Tampa Bay dining Archives - Creative Loafing Tampa

A promotional portrait photograph showing pitmaster Ray Lampe, aka Dr. BBQ, c. 2017. Captured in a medium close-up shot, Ray Lampe smiles directly at the camera with framed eyeglasses, white hair, and a full white beard. He wears a black short-sleeved chef jacket featuring a colorful flame-patterned collar, set against a red and black graphic wall backdrop.

New restaurant from Food Network star Ray Lampe coming to Clearwater Beach

No exact opening date was announced, but Squiki Tiki hopes to debut sometime in December.

by Colin Wolf October 7, 2026October 7, 2026

Ray Lampe, also known as “Dr. BBQ,” is back. After selling the real estate that was home to St. Pete’s Dr. BBQ and Burnt Ends Tiki Bar in 2022, the Food Network star is back behind the grill, this time in Clearwater Beach at his latest concept Squiki Tiki with Dr. BBQ. Located within the […]

An outdoor architectural photograph by Annalise Mabe showing Coco's In the Heights in Tampa, Florida on Sept. 29, 2026. Captured in a wide shot under a clear blue sky, the blue and black single-story venue features a covered outdoor patio on the left with picnic tables, bench seating, and overhead string lights. On the right, a black ordering counter with a four-panel window is decorated above with painted murals of palm trees, ocean waves, and stylized text reading "Coco's", set against a lawn forecourt with trees in the background.

Coco’s lands in Seminole Heights, Taste of the Beaches heads to Pinellas, and more in Tampa Bay food news

Plus, we get a glimpse at downtown Tampa’s new Mexican steakhouse Matilde, Pete’s Bagels is on the move, and more in our weekly food news round-up.

by CL Staff October 2, 2026October 2, 2026

Here are renderings of Matilde, a new Mexican steakhouse coming to downtown Tampa

Named after co-founder Andrew Wright’s Colombian grandmother, Matilde will be the company’s fifth concept.

by Colin Wolf September 28, 2026September 28, 2026

Alt-text options based on detail level: Concise: A crispy fried fish fillet topped with fresh corn, tomato, and red onion salsa.

Taco Dirty’s Riverview location is now permanently closed

“We spent millions of dollars to open that restaurant and try to keep it open.”

by Colin Wolf September 18, 2026September 18, 2026

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Safety Harbor’s The Tides Market listed among ‘America’s Best Restaurants’ by New York Times

The Tides is no stranger to praise.

by Colin Wolf September 15, 2026September 22, 2026

Pura Vida opens at Water Street, the Tampa Bay Food Fight returns, and more in local food news

Plus, Lolita’s Coastal Cocina opens in Clearwater Beach, Wines of Spain returns to Ybor City, Salsa Con Ron is back and more in our weekly food news round-up.

by CL Staff September 11, 2026September 11, 2026

Rooftop lounge at O-Ku Tampa overlooking trees, waterfront views, and surrounding architecture at sunset.

Tampa Bay’s hottest new restaurants to open this summer

What follows are some of the most popular new restaurants to debut in Tampa Bay over the last few months.

by CL Staff September 9, 2026September 11, 2026

A spread of various salads, wraps and drinks.

New café Pura Vida Miami opens in downtown Tampa this week

Pura Vida offers a seed oil-free menu with items like avocado toast, salads, and more.

by Colin Wolf September 8, 2026September 9, 2026

Co-owner of Armature Works wants to bring a Trader Joe’s to Seminole Heights

“Rather than quietly putting up a “For Lease” sign, we wanted to ask the neighborhood what it wanted,” Harden told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.

by Leif Helland September 3, 2026September 3, 2026

Food & Drink, Openings & Closings

Armature Works staple Graze will open a third location in South Tampa

The new post will debut a few blocks south of the new Mad Dogs.

by Colin Wolf August 31, 2026August 31, 2026

Rocky Point is getting a Yard House

Darden announced last February that it would close roughly half of its Caribbean-themed Bahama Breeze concepts.

by Colin Wolf August 25, 2026August 25, 2026

The Winn Dixie at at 8837 N. 56th St., in Temple Terrace.

Rest in peace, Temple Terrace Winn-Dixie

The 56th Street Winn Dixie first opened back in 2015 after its parent company acquired Sweetbay Supermarket

by Colin Wolf August 17, 2026August 17, 2026

Two signs, one for Buffalo Wild Wings and another for Jimmy John's

Tampa Bay is getting the country’s first combination Buffalo Wild Wings and Jimmy John’s

Similar to Yum! Brands’ “Kentacohuts,” the new corpo-mashup came together through a series of delicious acquisitions.

by Colin Wolf August 11, 2026August 11, 2026

Buddy Brew opens first Pinellas County coffee shop this week

Buddy Brew already has Sprouts-related locations in Valrico, New Tampa and Westchase, with more in the works.

by Colin Wolf August 10, 2026August 10, 2026

A low-angle outdoor photograph showing the storefront facade of Mercado West in St. Petersburg, Florida. High-mounted on a clean off-white building exterior, large 3D block letters spell out "MERCADO" in bright lime green, casting dark shadows onto the wall face. Below the signage, large glass windows reflect trees under a clear, bright blue sky in natural daylight, with green and yellow decorative balloons visible along the bottom edge of the frame.

Mercado West closing in St. Pete, Pinellas County gets a Shake Shack and more in Tampa Bay food news

Plus, celebrity chef Fabio Viviani hosts a St. Pete cooking demonstration and more in our weekly food news round-up.

by CL Staff August 7, 2026August 7, 2026

Streetlight Taco heads to Clearwater, foot-long tortas in Hyde Park, Guy Fieri at Boozy pig, and more in Tampa Bay food news

Plus, new smash burgers in Westshore, Temple Terrace gets a cheese steak joint, historic happy hours at Hotel Flor and more in our weekly food news round-up.

by CL Staff July 31, 2026August 6, 2026

Hyde Park’s new Mexican restaurant Mita’s Cocina Moderna serves a foot-long torta

Mita’s Cocina Moderna quietly debuted in Tampa’s Hyde Park neighborhood earlier this month.

by Colin Wolf July 30, 2026August 3, 2026

Tampa Bay’s annual hot sauce festival ‘I Like it Hot!’ returns this September

The popular “I Like it Hot!” Festival heads to Pinellas Park this year.

by Leif Helland July 29, 2026July 29, 2026

Tampa Bay’s first Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks will open next month near USF

This will be the first Tampa Bay outpost for the fast casual chain, which is actually not based in Philly.

by Colin Wolf July 28, 2026July 29, 2026

Tampa’s Streetlight Taco, a Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient, is expanding to Clearwater

Other restaurants under the Tastes Pretty Good umbrella include the Michelin-starred Rocca, Bar Terroir, and the new Spanish concept Lumbre.

by Colin Wolf July 28, 2026July 28, 2026