In Tampa's SoHo corridor, mixed-use development The Morrison has reached full occupancy. The project features 6,950 square feet of office space, 46 residential units and 13,890 square feet of retail, including three food and drink concepts, at 936 S. Howard Ave.
Alongside the previously announced Zoe's Kitchen, a fast-casual Mediterranean chain with more than 180 locations, The Morrison has Spanish-inspired tapas restaurant Bulla Gastrobar planned. Bulla (pronounced boo-yah), which operates three other locations in Coral Gables, Doral and Winter Park, serves a menu of small plates, meats and cheeses, larger plates, and sandwiches. In Tampa, the restaurant's space will have a 1,800-square-foot rooftop bar.
A local is joining the two out-of-towners at the SoHo complex, too. Started in Ybor City, the Blind Tiger is set to bring its third Tampa Bay cafe to The Morrison. All tenants are scheduled to launch in the third quarter of 2017.
• Nearby, Noodle Kitchen & Market has opened at 500 S. Howard Ave. This Asian noodle bar restaurant from Thai Gourmet Market owner Petta Brown bills itself as "gourmet to-go," offering a healthier alternative to traditional-style takeout.
The vegan and bone broth are made daily, chicken and pork are roasted daily, and the flavor-packed made-to-order bowls are gluten-free. To build their soup or noodle bowls, diners choose from five noodle offerings — sweet potato, mung bean, brown rice, rice and spinach — then pick their toppings, which include veggies and house-made sauces.
• At 14380 N. Dale Mabry Highway, the recently opened Kampong Asian Market Restaurant focuses on a fusion of Malaysian, Chinese, Thai, Singapore and Eurasian cuisines. The Carrollwood restaurant, which features a relaxed setting, divides its lineup into appetizers, noodle soups, specialty entrees, and a category called "Asian Special," with everything from pork dumplings to sweet and sour chicken.
Try the Malaysian flatbread known as roti canai, nicely plated Hainanese chicken rice, or pineapple fried rice that's served in a pineapple half.
• Lucky Lobster Co., opened in January, took over the downtown Dunedin space where the Salty Dawg most recently operated, and Jolli Mon's Grill before that. The lobster shack and clam bar cooks up classic seafood bites as starters (think fried calamari and jumbo lump crab cakes), as well as pizza, seafood entrees like seared ahi tuna and shrimp tacos, and meat, poultry and pasta dishes. Given its name, lobster plates abound at 941 Huntley Ave. as well.
• In Lutz, Brunchie's has made its way to 24400 State Road 54. The latest breakfast, lunch and brunch location, with a twist, for Brunchie's, which debuted its first restaurant to Tampa, held a soft opening on Jan. 27.
Diners enjoy a large something-for-everyone selection of items such as definitely-not-low-carb specialties from the griddle (pancakes, waffles and French toast), burgers and sandwiches, and egg-driven plates — a lox skillet, breakfast burrito with chorizo and portobello croissant Benedict included. There's also wine-based brunch beverages and even a Ginger Beard Coffee nitro cold brew on tap.
This article appears in Mar 9-16, 2017.