Things are looking tasty in 2024.

While this past year welcomed in some great new dining spots in Tampa Bay, there’s about to be even more to dish out. Over the next 12 months, diners can expect to see everything from new dumpling spots, new fish and chicken shacks, a couple high-end steak houses, a drive-thru Wawa and more.

Here are a few of the hottest new eats coming soon to the Bay. 

Credit: Photo via Loopnet
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Credit: Photo via dunedinmix / Instagram
The H 1504 S Howard Ave., Tampa Just when you didn’t think it was possible—Hyde Park will soon get a little bougier. The Tampa version of Orlando’s popular The H steakhouse is planned for the parcel of land that most recently housed seafood restaurant CopperFish, which closed in 2014 after facing over $700,000 in permitting violations from the City of Tampa. Since The H has only recently filed its construction and design plans, it’s unsure when the high-end restaurant will open its doors in Hyde Park. The steakhouse’s flagship restaurant in Orlando is known for its variety of meats–from dry-aged ribeye, NY strips and racks of lamb to kebabs, Japanese wagyu and filet mignon—in addition to a spread of seafood-based dishes, pastas and caviar service. Appetizers include small plates like baked bone marrow, octopus carpaccio, burrata with confit tomatoes, grilled calamari and a variety of salads. Photo via FleischmanGarciaMaslowski Architecture Credit: FleischmanGarciaMaslowski Architecture
Pete’s Bagels Drive-thru Corner of 4th St S and 25th Ave., St .Petersburg The gas station-turned-restaurant trend can be found all throughout Tampa Bay, but one local business is giving a historic landmark—one of St. Pete’s oldest gas stations—another shot at life. In addition to its menu of breakfast sandwiches and freshly-baked bagels—ranging from expected flavors like everything, poppyseed and sesame to unique offerings like sun-dried tomato and feta and jalapeño—the new Pete’s location will also offer a robust coffee program from Look Alive Coffee, a local, Burg’-based roaster. The 326 square-foot building will boast a walk-up window and outdoor seating in addition to its drive-thru. Photo via Pete’s General/Facebook
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Credit: C/o Michael Brannock
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Ash 1050 Water St., Tampa Last year, Strategic Property Partners announced its newest concept, Ash, which will debut on the ground floor of Water Street Tampa’s Asher building, the district’s newest residential development. The new restaurant is brought to downtown Tampa by a familiar name: Proper House Group (PHG), the minds behind Rooster & The Till, Nebraska Mini-Mart and more. PHG said that its latest concept will specialize in Italian-inspired cuisine and boast an extensive outdoor patio. Originally, the 2,400 square-foot restaurant and its accompanying 1,000 square-foot patio was scheduled to debut in the spring of 2023. As of now, the rumor is it’s ready to pop any day now. Photo via Ash/Instagram
Bavaro’s 468 Mandalay Ave., Clearwater Beach Pretty soon—and we mean this playfully because Dan Bavaro has not announced any kind of aggressive expansion—there may be a Bavaro’s Pizza Napoletana & Pastaria in every corner of Tampa Bay. Clearwater Beach’s Bavaro’s will open out of a 1,800 square-foot parcel at 468 Mandalay Ave. by the end of 2023 (fingers crossed). The beach-adjacent space—which formerly housed a real estate office—will undergo about $1 million dollars worth of renovations before making its debut. Owner Dan Bavaro told TBBJ that his “company is building an infrastructure for statewide expansion,” which may include additional airport locations throughout the Sunshine State. Bavaro’s first made its Tampa Bay debut in 2009, claiming to be the “first traditional Neapolitan Pizzeria in the state of Florida.” Alongside ‘za baked in traditional wood-fired ovens, the Italian restaurant also dishes out roasted Gulf oysters, charcuterie boards, salads, soups, classic pastas and desserts like cannolis, tiramisu and Nutella pizzas. Photo via bavarobrand/Facebook Credit: bavarobrand / Facebook
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Late Start Brewing 1018 E Cass St., Tampa Tampa-based company Late Start Brewing started building out its upcoming location in 2022, and plans to debut … well, hopefully soon. Formerly a convenience store, the almost 2,500 square-foot building will feature a dining room and bar area that will accommodate 50 people, with outdoor seating with picnic tables for approximately 50 more people. Late Start is no stranger to Tampa and is currently located inside of Pour House in the Channelside District, where you can sip on the brewery’s collaborative ales, lagers and stouts. Photo via Late Start Brewing/Facebook
Perry’s Porch 600 2nd Ave. NE, St. Petersburg The folks behind some of St. Pete’s best bars are opening a new concept that will surely boast one of the most scenic waterfront views in all of The Burg.’ Perry’s Porch is a new restaurant that will open adjacent to the St. Pete Pier and the St. Petersburg Museum of History — a space that was most recently occupied by craft beer spot Hops and Props. This upcoming concept will be a combination of open-air and indoor seating, since its name is a homage to the 20th century developer Perry Snell, who’s known for revitalizing several St. Pete neighborhoods with his unique approach to architecture, nature, and walkability. No exact opening date has been announced. Photo via St. Petersburg Museum of History Credit: Photo via St. Petersburg Museum of History
Noble Tavern 1650 Central Ave., St. Petersburg Noble Tavern, which is a collaborative effort between Noble Crust and Fat Beet Farm Kitchen & Bakery, is hoping to debut sometime soon. The restaurant will be located in the newly built Tru by Hilton St. Petersburg. The spot promises locally-sourced farm fresh flavors from Fat Beet Farm, and the menu will feature classic and craft cocktails, local beer and barrel fresh wines. Photo via Noble Tavern/Facebook Credit: Noble Tavern / Facebook
Dutch Bros sells a variety of lattes, teas, sodas, milkshakes and more. Credit: DutchBros / Facebook
Fat Boy’s Pizza No exact address announced New Orleans-based pizza chain Fat Boy’s is making its way to the Bay, and the company claims to have the “World’s Biggest Pizza Slices.” The pizza chain has locations in Louisiana and Mississippi, and now plans to open 10 restaurants across the Tampa Bay region in the next few years. Fat Boy’s serves up its pizza in either a half-slice, a 10 and 16-inch pie, or a “whopping 30-inch pie.” The chain also boast wings, waffle fries, salads, meatballs, daiquiris and a full liquor bar. Photo via Fat Boy’s Pizza/Facebook
Big Chicken Locations TBA Big Chicken, the Shaquille O’Neal-owned fast casual concept, is heading to Florida in a massive way. The company recently signed a 45-unit franchising deal with Florida-based commercial hospitality development company DMD Ventures, which means we can expect Big Chicken locations in Orlando, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami in addition to Tampa Bay. There’s currently no timeline for when Tampa Bay’s debut Big Chicken franchise will open, a representative for the company told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. The casual chicken spot’s menu is a combination of Shaq’s home-cooked childhood favorites and the hottest trending flavors, chock full of chicken sandwiches, tendies and more. Photo via Photo c/o All Points PR Credit: Photo via Photo c/o All Points PR

Colin Wolf has been working with weekly newspapers since 2007 and has been the Digital Editor for Creative Loafing Tampa since 2019. He is also the Director of Digital Content Strategy for CL's parent...

Kyla Fields is the food critic and former managing editor of Creative Loafing Tampa Bay who started their journey at CL as summer 2019 intern. They are the proud owner of a charming, sausage-shaped, four-year-old...