With a varied and affordable lineup of fare, the family-friendly Plant City Cafe cooks up items like gyro platters, ropa vieja and chicken parm sandwiches. Thin-crust pizzas with homemade sauce and chicken wings may be customized, and the cafe’s ingredients are sourced locally whenever possible.
• In downtown Dade City, Curtis and Rebecca Beebe, of Pearl in the Grove and Local Public House and Provisions, became the new owners of City Market Bistro last month, renaming the popular destination Rebecca's at City Market .
Not much has changed at the eatery, which features high ceilings and exposed brick at 14148 Eighth St., though. It’s serving up some new offerings alongside favorites like hand-tossed brick-oven pizzas and fresh salads with seasonal produce. A rotating list of beer and wine is also available.
• After launching a little over year ago in Ybor City, The Blind Tiger has opened a second location in Seminole Heights. The cozy cafe is headquartered at the Christopher Wayne Home at 6500 N. Florida Ave. and carries specialty coffees, pastries and teas.
• The Flying with Jerome bakery and restaurant started showcasing its French-style international cuisine and pastries to Clearwater at 1469 Belcher Road.
Encouraging diners to “indulge your senses,” the spot offers global breakfast, brunch and lunch items like omelets, sandwiches, flatbreads, croissants and menu specials, as well as coffee, tea, wine and beer. On Fridays and Saturday nights, special themed dinners are also hosted.
• In other food and drink news,
Monarca's on the Beach is now slinging Mexican cuisine inside the short-lived digs of Savory on the Beach. New Port Richey’s Market Off Main relocated to a larger building at 6238 Grand Blvd. with a new name,
Rose's Bistro Off Main , and expanded menu, offering quiche, Cuban food, sandwiches and more. Meanwhile, diners should keep an eye on downtown St. Pete’s 945 Central Ave., where the Tampa-based
Bavaro's is gearing up to open in the EDGE District.
This article appears in Nov 19-25, 2015.