We hope you brought your appetite into 2025, because Tampa Bay’s latest menu offerings are going to make you want to lay off the Ozempic.
This winter, the local dining scene has witnessed a diverse spread of new restaurants, and there truly is something for everyone. From high-end seafood concepts, Indian street food spots, rooftop bars, NY-style delis, and more, here are some of the most noteworthy restaurant openings over the last couple months.
Both of Chef Vollmer’s local restaurants, Ebbe and Fisk, are located at 1202 N Franklin St. in downtown Tampa. Credit: Kyla FieldsSparrow
1234 Central Ave., St. Petersburg
A new bar with some elevated views debuted in St. Petersburg last December. St. Petersburg’s new rooftop bar Sparrow opened on the top floor of the Moxy Hotel, offering a dinner, dessert and a beverage menu. The cocktail bar, with its first location in Fort Lauderdale, is open Thursday-Saturday.
Photo via Sparrow Rooftop/Instagram Credit: Image via Sparrow Rooftop/Instagram
165 Dr. MLK St. N, St. Petersburg Nearly four years after it was first announced, new Indian street food concept Mowgli’s Tiffin has finally debuted in St. Petersburg. Located in the former Chi-Town Beefs location at 165 Dr. MLK St. N, just on the edge of the Edge District, Mowgli’s quietly opened on Dec. 31. In a previous interview with Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, owner and Tampa Bay native, Amita Mukherjee, said Mowgli’s is inspired by her frequent trips to India with her parents in her early years, which helped blossom a love for Indian street food. “I would crave that street food,” said Mukherjee. “But when I went to Indian places around here I noticed that you don’t get those options. Most Indian places seem to center around curries.” The 16-seat, 526-square-foot restaurant centers around Indian fusion dishes like kaati rolls, pani puri, and its signature Kolkati Roll, which is essentially a roti wrapped around a kebab. There’s also butter chicken rice bowls, grilled cheese naan, potato bhaji, paneer curds, and more.
Photo via hot_metal_designs Credit: Photo via hot_metal_designsMad Dogs and Englishmen was among the new restaurants added to the Florida Michelin Dining Guide. Credit: Photo via Mad Dogs/FacebookCybel’s chicken shwarma is garnished with sumac-marinated onions, parsley, pickles and a creamy garlic sauce. Credit: cybelrestaurant/InstagramMotorworks Brewing
707 Harbour Post Dr., Tampa
Just when you think that Tampa Bay doesn’t have any room for more breweries, another one pops up. In this case, it is an expansion of territory for Bradenton-favorite Motorworks Brewing, which is settling into its newest space on Harbour Island in downtown Tampa. The brewery’s third location, Motorworks Brewing Taproom Tampa, is now open and advertised as the “ultimate destination for craft beer enthusiasts and sports fans.” The parcel was previously occupied by OG Tampa restaurant Cafe Dufrain, which closed last fall. With strong ties in Manatee County as its first production brewery, Motorworks was established in 2014 by Frank Tschida, former sprint car builder, liquor store owner and excavating contractor. The name of the brewery is a tribute to the 1920s Hudson Motors car dealership that was the previous occupant of the brewery’s Bradenton space.
Photo via Motorworks Brewing Taproom Tampa/Facebook Credit: Photo via Motorworks Brewing Taproom Tampa/FacebookPagoda Asian Grill
1550 66th St. N., St. Petersburg
Popular Asian-fusion chain P.F. Chang’s recently launched a faster, more efficient way to get beef and broccoli into your circumference. Pagoda Asian Grill, a new fast casual concept from P.F. Chang’s, opened in St. Petersburg on last month. The new outpost is the company’s second Florida-based Pagoda Asian Grill. The first Pagoda opened in Orlando, but closed last fall. Pagoda Asian Grill’s menu features a lot of familiar protein and noodle dishes from its big brother, but served in $11 to-go bowls. There’s other portable grub options like wraps, pork egg rolls, shrimp dumplings, wonton chips and more.
Rendering via Pagoda Asian Grill/Facebook Credit: Rendering via Pagoda Asian Grill/FacebookCousin Vinny’s “That Louie” with a chicken cutlet, roasted red peppers, pesto aoili and mozzarella. Credit: cousinvinnyssandwichco/Facebook
25769 Sierra Center Blvd., Wesley Chapel Chicken Guy, a fast-food chicken sandwich and tender concept spearheaded by the
Mayor of Flavortown himself, will soon open a new location in Wesley Chapel. Co-founded in 2018 with Planet Hollywood founder Robert Earl, the chain’s menu primarily focuses on chicken tenders and Guy’s “Big Bite” chicken sandwiches, which are both served either grilled or “crispy fried.” There’s also shakes, fries, mac and cheese, salads and more up for grabs. No exact opening date has been announced for the new Wesley Chapel restaurant, but local blog Tampa Bay Is Awesome says it will debut in October.
Photo via Chicken Guy/Facebook Credit: Photo via Chicken Guy/FacebookTampa Bay’s first drive-thru Shake Shack
25600 Sierra Center Blvd., Wesley Chapel
You’ll no longer have to get out of your car to get a Shack burger, crinkle cut fries and a shake. Tampa Bay’s first Shake Shack drive-thru opened in Wesley Chapel last December. For those of you that prefer to use your legs, the new location will have both indoor seating and a drive-thru. Known for their milkshake and bacon cheese fries combos, the fan-favorite also offers limited time holiday shakes, such as the chocolate yule log and Christmas cookie shake. Like most snowbirds, Shake Shack found its way to Florida, now with over 20 locations opened in the state. The first Tampa Bay location opened in 2021, as CL previously reported. This will be the third Shake Shack in the Bay area.
Photo via Shake Shack/Facebook Credit: Photo via Shake Shack/FacebookPerry’s Porch
600 2nd Ave. NE, St. Petersburg
As part of the recent expansion at the St. Petersburg Museum of History, Perry’s Porch is an homage to the 20th century developer Perry Snell, and debuts this weekend at 600 2nd Ave. NE—a space that was most recently occupied by craft beer spot Hops and Props. “As lifelong residents of St. Pete, we’re proud to contribute to the city’s continued growth and vibrancy with Perry’s Porch,” said Ryan Griffin, co-owner of Seed & Feed Hospitality Group, in a statement. “The St. Pete Pier is an iconic location, and we’re honored to be part of its story. We’re looking forward t creating a space that feels welcoming and reflective of our city’s charm.” The menu at Perry’s Porch will center around “Old Florida classics,” says the press release, “from sandwiches to salads, and savory dinner favorites—all with a coastal flair.” The concept will also include as a coffee shop component with baked goods, and a “one-of-a-kind gelato cart.”
Photo via Perry’s Porch/Facebook Credit: Photo via Perry's Porch/FacebookHales Blackbrick
809 W Platt St., Tampa
Chef Richard Hales and his wife/partner Jenny have opened the doors to their new Hyde Park restaurant. Hales Blackbrick’s second location opened in Hyde Park last December, right around the corner from other concepts like Gasparilla Pizzeria and Don Rigatoni. The newly-opened eatery shares the same Chinese-Floridian hybrid menu as its flagship restaurant at 4812 N Dale Mabry Hwy., which opened out of the former Pop ‘n Sons diner in 2022. While modern iterations of traditional Chinese fare are the star of the menu (think dumplings, char sui, Sichuan-style eggplant, dan dan noodles, steamed tofu), Chef Hales also features techniques and flavors from other Asian cuisines. He also finds culinary inspiration from his own Filipino background, with his family’s 100 year-old lumpia recipe on the menu, too.
Photo via Hales Blackbrick via OpenTableSweetgreen St. Pete
1114 Central Ave., St. Petersburg
A highly-anticipated, salad-centric restaurant opened its doors in the heart of downtown St. Pete last December.
The Burg’s first Sweetgreen is now dishing out beloved salads, grain bowls and protein plates that the California-based chain is known for. St. Pete’s new spot for healthy eats shares the same menu as the rest of the Sweetgreens in the country, which includes options like its hot honey chicken protein plate with quinoa, roasted sweet potatoes, veggie slaw, crispy onions and honey mustard sauce, or the popular “Super Green Goddess” salad with shredded kale, baby spinach, sweet potatoes, cabbage, broccoli, almonds, chickpeas, carrots and green goddess dressing.
Photo via sweetgreen/Facebook Credit: sweetgreen/FacebookJay Luigi Soho
516 S Howard Ave., Tampa
Three years after the popular fast casual Italian spot made its debut in St. Petersburg, South Tampa now has a Jay Luigi closer to home. Last July, Ciccio Restaurant Group (CRG) closed Cuban concept Luv Child with plans to eventually replace it with a Jay Luigi which is known for its fresh pasta and naturally fermented pizzas. Brunch specials are a weekend only event, on Saturday and Sunday until 3 p.m. CRG also manages other local favorites, such as Fresh Kitchen, Green Lemon and Sweet Soul.
Photo via Jay Luigi Credit: Photo via Jay Luigi
