Tampa Bay’s restaurant scene has been serving up great eats for years, but it’s safe to say this year has been one of its best. 2022 saw a diverse roster of new restaurants, spanning everything from the area’s first Filipino ‘sari-sari’ counter, a vegan gastropub, craft hot dogs, a new pierogi hot spot, as well as multiple concepts from Michelin starred chefs. There’s a lot to chew on! So, here are our favorite new restos that opened over the last 12 months.
The Tampa Edition
500 Channelside Dr., Tampa, 813-221-4600
It’s still hard to tell which concept stands tallest among the seven new offerings at Tampa’s first five-star hotel, but there’s a food-lover’s paradise inside. Lilac (pictured), a new vegetable-forward offering from Michelin-starred chef John Fraser, anchors the lineup at the Tampa Edition (stylized “EDITION”), but don’t sleep on the dips, lamb meatballs and rooftop vantage points at Azure, or the brekkie sandwich with a stunning fennel sausage at Market on the ground level. Pastries at the coffee bar next to Market are a perfect mid-afternoon pick-me-up, and the beef tartare and Wagyu sliders inside the Arts Club are Easter eggs in the equation. Sweets lovers should not skip the extremely fun ganache/sponge cake, olive oil and pistachio chocolate dessert. If spirits are more your thing, then you’ll want to get in line for a reservation at the hotel’s swanky, rum-driven Punch Room, the first Edition punch room in North America.
Photo via Tampa EditionCredit: Photo by Rickey KimCider Press Gastropub
3118 3rd Ave. N, St. Petersburg, 727-914-7222
St. Pete vegan hot spot Cider Press Gastropub moved into its new home last November, and now features hearty, pub-inspired dishes with a Southern-Cajun twist. There’s also a full bar, with local beers and its own English-inspired signature cocktails.
Photo by Kyla FieldsHales Blackbrick Chinese
4812 N Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa, 813-683-4233
Chef Richard Hales finally made his much-anticipated Tampa homecoming this year, and debuted the latest offshoot of his popular Miami restaurant Blackbrick Chinese. Sichuan- and Cantonese-inspired dishes are on the menu, along with a full bar and all the flair that earned this chef Guy Fieri’s seal of approval.
Photo via Hales Blackbrick/FacebookJoDog Craft Hot Dogs
615 Channelside Dr, Tampa, 855-352-8676
Last November, NYC-based Michelin-starred Chef Joe Isidori ditched the white linen and opened a hot dog stand in Sparkman Wharf. Far from simple ballpark wieners and Home Depot parking lot carts, this new quick-service concept dishes out globally-inspired glizzies like JoDog’s Carolina Slaw dog, the spicy Mexico City dog, New York City-style chili cheese dog, Joe’s Famous Kimchee Dog, and the “Hello Tokyo”—complete with kewpie mayo, furikake and crispy garlic.
Photo via JoDogTwisted Indian
2639 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-954-3872
After years of enjoying Twisted Indian’s beloved naanwiches and curritos out of a food truck, patrons can now binge on the fare in the restaurant’s brick-and-mortar dining space. Bringing its Indian-fusion to St. Pete’s Grand Central District, Twisted Indian opened doors in May.
Photo via Kyla FieldsTacos las Californias
5635 Memorial Hwy., 813-384-0615
After serving up eats on Armenia Avenue since 2020 and becoming a local food truck of celebrity status, Tacos las Californias opened its first brick-and-mortar at the start of 2022. Known for its quesabirria tacos, ramen, quesadillas, and California-style burritos, Tacos las Californias also offers loaded carne asada fries, nachos, large plates and more.
Photo via Tacos las Californias/FacebookNoble Rice
615 Channelside Dr. no. 112, Tampa, 813-542-2021
Sparkman Wharf’s new modern Japanese restaurant serves a variety of high-end dishes, including wagyu beef, sashimi platters, caviar and sake. The restaurant held its grand opening on April 5 and online reservations are required.
Photo via Noble Rice/websiteAbu Omar Halal
12208 N 56th St., Temple Terrace, 813-415-3302
After being in its pre-opening stage since 2020, Abu Omar Halal finally opened its first Florida location in Temple Terrace on Aug. 13. Offering halal favorites, Abu Omar serves up a selection of shawarmas, sandwiches, salad and rice bowls, falafel, kabobs, platters and more. Beginning as Houston’s first and only Halal food truck, Abu Omar Halal currently has over 20 locations.
Photo via Abu Omar Halal/FacebookPop Goes the Waffle
5004 Tangerine Ave. S, Gulfport
What started as a food truck, Gulfport’s Pop Goes the Waffle now serves unique waffle creations, with a wide assortment of styles and flavors ranging from cinnamon toast to pumpkin spice.Photo via Pop Goes the Waffle/FacebookPierogi Bar
6661 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-487-2903
Self-described as St. Pete’s “first and best” Ukrainian restaurant, Pierogi Bar opened its doors in May. With a straightforward menu of various pierogi iterations, Pierogi Bar also serves dishes like the Kozak platter: featuring the traditional beet-based soup borscht with two Ukrainian-style sausages, three potato pancakes and three pierogis of your choice.
Photo via Pierogi Bar/FacebookI.C. Sharks Bar & Cafe
10020 Gandy Blvd. N, St. Petersburg, 727-914-4087
For years, Gandy Boulevard’s I.C. Sharks Seafood Market has been a favorite supplier of fresh-caught fish and shellfish. This summer, the market put its talents into opening a bar and restaurant for patrons to enjoy drinks, dishes made with the catches of the day, raw oysters, steamed clams, sammies and ready-made favorites like the smoked fish dip.
Photo via I.C. Sharks/FacebookKrate at the Grove
6105 Wesley Grove Blvd., Wesley Chapel
Lookout Sparkman Wharf, there’s a new shipping container park in the Bay. Located at Wesley Chapel’s shopping center, the Grove, Krate hosts 55 container concepts, an outdoor stage and play area. To add to its retail and dining, Krate also has spots to pick up drinks.
Photo via Krate at the Grove/FacebookEdge Eatery
1572 Central Ave., St. Petersburg
Another spot subjected to the waiting game of lockdown-limbo, St. Pete’s anticipated food hall EDGE Eatery opened in mid-July. The new food hall located in, you guessed it, St. Pete’s EDGE District, on Central Avenue occupies the first floor of the Fusion 1560 condominium. The space hosts three full-on food concepts—an Italian restaurant, a Cuban sandwich spot and a Colombian-inspired eatery—and houses a 40-seat bar.
Photo via Google Maps
Best Wesley Chapel Restaurant
The Living Room Finalists: Walk-Ons Sports Bistreaux, Cooper’s HawkCredit: Photo via The Living Room at Wiregrass/FacebookFour Green Fields
802 N 12th St., Tampa. 813-466-5080
When one green door closed on Platt Street, another one opened in Channelside. This May, the iconic Irish pub chain opened their 16,000-square-foot warehouse location completed with a large mural of the original Four Green Fields that served its time from 1992-2020. The new location hosts a front patio, a whiskey tasting room and an in-house microbrewery.
Photo via Four green Fields/GoogleBonu’ Taverna
601 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-623-4505
After renovating the space formerly occupied by Central Avenue vegan spot Cider-Press Cafe, the anticipated Bonu’ Taverna opened in June. A menu crafted and inspired by the flavors of Southern Italy, Bonu’ hosts a wide variety of authentic dishes like “pinsa,” a thinner, lighter version of pizza, as well as vegan and gluten free options.
Photo via Kyla FieldsChanko
4603 N Florida Ave., 813-770-7306
This summer Chop Chop Shop’s iconic roadside diner-car made the transition to Chanko—a new concept from the same chef, Steve Sera. With a smaller, more upscale menu than its predecessor, Chanko specializes in the Hiroshima-style cabbage and noodle layered pancake-like dish, okonomiyaki. You’ll also find the spot slinging Japanese curry, rice plates and more.
Photo via Steve SeraFlorish
2307 S Dale Mabry Hwy. Suite A, 813-251-9009
Florish is one of the newer places to join the Bay’s growing number of vegan restaurants. This fast-casual spot is dedicated to making “gourmet plant-based nutrition convenient, accessible, and, most importantly, craveworthy.” The menu features a wide selection of made-to-order pizzas, flatbreads, bowls, nuggies and more—many feature housemade ingredients such as cashew ricotta.
Photo via @Florish/FacebookFLocale
5910 N Florida Ave, 813-232-2667
As the brainchild of three Tampa restaurateurs—Joe Dodd of King of the Coop, Travis Masters of Westshore Pizza and Joey Redner of Rock Brothers Brewing—FLocale is a space dedicated to honoring the surrounding community. Serving chicken, pizza, phillies, brews and more from the owners’ respective businesses, FLocale also champions local art and live music in appropriate Seminole Heights spirit.
Photo via FLocale/FacebookBlack Radish Grocer
246 Dr M.L.K. Jr. St. N, St. Petersburg, 727-623-9877
Though this vegan grocer opened its St. Pete location last December, Black Radish has earned a spot for its expansive fare and cuisine. Like its sister location in Tampa’s Ybor City, the store offers a variety of items beyond your run-of-the-mill supermarket finds in addition to vegan staples like Impossible meats and Daiya cheeses. The new location also offers a deli, serving made-to-order sandwiches and other daily specials.
Photo via blackradishgrocerdtsp/Instagram Credit: blackradishgrocerdtsp /InstagramHouse of Vegano
655 31st St. S, St. Petersburg
Serving a selection of Asian-inspired, plant-based cuisine, House of Vegano is the first vegan sushi spot in the ‘Burg. Located in the Body Electric compound in St. Pete’s Warehouse District, the restaurant uses locally sourced fruits and vegetables to mimic the umami flavors in classic rolls like the volcano roll and house originals like the royale roll with poached vegan scallops.
Photo viaRoam Restaurant and Bar
3405 34th St. N, St. Petersburg, 727-346-5242
From the owners of the popular Reds BBQ food truck, Roam offers an upscale experience with a menu that takes influence from both local cuisine and flavors around the world. Located in the Lealman neighborhood of St. Petersburg, the restaurant hosts a menu with seasonal dishes and a wide assortment of cocktails.
Photo via Roam Restaurant/FacebookSalty Nun
2501 Central Ave., St Petersburg, 727-329-9994
The Salty Nun is co-owned by the owners of Stella’s and former restaurant Salty’s, two of Gulfport’s beloved restaurants. The brunch-centic concept provides live music several days a week, and has an extensive and inclusive vegan menu, even providing plant-based options. Photo via Salty Nun/Google
