OPENINGS/CLOSINGS
New St. Pete modern Asian restaurant Kojo opens this weekend
It’s been nearly five years since it was first announced, but St. Pete’s new modern asian restaurant Kojo is finally ready to make its debut this weekend on the third floor of the Central Park Food Hall. Located at 551 Central Ave, Kojo will start seating customers at a soft-opening starting this Friday, Nov.13 at 5 p.m. Reservations can be made on Resy. Similar to its original location in Sarasota, St. Pete’s new Kojo outpost will center around a full-service dining experience featuring a blend of Japanese, Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine, like sushi, nori tacos, bao buns, crispy wings, steaks, shareable plates, and a curated sake and cocktail program. The concept will also debut alongside the nearby Bar Hana, offering up a rooftop view of downtown St. Pete. – Colin Wolf
New outdoor cocktail lounge Drift Bar opening in downtown St. Pete
Next Level Brands, the team behind popular local spots like Boulon Brasserie, Forbici Modern Italian, and Union New American, will debut a new “open-air cocktail bar” at The Sundial in downtown St. Petersburg next week. Located at 155 Second Ave. N., Drift Bar will celebrate its official grand opening at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, with complimentary bites and music from DJ Fresh. Next Level tapped Alex Rosenbleeth to lead the bar program, which centers around topical fruit and citrus-based cocktails, link the “Pink Flamingo,” with features Condesa Gin, lychee, lemon and grapefruit soda, and the “Drift Sour,” made with Sarti, Dutch Barn vodka, guava, lemon and lime. Chef Jacob Rios, who’s also leading the company’s efforts at the yet-to-open Mexican concept Matilde, will helm the kitchen, which offers up classic bar bites like wings, sliders and smoked fish dip. – Colin Wolf
Squiki Tiki, a new Clearwater Beach restaurant from Food Network star Ray Lampe, opens next month
Ray Lampe, also known as “Dr. BBQ,” is once again serving up the meats, this time at his new concept Squiki Tiki in Clearwater Beach. Located within the Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach, at 100 Coronado Dr., the new barbecue-tiki hybrid will celebrate its official grand opening on Tuesday, Dec. 1, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. A press release says Squiki will offer guests “smoky BBQ classics alongside tiki-inspired cocktails in a laid back, tropical setting.” “Squiki Tiki combines my passion for barbecue with Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach’s welcoming hospitality and commitment to the local community,” said Lampe, who was a contestant on Food Network’s “Chopped,” as well as “Tailgate Warriors With Guy Fieri” and American Grilled.” Squiki Tiki will be open for both hotel guests and the general public every day from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. – Colin Wolf
Tampa Heights brewery Hidden Springs files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Earlier this month, Hidden Springs Ale Works announced it was leaving the Tampa Heights block it has called home since 2015. This week it filed for bankruptcy. According to a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization filed on Nov. 11 in the Middle District of Florida bankruptcy court, the local brewery was unable to negotiate an agreement with a new ownership group that terminated the existing lease after acquiring the building, located at 1631 N Franklin St Hidden Springs, which was co-founded by Joshua and Jacqueline Garman and Austin Good, said in the filing that it currently has approximately $1.67 million in secured and unsecured debt, after annual gross revenue fell from $511,600 in 2024 to $403,390 in 2025. The company listed names of creditors in the records, including Celtic Bank Corporation, American Express, City of Tampa Utilities, Florida Dept. of Revenue, and others. A Chapter 11 filing does not necessarily mean that a business is closing, but it does allow businesses to reorganize their debts while continuing operations under court supervision. In this week’s bankruptcy filing, the company said it plans to shift to a distribution and wholesale business model, selling beers at local bars, grocery stores, etc. – Colin Wolf
FOOD & DRINKS EVENTS
Tampa Bay’s Burger Week happening November 12-22
It’s time to expand your innards ahead of Thanksgiving. Tampa Bay Burger Week returns on Nov. 12, bringing with it 10 days of beefy deals—and vegan ones, too. More than two dozen restaurants on both sides of Tampa Bay have already signed up, including The Dan, A Boy Named Sous, Common Dialect Beerworks’ brand new kitchen, Juno & the Peacock and more. Vegan International Co.’s “NcDouble” ($18.99) is a play on the fast food classic with house “Big Nick Sauce.” There’s also Food + Beer’s meatball smash burger ($15.49, pictured), a “Havana Frita” burger from Flan Factory ($13), Bulla Gastrobar’s burg’ with piquillo peppers and tetilla cheese ($16), and more. Even Dunedin’s Madison Ave Pizza is getting in on the Tampa Bay Burger Week action. All guests have to do is show up at the participating locations (see most of them below) and ask for the Tampa Bay Burger Week special. Diners can also vote for their favorite burger via tampabayburgerweek.com. Part of the proceeds from Tampa Bay Burger Week benefit Feeding Tampa Bay, the nonprofit organization serving 10 counties in the Bay area and beyond. There’s also a chance to win gift certificates from Tampa Bay Burger Week, by sharing a photo of your burger on Instagram, then tagging @cltampabay and using the hashtag #tampabayburgerweek. A press release from Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, which is organizing the celebration, says “Each location you visit and tag on Instagram automatically gets you an additional entry into the contest.” – Ray Roa
Karma Young stays busy working a corporate job, managing AirBnB properties, teaching pole dancing lessons in the aerial community, and running the baby she has parked in front of Shuffle in Tampa Heights. BrewKini’s Coffee Co, is a bright and bubbly coffee trailer specializing in Spaddy’s bean coffee drinks, tropical refreshers with naturally-derived lotus energy, and warm hospitality that she hopes will change guests’ days. After achieving success in her corporate career (which she still deftly balances), purchasing her own home, and building financial stability, Young wanted more. “I had kind of already done the other things in life. I bought myself a house, I bought myself a car, I’m single,” Young told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “I needed to channel my time, energy, and attention into something that directly benefits me.” And, she’d love it if the community came out for the trailers one year anniversary party, showcasing 20 local, women-owned businesses taking over the Shuffle grounds mid-November. There will be free morning workouts (yoga, pilates, Booty Babes—signup is on Eventbrite), unique vendors (Better Off Read blind book wraps, permanent jewelry, fine-line henna), a live DJ, games, plus food and a full bar served up by Shuffle. “It’ll just be a really fun day of celebrating the women that make an impact in the community,” Young said. There’s no cover for the BrewKini first anniversary party on Sunday, Nov. 15, happening 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Tampa Shuffle. – Annalise Mabe
MORE WEEKEND FOOD AND DRINK EVENTS
43rd Annual Greek-American Festival Friday-Sunday, Nov. 13-15. 11 a.m.; 4 p.m. Friday. No cover. St. George Greek Orthodox Church, New Port Richey
16th Annual Empty Bowls: Soups at Sunset Saturday, Nov. 14. 4 p.m. $20; 18 & under $10. Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum, Plant City. ufbpc.org
Suncoast Largest Food Truck Festival 10 Saturday, Nov. 14. 11 a.m. No cover. The Mall at University Town Center, Sarasota. floridapenguinproductions.com
The Longest Table Sunday, Nov. 15. 1 p.m. No cover. Downtown Tarpon Avenue, Tarpon Springs. exploretarponsprings.com
Taste of Pride 2026 Sunday, Nov. 15. 6 p.m. $25. 1920, Ybor City. stpetepride.org
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This article appears in Nov. 12 – 18, 2026.
