Bula Kafe's younger kava bar sibling, Bula on the Beach, will host its grand opening in Madeira Beach at 14601 Gulf Blvd. from noon until 2 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7.
The first 50 folks to arrive will have the chance to score a free botanical tea and shell of kava every day for a month. Live music will accompany drink specials throughout the evening.
Like the flagship, Bula on the Beach, which launched Jan. 9, helps pros and rookies explore a range of kava and botanical beverages. The bar carries Kahwa coffee and Nee Pops' cake pops, too.
Prepare for inventive sandwiches
Though Pom Pom's Teahouse & Sandwicheria in downtown St. Pete, scheduled to debut around last year's Pride parade, hasn't set another opening date, the restaurant has hip (and raved-about) roots in downtown Orlando, where chef-proprietor Pom Moongauklang's original location operates.
Owned by franchisee Tom Woodard, the Grand Central District Pom Pom's at 2950 Central Ave. will serve up several house-made dressings for salads and 26 sandwiches like a PB&J with marshmallow fluff, banana, strawberry jelly and peanut butter.
Loose-leaf teas and sweets will also be featured alongside a breakfast menu with potato-herb pancakes and specialty crepes.
Local focus, and character
At Tampa's Hyde Park Village, the new On Swann restaurant is the latest project from Cafe Ponte chef-owner Chris Ponte, former Bonefish Grill president John Cooper and former Outback Steakhouse senior vice president Trudy Cooper.
On Swann, a community kitchen and bar at 1501 W. Swann Ave., will have a locally sourced, seasonal focus. And with local character, according to a news release, the spot plans to open in fall.
An after-hours haven
The next time Mediterranean food cravings strike later in the evening, eaters may head to Ybor City's Gyro Express, an offshoot of Row Boat operating Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
Across the street from Row Boat at 1811 N. 15th St., Gyro Express offers a scaled-down version of its older sibling's menu, including gyros, salads, hummus and shawarma wraps.
Same space, different owners
Under new ownership, a fresh restaurant-bar-venue hails in the old Jolli Mon's Grill building at 941 Huntley Ave. in Dunedin. It's called The Salty Dawg.
The opened-last-month spot highlights items such as po' boys, a bison burger and quinoa salad, as well as a late-night grub lineup starting at 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
Live music happenings are still showcased regularly.
Thai noshery expands to St. Pete
On Thursday, Justhai, housed along West Neptune Street in South Tampa, will premiere its fast-casual Thai fare to St. Petersburg at 3201 Fourth St. N., the restaurant's second location that'll be managed by Justin Janney.
Chicken dumplings, spring rolls and mains like panang curry with diners' choice of chicken, beef, tofu or shrimp will be among the offerings.
Even more Mexican eats
Pericos, a Mexican cuisine-slinging joint, as reported by the Tampa Bay Business Journal, will launch its first restaurant outside of Mexico in about three to four weeks.
The eatery will operate at 8901 Fourth St. N. in St. Petersburg, where the Hip Hop Soda Shop was slated to open.
This article appears in Jan 22-28, 2015.