Gigglewaters wants to open more restaurants with Tampa franchiser

The RNR Tire Express CEO was fan of the Safety Harbor spot’s burgers and drinks before buying the brand.

by Laura Troyer and Selene San Felice March 26, 2026March 27, 2026

Tampa tire and custom wheels giant RNR Tire Express, which reorganized as multi-brand holding company DX3 Brands, has acquired the franchise rights to the 1920s-inspired eatertainment spot, signaling plans for Florida-wide expansion.

Food & Drink

Tokyo Swim Club incoming, refreshing The Bricks and more Tampa Bay food news

Plus, more food & drink events happening March 26-April 1.

by CL Staff March 26, 2026March 27, 2026

Nueva Cantina's outdoor patio filled with people dining and drinking under a ceiling of lush hanging plants and woven basket lights.

Food & Drink

Bosphorous opens in St. Pete, Tater Tot Union heads to New World, and more Tampa Bay food news

Plus, Florida Strawberry Festival continues, Nueva Cantina debuts in Palm Harbor and more.

by Selene San Felice March 5, 2026March 6, 2026

spectator stands at the Derby Lane dog track

Food & Drink

Pinellas Farmers and Flea Market moves to St. Pete dog track

The Asian food paradise formerly in Largo now takes over the old Derby Lane every weekend.

by Laura Troyer February 17, 2026February 18, 2026

A wide-angle street view of a two-story historic red brick building on a corner, identified by a black sign as "THE BRICKS." The sidewalk in front features a yellow fire hydrant and two bright orange diamond-shaped construction signs that read "ROAD WORK AHEAD" and "ROAD CLOSED AHEAD." The scene is captured on a clear day with a blue sky and tall palm trees visible further down the street.

Food & Drink

Property that’s home to Ybor City restaurant The Bricks has been sold

Plans for the restaurant are still unclear after the property transferred ownership in January.

by Ray Roa February 1, 2026February 9, 2026

Two hands holding a hot coffee to-go cup and an iced coffee, both with buddy brew dog logos, cheers in front of a Sprouts Farmers Market

Food & Drink

Buddy Brew to double cafe count with Sprouts collab

They’ll be the first Buddy Brew Coffee shops in Pinellas and Pasco.

by Selene San Felice January 27, 2026January 27, 2026

Food & Drink

Twitch streamer Tfue buys Woody’s Waterfront in St. Pete Beach

Ask your nephew what a Twitch stream is.

by Selene San Felice January 27, 2026January 27, 2026

A stacked oyster burger topped with creamy sauce sits on a sesame-seed bun in a blue basket, served with fries and a small metal cup of dipping sauce on a red tabletop.

Food & Drink

St. Petersburg fish camp and raw bar Cheeky’s now offers lunch

Frozen espresso martinis are better than lunch coffees, right?

by Ray Roa January 7, 2026January 7, 2026

Food & Drink

17 picturesque places to grab a drink in Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay bars are constantly serving Instagram-worthy views.

by CL Staff November 14, 2025November 14, 2025

A smiling man wearing glasses and a white button-up shirt stands next to an open vehicle door and holds a sign that reads: "OUR MOST IMPORTANT TO DO LIST: ENJOY YOUR LIFE, HELP OTHERS" against a city street backdrop.

Food & Drink

Andrew Ashmeade built Tampa’s Jerk Hut into a celebration of Caribbean culture—and he’s looking to expand

He opened the first Jerk Hut on N Nebraska Avenue in 1993, and currently operates four locations between South Tampa and the university area hotspot.

by Emily McLaughlin November 5, 2025November 5, 2025

A close-up shot of a Thanksgiving dinner table, with a large, golden-brown roasted turkey in a copper pan as the centerpiece. The turkey is surrounded by side dishes, including Brussels sprouts and macaroni and cheese, and glasses of red and white wine are placed at various settings on the wooden table.

Food & Drink

All the Tampa Bay restaurants offering Thanksgiving specials and takeout orders

Cooking is so chopped. Chopping is so cooked.

by CL Staff November 4, 2025November 9, 2025

Exterior view of a bright yellow and turquoise restaurant building named "JERK HUT," with tall palm trees lining the front patio and a blue sky overhead.

Food & Drink

Owner of Tampa restaurant Jerk Hut is collecting items for hurricane-ravaged Jamaican

Andrew Ashmeade joined forces with CANDU and the Caribbean Cultural Association to accept donations at the Jerk Hut location on E Fowler Avenue.

by Chris Young and WMNF News November 3, 2025November 3, 2025

Food & Drink

Another Aldi converted from a Winn-Dixie opens in St. Pete next week

The chain is giving away freebies for its opening day.

by Alisha Durosier October 30, 2025October 30, 2025

A low-angle, exterior shot of a two-story restaurant named "Ella's." The building is painted bright red with black trim, and a black metal sign with "Ella's" in a distinctive font juts out from the wall. A dark awning covers a front patio area, which is accessed by stairs and enclosed by a rustic, dark-colored fence. Lush green foliage and trees surround the entrance, and a lit torch-style lamp is visible near the stairs.

Food News

A former Tampa chef is saving the recipes of bygone restaurants

Eric Hipol has recreated more than 20 local dishes for his Recipe Preservation Project

by Alisha Durosier October 28, 2025November 3, 2025

Promotional portrait of Hell's Kitchen Season 24 contestant Jada Vidal, wearing a chef coat and smiling.

Food & Drink

Tampa Chef Jada Vidal represents Florida on new season of ‘Hell’s Kitchen’

The Chef de Cuisine of new Itameshi restaurant Kinjo is no stranger to national cooking competitions.

by Kyla Fields October 27, 2025October 30, 2025

Food & Drink

Where to get National Coffee Day deals around Tampa Bay

Don’t talk to me til I’ve had my free coffee.

by Emily McLaughlin and Selene San Felice September 26, 2025September 27, 2025

Smiling man with a red beard and mustache wears a patterned shirt and sun visor, holding a large green fruit up to the camera. A partly cloudy sky fills the background.

Food & Drink

Eric Law is St. Pete’s scrappy, resilient, and indomitable farmer by the interstate

Greens N Things Urban Farm is just one of several farms developed on unused plots of land.

by Arielle Stevenson September 24, 2025September 24, 2025

A low-angle exterior shot of a white building with light blue shutters and a red door. Above the door, the business name "CHEEKY'S" is prominently displayed in a red, textured font, with "Famous Fish & Raw Bar" written beneath it in a lighter blue script. The number "2823" is visible to the left of the door. A black awning or beam runs across the top of the building facade. To the right, green foliage and tree branches are visible against a clear blue sky.

Food & Drink

St. Pete seafood restaurant Cheeky’s finally has air conditioning

But when the weather cools down this winter, its open-air dining room will return.

by Kyla Fields September 3, 2025September 5, 2025

Food & Drink

Tampa’s Chicago Paulie’s is America’s sixth-best sandwich shop, according to new Yelp list

Tampa’s Gulf Coast Sourdough and Box of Cubans also landed in the top 50.

by Jani Burden July 29, 2025September 1, 2025

Food & Drink

Forthcoming tariff on Mexican tomatoes benefits Florida growers

U.S. importers in Arizona and Texas they say the tariffs will result in higher costs for them, leading to higher prices for consumers.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix July 7, 2025August 25, 2025

Happy St. Paddy's Day - use code LUCKY for $17 off your tickets to Margarita Wars - now Tequila & Tiki Takedown

Food News

Gigglewaters wants to open more restaurants with Tampa franchiser

Tokyo Swim Club incoming, refreshing The Bricks and more Tampa Bay food news

Bosphorous opens in St. Pete, Tater Tot Union heads to New World, and more Tampa Bay food news

Pinellas Farmers and Flea Market moves to St. Pete dog track

Property that’s home to Ybor City restaurant The Bricks has been sold

Buddy Brew to double cafe count with Sprouts collab

Twitch streamer Tfue buys Woody’s Waterfront in St. Pete Beach

St. Petersburg fish camp and raw bar Cheeky’s now offers lunch

17 picturesque places to grab a drink in Tampa Bay

Andrew Ashmeade built Tampa’s Jerk Hut into a celebration of Caribbean culture—and he’s looking to expand

All the Tampa Bay restaurants offering Thanksgiving specials and takeout orders

Owner of Tampa restaurant Jerk Hut is collecting items for hurricane-ravaged Jamaican

Another Aldi converted from a Winn-Dixie opens in St. Pete next week

A former Tampa chef is saving the recipes of bygone restaurants

Tampa Chef Jada Vidal represents Florida on new season of ‘Hell’s Kitchen’

Where to get National Coffee Day deals around Tampa Bay

Eric Law is St. Pete’s scrappy, resilient, and indomitable farmer by the interstate

St. Pete seafood restaurant Cheeky’s finally has air conditioning

Tampa’s Chicago Paulie’s is America’s sixth-best sandwich shop, according to new Yelp list

Forthcoming tariff on Mexican tomatoes benefits Florida growers

Photos: Everyone we saw getting tipsy for Tequila & Tiki Takedown at Tampa’s Hotel Flor

Michelin-star restaurateurs opening new concept Mei in downtown St. Pete

St. Pete’s Chattaway restaurant will close this summer: ‘It’s definitely bittersweet’

21 new restaurants that opened in Tampa Bay so far this year