A Portillo's Kids Meal featuring a hot dog on a poppy seed bun, crinkle-cut french fries, a bottle of Dairystar 1% low-fat milk, a themed paper meal bag, and Portillo's stickers against a solid red background.

Food & Drink Events

Portillo’s is testing a new kid’s hot dog meal in Tampa Bay right now

The new shaboing-boing meals are $7.99 and are currently available for dine-in or takeout at all Tampa Bay locations.

by Colin Wolf May 20, 2026May 20, 2026

Exterior of O-Ku on the ground floor of Bayshore Gardens in Tampa.

Food & Drink

New sushi restaurant O-ku opens in South Tampa tomorrow

It’s in the same building as its sibling restaurant, Maru.

by Selene San Felice May 20, 2026May 20, 2026

Denis Phillips poses holding out his suspender straps in front of the weather map in the WFTS studio

Food & Drink

Fans of Tampa Bay weatherman Denis Phillips can try his new ‘Rule #7’ beer this weekend, and get a selfie

Keep calm and beer on at Crooked Thumb Brewery in Safety Harbor.

by Selene San Felice May 20, 2026May 21, 2026

Food & Drink

New speakeasy 31 South opens in St. Petersburg Distillery

31 South tapped Chef Johnathan Rodriguez, who was previously at Sal Y Mar in Midtown and was on the Food Network show “Supermarket Stakeout.”

by Colin Wolf May 19, 2026May 19, 2026

A breaded chicken sandwich from Cousin Vinny's held against a red background

Food & Drink

Popular Tampa sandwich shop Cousin Vinny’s is coming to St. Petersburg

Its second location is expected to open on Central Ave. by November.

by Alisha Durosier May 18, 2026May 18, 2026

Exterior view of the historic Centro Ybor shopping and entertainment complex in Ybor City, Tampa, Florida.

Food & Drink

Tampa Bay Brewing Co. will close Ybor City location this month

Ybor City is losing another longtime staple.

by Colin Wolf May 18, 2026May 18, 2026

Food & Drink

Busch Gardens Tampa announces the return of free beer

Free beer has been a Busch Gardens staple for over 50 years, all the way back to when it was owned by Anheuser-Busch.

by Colin Wolf May 15, 2026May 15, 2026

Food & Drink

New 1950s-inspired supper club The Sapphire will open in Tampa this week

There’s a wagyu beef hot dog, fellas.

by Colin Wolf May 14, 2026May 14, 2026

A daytime exterior photograph of a commercial storefront in Tampa. The building features a light yellow brick facade on the left and a muted sage-green painted entrance. The entrance includes glass double doors with a multi-pane transom window above, flanked by large glass display windows. The street-facing windows reflect a city street with parked cars, mature trees, and a building across the way. Inside the bottom right window, a small poster for the Gasparilla Music Festival is visible. On the brick wall to the left, a small dark plaque is mounted beneath a black gooseneck light fixture and a security camera.

Food & Drink

Rooster & the Till founder to open music-driven ‘Peppermint Lounge’ in Tampa Heights

Ty Rodriguez plans to open the concept this fall at 1607 N Franklin St.

by Ray Roa May 13, 2026May 13, 2026

A wide-angle, daytime exterior photograph of the Supernatural Food & Wine storefront in Tampa. The building features a bright yellow scalloped awning extending over a section of wall painted vibrant teal, which displays the words 'Coffee Donuts' in large, red stylized script above a pointing arrow. Beneath the awning is a glass window with a sign reading 'ORDER INSIDE PICK-UP HERE', situated next to a framed wooden menu board and the glass entrance door. To the right of the entrance, the building's white wall is decorated with a colorful geometric mural. The sidewalk is deeply shaded by a large, leafy green tree. Two individuals are visible walking on the sidewalk to the right: one wearing a light purple dress and the other wearing a bright orange shirt and a dark hat. The reflection of street-parked cars is visible in the shop's front window.

Food & Drink

Guy Fieri did indeed film ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives’ at Tampa’s Supernatural Food & Wine—and the episode will air on May 22

The Supernatural crew is holding a watch party at Mighty Fine.

by Ray Roa May 13, 2026May 13, 2026

Front of Bodega Bus featuring a gratified school bus to-go window and the words "Mini Mart," "NYC Deli" and "Vape Shop"

Food & Drink

Downtown Tampa’s new Bodega Bus deli promises chopped cheese and more until 4 AM

The late night spot will also be a smoke shop with vape, hookah and legal hemp products.

by Selene San Felice May 11, 2026May 11, 2026

A Mother's Day Brunch spread at Ocean Prime, featuring mimosa, Bloody Mary's, steak, eggs Benedict, french toast, caviar and coffee

Food & Drink

New coastal Mexican spot coming to Tampa, Mother’s Day brunch events and more local food news

Plus, new Vietnamese cafe Say Coffee House comes to St. Pete, Tampa is getting a seafood spot from Bern’s and more.

by CL Staff May 7, 2026May 8, 2026

Exterior of Fresh Kitchen in St. Pete with its new bubble lettering and white paint.

Food & Drink

Fresh Kitchen will reopen in South Tampa next month, and redesign other locations

Ciccio Restaurant Group is spending more than $1 million to update Fresh Kitchen and its fitness studio, Camp.

by Selene San Felice May 7, 2026May 12, 2026

Food & Drink

Viral Japanese convenience store Ebisu will open world’s largest location in Tampa Bay

Ebisu is essentially a real life version of a “blind box” doom scroll session

by Colin Wolf May 7, 2026May 8, 2026

Exterior of a Whataburger zoomed into the name on the building with orange and white decorative flags above the building and a tent below it. The building number (1426) is visible

Food & Drink

Whataburger opens third Tampa Bay location in Brandon

The chain opened a Lutz location also in April and a Largo spot in February.

by Selene San Felice May 7, 2026May 7, 2026

Exterior of Say Coffee House with people sitting under umbrellas outside.

Food & Drink

New Vietnamese cafe, Say Coffee House, opens in St. Pete

It’s just a few blocks from Black Crow and Bandit.

by Selene San Felice May 6, 2026May 6, 2026

Food & Drink

New Mexican steakhouse Matilde coming to downtown Tampa

The new spot will open in a 7,600 square-foot space on the ground floor of the AER luxury condo building.

by Colin Wolf May 6, 2026May 6, 2026

News & Views

New South Tampa seafood concept from Bern’s, Peddler + Potter Oyster House, opening in former Haven spot next year

If you want to say goodbye, Haven will celebrate its final day of service on Thursday, May 21.

by Colin Wolf May 4, 2026May 4, 2026

Food & Drink

Angry Chair selling, new gelato heads to St. Pete, and more Tampa Bay food news

Plus, Pepper Fest heads to Pinellas Park, Rialto Tea Room opens in Tampa Heights and more.

by CL Staff April 29, 2026April 29, 2026

Four people pose for a photo holding spicy lollypops at Pinellas Pepper Fest

Food & Drink

Pinellas Pepper Fest brings the heat this weekend

The festival has hundreds of spicy substances and heat eating contests.

by Kailey Aiken April 27, 2026April 27, 2026

Meet the Chefs Behind Tampa Bay's Restaurant Month

A portion of proceeds benefits Feeding Tampa Bay