This week, two new food slingers are opening their doors to the region. First up is Sea Dog Brew Pub, which plans to make its public debut on Tuesday at 9610 Gulf Blvd. The Treasure Island restaurant — 10,000 square feet and the eighth member of the Sea Dog Brewing Co. family — offers a gulf-inspired menu from executive chef Mark Boyd (a Tampa native who’s spent the last three years cooking at the Woodmark Hotel in the greater Seattle area), a full-liquor bar, and dozens of craft beers on tap.
Indoor and outdoor seating, the ability to catch NFL games, live entertainment, themed nights, a view of the Intracoastal Waterway, private dining and gaming are also Sea Dog Brew Pub highlights. And that’s just phase one, mind you. When the second phase of construction is complete, guests can enjoy a tiki bar, fire pits, grab-and-go sandwiches and boat slips.
• On the other side of the bay, Tampa’s American Social Bar & Kitchen started serving up lunch, dinner, late-night bites and brunch at 11:30 a.m. Monday. Now the flagship location for restaurateurs Rick Mijares and Paul Greenberg’s South Florida-born concept, this anticipated waterfront restaurant is located at 601 S. Harbour Island Blvd., aka The Pointe on Harbour Island.
Locals should know what to expect from AmSo’s upscale sports bar and restaurant menu, helmed by corporate executive chef Christopher Palmer, by now (we’ve been ever-so-patiently waiting). But here’s a refresher: comfort food favorites — from signature burgers and mac ‘n’ cheese to ropa vieja tacos and black grouper — plus craft beer and cocktails. Those stopping by for a midday meal might want to get in on the $14 “In and Out Lunch Special,” too, a spread featured during the week that consists of one entree, dessert and drink.
• Visit Zoës Kitchen in Tampa’s SoHo neighborhood, now until Tuesday, to score a free snack box with the purchase of any entree. Diners need to use promo code ZKSNACKBOX to score the limited-time deal, available in-store only.
There are three snack box options to choose from — Balanced Bites (grilled chicken, fresh mozzarella, pasta salad and mixed fruit), Hummus Duo & Veggies (classic hummus, basil-pesto hummus, cucumbers and tomatoes), and the gluten-free Modern Mediterranean (grilled chicken, fresh mozzarella, classic hummus, cucumbers and tomatoes).
• Dooriban, a St. Petersburg Korean restaurant, launched at 5600 66th St. N. not too long ago. Menu items include Korean-style fried chicken wings, spicy ramen, kimchi soup, donkatsu (breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet), and galbi (beef short ribs marinated in Korean barbecue sauce). Build-your-own poke bowls and lunchtime bento boxes are offered as well.
• Looking for fresh Mexican cuisine in Pinellas Park? El Guerrero Mexican Grill, which celebrated its grand opening Sept. 3, has you covered.
The restaurant at 9727 66th St. N. showcases lunch and dinner deals — think fajitas, molcajete bowls (a delicious medley of ingredients like pork carnitas, nopales and black beans), and chimichangas. There’s a full-liquor bar and a wide selection of domestic and Mexican beers to wash it all down with, alongside beloved Jarritos soda flavors.
This article appears in Oct 26 – Nov 2, 2017.