Whether the focus was fusion or street food, this was Tampa Bay’s year for new pan-Asian restaurant concepts. In Pinellas, The Mango Tree and Volcano Japanese Cuisine now serve a lineup of Japanese fare that includes soba and udon noodles, while Tin Drum Asiacafé and Souzou craft mango stir-fry, sticky meatballs and other hot delights. Korean fusion items like build-your-own bowls and burgers with kimchi and pork belly are dished up at Seminole Heights’ Chop Chop Shop, and Fusion Bowl, featuring Vietnamese pho and more, keeps downtown Tampa satisfied. Additional joints, including downtown St. Pete’s Hawkers Asian Street Fare, Ichicoro Ramen in Seminole Heights and downtown Clearwater’s Basil, have announced their plans to open but haven’t debuted yet.
Food & Drink
Fodder & Shine may have had a bit of a hard time finding its identity in burgeoning but not completely avant-garde Seminole Heights. But, while chef Greg Baker had to tweak his authentic Florida cracker cuisine to appease the unseasoned palates of thought-they-were-brave foodies, the restaurant’s bar offerings plus video games and pool table have made it a pretty great spot to kick it into the late night. 5910 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, 813-234-3710, fodderandshine.com
Runners Up: Einstein Bros Bagels, Clearwater Bagels
Runners Up: Alessi Bakery, Bake‘n Babes
Hey, sometimes you’re just not in the mood for another hoppy IPA or citrus-smoked bacon whatever. Cigar City’s getting the jump on the burgeoning cider and mead markets the same way it got ahead of the Bay area craft beer curve, and is putting out the area’s best stuff as a result. From sweet summery ciders to more subtle, textured concoctions and a fearless attitude toward experimenting with the ancient (and misnamed, really) “honey wine” known as mead, the staff at this casual Ybor City brewery and tasting room is friendly, skilled and schooled. If you’re willing to be curious and more than a little fearless yourself when it comes to new flavors, they’ll help you find a new obsession in something you’ve never tasted before. 1812 N. 15th St., Ybor City. 813-242-6600, cigarcitycider.com
Runners Up: Urban Brew & BBQ, 4 Rivers Smokehouse
