via floridanpalace.com
Openings
Sushi-Go The largest population of Japanese people outside of Japan reside in Brazil, and Tampa's newest fusion restaurant pays homage to this unique intersection of identities. Sushi-Go is located in Tampa’s Channel District, inside of a large mixed-plaza that also houses Maloney’ Local Irish Pub, Stageworks Theatre, and a Crunch Fitness. The Japanese-Brazilian restaurant celebrated its grand opening on Saturday, June 11, and is now open four days a week. With a small menu of both raw and cooked rolls, Sushi-Go offers dishes like its Hot Philadelphia roll—complete with panko-breaded hossomaki tempura, green onions and sesame seeds. 1208 E Kennedy Blvd. (Suite 115), Tampa. @sushigotampa on Instagram
Walk-On’s Run, don’t walk to Tampa Bay’s newest Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux. Under its motto of “Taste of Louisiana,” the national sports bar franchise Walk-On’s makes its latest Bay area debut next week when its Midtown Tampa location celebrates a grand opening on Monday, June 20. Located at Midtown Tampa at the intersection of Dale Mabry Highway and I-275, Walk-On's is best known for its massive beer list, dinner menu stacked with American classics, plethora of TVs, and family-friendly atmosphere. Doors will open at 11 a.m., shortly after the ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. The first 100 guests will receive a $10 gift card and coupon for a complimentary drink, plus the chance to win free Walk-On's for the entire year. 1140 Gramercy Ln., Tampa. walk-ons.com
Coming soon
Lucky Tigré With the support of her family, community and heritage, Tampa’s 24 year-old Julie Sainte Michelle Feliciano—most known for her Asian fusion pop-up Good Fortune Baby—will soon open her first brick and mortar at an undisclosed location in SoHo. Lucky Tigré, Tampa Bay’s first sari-sari counter, will be stacked with snacks, sundries, and Feliciano’s iconic dumplings and small plates. Known for fusion cuisine inspired by traditional Filipino flavors, some of Feliciano’s tediously-crafted offerings include vegan lumpia with garlic chili dipping sauce, white pepper pork dumplings and oyster mushroom siopao buns. “My food will never taste the same as what your lola makes, but I’m going to offer dishes that you can’t really make at home. It’s the same—but diprent,” she jokingly says in a Filipino accent. Her storefront is slated to debut by the end of this year, but you can keep up with its Instagram for the latest updates on this highly-anticipated opening. @luckytigretpa on Instagram
Fatburger & Buffalo’s Express In 2019, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay invoked Fatburger in a list of “25 fast-food chains that aren’t in Tampa Bay, but need to be” —and we’re just going to chalk this recent announcement up to manifestation. While Fatburger is most known for its fresh, made-to-order burgers, other offerings on its menu include milkshakes, sides like fries and onion rings, chicken sandwiches, vegan options like it's Impossible burger, and a keto-friendly bunless “skinny burger.” Its burgers are also extremely customizable—as customers can add a variety of toppings, from fried eggs to chili, onion rings and bacon. A wide selection of wings and sauces ranging from "Blazin' Jalepeño" to "Death Valley" occupy the Buffalo's Express portion of the menu. Over the next three years, four locations of Fatburger and Buffalo's Express will open throughout the Tampa Bay area. fatburger.com
Events
Tampa Theatre’s “Pee Wee Herman”-themed beer festival Hey beer-lovers with too-tight gray suits and red bow ties in your drawers: we've got an event for you. This summer, the historic Tampa Theatre is throwing a "Pee-wee Herman" themed beer festival with more than half-a-dozen of Tampa Bay's best breweries. Tickets to Tampa Theatre's "Pee-Wee's Beer Adventure" happening on Saturday, July 30 are on sale now and start at $55. Limited premium sampling is available for a small upcharge, and ticket prices go up on the day but the event almost alway sells out. The event—set for 7 p.m.-10 p.m. —will feature samples from breweries and restaurants like Coppertail Brewing Co., Florida Avenue Brewing Co., Magnanimous Brewing, Motorworks Brewing and New World Brewery, among many others. 711 N Franklin St., Tampa. tampatheatre.org—Ray Roa
ICYMI
Floridan Palace Hotel’s Sapphire Lounge happy hour The historic Floridan Palace is bringing new happy hour offerings to downtown Tampa in the hotel’s Sapphire Lounge. Guests can enjoy speciality drinks and small bites in the same lounge once shared by Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra and more. The new menu features $6 handcrafted speciality cocktails, $4 select beer and wine, and $5 small bites. Two takes on the Sazerac, a Bee's Knees, and a Hemingway are just a few new drinks on the expanded happy hour menu—and the lounge also offers shareable appetizers, signature entrees, fresh salads and desserts. 905 N Florida Ave., Tampa. floridanpalace.com
Love letter to St. Pete's beloved dive bar, Wilson's One of my favorite dive bars, Wilson’s Sports Lounge, closed last weekend after about 50 years of business. The iconic teal building off 4th street and 30th Avenue North in St. Petersburg had its last call on Saturday, where patrons new and old gathered to swap stories one more time. I’m writing this to share my sentiments for Wilson’s and all the memories I have where the bar is simultaneously the backdrop and the main character. The bartenders would juggle drink orders without a sweat and lovingly tell you to go to hell if the moment warranted; the regulars would make you feel welcome even if it was your first time there. Everyone was themselves, which is perhaps another overlapping qualifier for dives. There’s no need to masquerade as something you’re not—Wilson’s never tried to be a copy, it was wholly original. —SK West
Sushi-Go The largest population of Japanese people outside of Japan reside in Brazil, and Tampa's newest fusion restaurant pays homage to this unique intersection of identities. Sushi-Go is located in Tampa’s Channel District, inside of a large mixed-plaza that also houses Maloney’ Local Irish Pub, Stageworks Theatre, and a Crunch Fitness. The Japanese-Brazilian restaurant celebrated its grand opening on Saturday, June 11, and is now open four days a week. With a small menu of both raw and cooked rolls, Sushi-Go offers dishes like its Hot Philadelphia roll—complete with panko-breaded hossomaki tempura, green onions and sesame seeds. 1208 E Kennedy Blvd. (Suite 115), Tampa. @sushigotampa on Instagram
Walk-On’s Run, don’t walk to Tampa Bay’s newest Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux. Under its motto of “Taste of Louisiana,” the national sports bar franchise Walk-On’s makes its latest Bay area debut next week when its Midtown Tampa location celebrates a grand opening on Monday, June 20. Located at Midtown Tampa at the intersection of Dale Mabry Highway and I-275, Walk-On's is best known for its massive beer list, dinner menu stacked with American classics, plethora of TVs, and family-friendly atmosphere. Doors will open at 11 a.m., shortly after the ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. The first 100 guests will receive a $10 gift card and coupon for a complimentary drink, plus the chance to win free Walk-On's for the entire year. 1140 Gramercy Ln., Tampa. walk-ons.com
Coming soon
Lucky Tigré With the support of her family, community and heritage, Tampa’s 24 year-old Julie Sainte Michelle Feliciano—most known for her Asian fusion pop-up Good Fortune Baby—will soon open her first brick and mortar at an undisclosed location in SoHo. Lucky Tigré, Tampa Bay’s first sari-sari counter, will be stacked with snacks, sundries, and Feliciano’s iconic dumplings and small plates. Known for fusion cuisine inspired by traditional Filipino flavors, some of Feliciano’s tediously-crafted offerings include vegan lumpia with garlic chili dipping sauce, white pepper pork dumplings and oyster mushroom siopao buns. “My food will never taste the same as what your lola makes, but I’m going to offer dishes that you can’t really make at home. It’s the same—but diprent,” she jokingly says in a Filipino accent. Her storefront is slated to debut by the end of this year, but you can keep up with its Instagram for the latest updates on this highly-anticipated opening. @luckytigretpa on Instagram
Fatburger & Buffalo’s Express In 2019, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay invoked Fatburger in a list of “25 fast-food chains that aren’t in Tampa Bay, but need to be” —and we’re just going to chalk this recent announcement up to manifestation. While Fatburger is most known for its fresh, made-to-order burgers, other offerings on its menu include milkshakes, sides like fries and onion rings, chicken sandwiches, vegan options like it's Impossible burger, and a keto-friendly bunless “skinny burger.” Its burgers are also extremely customizable—as customers can add a variety of toppings, from fried eggs to chili, onion rings and bacon. A wide selection of wings and sauces ranging from "Blazin' Jalepeño" to "Death Valley" occupy the Buffalo's Express portion of the menu. Over the next three years, four locations of Fatburger and Buffalo's Express will open throughout the Tampa Bay area. fatburger.com
Events
Tampa Theatre’s “Pee Wee Herman”-themed beer festival Hey beer-lovers with too-tight gray suits and red bow ties in your drawers: we've got an event for you. This summer, the historic Tampa Theatre is throwing a "Pee-wee Herman" themed beer festival with more than half-a-dozen of Tampa Bay's best breweries. Tickets to Tampa Theatre's "Pee-Wee's Beer Adventure" happening on Saturday, July 30 are on sale now and start at $55. Limited premium sampling is available for a small upcharge, and ticket prices go up on the day but the event almost alway sells out. The event—set for 7 p.m.-10 p.m. —will feature samples from breweries and restaurants like Coppertail Brewing Co., Florida Avenue Brewing Co., Magnanimous Brewing, Motorworks Brewing and New World Brewery, among many others. 711 N Franklin St., Tampa. tampatheatre.org—Ray Roa
ICYMI
Floridan Palace Hotel’s Sapphire Lounge happy hour The historic Floridan Palace is bringing new happy hour offerings to downtown Tampa in the hotel’s Sapphire Lounge. Guests can enjoy speciality drinks and small bites in the same lounge once shared by Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra and more. The new menu features $6 handcrafted speciality cocktails, $4 select beer and wine, and $5 small bites. Two takes on the Sazerac, a Bee's Knees, and a Hemingway are just a few new drinks on the expanded happy hour menu—and the lounge also offers shareable appetizers, signature entrees, fresh salads and desserts. 905 N Florida Ave., Tampa. floridanpalace.com
Love letter to St. Pete's beloved dive bar, Wilson's One of my favorite dive bars, Wilson’s Sports Lounge, closed last weekend after about 50 years of business. The iconic teal building off 4th street and 30th Avenue North in St. Petersburg had its last call on Saturday, where patrons new and old gathered to swap stories one more time. I’m writing this to share my sentiments for Wilson’s and all the memories I have where the bar is simultaneously the backdrop and the main character. The bartenders would juggle drink orders without a sweat and lovingly tell you to go to hell if the moment warranted; the regulars would make you feel welcome even if it was your first time there. Everyone was themselves, which is perhaps another overlapping qualifier for dives. There’s no need to masquerade as something you’re not—Wilson’s never tried to be a copy, it was wholly original. —SK West
