In case you missed it, Russo’s New York Pizzeria celebrated a mid-November opening in Clearwater at 2233 Gulf to Bay Blvd., formerly home to McCabe’s Restaurant.
The second Florida outpost for the national and international pizza franchise (the first is in Pembroke Pines), Russo’s Clearwater — featuring a brick oven and open-air kitchen — serves New York-style pies and traditional Italian fare in a fast-casual atmosphere. While the chain is best known for its giant “party pizza,” calzones and classic pastas, gluten-free selections are also showcased.
Russo’s Clearwater is part of Houston-based Russo’s Restaurants, which operates 44 restaurant locations, including those under the Russo’s Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen umbrella. Its hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
• Location No. 2 for Pinellas Park’s Pho Kien Giang has arrived in Tampa. The Vietnamese eatery at 8199 N. Dale Mabry Highway launched Dec. 29 with a wide range of soups, rice, noodle, vegetarian and specialty dishes on its large bill of fare, everything from phở to stir-fry to bún.
• Bet you can guess what drives the menu of Chicken Yummy. At 5505 E. Fowler Ave., the Tampa food spot highlights curry chicken, a deluxe chicken burger, fried chicken, chicken salad, and a small lineup of non-poultry offerings.
Speaking of chicken, fast-casual Southern restaurant chain Chicken Salad Chick expanded to Palm Harbor last month. Specializing in a variety of house-made chicken salads, this latest franchise at 35271 U.S. Highway 19 N. features indoor-outdoor seating and a drive-thru window.
• Red Bowl Asian Cuisine took over the previous location of Tampa’s Panda Hut. The family-owned La Place shopping center newcomer at 1441 E. Fletcher Ave. retained some popular Panda Hut dishes on its bill of fare, plus added its own originals. Patrons of the small restaurant choose between items such as Chinese cucumber salad, braised pork rice and fried leek dumplings.
• Another interactive dining experience has set up shop in Tampa Bay. Pinellas Park’s 66 Q-Pot, an Asian hot pot and Korean barbecue restaurant, allows patrons to cook their own meals around the table. Recently opened at 6861 66th St. N., the communal restaurant offers all-you-can-eat hot pot for $22.99 and all-you-can-eat barbecue for $26.99.
This article appears in Jan 5-12, 2017.