CL regularly presents focused listings of the best dining options in Tampa Bay's neighborhoods. This week we're giving you a guide to the spots in Tampa Bay known for their late-night dining hours and pre-hangover fare.
AJA WIREGRASS 28211 Paseo Drive, Wesley Chapel, 813-994-2242, ajawiregrass.com. Not just a dance club for 20- to 40(plus)-somethings, Aja also serves a full menu 'til late in the night — an array of globally influenced appetizers, entrees and salads. The prices may be a bit steep, but after tee many martoonis, you probably won't care.
ANGIE'S CAFE 200 First Ave. N, St. Pete, 727-823-6437. The gyros and Philly cheese steaks to die for, especially when you're three sheets to the wind in Downtown St. Pete.
ANYTIME PIZZA 2216 34th St S, St. Pete; 8400 Fourth Street N, St. Pete, 727-577-4992; 2930 Beach Blvd., Gulfport, 727-323-2015, anytime-pizza.com. A pizza joint that lives up to its name because it's open and delivers into the wee hours of the morning. And whether it's 2 a.m. or 2 p.m., you can order from their breakfast pizza menu (my pick: the "Cock-a-doodle-YOU") or from their array of specialty salads, wings, soups, and even chicken and waffles. Call for information and delivery areas.
BELLA'S ITALIAN CAFE 1413 S. Howard Ave, Tampa, 813-254-3355, bellasitaliancafe.com. Homemade Italian favorites that taste like your Italian grandma made them. Despite its trendy location, Bella's is a cozy spot for a romantic rendezvous or a night out with the family. Late-night happy hour on weekends gets you half-priced pizzas and calzones.
BURRITO BOARDER 17 Third St. N, St. Pete; 727-209-0202, 12908 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa, 813-963-2400, burritoboarder.com. Fresh-Mex done well, with healthy options, large portions and a well-stocked hot sauce bar. And if you're not quite done drinking yet, order a cerveza to go with your pre-hangover meal.
CAFE ALMA 260 First Ave. S, St. Pete, 727-502-5002, cafealma.com. A killer brunch (check out the Bloody Mary bar), late-night dining and other cool add-ons make Cafe Alma a popular destination. Chef Scott Vogel makes use of some great ingredients on the Mediterranean-inspired menu. Also offering half-priced wine bottles and tapas all day on Tuesday.
CEVICHE 1502 S. Howard Ave., Tampa, 813-250-0203; 10 Beach Drive, St. Pete, 727-209-2302; 2930 Gulf to Bay Blvd, Clearwater, 727-799-3082; cevichetapas.com. All three of Ceviche's locations serve their tasty tapas (and infamous sangria) until close — between 12 and 3 a.m., depending on location. Check locations for hours of operation.
FLY BAR 1202 N Franklin St, Tampa; 813-275-5000, flybarandrestaurant.com/tampa. Fly's lounge menu, featuring gourmet small plates and desserts, is available until close (3 a.m. on most nights). The ropa vieja and roasted garlic frites would make for great pre-hangover fare.
GEORGIE'S ALIBI 3100 Third Ave N., St. Pete. 727-321-2112, georgiesalibi.com/stpete. It's a sports bar, it's a restaurant, it's a dance club! A restaurant by day that transforms into an alternative lifestyle club by night, Georgie's offers an extensive menu of tasty finger foods, sandwiches, salads and homemade dinner specials late into the night. Great drink specials every day and the bartenders definitely don't skimp on the liquor.
HARD ROCK CAFE AT THE SEMINOLE HARD ROCK CASINO 5223 Orient Road, Tampa, 866-502-7529, seminolehardrocktampa.com/dining/hardrockcafe. After a long (hopefully successful) night at the casino, grab a bite at the new Hard Rock Cafe, serving food and drinks until midnight on week nights and until 4 a.m. on Thursday-Saturday nights.
HIRO'S TOKYO STEAKHOUSE & SUSHI BAR 5250 Fourth St N, St. Pete, 727-522-4476, hirostokyosteakhouse.com. Half-priced sushi, appetizers and drinks after 10 p.m. until close every night.
KRISTINA'S CAFE 3590 34th St N, St. Pete, 727-526-6673. A 24-hour hot spot in St. Pete that's especially hopping after 2 a.m. Kristina's serves its entire menu all day and night, so after a long night at the bars in Downtown St. Pete or even the morning after, you can get everything from French toast to chicken fried steak. It's especially fun to dine there at 3 a.m. and watch the myriad of people come through the door, from church groups to goths to the just plain wasted.
LA TERESITA 3248 W. Columbus Drive, Tampa, 813-879-9704, lateresitarestaurant.com. Is there a better place for people-watching than that winding counter? Is there a better time for people-watching than late night? Best of all, the food is cheap, arrives fast and always comes with pressed Cuban bread. Open 24 hours on weekends.
MEMA'S ALASKAN TACOS 1724 E. Eighth Ave., Tampa, 813-242-8226. An after-hours Ybor favorite, stumbling distance from Seventh Avenue, famous for deep-fried tacos but also offering other Tex-Mex favorites like enchiladas, chimichangas and homemade tamales. Yes, it's pricier than Taco Bell, but you can be assured that you're not getting dog-food grade meat in your meal.
NEW YORK NEW YORK PIZZA BAR & GRILL 1512 E. Seventh Ave., 813-248-1845, newyorknewyorkpizzeria.com. Ybor's most popular streetside pizza vendor, NYNY also has the usual range of pizzeria favorites — like pasta and sandwiches — served in its dining room.
PITA PIT 500 S. Howard Ave., Tampa, 813-254-7482; 2309 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, 813-910-1669, pitapitusa.com. A healthier dining option after you've done a fair amount of damage to your body out at the bars. Build-your-own overstuffed pitas with fillings like chicken, gyro meat and an array of fresh veggies. Vegan-friendly.
RIBIT'S BBQ 401 S. Howard Ave., Tampa, 813-817-4909, ribitsbbq.com. After doing the bar crawl up and down Howard in SoHo, stop at this garage-turned-BBQ joint for Alabama-style pork ribs, North Carolina pulled pork or Georgia-style smoked sausage. Open until 3 a.m. Wednesday-Saturday.
ST. PETE DINER 1101 34th St N, St. Pete, 727-323-4200. Another late-night hangout in the 'Burg that serves classic diner fare all day and night.
TACO BUS 913 E Hillsborough Ave., Tampa, 813-232-5889, 2324 Central Ave., St. Pete, 727-322-5000, tampatacobus.com. Two locations now open for your late night burrito fix, the Taco Bus stands head and shoulders above Taco Hell. But why stop at the burritos? Get an agua fresca (try the watermelon) to replenish your fluids and wolf down a rich tres leches cake to slake your munchies.
THREE COINS RESTAURANT 7410 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa, 813-239-1256. This humble diner covers all the bases, with no specialty really standing out on the menu. But when it is late and you're desperate for breakfast, a sandwich, or a blue plate special, Three Coins will do. Watch the human menagerie pass by along Nebraska Avenue to remind yourself how good you have it.
This article appears in Sep 15-21, 2011.