If you’ve been seeing a lot of new chicken joints pop up in Tampa Bay lately, you’re not imagining things. At this rate, there’ll be one on every block by 2021, but it’s not all clucked-up out there. Here's a new roundup of local Tampa Bay openings and foodie news.
Now open
Chicky Chicky Bang Bang Tampa Pizza Co.’s South Tampa will soon be some to a fried chicken-focused concept serving tenders, chicken sandos, as well as mac n’ cheese (picture above). On Sept. 1, co-founder Dave Burton, who is also known for Flock ‘n’ Stock and Gen X Tavern, told CL that Chicky Chicky Bang Bang is “shooting to be open next week.” 4110 E. Henderson Blvd., Tampa. chickychickybangbang.com
Mazzaro’s Italian Market A new St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport location of the vaunted Italian market is now open. If you’re flying in and out, find it stationed by gates 7-11 and load up on flatbreads and sandwiches, as well as cocktails. 14700 Terminal Blvd. no. 221, Clearwater. fly2pie.com
St. Pete Meat & Provisions Speciality salad concept Greenstock will now double as a butcher shop. But don’t freak out, there won’t be a massive slab of meat hanging from the ceiling near the romaine. Instead, St. Pete Meat & Provisions is a digital shop where users can choose from a hefty butcher case from their phone or tablet and by phone (727-350-4721) and then pick up on site. The concept—which will also stock handcrafted seasonings, rubs, salad dressings, and cooking oils—is a creative collaboration between local restaurateurs David and Erica Benstock, along with entrepreneurs and Greenstock partners Brooke Boyd, owner of Hype Group and Peter Boyd, owner of Boyd Construction Company. 449 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. stpetemeat.com
Urban Stillhouse There’s a new 16,000-square-foot restaurant bar and event space in St. Petersburg’s Warehouse District, and it’s home to two full-service bars, can choose between signature Horse Soldier bourbon flights, seasonal craft cocktails as well as wine and local craft brews. The bourbon will be made at Horse Soldier’s Ohio-based distillery, but that Urban Stillhouse will run a small, for-on-site-consumption-only, distilling operation that’ll make rum, vodka and gin to be used in house cocktails. The concept offers dinner service on weekdays, and brunch on the weekends (snacks, mains and brunch items include deviled crab stuffed eggs, Colorado lamb chops, broiled gulf oysters and more). Due to COVID-19, Urban Stillhouse is only taking guests with reservations made by phone (727-440-8040) or via theurbanstillhouse.com. 2232 5th Ave. S., St. Petersburg.
Woven Water Brewing Co. The 1,500-square-foot tasting room isn’t open yet, but Tampa Heights’ newest brewery started making beer available to order online. Three different 16-oz. cans are available in singles or four-packs ($6-$20) including Woven Water’s Chromatic double blurry IPA, Lucid American IPA and Revenant soul ale. Also available to order and pick up are crowlers of Close Enough blonde ale, Failsafe unfiltered traditional Czech-style Pilsner and Malediction stout ($13-$18). Naturally, swag and gift cards are available, too. You’ll have to pick it up in-person. 456 W. Columbus Dr., Tampa. wovenwaterbrew.com
Reopened
Hidden Springs Ale Works tasting room It’s s been a tried-and-true spot to get to-go beer during a state-mandated, on-and-off, moratorium regarding on-site alcohol consumption at bars and breweries, and now— thanks to its new 509 license that makes a business a public food service—Tampa Heights Hidden Springs Ale Works’ tasting room is open for on-site consumption. Mask rules are still in place along with a new table service procedure, however, so don’t walk in thinking the place is gonna be some kind of QAnon, anything-goes safe space. Hidden Springs’ updated hours are 2 p.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Thurs, noon-8 p.m. Fri.-Sat. And noon-7 p.m. on Sun. 1631 N. Franklin St., Tampa hiddenspringsaleworks.com
Coming soon
Paradeco Coffee Roasters A new coffee shop (stylized “ParaDeco”) is in the final stages of buildout in downtown St. Pete’s Plaza Tower & Courtyard Shops (also home to The Ale & The Witch, Dracula’s Legacy wine bar, and more). St. Pete Rising says espresso drinks are on deck along with baked goods sourced from local bakeries as well as overnight cold oats, avocado toast, wraps, breakfast sandos, plus vegan or gluten-free treats. 111 2nd Ave. NE Suite 101. @paradecocoffee on Instagram
On The Fly Ciccio Restaurant Group’s new food hall, On The Fly, opens this fall and will play host to Taco Dirty (bowls and tacos), Fresh Kitchen (health-focused build-your-own-bowls), Better Byrd (fried chicken) and Sweet Soul (plant-based smoothies, acai bowls and soft serve). There’s no hard open date yet, so until then, you can taste test all of the concepts at locations scattered throughout Tampa Bay, or opt for delivery for less legwork. 4447 4th St. N. no. 1, St. Petersburg. cicciorestaurantgroup.com
Food trucks with new homes
Anju After slinging K-pops (Korean fried chicken lollipops) to St. Petersburg-ers from the window of a food truck, Anju has found a brick and mortar. Anju’s menu is stacked with Asian fare like egg rolls, and the BAP Bowl, a classic Korean bibimbap bowl with assorted veggies, beef bulgogi and spicy chili sauce on a bed of steamed rice. The concept also offers crispy tots smothered two ways:—the "Osaka," with Japanese mayo, tangy-sweet Japanese BBQ sauce, bacon, Aonori, katsuobushi (dried smoked bonito flake), fresh scallions and topped with beni shoga pickled ginger or "K Town" tots with beef bulgogi, queso, grilled kimchi, St. Pete Heat sauce, crushed honey roasted peanuts and fresh scallions. Once the storefront is up and running, Anju will operate with limited hours and serve its food truck menu with plans of expanding options to eats like buns and dumplings. Because of regulations, the concept will only offer takeout service. 2827 16th St. N., St. Petersburg. @anjustpete on Instagram
Red’s BBQ After two years of slinging souped-up turkey legs and fat plates of meat, Red’s BBQ food truck now has a permanent location at the former home to Kenwood Organic Produce. The truck is known for its variety of turkey legs, like the “Kicked Up Leg,” “Garlic Park ‘N Shrimp” and “Not Yo Daddy’s Crabby Leg” stuffed with crab mac ‘n’ cheese, parmesan and Red’s seafood spice blend. The truck is open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue.-Sat. (or until sold out). 3325 Fifth Ave. N., St. Petersburg. facebook.com/redsbbqfoodtruck
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This article appears in Sep 3-9, 2020.