Ybor Seoul You may soon walk down 7th Avenue and pass someone chowing down on a Korean corn dog, but you won't need to ask them where they got it because there’s only one restaurant in the historic district that sells them. Sandwiched between 7-Eleven and King Corona Cigars in the heart of Ybor City is newly-opened Korean restaurant Ybor Seoul. The casual eatery, located at 1531 E 7th Ave., quietly opened its doors last weekend on Saturday, Aug. 26. The new concept’s menu specializes in popular Korean fare—from street food-inspired bites like cheese and sausage-filled corn dogs and grilled skewers to everyday eats like kimbap (rice, veggies, protein and rice wrapped in seaweed), spicy rice cakes, dumplings, chicken wings and a variety of hearty soups. To wash it all down, you can indulge in milk and fruit teas, smoothies or coffee topped with your choice of boba or flavored jelly. The Korean restaurant offers both dine-in and take-out service, but probably won't be on any delivery apps like Uber Eats or Grubhub, according to one of its employees. Ybor Seoul is now open from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m.-midnight Fridays and Saturdays. 1531 E 7th Ave.,Ybor City. (813)-248-0788
Late Night Coop Seminole Heights’ night owl stoners are about to have a new way to burn their buttholes. Last week, local Nashville hot chicken chain King of the Coop told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that it’s launching a “Late Night Coop” option out of the Seminole Heights Flocale food hall it shares with Westshore Pizza, burger and hot dog joint Slide, Matt’s Fat cookie and Flocale Axe Throwing. The late-night King of the Coop kicks off on Friday, Sept. 8 and will keep Flocale open until 2 a.m. After that, Flocale will stay open until 2 a.m. every Friday and Saturday night. As part of the “Late Night Coop” plan, Masters and King of the Coop founder Joe Dodd said they are moving staff and operations out of the concept’s South Tampa location, which will have its last day of service on Sunday, Aug 27. The “Late Night Coop” menu will include the same options as King of the Coop’s daytime menu, which features five levels of heat on its fried chicken. “We tried doing a smaller menu for late night before and people wanted what they wanted so we put the full menu back,” Dodd added. 5910 N Florida Ave., Tampa. flocale.com— Ray Roa
Flavas A new eatery just opened its doors in North Tampa, and its hearty fare makes for a perfect pre-Busch Gardens stop (just make sure you don't end up puking on a coaster). Flavas restaurant made its debut today at 4819 E Busch Blvd.—adjacent to Busch Gardens and the University of South Florida—but celebrates its grand opening all weekend-long. The locally-owned concept specializes in chicken wings, burgers, hot dogs and freshly-squeezed lemonade. The new restaurant offers dozens of chicken wing variations—from unique sauces to dry rubs, and everything in between. Just a handful of wing flavors include chili lime, honey barbecue, ghost pepper, Nashville hot, mango habanero and garlic parmesan. Flavas co-owners Jacques Brooks (pictured) and partner Deonta Taylor recently relocated from Chicago, and wanted to bring a taste of home back to Tampa. A few Chicago-inspired items on their menu include a Polish sausage topped with cheese, grilled onions and peppers, and the city's beloved pizza puff, which is basically a fancy Hot Pocket. 4819 E Busch Blvd., Tampa. flavasrestaurants.com
Coming Soon
Sal Rosa Kitchen + Bar It’s common to see people posing for photos on Le Méridien’s massive steps, but a brand new restaurant might have those same folks wandering inside for dinner, too. Replacing the historic hotel’s former restaurant Bizou Brasserie is a brand new, Caribbean-inspired concept called Sal Rosa Kitchen + Bar. Sal Rosa Kitchen + Bar—located in the heart of downtown Tampa—will be the signature restaurant of the historic Le Méridien boutique hotel, also known as “The Courthouse,” after its grand opening sometime this fall. The hotel says its new restaurant will “feature a mix of Island Latin cuisine and Caribbean themed cocktails.” According to Le Méridien’s website, the restaurant will also have an on-site cafe and dessert shop that will serve a variety of specialty drinks from Illy Coffee, gelatos and pastries. Sal Rosa’s social media states that it will make its debut sometime in September, although an exact grand opening date is unknown. Renderings shared on its Instagram depict the new bar and restaurant as a bright and open space covered in foliage and modern decor. 601 N Florida Ave., Tampa. Marriott.com
Pete’s Bagels 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 station—another shot at life. Yesterday, Pete’s General took to Instagram to announce the opening of its newest location in St. Pete’s southside. “We are so excited to be opening a drive thru/ express Pete’s on the South Side of St Pete!,” the bagel business wrote on Instagram. “Housed in St. Pete’s first gas station, this space will renovate the dilapidated gas station on the corner of 4th St S and 25th Ave.” 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. The Tampa Bay Times says that Pete’s newest bagel shop will open in January 2024. 2439 4th St. S., St. Petersburg. @petes_general on Instagram
Events
Rooster & The Till Chef Series 2023 Each year, Seminole Heights mainstay and two-time Bib Gourmand recipient Rooster & the Till welcomes prominent chefs from around the country to give Tampeños a taste of their worldly cuisine—and its 2023 rendition has just started. Each monthly installment of the dinner series at Rooster & the Till—located at 6500 N Florida Ave. —will offer a unique spread of tasting menus and experiences. This year’s series kicked off with Chef Claudette Zepeda—winner of “Iron Chef,” a Michelin Bib Gourmand receipt and James Beard nominee—in August, and continues with popular ceramist and culinary mind Zach Meloy on Oct. 8, Tampa native and Twice-Michelin-starred David Barzelay on Nov. 5, and James Beard nominee Chef Chad Colby and former Rooster & the Till sous chef Arturo Rojas—who both helm the kitchen at Los Angeles Italian restaurant Antico Nuovo—on Dec. 3. Tickets to each installment of the Chef Dinner Series cost between $250-$350 per person and can be purchased via roosterandthetill.com. Each ticket includes a minimum of six courses paired with beverages, alongside access to a cocktail happy hour before the dinner itself and curated tunes from Tampa’s own DJ Blenda. 6500 N Florida Ave., Tampa. roosterandthetill.com
Event Details
A new late-night taco spot just opened out of the former Cap’s Steamer Bar space in downtown St. Pete’s Jannus block, according to ILovetheBurg. T & Tacos—located at 226 1st Ave. N—replaced the seafood bar that opened just last summer. The new Mexican spot features a full-liquor bar, tacos, quesadillas and more.
Following hurricane Idalia that swept through Florida earlier this week, popular butcher and from-scratch kitchen The Boozy Pig has closed its Davis Islands location until further notice. Its Instagram says that the flagship West Tampa shop (3255 W Cypress St.) will operate with its normal hours of 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sundays.
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