Ashley Dalrymple, the chef-owner behind Main Course. Credit: Alexandria Jones

In West Tampa, a new something-for-everyone restaurant has premiered in the heart of the historic neighborhood — right off I-275. It’s called Main Course.

“My husband actually chose the name. The restaurant is on Main Street, and, of course, the entrees. It worked out perfectly,” said chef-owner Ashley Dalrymple, better known as Chef Ai. “It’s still crazy hearing people say the name because it’s just a made-up name.”

Main Course hosted its grand opening at 2139 W. Main St. more than two months ago to great fanfare. However, the celebration was so hectic for Dalrymple that grabbing a bite to eat was never an option.

Presale tickets, 150 of them, quickly sold out ahead of time. According to Dalrymple, at least 300 people showed up on opening day, filling up all 1,700 square feet of the building that formerly housed Lanna’s Entrees. Main Course can accommodate 25 guests inside and 12 more outdoors, so many came up short on finding a seat.

“I ended up getting really sick, but the day went very well,” Dalrymple told CL. “We had 20 sponsors, a video game truck and a DJ, so there was so much love. Everything was sponsored all the way down to the balloons.”

Playing an inspiring and pivotal role, Grandma is responsible for Dalrymple’s love of cooking. Joining the culinary team during her time in the Army helped the Tampa native hone her skills even further. A couple of years before leaving the military last December, Dalrymple also served as a personal chef for celebrities and events.

“I joined the Army in 2010 as a chef, so I’ve done that for eight years. I’ve cooked for civilians and soldiers, plus I baked when I was in the Army also. There’s something satisfying about seeing people happy when they’re eating,” she said.

At Main Course, the crowd-pleasing menu rotates on a daily basis (think seafood on Fridays and brunch on weekends). Dishes range in price from $8 to $35 — offering everything from salads to the Bosses Entree, which features a cluster of snow crabs, one lobster tail and some shrimp. Other options include the popular Donut Burger, chicken pasta, seasonal Hennessy wings and loaded milkshakes. There’s even a separate selection for vegan diners.

Oh, and did we mention Dalrymple does chicken and waffle cupcakes? Talk about dreamy.

Main Course is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

“I hope to be a part of the transition in this area,” Dalrymple said. “I was born and raised in Tampa, so it feels good having something really nice here. I’m hoping we can have more establishments where it’s like home. My number one goal is to definitely inspire.”