Food & Drink Archives - Creative Loafing Tampa

Multiple illuminated vintage pinball machines, including an X-Men themed machine, lined up indoors at The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York

New elevated Mexican spot opens in downtown Tampa, St. Pete gets a pinball bar, and more in local food news

Plus, James Beard winning author Steven Raichlen is on town talking barbecue, Clearwater GreekFest is here and more in our weekly food news round-up.

by CL Staff October 23, 2026October 23, 2026

OPENINGS/CLOSINGS New pinball bar The Lucky Flipper coming to downtown St. Pete this winter That deaf, dumb and blind kid is probably old enough to enjoy a beer. So if you’re looking to play a “mean pinball” in The Edge District (stylized “EDGE”), then The Lucky Flipper might be your new spot. The new St. […]

New pinball bar The Lucky Flipper coming to downtown St. Pete this winter

No exact opening date has been announced, but Lucky Flipper is aiming for a December opening.

by Colin Wolf October 23, 2026October 23, 2026

Tampa Bay food & drink events happening October 22-29, including WEDU visit from five-time James Beard winning author

Plus Fenway Hotel’s Halloween speakeasy, the Selby’s ‘Lunch in the Garden,’ and more.

by Ray Roa and Josh Bradley October 20, 2026October 20, 2026

A stage performance photograph by Kyriakos Caros showing GreekFest dancers at Clearwater Greekfest. Captured in a wide shot under a white outdoor event tent at night, a lineup of youth dancers performs traditional Greek folk dances on stage while holding hands. The dancers wear authentic folk costumes featuring white shirts, dark vests, red sashes, and black or red headwear, while an audience of attendees watches from the background under festival lighting.

Clearwater GreekFest offers food, church tours, dancing and more this weekend

It happens Friday-Sunday off Old Coachman Road.

by Ray Roa October 20, 2026October 20, 2026

Gus Thieken and Erick Meza, both in white dress shirts and white hard hats, hold open the doors to the soon-to-be La Victoria Mexican restaurant in downtown Tampa

New Mexican restaurant La Victoria opens in downtown Tampa

It’s opening despite the fact it’s still waiting on approval for a liquor license from the City of Tampa.

by Colin Wolf October 20, 2026October 20, 2026

A close-up outdoor portrait showing Jet. Captured in a direct head-on shot in a grassy yard, Jet—a dark brown and tan medium-sized dog with long, wavy golden-tan fur fringing his ears—looks straight at the camera with an open-mouthed, happy expression while wearing a glittery gold toy crown perched tilted on his head. Thick green foliage and trees fill the background under bright natural daylighting.

Food & Drink, Food & Drink Events

Tampa dive bar The Hub hosts ‘Paw-loween’ fundraiser for Mercy Full Project

There’ll be a pet costume contest, music, drink specials and more on Sunday.

by Ray Roa October 16, 2026October 16, 2026

A wide interior event photograph by Centro Asturiano de Tampa showing Wines of Spain at the Centro Asturiano de Tampa in Ybor City, Florida on Oct. 16, 2024. Captured from a wide angle across the polished hardwood floor of a grand ballroom, attendees stand raising wine glasses in a collective toast. In the foreground, guest figures stand beside high-top cocktail tables and tasting stations beneath crystal chandeliers and grand arched wall moldings under warm venue lighting.

Tampa Bay’s food & drink events happening October 15-22, including Wines of Spain and more

Plus A Taste of Tapeo at Golden Isles, Dunedin Seafood and Music Festival, and more.

by Leif Helland and Josh Bradley October 14, 2026October 14, 2026

A candid outdoor group photograph by Keir Magoulas showing Partygoers at Mighty Fine and Late Start Brewing in Tampa, Florida on Oct. 11, 2026. Captured in a medium shot at an outdoor patio table, a group of friends sit together smiling and posing, including a central figure in a black strapless top giving two thumbs up while wearing dark sunglasses. Beverages and food trays sit on the blue table, with an asphalt street and storefront sidewalk in the background under bright daylight.

Photos: In downtown Tampa, Late Start Brewing and Mighty Fine celebrate two years of beers and burgers

Crispy bois were had.

by Ray Roa and Keir Magoulas October 12, 2026October 12, 2026

V Modern Italian debuts in North Hyde Park, Dr. BBQ heads to Clearwater Beach and more in Tampa Bay food news

Plus, Rene’s Mexican Kitchen needs some help, Oktoberfest reschedules and more in our weekly food news round-up.

by CL Staff October 9, 2026October 9, 2026

A lifestyle photograph showing a person in lederhosen, holding a stein of hefeweizen in a toast position. They are in a public park, lit by the sunset from the left of the photo. They wear blue and white checkered lederhosen and dark aviator glasses.

With Isaias on the way, Oktoberfest Tampa’s big downtown party has been rescheduled for Halloween weekend

Because who wants waterlogged lederhosen?

by Ray Roa October 8, 2026October 8, 2026

wide-angle indoor photograph at Mighty Fine in Tampa, Florida in December 2024. Captured with a fisheye lens perspective from behind a counter, two people smile and laugh while enjoying sandwiches—one wearing a light blue sweatshirt and the other in a dark navy "HOCKEY" hoodie. In the foreground, serving trays hold grilled sandwiches and side items, while the background features wooden shelving lined with pantry goods, kitchen supplies, and a person standing near the back doorway under warm indoor venue lighting.

Tampa Bay’s best food & drink events this week, including the Mighty Fine-Late Start Brewing anniversary party

Plus a 17th birthday for the Indie, brunches, tapas at Golden Isles, and more.

by Ray Roa and Josh Bradley October 7, 2026October 8, 2026

A promotional portrait photograph showing pitmaster Ray Lampe, aka Dr. BBQ, c. 2017. Captured in a medium close-up shot, Ray Lampe smiles directly at the camera with framed eyeglasses, white hair, and a full white beard. He wears a black short-sleeved chef jacket featuring a colorful flame-patterned collar, set against a red and black graphic wall backdrop.

New restaurant from Food Network star Ray Lampe coming to Clearwater Beach

No exact opening date was announced, but Squiki Tiki hopes to debut sometime in December.

by Colin Wolf October 7, 2026October 7, 2026

V Modern Italian, led by Michelin-starred chef, opens in North Hyde Park

V Modern Italian will officially start taking reservations this Thursday, Oct. 8.

by Colin Wolf October 7, 2026October 7, 2026

An emergency news photograph by Tiffany Haas showing the Tampa Fire Department works on a fire at Rene's Mexican Kitchen in Tampa, Florida on Sept. 30, 2026. Captured in a daylight shot from street level, smoke rises above the pink-and-teal wooden exterior of Rene's Mexican Kitchen as a high-pressure water stream sprays onto the roof. A red fire truck rescue vehicle, a ladder truck with a firefighter positioned high on the aerial platform, and prominent street signage including a red octagon "STOP" sign and a black "ONE WAY" arrow sign stand in the foreground.

‘I just need a little push’: Rene’s Mexican Kitchen raising funds after fire damages VM Ybor restaurant

Nobody was harmed in a fire last week that heavily damaged the old building.

by Valerie Smith October 6, 2026October 6, 2026

An outdoor architectural photograph by Annalise Mabe showing Coco's In the Heights in Tampa, Florida on Sept. 29, 2026. Captured in a wide shot under a clear blue sky, the blue and black single-story venue features a covered outdoor patio on the left with picnic tables, bench seating, and overhead string lights. On the right, a black ordering counter with a four-panel window is decorated above with painted murals of palm trees, ocean waves, and stylized text reading "Coco's", set against a lawn forecourt with trees in the background.

Coco’s lands in Seminole Heights, Taste of the Beaches heads to Pinellas, and more in Tampa Bay food news

Plus, we get a glimpse at downtown Tampa’s new Mexican steakhouse Matilde, Pete’s Bagels is on the move, and more in our weekly food news round-up.

by CL Staff October 2, 2026October 2, 2026

A close-up outdoor photograph showing A Lost Coast Oyster, harvested in Terra Ceia, Florida. Captured in a first-person perspective on a boat, a hand holds a freshly shucked raw oyster in its shell, showcasing the clear brine and pale meat inside. In the background, black mesh floating aquaculture cages tied together float on the rippling open water along the edge of a white boat hull under natural daylight.

Tampa Bay’s best food & drink events happening October 1-8, including oysters and Café Clementine coming together at MFA St. Pete

Plus Savor the Bay, Cars + Coffee + Donuts at Lucky Tigre, Florida Orchestra Guild afternoon tea and more.

by Ray Roa and Josh Bradley October 1, 2026October 1, 2026

An outdoor portrait photograph showing a staff member at Coco's Crush Bar. Captured in a medium wide shot outdoors, a woman with dark hair styled in a sleek side bang smiles at the camera while making a peace sign with her right hand and balancing a metal serving tray in her left hand. The tray holds colorful plastic cups filled with bright iced crushed-cocktail drinks garnished with citrus wedges, set against a wooden railing post tied with rope and the colorful exterior facade of the venue under bright daylight.

Taste of the Beaches, offering $10 dishes and drinks at Pinellas restaurants, returns this month

The promotion runs at more than 50 locations from Oct. 3-11.

by Ray Roa October 1, 2026October 1, 2026

An outdoor landscape photograph by Annalise Mabe showing the roadside sign for Coco's In the Heights in Tampa, Florida on Sept. 29, 2026. Set against a bright blue sky with light wispy clouds, a tall black pole holds a prominent rectangular sign reading "Coco's" in colorful tropical lettering above text that reads "TAMPA MADE. CUBAN INSPIRED." Beneath the sign, a landscaped bed with green bushes and small lights sits along a wooden fence on the left. On the right, an outdoor patio area features closed patio umbrellas, string lights, and a small blue-and-white service hut set against surrounding trees.

New restaurant Coco’s In the Heights plans October opening at Tampa’s old Nebraska Mini-Mart

Coco’s already has locations in Palmetto Beach and East Tampa.

by Annalise Mabe and Ray Roa September 30, 2026October 6, 2026

Here are renderings of Matilde, a new Mexican steakhouse coming to downtown Tampa

Named after co-founder Andrew Wright’s Colombian grandmother, Matilde will be the company’s fifth concept.

by Colin Wolf September 28, 2026September 28, 2026

Openings & Closings

Pete’s Bagels will move into former Good Intentions space in St. Pete

‘We need something that allows us to grow over the next decade and allows us to be the true community hub that we want to be.’

by Colin Wolf September 28, 2026September 28, 2026