Yes, Shuffle’s Wu-Tang and Biscuits — a play on the official names for the disks and paddle-like sticks that’re key to shuffleboard — totally counts as Sunday brunch. The first indoor shuffleboard hangout for Tampa reinvents the weekly ritual practiced by Instagram junkies and party animals alike with a soundtrack of Wu-Tang beats in the Heights. But that’s not all: Biscuits and gravy are served from the small kitchen while the bar staff prepares bottomless mimosas with venerable Tang. As Shuffle owners Danielle O’Connor and Jennifer Evanchyk once wrote on Facebook, “Tang is fortified with vitamins and astronauts take it to space. It will make you a better person.” Can’t argue with that. 2612 N. Tampa St., Tampa. 813-450-3797, tampashuffle.com. —Meaghan Habuda
Food & Drink: Feast on this massive celebration of local comestibles and imbibables.
- Runner Up: Ulele
- Runner Up: Columbia Restaurant
Eastern minimalist Asian desserts are usually too simple and underwhelming for a Western culinary sensibility. Happily, Pin Wok & Bowl’s choice to combine Banana Coins with coconut ice cream is an inspired mashup. Slices of banana are wrapped in little phyllo packets, fried till crisp and golden, then drizzled with honey and topped with a light sprinkle of white-and-black sesame seeds. House-made coconut ice cream is creamily scrumptious, drizzled with lightly caramelized condensed milk and paired with some fresh whipped cream. I urge you to try them together as we did by serendipity. It’s a match made in heaven, or at least downtown St. Pete’s version of Bangkok. 445 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-575-7167. —Jon Palmer Claridge
Thuy Le’s kitchen produces nuanced plates are often revelatory, and same goes for the edamame appetizer. I don’t know about you, but I’ve had plenty of these soybean pods over the years — and they’re mostly the same: steamed, sprinkled with salt and pleasant, yet notmemorable. Asie’s version knocks me on my ass. They’re simply superlative. The spicy pods are slightly charred and in a viscous soy-garlic sauce that’s as surprising as it is delicious. As if that weren’t enough, they’re garnished with tiny bits of crispy pork belly. Don’t miss ’em. 437 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-898-4300, asiepanasian.com. —JPC
- Runner Up: Clearwater Bagels
- Runner Up: Dunedin Bagels & Deli
- Runner Up: La Segunda Central Bakery
- Runner Up: Publix
- Runner Up: Bad Santa Bar Crawl - St. Pete
- Runner Up: Tampa Noles Pub Crawl - Ybor
- Runner Up: Engine No. 9
- Runner Up: Clear Sky Draught Haus
