Further fueling Tampa’s coffee scene, a new specialty hub has named itself after the stimulant in its beloved pick-me-ups. At 212 E. Cass St. in the former Ashworth Artisan Chocolate space, Caffeine recently debuted a simple, clean look and menu. The downtown Tampa coffee shop offers AeroPress, Chemex and more at its Brew Bar, as well as French sweets.
In North Hyde Park, The Lab launched this month at 1703 W. State St. The concept defines itself as a coffee collaboration laboratory, selling beans and fresh coffees, but also teaching patrons about roasting.
Coffee bar drinks like espresso, mocha lattes and messy caramel lattes are also on hand at Tampa’s Broken Yolk Cafe. The Southern California-based franchise, which held its grand opening at 10442 N. Dale Mabry Highway on April 4, specializes in a large something-for-everyone menu of homestyle breakfast and lunch options.
• Salt Cracker Fish Camp, part of the Baystar Restaurant Group, has started serving breakfast, lunch and dinner at 25 Causeway Blvd. The Clearwater Beach Marina acts as the down-home food spot’s backdrop. Aside from the view, its location on the water is handy for anglers who want to take advantage of the you-catch-and-clean-it, we’ll-cook-it offer.
The menu’s other highlights: grouper chowder, a grilled chicken sandwich with pimento cheese, six biscuit combos, espresso-rubbed ribeye, a raw bar and Southern French toast, featuring cream cheese, orange marmalade and pecans.
• A fresh buffet replaced Good Fortune Buffet in St. Petersburg’s Tyrone area. Dubbed the Big Apple Buffet, the beautifully designed eatery at 1030 58th St. N. prepares a crowd-pleasing medley of Japanese and Chinese fare (plus Italian, American and other cuisines) for carryout or dine-in, including a selection of sushi, items from the hibachi-style grill and matcha ice cream.
Madeira Beach’s Hinata Japanese Steakhouse & Seafood premiered its Japanese delicacies not too long ago as well. The hibachi lineup lists entrees, combination plates and dishes for kids, while sashimi, house rolls and chef specials like the Screaming Orgasm make up the sushi offerings at 696 150th Ave.
• Lutz saw the opening of a new Puerto Rican dining spot through the aptly named Rice n Beans. Here, mofongo (even vegetarian renditions), the jibarito sandwich with steak nestled between flattened fried plantains and more abound. The restaurant at 1943 Foggy Ridge Parkway complements its fare with drinks like Spanish sodas and juices.
• The Captain Bill’s neighborhood bar and grill opened to Palm Harbor at 191 Orange St. Cupcakes, cookies and more are now dished at 26306 Wesley Chapel Blvd. from Lutz’s 7 Layers Bakery. Near Tampa Heights’ Rialto Theatre, Riverview-based Foundation Coffee Co. is working on a future coffee shop at 1607 N. Franklin St. Also making its way to the Heights — Seminole Heights at 6701 N. Florida Ave. — is Brandon’s Revolution Ice Cream Co. And ICYMI, Clearwater’s Freaki Tiki Bar at 28778 U.S. Highway 19 N. transformed into Frankie T’s, currently promoted as Frankie T’s Dive Bar, after a visit from Spike’s Bar Rescue series.
This article appears in May 5-11, 2016.