Openings

CJ’s Backstage After a decade on the beach, booming karaoke bar CJ’s on the Island had to close its doors in the summer of 2023—but it didn’t end up relocating to where most folks thought it would. Earlier this year, the bar announced that it was being forced out of the plaza it called home for 10 years to make way for a parking lot and eventually new development. Around that time, CJ’s also confirmed it was moving to the former Buffalo City Bar and Grill location. After many months of build out-related complications surrounding their supposed new home, owner Cherie Leal—who runs the business with her sons—opted to reopen their bar out of a turn-key location in West St. Pete. CJ’s Backstage celebrated its grand opening on Nov. 22 to the delight of die-hard, karaoke-loving regulars. The latest iteration of CJ’s is up and running in a St. Pete plaza located across the Tyrone Mall. CJ’s Backstage still offers all of the drink specials, entertainment and amenities that made the Best of the Bay-winning bar so popular for so many years. Leal tells Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that CJ’s new location features free parking, bar snacks from its kitchen, games and a variety of programming like live-band karaoke, dueling pianos, DJs and themed nights. 7022 22nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg. @CJsOnTI on Facebook

Streetlight Taco A much-anticipated new South Tampa restaurant is getting ready to kick 2024 off the right way by finally opening its doors. Located at 4004 Henderson Blvd. in South Tampa, Streetlight Taco will offer a contemporary menu of Mexican favorites inspired by owner and Executive Chef Michael Brannock’s extensive travels throughout Mexico and dedication to its multifaceted cuisine. Brannock tells Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that he plans to soft open Streetlight Taco during the first week of January, although an exact date isn’t set in stone. Dedicated to traditional cooking techniques commonly found in restaurants, homes and street food stalls throughout Mexico, Streetlight Taco will offer a lunch and dinner menu full of unique tacos filled with wood-fired steak and fish, slowly-braised pork, brisket and chicken tinga and even vegetarian options like sweet potato and eggplant. After its debut, the new Mexican restaurant will be open from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. from Tuesday-Thursday and Sundays, and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Streetlight Taco will be closed every Monday.4004 Henderson Blvd.,Tampa. @streetlighttaco on Instagram

Coming Soon

Rainbow Cone Rainbow Cone, a popular Chicago-based ice cream franchise for people who can’t decide what flavor to order, will soon open a new location in Tampa Bay.This morning, the company announced ambitious plans to expand into Florida in 2024, with new locations coming to West Palm Beach, Tampa Bay, Orlando, and a new Key West outpost opening in March. “We are excited about the growth of our franchise program in Florida,” says Lynn Sapp, third generation owner of The Original Rainbow Cone in a statement. “The responses we have received from the Florida communities have been incredible, and we are confident that Key West will be no exception. Founded in 1926, Rainbow Cone specializes in their “world famous” five flavor “Rainbow Cone,” which features orange sherbet, pistachio, Palmer House, strawberry, and chocolate flavors “sliced” on top of each other. The menu also spans a variety of sundaes, cakes, doughnuts and milkshakes. The company did not give any specifics on exactly where or when the new Florida locations will debut. rainbowcone.com—Colin Wolf

Events

Feast of the 7 Fishes David Benstock, executive chef and owner of St. Pete restaurant IL Ritorno, produces multiple tasting menus and specialty dinners throughout the year, and his 2023 finale is a modern take on the historic Italian tradition of the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Each of the seven dishes will be served family-style—like you’re at dinner with your cousins—and you can always add a wine pairing for an additional price. While IL Ritorno hasn’t released its complete Christmas Eve menu just yet, its PR team says there will be “caviar, both raw and cooked oysters, branzino, clam pasta, scallop risotto, dungeness crab spaghetti and black grouper” featured throughout its seven courses. Reservations for the $215 prix fixe dinner run from 5 p.m.-11 p.m. and can be made on the restaurant’s Tock page. 449 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. ilritornodowntown.com
Noche Buena Noche Buena is a Christmas Eve tradition that Hispanic and Filipino communities celebrate each December, and it usually involves some drinking, late-night eating and the occasional prayer. Ybor City’s La Sétima Club hosts its own version this weekend, featuring lots of the drinking and eating but none of the praying. And since La Sétima only serves plant-based fare, Chef David Lamb is whipping up a special menu of Puerto Rican-inspired dishes instead of its daily offerings of veganized boudin egg rolls and muffaletta sliders. Stick around for the Parranda Navideña carolers—who will be singing their Boricua version of Christmas classics around 6:30 p.m.—before grabbing a bottle of natural wine for Christmas dinner the next day. According to USA Today, many Hispanic, Latino and Filipino families throughout the diaspora celebrate Noche Buena—which translates into “the good night”—on Christmas Eve because of traditions connected with religion and Spanish colonization. at La Sétima Club in Ybor City. 815 E 7th Ave., Ybor City. lasetimaclub.com Bacon & BBQ Festival A popular, weekend-long food festival returns to The ‘Burg in January, and it seems like organizers always make it a point to do it bigger each year. The 2024 Bacon & BBQ Festival returns to Vinoy Park on Jan. 13 and 14 from noon-10 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m.-9 p.m. on Sunday. Not only a food festival packed with dozens of local vendors, restaurants and food trucks, this annual event also features a stacked lineup of live music both days. Just a few of the Bacon & BBQ Festival’s bands include Tropidelic, The New Rulers, Taylor Jansen Trio, Seranation, The Sub Herb and Neverless. In addition to its live music lineup, annual BBQ competition, games and prizes, 2024’s festival will feature over 25 food vendors slinging over 100 barbecue and bacon-focused dishes, from smoky brisket and fall-off-the-bone ribs to cheeseburgers and perhaps a few savory-inspired desserts. 701 Bayshore Dr. NE, St. Petersburg. stpetebaconandbbq.com ICYMI

Over 25 New Year’s Eve dinners, parties and events happening in Tampa Bay It’s hard to believe that the end of the year is already upon us, but it’s finally time to start thinking about New Year’s Eve plans (and we just hope you don’t have to go to work the next morning). From EDM parties, fireworks shows and swing dancing to high-end prix fixe dinners, midnight champagne toasts and complimentary hot dog bars—here over over 20 events in Tampa Bay to help you bid farewell to 2023. All events take place on Sunday, Dec. 31 unless marked otherwise.

The Fold Pizza, a New York-style pizzeria, is Armature Works’ newest addition. The latest concept from popular restaurant group Three Oaks Hospitality made its debut earlier this month and now dishes out classic Sicilian and grandma-style pizzas alongside specialty slices, like the “Firebird” with buffalo chicken, hot honey and jalapeños.

Beloved St. Pete sandwich shop Gateway Subs opened its third location at 5931 4th St. N in early December, and now slings all of the loaded wraps, build-your-own sammies and stacked salads the local business is known for. Its flagship location resides in a Historic Kenwood plaza at 3112 3rd Ave. N, while Gateway Subs’ second beachside shop is located at 2525 Pasadena Ave. S.

The 20 most-anticipated new restaurants coming to Tampa Bay in 2024 While this past year welcomed in some great new dining spots in Tampa Bay, there’s about to be even more to dish out. Over the next 12 months, diners can expect to see everything from new dumpling spots, new fish and chicken shacks, a couple high-end steak houses, a drive-thru Wawa and more. Here are a few of the hottest new eats coming soon to the Bay: