Following two back-to-back hurricanes, local restaurants and bars need your patronage now more than ever. Many didn’t make it, and quite a few are still recovering. But despite the circumstances, the area still saw a nice roster of new local eateries and watering holes open their doors across the Bay.
From “Alaskan” tacos, high-end steakhouses, slushy bars, and of course, fried chicken, here are some of the most noteworthy restaurant openings over the last couple months.
Mema’s Alaskan Tacos
11903 N 19th St., Ybor City
After 13 years away, Mema’s Alaskan Tacos returned to Ybor City. Owner Sean Godin, who launched Mema’s out of a 17th Avenue shack 20 years ago, told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that he never stopped making the tacos and has been eating them at home and with friends since closing in 2011. All the favorites—gator, shrimp, beef, and chicken and possibly three kinds of fish including salmon and grouper—will all be on the menu along with some iteration of the vegetarian tofu taco which locals loved to no end. Double-decker upgrades are available for tacos, and the menu also includes burritos, chimichangas, nachos, tamales, churros, and more. For the uninitiated, Mema’s Alaskan Tacos are prepared in accordance with a recipe from Godin’s grandma who cooked the fillings in the shell, resulting in an crispy taco topped with shreds of cold iceberg lettuce and sharp cheddar cheese all served in a sorely-missed translucent wax paper wrapping.
Photo by Ray Roa Credit: Photo by Ray RoaVoodoo Brewing
220 4th St. N, St. Petersburg
After announcing the Voodoo Brewing franchise setting up shop in St. Petersburg in 2022, and initially planning to open that same year– and again in 2023— the two-story, punk-rock, pub is finally made it’s debut this month. This location of Voodoo will have a “community-focused atmosphere,” according to a press release, which said that the craft beer will be shipped in from the company’s manufacturing facility in Meadville, Pennsylvania. A full food menu includes a “Voo-dill” pickle pizza, and the St. Pete space also features eight pinball machines.
Photo courtesy of Voodoo Brewing Co. Credit: Photo courtesy of Voodoo Brewing Co.Offset Sandwich Exchange
1133 Baum Ave. N, St. Petersburg
After two years of popping up around St. Petersburg, Offset Sandwich Exchange has a more permanent home in the Edge District. The concept run by restaurant industry lifer John Harrell and his wife Amy DePalma-Harrell opened the window on its food truck parked at Green Bench Brewing Co. earlier this month. The menu includes five sandwiches, two small plates, a handful of sides and desserts, plus cold brew and drinks. The manu will eventually expand, but for now, handhelds are available starting at $10.95, and include a fried green tomato sandwich, smashburger, plus Nashville hot chicken and BBQ pulled pork sandwiches. There’s also a gochujang-glazed Korean-style fried chicken sandwich available. Offset Sandwich Exchange’s opening menu also has grilled cheese and chicken tender plates. Sides offered by Offset include seasoned fries, sweet potato fries with hot honey, curry coleslaw and banana cheesecake flautas.
Photo by Jess Alba Credit: Photo by Jess AlbaShogun Sushi
1713 S Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa
Earlier this year, Hao Wah closed its doors at its South Tampa location, leaving room for another restaurant to take its place. Introducing Shogun Sushi, an all-you-can-eat sushi and seafood fusion restaurant. The new sushi spot soft-opened earlier this month, and plans a grand-opening for Nov. 1, a representative told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. The menu features a wide variety of sushi, sashimi and Japanese-style entrees, with all-you-can-eat dinner specials starting at around $33 per person, and lunch all-you-eat starting at $22.Hao Wah’s Dale Mabry location closed after 44 years in business but their food is still available at its other location in Pinellas Park.
Photo via Shogun Sushi Credit: Photo via Shogun SushiBarrieHaus Beer Co.’s new Trinity location
9945 Trinity Blvd., Trinity
Five years after launching in Ybor City, an award-winning Tampa brewery scene favorite opened a new taproom 30 miles north. BarrieHaus Beer Co. opened doors in Trinity in early October. Co-founder Brittney Barrie told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that the Trinity location features an inviting wrap-around 12-person bar, cozy corner and family-friendly indoor biergarten. There are also TVs for the game, and a small sunny patio. “As a proud neighborhood brewery and community hub, we remain deeply rooted in the area, where Jim grew up. We’re excited to extend our welcoming atmosphere, along with our signature easy-drinking lagers and a variety of exciting new events, to the Trinity and South Pasco communities,” she added. Over the summer at the World Beer Cup in Las Vegas, BarrieHaus Beer Co.’s Bublina Czech-Style Pilsner took home a gold medal in the Bohemian-Style Pilsner category which included 152 entries.
Photo via BarrieHaus Beer Co. Credit: c/o BarrieHaus Beer Co.Sparrow Rooftop
1234 Central Ave., St. Petersburg
The Edge District’s newest hotel, Moxy St. Pete, will soon have a rooftop restaurant and bar. Sparrow Rooftop aims to open in October of this year, and will offer up an Asian-fusion cuisine and craft cocktails in a sleek 4,000-square foot space with unobstructed city views.
Photo via Moxie St. Pete/websiteFleming’s Prime Steakhouse
4342 W Boy Scout Rd., Tampa
A new and shiny Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar debuted in Tampa in early September. Opening literally next door to the original location, the new flagship restaurant boasts 13,000-square-foot of space, with a wine bar with 2,700 international and domestic wines, new cocktail offerings, acoustic ceiling tiles to mitigate noise, live music, and more.
Photo via Fleming’s Prime SteakhouseFat Tuesday
1704 E 7th Ave., Ybor City
Fat Tuesday, a restaurant chain that focuses on boozy slushies and giant souvenir cups made its comeback in Ybor City this fall. Known for massive, souvenir cups filled with slushy booze flavors, like its signature 190 Octane, Cat 5 Hurricane, 44 Magnum, Miami Vice, Rocket Fuel, and Pain in the Ass, the company also has a food menu featuring wings and pizzas. Founded in New Orleans in 1984, the chain has since expanded to 87 locations around the country. But this isn’t the first time Fat Tuesday has opened in Ybor City. The store opened just down the street from this location in 1994, and faced initial criticism for helping “saturate” Ybor with big box chains.
Photo via Fat Tuesday/Facebook Credit: Photo via Fat Tuesday/FacebookOutcast Brewing Company
1776 11th Ave. N, St. Petersburg
A building that once housed two popular breweries reopened its doors under a new LLC and ownership this fall. Outcast Brewing Company opened out of the building where King State’s The Brutalist and Flying Boat Brewery once operated, and in addition to its main indoor bar, Outcast’s large space boasts several different spaces that focus on different beverages—with one room focusing on wine-based craft cocktails and another offering prosecco and high-end wines. Outcasts’s Head Brewer Scott Roche has over 25 years of experience in cities like Buffalo and New Orleans, and plans to bring a wide range of craft beers to the new St. Pete brewery.
Photo via Outcast Brewing Company Credit: c/o Outcast Brewing CompanyClutch City Cluckers
2315 E Fletcher Ave., Tampa
A Texas chain that specializes in, you guessed it, Nashville hot chicken will debut its first Florida location in Tampa later this month. Clutch City Cluckers, named after the Houston Rockets’ 1994 and 1995 NBA Championship runs, will open its permanent food truck spot on Sept. 27. Known for Nashville-inspired hot chicken, Cluck City’s menu also spans cheese topped hot chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, wings, shrimp tacos, salads, loaded fries, shakes, root beer floats, and more. Clutch City Cluckers was launched in Houston in 2021 by Ahmad Kilani, a native of Irbid, Jordan. The food truck chain has since expanded to 11 locations across Texas, Louisiana, and even one brick and mortar in Amman, Jordan.
Photo via Clutch City Cluckers/Facebook Credit: Photo via Clutch City Cluckers/FacebookSky Puppy Brewing in Ybor City, Florida. Credit: Photo by Kelsey Fuse / Sky Puppy BrewingThe Fryer House
6617 N Nebraska Ave., Tampa
The Fryer House, a new halal fried chicken spot, opened Sunday, Sept. 1 in the former BFF Artisan Bakery, which is directly across the street from popular Korean fried chicken restaurant Ganchu Chicken & Beer.The concept centers around halal-fried chicken sandwiches and tendies, as well as Japanese “karaage” chicken, and American style, all with varying degrees of hotness from “Nada” to “Pepper X,” which requires a waiver. The Fry House menu spans plenty of sides like fried corn ribs, mac ‘n cheese, fried okra and more. There’s also vegan and vegetarian offerings, including vegan cauliflower and waffles, vegan cauliflower sandos and vegetarian loaded fries.
Photo via Fryer House/Facebook Credit: Photo via Fryer House/FacebookPluma Credit: Rendering via Lou Hammond Group
308 E Fletcher Ave., Tampa Bonchon, arguably one of the best South Korean fried chicken chains, is on its way to Tampa. The new Tampa location has been rumored for over a year now, and over the last couple weeks, Bonchon started posting multiple job openings. But according to the company, the new outpost will finally make its debut in the USF area. As of now, no exact opening date for the Tampa location has been announced, though there’s some speculation it may open mid to late August.
Photo via Bonchon/websiteStormrunners Tavern
3128 Beach Blvd. S, Gulfport
A new concept in a familiar building is getting ready to open its doors in downtown Gulfport. While Stormrunners Tavern occupies the ground floor as a casual bar and restaurant, its second floor will be dubbed the “Crow’s Nest,” an open-air bar and patio that features prized views of Boca Ciega Bay. An outdoor dog bar called Bark Gulfport will also be located on the premises, complete with a tiki-style thatched roof and a turfed area for pups to play on. Stormrunners’ ownership includes Dave Burton of Tampa’s Soho Sushi and GenX Tavern, plus Dog Bar owner Fred Metzler and Ian Taylor and Joey Frasco of downtown St. Pete’s The Galley.
Photo via stormrunnerstavern/website Credit: Photo via stormrunnerstavern/website
