Margarita Wars is coming – Get your tickets here!

Tampa's La Teresita lands on Food & Wine's list of 'Best Diners in Every State'

Yoder's in Sarasota did, too.

By Ray Roa on Mon, Jan 2, 2023 at 10:59 pm

Photo via Google Maps

La Teresita counter

Tampeños, plus Best of the Bay voters and critics, already know that La Teresita is a gem of a restaurant, but Food & Wine made it official in its list of "The Best Diners in Every State."

Published over the summer (yeah, we slept on the news, sorry), the magazine's editors said that La Teresita, located at 3248 W Columbus Dr. in West Tampa, "is perhaps the city's most famous Cuban restaurant." They lauded the horseshoe-shaped counters, budget-friendly helpings of ropa vieja, buttered cuban toast and cafe con leche, adding that, "soaking up the vibe is half the point."

La Teresita was one of two Florida restaurants to make the list alongside Sarasota Amish food mainstay Yoder's, which was praised for "big breakfasts, crispy broasted chicken just like they do it up north, and a sometimes overwhelming selection of pies."

Slideshow

35 Tampa Bay restaurants to take an-out-of-towner, and what to get

SuperNatural Food & WineWhat to get: Breakfast sandwich and sour doughnuts305 E Polk St., Tampa, 813-758-6230Offered from 7:30 a.m.-2:29 p.m., SuperNatural's breakfast menu and doughnuts are its staple, along with its selection of mighty wine available any time. The breakfast sandwich, which celebrity chef Alton Brown recently called the "best I’ve ever had," is made with fresh focaccia bread roll and egg with the option to add cheese and bacon (BEC is where it's at). The doughnuts are made with cinnamon sugar, organic flours and single-origin spices, but most importantly, it’s all vegan!Photo via SuperNatural Food & Wine/Instagram

The BaithouseWhat to get: Drunken Shrimp45 Causeway Blvd, Clearwater, 727-446-8134Enjoy the ocean air while peeling back drunken shrimp––tender shrimp sauteed in a creamy bourbon creole reduction served with toasted ciabatta bread. The Baithouse also offers other specialties like catch of the day, tavern fare and a wide selection of beer and drinks. If you want some hands-on action, the restaurant offers the space and materials to catch your own fish in the Mandalay Channel.Photo via The Baithouse/Facebook

Big Ray’s Fish CampWhat to get: The grouper sandwichMultiple locationsWhile striding down the Riverwalk (or driving through south South Tampa) make a stop for hearty grouper sandwiches and a side of garlic parm fries at this Bay area gem.Photo via Big Ray’s Fish Camp/Facebook

Dunedin BreweryWhat to get: Wings937 Douglas Ave, Dunedin, 727-736-0606As one of Tampa Bay’s many breweries, Dunedin Brewery is the oldest microbrewery in Florida and hand-crafts their brews in 14 barrels at a time, but also offers others recognized beers everyone can enjoy, especially its wings, served with two out of nine in-house crafted dipping sauces. If you're there late, try and catch a concert, too.Photo via Dunedin Brewery/Facebook

La Segunda BakeryWhat to get: Cuban and a guava pastryMultiple locationsSorry but guava pastelitos like abuela used to make and a cafe con leche to warm the soul is a necessity if you're going to show anyone around Tampa. The mothership is in Ybor, but you'll do fine at the Kennedy Boulevard and recently-opened St. Petersburg spot, too.Photo via La Segunda Bakery/Instagram

Ted Peters Famous Smoked FishWhat to get: Smoked Fish1350 Pasadena Ave. S, St. Petersburg, 727-381-7931Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish is, well, famous for a reason. Its four to six hour process cooks and smokes fish to perfection. Its fantastic flavors have been featured in Guy Fieri’s “Diners Drive-Ins and Dives'' and The New York Times’ “Taste of America.”Photo via Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish/Google Maps

UleleWhat to get: Oysters1810 N Highland Ave., Tampa, 813-999-4952The view of the Hillsborough River almost beats the taste of the Native-inspired spot’s fresh oysters–heavy emphasis on almost. Seriously, the grilled oyster here are mandatory. Plus, walk it all off on the nearby Tampa Riverwalk. Photo via Ulele/Instagram

Click to View 34 slides

Tags:

WE LOVE OUR READERS!

Since 1988, CL Tampa Bay has served as the free, independent voice of Tampa Bay, and we want to keep it that way.

Becoming a CL Tampa Bay Supporter for as little as $5 a month allows us to continue offering readers access to our coverage of local news, food, nightlife, events, and culture with no paywalls.

Join today because you love us, too.

About The Author

Ray Roa

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief in August 2019. Past work can be seen at Suburban Apologist, Tampa Bay Times, Consequence of Sound and The...

Scroll to read more Food News articles