Talk about girl power. In a male-dominated industry, these Tampa Bay women are making a huge mark in the culinary world. That being said, a salute to Women’s History Month isn’t complete without recognizing these local spots.

Baum Ave. Market Ina Crnalic 1113 Baum Ave. N., St. Petersburg Poised between Baum and Central in the Edge District, Baum Ave Market’s multi-concept space offers the chance to experience a number of local vendors. Photo via baumavemarket.com
Bodega and Baba Debbie Sayegh Bodega: 1120 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, Baba: 2701 Central Ave., St. Petersburg This Latin street food joint serves its hot pressed Cubans, fresh juices and more from a boxy little building on Central. Bodega’s come-as-you-are atmosphere and high-quality fare have made this hole in the wall a Tampa Bay favorite. Duo Debbie and George Sayegh also own Greek eatery Baba, located down the street. Photo via Bodega on Central/Facebook
Book + Bottle Terra Dunham 17 6th St. N., St. Petersburg Book + Bottle is a self-described “place to read, spruce up your book collection, take a class, enjoy a bottle of wine, work remotely, try new types of wine, chat with friends, learn something new, or just relax,” according to its Facebook. Photo via Book + Bottle/Facebook
Sunshine Kitty Catfe Amanda “AJ” Jones 1663 1st Ave. S. St. Petersburg The cafe/cat lounge is set to open in Downtown St. Petersburg in March. Guests can come in for coffee and pay a separate fee to hang out with the kitties, which come from Friends of Strays and are expected to be up for adoption. Photo via Sunshine Kitty Catfe/Facebook
Catrinas Tacos and Tequila Bar Karol Ortiz and Tisbeth Mejia 1611 N. Howard Ave., Tampa. This eatery incorporates an open-kitchen concept with fresh tamales made daily. With an emphasis on serving the freshest products, all meals are first come, first served and are available until they sell out for the day. Photo via Jenna Rimensynyder
Counter Culture and Edison: Food + Drink Lab Jeannie Pierola 912 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa 5X James Beard semi-finalist chef, Jeannie Pierola, also owns Edison’s Swigamajig at Sparkman Wharf and Edison: Food + Drink Lab. Photo via Counter Culture?Facebook
Girl And A Grill April Page 4330 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa This breakfast concept offers up traditional morning eats like specialty breakfast plates, homemade pancakes, and made-to-order omelets. Diners can also snag other bites like biscuits, grits, croissants, oatmeal, and hashbrowns. Photo via Colin Wolf
Golden Dinosaurs Vegan Deli Audrey Dingeman 2930 Beach Blvd. S., Gulfport Audrey Dingeman and husband Brian, launched the vegan deli in August 2018, offering plant-based specialties like their Tempeh Reuben with St. Pete Ferments’ kraut, cheese, thousand island dressing on pumpernickel. Photo via Audrey Dingeman
Ground Foods Cafe Krissi Koodish 6428 N. Florida Ave., Tampa Ground Foods Cafe serves up fast casual, vegan Italian food. Complete with square pizzas, multiple pastas, guests can also explore its beer and wine options. Photo via Ground Foods Cafe/Instagram
Harvest Bowl Atheer and Athar Neif 442 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa Harvest Bowl is owned by sisters Atheer and Athar Neif. The menu is loaded with build-your-own bowls, acai bowls, smoothies, and a customizable salad bar. There’s also an option to stock up on specialty foods, produce, and juices from the market side of Harvest Bowl. Photo via Harvest Bowl/Facebook
Independent Bar Veronica Danko 5016 N. Florida Ave., Tampa Independent Bar and Cafe offers a dozen taps and bottled beer, with exceptional imported and American craft. There’s also a coffee shop attached to the side serving the same menu as the bar, along with the usual caffeinated beverages and baked goods. Photo via The Independent/Facebook
Psomi Christina Theofilos 701 N. Howard Ave., Tampa. Staying true to its name, which literally means “bread” in Greek, Psomi (pronounced “so-mi”) offers artisan breads and pastries (as well as tzatziki and hummus) made fresh in-house.There’s even patio seating complete with a fireplace. Photo via Psomi/Facebook
Sucré Table Brenda Villacorta 4048 Kennedy Blvd., Tampa The mind behind this elevated dessert spot is Brenda Villacorta, a professionally-trained chef, and regular competitor on Food Network shows like the “Halloween Baking Championship” and “Cake Wars Christmas.” Photo via Sucré Table/Instagram
Swah-Rey Leslie Ann Ciccone Multiple locations St. Pete dessert bar, Swah-rey, stylized as “(swah-rey),” settled on Central Avenue in 2015. Two new locations are in the works, and so is an app. ” Photo via Swah-Rey/Facebook Swah-Rey
This Momma Cooks & Co Anastasia Thompson 12081 Seminole Blvd., Largo This brick-and-mortar storefront opened in January, but owner Anastasia Thompson was slinging custom cakes, brownies, and cupcakes for months beforehand. Guests can find those baked goodies here, and also a light lunch menu during the week. Photo via This Momma Cooks & Co/Facebook
Xilo Street Mexican Rosana Rivera 1701 N. Franklin St., Tampa Local chef couple, and co-founders of Xilo at Hall on Franklin, Chef Rosana Rivera and Chef Ricardo Castro made an appearance on the small screen in the Dec. 26 special “It Must’ve Been Love” episode of “Beat Bobby Flay.” Photo via Xilo Street Mexican/Facebook
Kay’s Kitchen Kay Lee 11124 N. 30th St., Tampa Kay’s does chicken wings a little differently; the wings are cooked in animal fat and oil before being drizzled with Chicago-style mild sauce. The restaurant moved to their new location, by USF Tampa in September 2019. Photo via Kay’s Kitchen/Instagram
Hotel Bar and Fly Bar Leslie Shirah 200 N. Tampa St., Tampa Shirah is a Tampa restaurateur that also owns Fly Bar & Restaurant set to open in the late spring. The Hotel Bar hosts happy hour Monday through Friday from 4 – 6 p.m. for half-priced all bites and drink specials. Photo via Hotel Bar/hotelbartampa.com
Queen of Sheba Seble Gizaw 11001 N. 56th St., Temple Terrace Queen of Sheba serves up traditional Ethiopian food from tibs wot to beef sambussa. Since Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee, the restaurant also offers traditional coffee ceremonies for two or four people. Seble Gizaw came to the U.S. from Ethiopia in 1991 and opened Queen of Sheba in January of 2008. Photo via Alexandria Jones
Lolita’s Wine Market and Sophia’s Cucina + Enoteca Kelly Rodriguez Lolita’s: 16 18th St. S., St. Petersburg, Sophia’s: 2363 Central Ave., St. Petersburg White rocking chairs at Lolita’s quaint storefront share an intimate view of the interstate overpass, a stark contrast to hipster-chic interior that you’ll find inside the St. Pete wine bar. Lolita’s pairs its wide selection of wines with expertly crafted charcuterie boards, salads, small plates and desserts prepared by chef and co-owner Alex Rodriguez, who also own Italian restaurant Sophia’s Cucina + Eatery. Photo via lolitaswinemarket.com
Michelle Faedo’s Tampeño Cuisine Michelle Faedo 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa Faedo recently expanded with a second location opened in downtown Tampa. The restaurant is known for made-to-order bites like tostones, plantains, deviled crab, crab cakes, and of course, Cuban sandwiches. Photo via Michelle Faedo’s Tempeño Cuisine/Facebook
Stella’s Barbara Banno 3119 Beach Blvd. S., Gulfport Worth the drive if you’re craving brunch with a view in a charming community. Spend the rest of the day near the water exploring local shops and grabbing brews from bars down Beach Blvd. Photo via Stella’s/Facebook
Main Course Ashley Dalrymple 7209 E. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa Bouncing around to a few different locations, you can find Main Course serving up over-the-top plates of American cuisine, including a variety of vegan options. The food truck offers burgers, wings and salads Monday through Thursday, seafood on Friday. Owner and chef Ashley Dalrymple was a cook in the Army for eight years before opening Main Course in 2018. Photo via Alexandria Jones
Restaurant BT BT Nguyen 2507 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa French-Vietnamese fusion fare, also serves up specialty cocktails. The fast-casual restaurant serves up bahn mis, pho, soups and stews. Photo via Restaurant BT/Facebook
Beans & Barlour Story Stuart 538 1st Ave. N., St. Petersburg Also owner of Storybrooke Cafe, Stuart’s Beans & Barlour concept has boozy treats including her tiramisu float, constructed of Amaretto and mascarpone ice cream layered with warm espresso-soaked lady fingers. Photo via Beans & Barlour/Facebook
Pop Goes The Waffle Sara Gerald Fludd Location varies Sara Gerald Fludd has been crafting different waffle concoctions since receiving a Belgian waffle iron for Mother’s day. Founded in 2017, Pop Goes the Waffle is a food truck, so you’ll need to check their schedule if you want to try sweet or savory waffles. Photo via Pop Goes The Waffle website
Ella’s Folk Art Cafe Melissa Deming 5119 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa Seminole Heights hotspot, make sure to download the OpenTable app to avoid a wait. Photo via Ella’s Folk Art Cafe/Facebook
Tara’s Roti Shop Sisters Tara and Doreen 10006 N. 30th St., Tampa Tara’s offers Trinidad dishes like stewed oxtail, red beans and rice and curry conch. The restaurant also offers homemade ginger beer, peanut punch and sorrel, which is made with sorrel flowers. Photo via Tara’s Roti Shop/Facebook
Shuffle Jennifer Montgomery and Danielle O’Connor 2612 N. Tampa St. Serving up concession stand style food, beer and wine to devour while working on your shuffleboard skills. Photo via Shuffle/Facebook
Graze 1910 Lauren Menendez 1910 N. Ola Ave., Tampa Lauren and Ray Menendez own Graze 1910 located in The Heights Public Market/Armature Works and a second Graze location in South Tampa serving refined American fare and all-day breakfast. Photo via Graze 1910/Facebook
Cassis Lisa Wannemacher 170 Beach Dr. N.E., St. Petersburg American classics with a French twist, this Beach Drive hotspot is prime for brunch. Make sure to swing by their bakery nextdoor as well for an after dinner espresso and pastry. Photo via Cassis/Facebook
Pom Pom’s St. Pete Pom Moongauklang 2950 Central Ave., St. Petersburg The teahouse and sandwicheria also hosts art and paint parties. Moongauklang has also flexed her culinary skills on Food Network’s hit show, Guy’s Grocery Games. Photo courtesy of Food Network
Foundation Coffee Emily Smith 1607 N. Franklin St., Tampa Emily, alongside husband, Jason, have two locations of the specialty coffee house – Tampa and Riverview. Photo via Foundation Coffee/Facebook
Oxford Exchange and The Library Allison Casper OE: 420 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, TL: 600 5th St. S, St. Petersburg Allison Casper Adams dreamt up the picturesque establishment with brother, Blake Casper. Oxford Exchange is not just a restaurant, it is also home to a Buddy Brew, bookstore and a shop with decor and gifts. The two recently opened The Library, in St. Pete with James Beard semi-finalist, Rachel Bennett as the Executive Chef. Photo via Oxford Exchange/Facebook
The C House Danna Haydar 6005 N. Florida Ave., Tampa Champagne, charcuterie and cheesecake – need we say more? Photo via The C House/Facebook
Datz Suzanne Perry 2616 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa Suzanne, alongside husband, Roger, have had their hands in creating decadent restaurants across Tampa Bay – including multiple Datz locations, Dough, and Dr.BBQ. Datz is known for serving up food porn worthy comfort food and craft brews. Photo via Datz/Facebook
Mermaid Tavern Becky Flanders 6719 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa Flanders and co-owner, Lux DeVoid, have an extensive craft brew list and elevated bar eats. Photo via Mermaid Tavern/Facebook
CW Gin Joint Carolyn Wilson 633 N. Franklin St., Tampa The intimate jazz joint offers gin-based cocktails as well as other spirits, and small plates including cheese boards and sandwiches. Photo via I A./Yelp
Mise En Place Maryann Ferenc 442 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa Adventurous diners with an elevated palate, check this place out. Offerings include, sous vide lobster, veal scallopini and tandoori tofu. Photo via Kristi L./Yelp
Chief’s Smokehouse Mary Brayboy Jones 911 22nd St. S., St. Petersburg Adjacent to Chief’s Creole Café, and owned by the same couple, this BBQ joint has a historic draw. People who remember when Geech’s barbecue sauce brought folks to the deuces will be intrigued to learn that Chief’s Smokehouse claims it’s signature sauce replicates Geech’s. Photo via Chief’s Smokehouse/Facebook
Cru Cellars Jennifer Bingham 2506 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa Daily happy hour from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. includes $6 apps and $1 off house wines. Photo via Cru Cellars