Pssst… we've got wonderful news. The pair of St. Petersburg stalwarts that Tampa's Seminole Heights community has been waiting for — The Mandarin Hide and Bodega — recently revealed their launch dates on social media.
Bodega will premiere its fiercely loved Latin market food at 5901 N. Florida Ave. on July 27, while the cutting-edge Mandarin Hide folks, who are opening Mandarin Heights next door to Bodega's second location, open their "cocktail laboratory" a little earlier.
As in, like, this weekend kind of earlier — so, uh, we hope you've cleared your schedule between 5 p.m. and midnight Saturday.
The duo discussed plans for their shared Seminole Heights space with CL earlier this year, but here's a quick recap: Alongside an innovative selection of specialty cocktails, Mandarin Heights will bring a one-of-a-kind experience to the neighborhood, featuring upbeat music and an intimate, mid-century modern feel.
Meanwhile, Bodega has promised a rum-meets-juice bar driven by creativity, plus two shuffleboard courts that elevate the restaurant's family-friendly atmosphere. It's all accompanied by a menu of signature eats, which is set to remain relatively the same as what's offered in St. Pete.
Bodega No. 2 and Mandarin Heights are basically one big indoor-outdoor collaboration that allows guests to flow from the restaurant to the lab with ease. We cannot wait.
This article appears in Jul 19-26, 2018.