmet Popcorn, saltysisterspopcorn.com Second Place: Gigglewaters, cipopcorn.com Photo via Salty Sisters Gourmet Popcorn/Facebook
Best Burgers Winner: Engine No. 9, no9burgers.com Second Place: El Cap Restaurant,
Best Dog-Friendly Bar Winner: The Dog Bar, facebook.com/DogBarStPete Second Place: Dunedin Brewery,
Best Beach Bar Winner: Bula on the Beach, bula-kafe.com Second Place: Caddy’s On The Beach, caddys.com Runner Up: Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill, frenchysonline.com/frenchysrockaway Photo via Bula on the Beach/Facebook
Best Devil Crab Winner: Brocato’s Sandwich Shop, brocatossandwich.com Second Place: Carmine’s Restaurant & Bar – Ybor, theeburgerspot.com Photo via Google Maps
Best Bar Crawl Winner: Brew Bus Brewery tour, brewbususa.com Second Place: Dunedin Beer Olympics, dunedinwaterside.com/beer-olympics Runner Up: Pedal Pub, pedalpubstpete.com Photo via Brew Bus Brewing/Facebook
Best Vietnamese Restaurant Winner: La V, lavfusion.com Second Place: Pho Ha Tien, phoedin.com Photo via La V/Facebook
Best Local Farm Winner: Brick Street Farms, brickstreetfarms.com Second Place: Sweetwater Organic Community Farm, squareup.com/greensnthingsurbanfarm Photo via Brick Street Farms/Facebook