A second waterfront restaurant from Whiskey Joe’s Bar & Grill has debuted in Tampa Bay. Located along the Cotee River, the Port Richey newcomer at 7835 Bayview St. — which opened its doors Tuesday — features indoor and outdoor seating, large boat docks, fire pits and a tiki bar, alongside a signature Floribbean menu.
Dishes include gulf grouper tacos, a raw oyster bar, mango-glazed scallops and coconut rum chicken. Pair ’em with 14 mojitos, 30 kinds of margaritas and local beers on draft.
“Our team immediately fell in love with this location with its beautiful views and access to the water, and since then, we have come to love the people of Port Richey as well,” said Whiskey Joe’s Brand Manager Marty Duffany in a statement. “We are thrilled to be a part of the thriving city of Port Richey and are looking forward to being very involved in this community.”
With 66,067 square feet of space inside and out, the restaurant has room for more than 500 patrons from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Whiskey Joe’s, known for its picturesque views and live entertainment, operates additional locations in Tampa and Miami.
• New Taco Bus outposts are popping up all over lately, so here’s a quick update. In addition to its coming-soon South Tampa location along Gandy Boulevard, the Mexican restaurant brand has a location set for 505 S. Gulfview Blvd. On the ground floor of the Edge Hotel, Taco Bus Clearwater Beach was originally scheduled to premiere in February and is hiring for all positions.
• Get excited, Carrollwood residents. The Tampa neighborhood is getting its own Maple Street Biscuit Company at 13030 N. Dale Mabry Highway.
Part of the Carrollwood Village Shoppes, where Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza and Circles Bistro operate, the community-driven comfort food franchise — established by Scott Moore and Gus Evans in Jacksonville — is widely known for eclectic biscuits. Think combinations like The Squawking Goat (fried chicken breast, fried goat cheese medallion, house pepper jelly) and The Garden Bird (fried chicken, over-easy egg, collard greens, hot sauce).
Another Maple Street location, on the 600 Block in downtown St. Pete, is shooting for a premiere in mid-March.
• The University of South Florida’s Tampa campus has introduced OLILO by Cat Cora. The dining spot — launched inside the Juniper P.O.D. Market at 12030 USF Beard Drive — offers a Mediterranean-inspired menu of bowls, including lemon rosemary chicken, baked falafel and a build-your-own option.
With a name that derives from the words “olive oil” and “olives,” OLILO pays homage to the Iron Chef’s Greek roots.
• Finally, to wrap it up: Irish 31 is opening at 915 N. Franklin St., aka the bottom of downtown Tampa’s NINE15 high-rise apartments across from Franklin Manor. There’s now a Hole In One Donuts in Brandon at 923 Lithia Pinecrest Road. In downtown St. Pete, Lions Lounge is the latest restaurant addition to 350 First Ave. N., which last housed Diner 24. And Big Storm Brewing Co. plans to celebrate the arrival of its third location, Cape Coral, with a grand opening.
This article appears in Mar 15-22, 2018.
