Credit: Pamela Bickett via TBVegFest / Facebook

Openings

Yard House Though the opening date has been bumped back a few times, Tampa Bay’s first Yard House says it’s finally ready to debut this December. According to the website, the new Water Street location at 450 Channelside Dr. will now open on Sunday, Dec. 3. The new Amalie Arena-adjacent Yard House was first announced back in March of 2022, and last summer the location set a tentative opening date of Oct. 9, 2023. This new Yard House location is expected to be gigantic. The 16,400-square-foot sports bar will feature over 100 on-tap beers, with a modern industrial interior and outdoor seating area, as well as a menu spanning everything from burgers to poke bowls and vegan options. Yard House is a considered a high-end bar chain from the folks at Orlando-based Darden Restaurant Group, which also owns Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze and Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, among other things. The chain currently has over 80 locations nationwide, with the closest in Icon Park in Orlando. 450 Channelside Dr. , Tampa. yardhouse.com—Colin Wolf

Coming soon

Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant A popular wine and restaurant chain will soon spread its wings further across the Tampa Bay area. Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant opens its second Tampa Bay location at 28963 SR-56 in Wesley Chapel on Monday, Nov. 20. The concept is a destination for both foodies and wine-lovers alike, complete with a fine dining experience, wine tasting room, full-service bar and artisanal retail market. Its upcoming Wesley Chapel location can seat a whopping 416 patrons between the indoor dining room, tasting area and outdoor patio. The “modern artisanal” style building draws inspiration from the Sunshine State’s architectural heritage, “evoking the Florida cracker style with a take on the Georgian four-square hip-roof in the entry tower,” according to a press release. In addition to the concept’s wide variety of wines which range from chardonnays and pinot noirs to merlots and moscato, Cooper’s Hawk’s restaurant also offers a spread of classic high-end fare including entrees like surf and turf, pan-roasted mahi mahi, braised short rib risotto and gnocchi carbonara. 28963 SR-56, Wesley Chapel. Chwinery.com

Closings

FLocale A year-and-a-half after opening, Seminole Heights’ Flocale food hall has closed. Travis Masters, former CEO of Westshore Pizza and partner at the multi-concept dining hall and pub, told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that Flocale (Stylized as “FLocalé”) fell victim to a slow summer and that business dropped off a cliff in July. He said that about 30 full-and-part-time employees lost their jobs last Monday, adding that they are being paid for today, although the restaurant did not open doors this morning. “The decision was made yesterday,” Masters told CL about closing today. The food hall—located at 5910 N Florida Ave.—was home to King of the Coop, Westshore Pizza, Slide hot dogs and burgers, and even an axe throwing concept. Joe Dodd, owner of King of the Coop, told CL that he was not part of the decision to close Flocale altogether. “There was a call with investors last Thursday, and that’s pretty much when I knew I was done,” Dodd said, adding that he immediately started working on a landing place. He announced King of the Coop’s closure at Flocale, plus plans to open out of Cigar City Cider & Mead in Ybor City. flocale.com—Ray Roa

Beans & Barlour A one-stop shop for breakfast, dessert and specialty cocktails will soon close its doors in The ‘Burg. Beans & Barlour, located in downtown St. Pete, took to Instagram today to announce its upcoming closure. The cafe and dessert hotspot’s last day open will be Friday, Nov. 11. Owner Story Stuart informed her employees of Beans and Barlour’s closure yesterday. Although Stuart states that 2023 has been her cafe’s busiest year yet, she says that Beans & Barlour has evolved from a passion project to a business that no longer aligns with her creative goals. “Whether caused by the construction that surrounds our storefront, changes in the economic climate or some combination of the two— the shift in demand from our customers towards breakfast has been profound,” the business writes on Instagram. “As the demand has started to shift away from our unique desserts, so too has the passion we once had for creating them.” Stuart also mentions that her and her fiancé Steve are planning to get married at the end of 2023 and expresses that the next chapter of their lives is best to be written “without the day-to-day stress of operating a retail location.” Although Beans and Barlour is closing its storefront, Stuart mentions the continuation of the business’ Instagram account for tutorials and other content surrounding its popular desserts and baked goods. 407 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. beansandbarlour.com

Events

Tampa Bay Veg Fest Over a hundred plant-based businesses will be featured at 2023’s Tampa Bay Veg Fest this weekend, a gathering of like-minded vegans, businesses, animal sanctuaries, environmental activists, health-conscious folks, plant-based chefs and lovers of tasty food in general (yes, meat-eaters can enjoy vegan fare, too.) The 12th rendition of Veg Fest returns to Perry Harvey Sr. Park this Saturday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. In addition to its impressive spread of vendors and local businesses, this free-to-attend festival will also host yoga classes, vegan cooking demonstrations, live entertainment and family-friendly activities. Just a few local restaurants that vend at next month’s festival include Vine Vegan, The Vegan Halal Cart, Squeeze Juice Works, Seasoned Green, Nah Dogs, House of Vegano and Cafe Hey, alongside dozens of other Florida-based pop-ups, animal-friendly organizations and small businesses slinging plant-based vegan wares. Florida Voices for Animals, a Tampa Bay-based animal rights nonprofit, has been organizing the festival for the past 10 so years, so its philanthropic roots are a vital aspect of the annual Veg Fest celebration. 1000 E Harrison St., Tampa. tampabayvegfest.com

‘The Retreat is here to stay’: Revered Tampa dive bar celebrates 85th anniversary this weekend The debate over which bar in Tampa is actually the oldest is one that will likely outlive us all, but one thing is certain, The Retreat is damn old. The bar was established in 1938 and is the longest running bar that has stayed in its original location, for those keeping score. To celebrate the upcoming 85-year anniversary of this iconic watering hole, staff and management are throwing one hell of a party this weekend, complete with drink specials, food and music. “Join us today and be transported to an era filled with nostalgia, where the drinks are poured strong and camaraderie flows freely,” the bar—located at 123 S Hyde Park Ave.—wrote on social media. There’s no cover for the 85th anniversary of The Retreat in Tampa on Saturday, Nov. 4. Although The Retreat opened as a bar in 1938, the address has been home to a host of concepts, according to the Tampa Tribune. Milano’s a restaurant with a bottle of chianti in straw baskets, once resided there, along with Dave’s Grill, The Peanut Gallery, and The Mousetrap. 123 S Hyde Park Ave., Tampa. retreattampa.com—Jourdan Ducat

ICYMI

Tampa Bay Burger Week includes specials at dozens of local bars and restaurants Each year, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay teams up with dozens of local bars and restaurants to offer foodies a variety of unique burgers and accompanying sides. In addition to several take-out and dine-in burger deals, this 10 day-long collaboration also features drink specials, social media giveaways and the chance to vote for your favorite burger in Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay Burger Week 2023 runs from Thursday, Nov. 2 to Sunday, Nov. 12. There are 50 restaurants participating in this year’s Burger Week—from local institutions like El Cap, Ferg’s and Gigglewaters to burger-centric spots like Nebraska Mini-Mart and Butter’s Burgers, plus scenic, waterfront restaurants including St. Pete Pier’s Teak and Hula Bay. If you’d like to participate in any of these restaurants’ deals throughout next week, all you have to do is ask an employee about its featured Burger Week special. While prices may vary, Burger Week specials may cost about $20 at the most and around $10 on the lower end (like TBBC’s Cuban-inspired burger with pulled pork and smashed plantains). Tampabayburgerweek.com.

After three years away, Bern’s Steak House’s Grand Pour Tasting returns with more than 200 handcrafted whiskies to smell, sip and get schooled on. Curated bites from the Bern’s galaxy of culinary minds are part of the Nov. 11 event, which runs from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Proceeds from tickets ($275) benefit Final Salute Inc., a nonprofit organization providing support for women Veterans. Haven and Bern’s Executive Chef Chad Johnson and Bern’s sommeliers have curated a five-course 2023 Schrader Cellars Wine Dinner set for Wednesday, Nov. 15 at Haven ($400—tickets sold in pairs only).

Through Nov. 25, Bay area BBQ joint 4 Rivers Smokehouse is slinging a “Pilgrim Sandwich” featuring smoked turkey, savory stuffing, warm gravy, and tart cranberry chutney.

Next Level Brands—Boulon Brasserie + Bakery, Forbici Modern Italian, Union New American—is offering a bonus $20 for every $100 gift card purchased in between Black Friday and Christmas Eve.

There’s a Hornitos Tequila Tasting happening at Nueva Cantina (1625 4th St., St. Petersburg) on Tuesday, Nov. 14 from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. The restaurant also launched four fall cocktails including mulled wine and an apple cider martini featuring Hornitos reposado, apple cider, lemon and thyme.

St. Petersburg Distillery has a new barrel-aged “Honey Spirit.” The 90-proof offering available only in 750 mL bottles is distilled from honey and hops and aged in oak barrels—and utilized in the distillery’s new “Honey, I’m Home” cocktail” available in the tasting room and market store located at 800 31st St. S. The distillery also has a new onsite bee colony, which it hopes will play a role in production, local biodiversity, and sustainability. It presents a symphony of flavors, with the sweetness of honey harmonizing with the bitterness of hops, all enhanced by the rich, smoky notes imparted by four years of barrel aging. Only available while supplies last, the spirit is sold in 750 ml bottles and is available for purchase and sampling at the distillery’s tasting room and market store located at 800 31st Street South in St. Petersburg. Guests can also sample the “Honey, I’m Home” cocktail made with the new product in the distillery’s new Spirit Garden.

Because volcano bowls are so 2020, Clearwater Beach’s Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa has a new “Walk the Plank” cocktail that serves up to eight people. The drink—”a tropical blend of juices mixed with silver rum and Crème de Cassis blackberry liqueur, topped with house-made grenadine and a bottle of Veuve Clicquot,” according to a press release—is served in a pirate’s chest.

South Tampa’s Forbici Modern Italian (1633 W Snow Ave. in Hyde Park Village) is in the PSL spirit with a pumpkin patch espresso martini available throughout November.

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