This year has been a whirlwind, challenging the restaurant industry for months on end. Many have fallen, while others are struggling to hold on. Hoping to rally the troops prior to Super Bowl LV (arriving in Tampa on Feb. 7), Business Connect— the NFL’s special event supplier diversity and inclusion program—is hosting “Road to Gameday” Restaurant Week.
Road to Gameday Restaurant Week will highlight more than 40 diverse-owned restaurants in Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco County from Dec. 4-13.
Participating restaurants meet the following criteria: 51% women, minority, veteran, or LGBTQ+ owned and located in the previously listed counties in the Tampa Bay area. The event also ensured that participating restaurants have all scored high public satisfaction ratings on reputable dining review sites.
“We know local, diverse-owned restaurants have struggled this year, and our team wants to be part of the solution to help get them back on their feet,” LaKendria Robinson, Director, Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Business Connect and Community Outreach, wrote in a release. “We hope by leveraging our Host Committee brand and the NFL’s Business Connect program, we can increase exposure and drive business to the 40 participating restaurants. We couldn’t be more excited!”
Each featured restaurant will feature a special pre-fixe menu from which patrons can select, in addition to its standard menu
One of which is 7th+Grove located at 1930 E. 7th Ave., in Ybor City. The pre-fixe menu rings in at $28.99, and allows guests to choose one item from each section of starter, entree and dessert. Locals and tourists alike can get a taste of the 400 Degreez Po Boy made up of your choice of fried shrimp or catfish, lettuce, tomato, pickle, seafood remoulade on La Segunda Cuban bread.
Catrina's Tacos and Tequila at 1611 N. Howard Ave. is also in the mix with three taco special for $15. Wanting to give the true taste of Tampa, Michelle Faedo's Tampeno Cuisine (601 E. Kennedy Blvd.) is throwing down with three different options ranging from $25-$30. One of which is a traditional Cuban sando, choice of empanada (devil crab, stuffed potato or beef and cheese), alongside a slice of cake and a soft drink. Damn, that's a meal.
Another score for the home team is that a portion of the proceeds ($1 per meal) from the restaurant week extravaganza will be donated to Feeding Tampa Bay in support of the fight against food insecurity in the community.
For the entire lineup of participating “Road to Gameday” restaurants, you can visit tampabaylv.com/restaurantweek.
Business Connect is working in partnership with the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee, a private, nonprofit 501 (c)(6), that represents local community leaders in business, tourism, sports, entertainment, and government and serves as the direct liaison to the National Football League for the region’s collective hosting effort.
“The Business Connect program is proud to announce the addition of ‘Road to Gameday’ Restaurant Week as a new event for Super Bowl LV,” said B.J. Waymer, NFL Business Connect in a release. “The last seven months have challenged many independent business owners. Restaurant Week creates an opportunity for us to recognize the talents of local, diverse restaurateurs in Tampa and shine a spotlight on them that will direct additional traffic to their businesses.”
Support local journalism in these crazy days. Our small but mighty team is working tirelessly to bring you up to the minute news on how Coronavirus is affecting Tampa and surrounding areas. Please consider making a one time or monthly donation to help support our staff. Every little bit helps.
Want to know everything going on with Tampa Bay's food and drink scene? Sign up for our Bites newsletter.
This article appears in Dec 3-9, 2020.