By our count, it’s been almost a month since Creative Loafing Tampa Bay posted a rundown of the latest openings and closings in our physical edition. To get caught up, here’s a quick recap of what’s happened in the Bay area food scene in the last three weeks.
Open
Bamb Bao A new delivery-only concept from a downtown Tampa favorite. Owner Lynn Pham told CL that BB allows her to “put a Bamboozle spin on different cuisines (like our bao with chicharrones or our lemongrass thai chili wings) and serve it in a way where you can enjoy it with others like at a happy hour, a corporate event, or just having friends over to watch a game.” Order items like Bao Bun sliders, dumplings, chicken wings, and fried rice via Uber Eats. @bambbao on Instagram
Cru Cellars The popular Bay area chain’s third location is now open in a 2,400-square-foot space at the Westshore Marina District. The menu includes Cru classics like tuna tartare, along with what a Facebook post called “some fun new dishes exclusive to our third location.” 2506 S MacDill Ave., Tampa. crucellars.com
DalMoros Fresh Pasta To Go The fast-casual Italian chain is now open in the U.S. thanks to this location where you can pair its wares with sauces like esto, boscaiola, cacio e pepe, bolognese, and Napoletana. Other toppings, desserts, and drinks like beer, fountain drinks and wine are also offered. 653 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. dalmoros.us
Fado Chef Rui Borges brings the Portuguese sister concept of his Orlando restaurant Lison to the ‘Burg. Menu items include pastéis de bacalhau, bife à Portuguesa (Portuguese steak) and serradura for dessert. 435 5th Ave. N, St. Petersburg. fadofl.com
Kroger But delivery, and only within a 90-mile radius of the Midwest grocer giant’s Tampa Bay fulfillment center. Look out Publix? kroger.com
Kuba en la Playa Kuba Cocina chef and owner Phe Lacalle now serves Cuban sandwiches, lobster empanadas, Cuban fried rice, salchipapa and a plantain-crusted snapper sandwich by the sea. And yes, the Seminole Heights location is still in the works. 7525 Blind Pass Rd., St. Pete Beach. kubacocina.com
Paradeco Coffee Roasters Take a break from shopping at Plaza Tower & Courtyard Shops to enjoy a variety of espressos, teas, smoothies, chia pudding, bowls, and sandwiches inside one of the most Instagram-ready interiors in Tampa Bay. 11 2nd Ave NE No. 101, St. Petersburg. paradecocoffee.com
Pipo’s Pronto An offshoot of Tampa Bay chain Pipo’s Cuban Cafe now serves Latin-style street food via The Kitchen food truck outside Mastry’s Brewing. Cuban-influenced handhelds (Abuelita’s Empanadas, Flying Pig Sliders) and small plates (grilled pork belly, mojo cotija fries, and yes the sando, are all on the menu. 7701 Blind Pass Rd., St. Pete Beach. @pipospronto on Instagram
Shake Shack Cross this off the list of “fast-food chains that aren’t in Tampa Bay, but need to be,” then head to Midtown Tampa for your Shack sauce fix paired with sidecars of chicken nugs and sandos, mushroom burgers, shakes, hot dogs, and the concept’s own Brooklyn Brewery “Shackmeister Ale.” 1011 Gramercy Ln., Tampa. shakeshack.com
Coming soon
Del Taco Would you eat a burger from a taco joint? Find out next year because the left coast fast food staple plans to open seven locations in Tampa Bay. Sarasota and Bradenton will probably get theirs first sometime in 2022, according to Senior Vice President of Development Jeff Little. deltaco.com
Jay & Luigi Set to open in July at a former Burger 21, the new trattoria-style pizzeria concept from Ciccio Restaurant Group and Forbici’s co-founder Jason Brunetti wil also serve modern and traditional fare with pastas, salads, small plates, cauliflower rice bowls, and two types of pizza: New York and Roman-style aka pizza al taglio. Plant-based options are also a big focus on the menu. 3201 4th St. N, St. Petersburg. @jaynluigi on Instagram
OCC Road House & Museum The restaurant and entertainment that is a joint venture between Paul Teutul Sr. of Orange County Choppers and local hospitality giant Keith Overton, and it’s having a grand opening on June 25-27 in concert with the grand opening of the Road House’s neighbor, Bert’s Barracuda Harley-Davidson. “Dust on the Bottle” country singer David Lee Murphy plays the 25,000-square-foot pavilion on opening night. Pinellas Park, rise up. 10575 49th St. N, Clearwater. occroadhouse.com
Moving
Brew Bus Seminole Heights’ Brew Bus Brewing closed at 4101 N Florida Ave. after May 31, but documents from the City of Tampa pretty much say the brewery has plans to re-open a couple blocks away. Ahead of the closing, Brew Bus founder and CEO Anthony Derby wouldn’t elaborate, only saying, “We look forward to sharing some exciting announcements in the near future…” And don’t worry, production of Brew Bus beer continues at the new Florida Avenue Brewing Co. facility located in Wesley Chapel. brewbususa.com
Closing
Kojak’s House of Ribs Owner Chris Forney—running the South Tampa staple founded by his dad and uncle in ‘78—couldn’t refuse an offer from developers who want to tear down the 1927-built bungalow and put up new apartments. Yes, he’s looking for a new location. 2808 Gandy Blvd., Tampa. kojaksbbq.net
Closed
Union In part citing the cost of running a multi-roaster with no other food elements to offset the cost of paying humane prices for coffee and making sure employees get livable wages, Joel Davis closed his coffee shop at Pickford’s Counter. But fear not. The team at the soda shop will still run the coffee program Davis built, and two of the longtime Tampeño’s finest products—Commune+Co. Pressure Brew and Get Along doughnuts—aren’t going anywhere.
ICYMI
St. Pete chef David Benstock beat Bobby Flay on Food Network Il Ritorno’s head honcho did it with a remix of his popular short rib mezzaluna, which you can always get some kind of variation on at his St. Pete restaurant. Two local chefs recently did the same thing; Cena’s Chef Michael Buttacavolli beat Flay with a meatball sandwich, and Chef Rosana Rivera did it in December 2019.
Tampa Bay baker Alicia Wolding launched a Delta-8 edibles line The baker and on-screen personality (Netflix, MTV) is calling her new rainbow-colored company “Lisa Dank,” and she’s ready to share 20mg gummies and vape cartridges, with flavors and packaging decked out in animal print and slices of cake. lisadank.co
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