Along with this summer’s record hot temps, Tampa Bay also witnessed some steamy restaurant openings.

From new halal and pierogi spots, to mochinuts and cat cafes, the Bay’s dining options have never looked sunnier—here are a few of the best spots that opened over the last few months. 

Abu Omar Halal 12208 N 56th St., Temple Terrace, 813-415-3302 After being in its pre-opening stage since 2020, Abu Omar Halal finally opened its first Florida location in Temple Terrace on Aug. 13. Offering halal favorites, Abu Omar serves up a selection of shawarmas, sandwiches, salad and rice bowls, falafel, kabobs, platters and more. Beginning as Houston’s first and only Halal food truck, Abu Omar Halal currently has over 20 locations. Photo via Abu Omar Halal/Facebook
Slide Burgers 5910 N Florida Ave., Tampa, 813- 232-2667 What started as an experiment in FLocale’s kitchen by King of the Coop owner Joe Dodd, is now the Seminole Heights food hall’s newest concept and burger joint, Slide Burgers. Announcing the arrival of slider smash burgers, various melt sandwiches and loaded hotdogs at FLocale on National Hamburger Day, Slide officially launched on July 28. Photo via Slide
Cats & Caffeine 4033 Henderson Blvd., Tampa, 813-728-9952 Tampa folks no longer have to cross the bridge for some R&R with kittens now that the area’s first cat cafe opened. Partnered with local nonprofit Cat Lovers Inc. Cats & Caffeine provides much more than a unique place to get coffee—it’s also a temporary home for all of the adoptable kitties it hosts. With 25 or 50-minute time slots available to book by appointment, patrons are invited to destress and fall in love with adoptable kittens. Photo via Cats & Caffeine/Facebook
Mochinut 11401 N 56th St. no. 16, 813-374-5781 After making our mouths water over social media, Mochinut could not have come to Temple Terrace any sooner. Specializing in its namesake, a mochinut is “a combination of American doughnuts and Japanese mochi,” made in a variety of styles and flavors. But that’s not all. Mochinut also serves boba tea, soft serve and decadent Korean Hotdogs (including a fried hotdog or cheese stick wrapped in a yeasty dough and panko). Photo via Mochinut Tampa/Facebook
Pierogi Bar 6661 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-487-2903 Self-described as St. Pete’s “first and best” Ukrainian restaurant, Pierogi Bar opened its doors in May. With a straightforward menu of various pierogi iterations, Pierogi Bar also serves dishes like the Kozak platter: featuring the traditional beet-based soup borscht with two Ukrainian-style sausages, three potato pancakes and three pierogis of your choice. Photo via Pierogi Bar/Facebook
Good Fortune St. Pete 260 1st Ave. S No. 100, St. Petersburg, 727-287-3881 From the minds behind No Vacancy and Dirty Laundry, Hunger Thirst Group’s newest concept, Good Fortune, opened in the basement space of downtown St. Pete’s Station House this month. With a menu centered around sushi, Good Fortune offers a variety of Asian fusion dishes to pair with its trendy atmosphere, cocktail bar, private karaoke room and intimate sushi bar. Photo via @stationhousedtsp/Instagram
Krate at the Grove 6105 Wesley Grove Blvd., Wesley Chapel Lookout Sparkman Wharf, there’s a new shipping container park in the Bay. Located at Wesley Chapel’s shopping center, the Grove, Krate hosts 55 container concepts, an outdoor stage and play area. To add to its retail and dining, Krate also has spots to pick up drinks. Photo via Krate at the Grove/Facebook
Twisted Indian 2639 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-954-3872 After years of enjoying Twisted Indian’s beloved naanwiches and curritos out of a food truck, patrons can now binge on the fare in the restaurant’s brick-and-mortar dining space. Bringing its Indian-fusion to St. Pete’s Grand Central District, Twisted Indian opened doors in May. Photo via Kyla Fields
I.C. Sharks Bar & Cafe 10020 Gandy Blvd. N, St. Petersburg, 727-914-4087 For years, Gandy Boulevard’s I.C. Sharks Seafood Market has been a favorite supplier of fresh-caught fish and shellfish. This summer, the market put its talents into opening a bar and restaurant for patrons to enjoy drinks, dishes made with the catches of the day, raw oysters, steamed clams, sammies and ready-made favorites like the smoked fish dip. Photo via I.C. Sharks/Facebook
Bad Mother 260 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg, 727-895-8260 Located inside downtown St. Pete’s event and co-working space, the Station House, Bad Mother is the newest spot to enter the city’s growing market of specialty coffee. Sourcing from surrounding local businesses, like Eastlick Coffee Co. for its beans and Pete’s General for its bagels and pastries, Bad Mother emphasizes on optimizing the quality and experience beyond a typical coffee run. Photo via Bad Mother/Google
Cap’s 226 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg. 727-396-9196 Ever wondered what “Old Florida with Americana flare” tastes like? Find out in the old MacDinton’s space in downtown St. Pete at Cap’s Steamer Bar and Restaurant. Celebrating its grand opening with a bang on First Friday in June, Cap’s serves up fresh seafood dishes with a modern twist. The spot also offers brunch to nurse your next Sunday morning hangover. Photo via @caps_stpetefl/Instagram
Edge Eatery 1572 Central Ave., St. Petersburg Another spot subjected to the waiting game of lockdown-limbo, St. Pete’s anticipated food hall EDGE Eatery opened in mid-July. The new food hall located in, you guessed it, St. Pete’s EDGE District, on Central Avenue occupies the first floor of the Fusion 1560 condominium. The space hosts three full-on food concepts—an Italian restaurant, a Cuban sandwich spot and a Colombian-inspired eatery—and houses a 40-seat bar. Photo via Google Maps

Best Wesley Chapel Restaurant

The Living Room
Finalists: Walk-Ons Sports Bistreaux, Cooper’s Hawk Credit: Photo via The Living Room at Wiregrass/Facebook
Where’s Jubes 277 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-897-9728 When Where’s Jubes opened this summer, Outback Steakhouse was no longer the only Australia-centered spot in town. But rather than a motif, Where’s Jubes’ Aussie concept is a nod to owner and restaurateur Joshua “Jubes” Cameron’s roots—taken to the next level by importing hops from the homeland itself. As a brewpub, Where’s Jubes serves its in-house brews alongside local favorites on a grill-focused menu. Photovia Where’s Jubes/Facebook
Sushi-go 208 E Kennedy Blvd. No. 115, Tampa, 813-221-2173 Honoring the large Japanese population that resides in Brazil, Sushi-go is a to-go joint serving up rolls, nigiri and sashimi with Brazilian-inspired flare. Sushi-go’s menu also features a less mainstream sushi technique, temaki or “sushi-cone.” Since opening in June, Sushi-go has since expanded their menu and hours of operation. Photo via Sushi-go/Facebook
Four Green Fields 802 N 12th St., Tampa. 813-466-5080 When one green door closed on Platt Street, another one opened in Channelside. This May, the iconic Irish pub chain opened their 16,000-square-foot warehouse location completed with a large mural of the original Four Green Fields that served its time from 1992-2020. The new location hosts a front patio, a whiskey tasting room and an in-house microbrewery. Photo via Four green Fields/Google
Elevation Coffee Heights 1607 N Franklin St., Tampa Just months after opening inside Tampa Heights coworking and event space, Brave Haus, Carrollwood-based Elevation Coffee Roasters moved a couple doors down and now shares a space with Flower Crown Kombucha. A concept with quality as its top priority, Elevation roasts their beans in-house at their original Carrollwood for cafe use and wholesale. Photo via Google Maps
Bonu’ Taverna 601 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-623-4505 After renovating the space formerly occupied by Central Avenue vegan spot Cider-Press Cafe, the anticipated Bonu’ Taverna opened in June. A menu crafted and inspired by the flavors of Southern Italy, Bonu’ hosts a wide variety of authentic dishes like “pinsa,” a thinner, lighter version of pizza, as well as vegan and gluten free options. Photo via Kyla Fields
Walk-Ons Sports Bistreaux 1140 Gramercy Ln., Tampa. 813-771-7100 Who knew Cajun food and sports went so well together? Louisianans, of course. This match made in heaven came to Tampa when Walk-Ons Sports Bistreaux opened its Midtown location in June. A collaboration between Baton Rouge-native Brandon Landry and former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, Walk-Ons hosts a vast menu with authentic Cajun cuisine and typical American fare alike. Photo via
Chanko 4603 N Florida Ave., 813-770-7306 This summer Chop Chop Shop’s iconic roadside diner-car made the transition to Chanko—a new concept from the same chef, Steve Sera. With a smaller, more upscale menu than its predecessor, Chanko specializes in the Hiroshima-style cabbage and noodle layered pancake-like dish, okonomiyaki. You’ll also find the spot slinging Japanese curry, rice plates and more. Photo via Steve Sera