Openings
Crisp & Green Time to get your summer body right by visiting health-focused restaurant Crisp & Green, which celebrated its grand opening last weekend in Tampa's Water Street development. The fast-casual spot is located on the ground floor of the East Cumberland Avenue parking garage, across from the Cora residential development. The Minnesota-based chain serves salads, aguas frescas, build-your-own grain bowls, and smoothies, with numerous vegan and vegetarian options on the menu. Crisp & Green hit the market in 2016 with a goal to blend healthy and nutritious food with fitness by collaborating with fitness studios and trainers. 1055 E Cumberland Ave., Tampa. Crispandgreen.com
Little Tina Downtown Tampa’s newest cafe quietly opened its doors last month at 507 N Tampa St., just a few blocks from Curtis Hixon Park. Little Tina’s signature drinks include a honey lavender latte and a Cuban-style americano, alongside an expected spread of other espresso-based drinks and teas. In addition to its caffeinated drinks, this new cafe also dishes out a small menu of toasts, breakfast sandwiches, acai bowls, and a small variety of baked goods. The bottom of its soft opening menu states that Little Tina will announce the launch of its cocktail program soon. It’s now open from 8 a.m. -4 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m.-2 p. M. on Fridays. The cafe is set to announce its cocktail menu and newly-added food items sometime in the near future. 507 N Tampa St., Tampa. @littletinatpa on Instagram
Closings
Ichicoro Eight years after changing the Seminole Heights dining scene, Tampa’s Ichicoro Ramen has closed, according to a now-former employee. Lex Rosario—who worked front of house at Ichicoro when they first started in November 2021 before moving to back of house—told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay they were at their other job on Friday, March 31 when they got word of the closure from co-workers. Ichicoro’s Google listing now says “Permanently Closed,” and a sign on the front of the building says “Ichicoro Ramen will be closed today. Thank you so much for you understanding, and we apologize for any inconvenience.” The sign has remained on its door for over two weeks. Records at the City of Tampa show that an "Ichicoro 2.0" was underway across the street at 5246 N Florida Ave, but the last update for that concept happened in December 2022. It's unclear what is happening with that property. 5229 N Florida Ave., Tampa. ichicoro.com
Black Radish St. Pete One of The ‘Burg’s go-to plant-based spots will soon close its doors—but there's still some time to grab a vegan Cuban sammie before its very last day. Black Radish St. Pete announced its imminent closure on Instagram last week. "We’ve loved having the opportunity to share our dream with you and are abundantly grateful to every person who has supported us in any way along this journey,” Black Radish wrote on social media. "Our staff is and always will be our chief concern. Due to this, we intend to operate thru Monday, April 24th.” Until its last day, all of its items—except mocktails and hot deli sandwiches—will be 15% off to help the small grocery store clear its inventory. It’s not all bad news though; Black Radish’s flagship storefront in V.M. Ybor will remain open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Monday, with its deli slinging beautiful vegan sammies from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. those same days. 246 Dr. M.L.K. Jr St. N, St. Petersburg .blackradishgrocer.com/dtsp
Park & Rec Tampa Park & Rec, a downtown Tampa bar and restaurant that was the subject of a contentious 2020 lawsuit, has closed for good. The bar was operated by parent company Hunger Thirst Group, which also owns other Tampa Bay concepts like No Vacancy, Lost & Found, Avenue, Good Fortune, and others. The company's founder and CEO Stephen Schrutt took to social media late Thursday night to announce the closure. "I’m glad we gave the Tampa location a good run, but looking back, it wasn’t the right fit for the concept," said Schrutt. The bar opened back in 2019 on the ground floor of a 30-story downtown Tampa condominium. Since its launch, the concept was at the center of a battle with angry upstairs neighbors. In January 2020, the condo association sued the business over its use of the buildings' shared spaces and the use of outdoor lights and speakers, among other things. In his Thursday night post, Schrutt did not directly mention the lawsuit but did allude to the company's ongoing issues with the condominium. 290 S Meridian St., Tampa. Hungerthirstgroup.com
Events
'Greetings from Florida' lager party Even though Tampa Bay Beer Week wrapped last month, two local breweries are keeping the spirit going with a collaborative, lager-centric event. Greetings from Florida—happening on Saturday, April 29 at Ybor City Museum State Park—will showcase some of the best and crispiest lagers in the entire country. Dozens of craft breweries from across the U.S. will pour their prized brews at next weekend's lager party. Tickets run for $65 and include a commemorative glass and unlimited pours of 60+ lagers on tap. Guests are invited to wear their best Hawaiian shirts to give these out-of-town breweries their best Sunshine State welcome, too. A few out-of-town breweries that we can expect at Greetings from Florida include Kansas City's Alma Mader, California-based Bagby Beer Co., South Carolina's Birds Fly South Ale Project and Jack's Abby Craft Lagers from Massachusetts, alongside many more. 1818 E 9th Ave., Ybor City. greenbenchbrewing.com Tampa Bay Rum Society’s tasting dinner There’s a unique tasting dinner happening in Tampa next week, and its various rum samples might have you taking an Uber home. Happening on Thursday, April 27 at The Boozy Pig, Tampa Bay Rum Society hosts a tasting dinner that combines their love of curated spirit offerings with fine dining and rum education. Guests will learn about the “local pulse of the rum industry in Tampa Bay,” while enjoying an exclusive three-course dinner by Tampa’s beloved Boozy Pig, known for its high-quality meat selection. The meal kicks off with a grazing board loaded with The Boozy Pig’s finest meats and cheeses, while the first course of mixed greens, heirloom tomatoes, shaved veggies and blue cheese gives guests a light start to the night. Its main course is a heartier selection of bone-in pork chop with plantains and a spiced carrot puree. Tickets for a single admission cost $125, while couples and besties can reserve two spots for $230 via eventbrite.com. 3255 W Cypress St., Tampa. @tampabayrumsociety on Instagram ICYMI
New owners take over South Tampa’s SOG Cafe, no longer operated by Spaddy’s and Raw Smoothie Co. A South Tampa favorite recently changed ownership, but lucky for its regular customers, it’s still slinging similar lattes and breakfast items. SOG Cafe, which originally opened as a joint venture between Raw Smoothie Co. and Spaddy’s Coffee Co.—was acquired by new owners last week. Ronald Tineo and Omar Poueriet told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that they took over the concept, which stands for "South of Gandy," on Monday, April 10. While the direction and menu of SOG Cafe will be up to its new owners, Greg Spadaccini tells CL that the South Tampa shop will still use Spaddy’s coffee in its lattes, cappuccinos and more. In addition to tweaking their coffee and espresso offerings, SOG's new owners are also adding a few more food items like Cuban sandwiches, breakfast burritos and more specialty toasts. 6102 S MAcDill Ave., Suite F, Tampa. @sogcafe on Instagram.
Tampa Bay Taco Week returns with over a dozen local restaurants offering specials for $10 and under The best way to discover your new favorite taco spot is back. The 2023 rendition of Tampa Bay Taco Week runs 10 days from Thursday, April 20- Sunday, April 30, with almost two dozen local restaurants, taquerias and cantinas offering their best dine-in and take-out deals. Each restaurant participating in this year’s Tampa Bay Taco Week will offer their own taco special, plus deals on Corona beer, Hornitos, El Tesoro, and Tres Generaciones tequila, and more. Concepts participating in the Creative Loafing Tampa Bay event include: Cider Press Vegan Gastropub, Gallito, Datz, Independent Bar & Cafe, Jimmy’s Tacos, JoToro, Sea Dog Brewery, Miguel’s and Red Mesa Cantina, alongside many, many more. From expected proteins to innovative tacos, folks will be able to enjoy a wide range of Mexican-inspired eats starting this week. tampabaytacoweek.com
Crisp & Green Time to get your summer body right by visiting health-focused restaurant Crisp & Green, which celebrated its grand opening last weekend in Tampa's Water Street development. The fast-casual spot is located on the ground floor of the East Cumberland Avenue parking garage, across from the Cora residential development. The Minnesota-based chain serves salads, aguas frescas, build-your-own grain bowls, and smoothies, with numerous vegan and vegetarian options on the menu. Crisp & Green hit the market in 2016 with a goal to blend healthy and nutritious food with fitness by collaborating with fitness studios and trainers. 1055 E Cumberland Ave., Tampa. Crispandgreen.com
Little Tina Downtown Tampa’s newest cafe quietly opened its doors last month at 507 N Tampa St., just a few blocks from Curtis Hixon Park. Little Tina’s signature drinks include a honey lavender latte and a Cuban-style americano, alongside an expected spread of other espresso-based drinks and teas. In addition to its caffeinated drinks, this new cafe also dishes out a small menu of toasts, breakfast sandwiches, acai bowls, and a small variety of baked goods. The bottom of its soft opening menu states that Little Tina will announce the launch of its cocktail program soon. It’s now open from 8 a.m. -4 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m.-2 p. M. on Fridays. The cafe is set to announce its cocktail menu and newly-added food items sometime in the near future. 507 N Tampa St., Tampa. @littletinatpa on Instagram
Closings
Ichicoro Eight years after changing the Seminole Heights dining scene, Tampa’s Ichicoro Ramen has closed, according to a now-former employee. Lex Rosario—who worked front of house at Ichicoro when they first started in November 2021 before moving to back of house—told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay they were at their other job on Friday, March 31 when they got word of the closure from co-workers. Ichicoro’s Google listing now says “Permanently Closed,” and a sign on the front of the building says “Ichicoro Ramen will be closed today. Thank you so much for you understanding, and we apologize for any inconvenience.” The sign has remained on its door for over two weeks. Records at the City of Tampa show that an "Ichicoro 2.0" was underway across the street at 5246 N Florida Ave, but the last update for that concept happened in December 2022. It's unclear what is happening with that property. 5229 N Florida Ave., Tampa. ichicoro.com
Black Radish St. Pete One of The ‘Burg’s go-to plant-based spots will soon close its doors—but there's still some time to grab a vegan Cuban sammie before its very last day. Black Radish St. Pete announced its imminent closure on Instagram last week. "We’ve loved having the opportunity to share our dream with you and are abundantly grateful to every person who has supported us in any way along this journey,” Black Radish wrote on social media. "Our staff is and always will be our chief concern. Due to this, we intend to operate thru Monday, April 24th.” Until its last day, all of its items—except mocktails and hot deli sandwiches—will be 15% off to help the small grocery store clear its inventory. It’s not all bad news though; Black Radish’s flagship storefront in V.M. Ybor will remain open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Monday, with its deli slinging beautiful vegan sammies from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. those same days. 246 Dr. M.L.K. Jr St. N, St. Petersburg .blackradishgrocer.com/dtsp
Park & Rec Tampa Park & Rec, a downtown Tampa bar and restaurant that was the subject of a contentious 2020 lawsuit, has closed for good. The bar was operated by parent company Hunger Thirst Group, which also owns other Tampa Bay concepts like No Vacancy, Lost & Found, Avenue, Good Fortune, and others. The company's founder and CEO Stephen Schrutt took to social media late Thursday night to announce the closure. "I’m glad we gave the Tampa location a good run, but looking back, it wasn’t the right fit for the concept," said Schrutt. The bar opened back in 2019 on the ground floor of a 30-story downtown Tampa condominium. Since its launch, the concept was at the center of a battle with angry upstairs neighbors. In January 2020, the condo association sued the business over its use of the buildings' shared spaces and the use of outdoor lights and speakers, among other things. In his Thursday night post, Schrutt did not directly mention the lawsuit but did allude to the company's ongoing issues with the condominium. 290 S Meridian St., Tampa. Hungerthirstgroup.com
Events
'Greetings from Florida' lager party Even though Tampa Bay Beer Week wrapped last month, two local breweries are keeping the spirit going with a collaborative, lager-centric event. Greetings from Florida—happening on Saturday, April 29 at Ybor City Museum State Park—will showcase some of the best and crispiest lagers in the entire country. Dozens of craft breweries from across the U.S. will pour their prized brews at next weekend's lager party. Tickets run for $65 and include a commemorative glass and unlimited pours of 60+ lagers on tap. Guests are invited to wear their best Hawaiian shirts to give these out-of-town breweries their best Sunshine State welcome, too. A few out-of-town breweries that we can expect at Greetings from Florida include Kansas City's Alma Mader, California-based Bagby Beer Co., South Carolina's Birds Fly South Ale Project and Jack's Abby Craft Lagers from Massachusetts, alongside many more. 1818 E 9th Ave., Ybor City. greenbenchbrewing.com Tampa Bay Rum Society’s tasting dinner There’s a unique tasting dinner happening in Tampa next week, and its various rum samples might have you taking an Uber home. Happening on Thursday, April 27 at The Boozy Pig, Tampa Bay Rum Society hosts a tasting dinner that combines their love of curated spirit offerings with fine dining and rum education. Guests will learn about the “local pulse of the rum industry in Tampa Bay,” while enjoying an exclusive three-course dinner by Tampa’s beloved Boozy Pig, known for its high-quality meat selection. The meal kicks off with a grazing board loaded with The Boozy Pig’s finest meats and cheeses, while the first course of mixed greens, heirloom tomatoes, shaved veggies and blue cheese gives guests a light start to the night. Its main course is a heartier selection of bone-in pork chop with plantains and a spiced carrot puree. Tickets for a single admission cost $125, while couples and besties can reserve two spots for $230 via eventbrite.com. 3255 W Cypress St., Tampa. @tampabayrumsociety on Instagram ICYMI
New owners take over South Tampa’s SOG Cafe, no longer operated by Spaddy’s and Raw Smoothie Co. A South Tampa favorite recently changed ownership, but lucky for its regular customers, it’s still slinging similar lattes and breakfast items. SOG Cafe, which originally opened as a joint venture between Raw Smoothie Co. and Spaddy’s Coffee Co.—was acquired by new owners last week. Ronald Tineo and Omar Poueriet told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that they took over the concept, which stands for "South of Gandy," on Monday, April 10. While the direction and menu of SOG Cafe will be up to its new owners, Greg Spadaccini tells CL that the South Tampa shop will still use Spaddy’s coffee in its lattes, cappuccinos and more. In addition to tweaking their coffee and espresso offerings, SOG's new owners are also adding a few more food items like Cuban sandwiches, breakfast burritos and more specialty toasts. 6102 S MAcDill Ave., Suite F, Tampa. @sogcafe on Instagram.
Tampa Bay Taco Week returns with over a dozen local restaurants offering specials for $10 and under The best way to discover your new favorite taco spot is back. The 2023 rendition of Tampa Bay Taco Week runs 10 days from Thursday, April 20- Sunday, April 30, with almost two dozen local restaurants, taquerias and cantinas offering their best dine-in and take-out deals. Each restaurant participating in this year’s Tampa Bay Taco Week will offer their own taco special, plus deals on Corona beer, Hornitos, El Tesoro, and Tres Generaciones tequila, and more. Concepts participating in the Creative Loafing Tampa Bay event include: Cider Press Vegan Gastropub, Gallito, Datz, Independent Bar & Cafe, Jimmy’s Tacos, JoToro, Sea Dog Brewery, Miguel’s and Red Mesa Cantina, alongside many, many more. From expected proteins to innovative tacos, folks will be able to enjoy a wide range of Mexican-inspired eats starting this week. tampabaytacoweek.com
