Tampa Bay food news Archives - Creative Loafing Tampa

Seminole Heights BBQ spot Wicked Oak will be on Guy Fieri’s ‘Diner, Drive-ins and Dives’ next week

There’s been a lot of Guy Fieri sightings around Tampa Bay recently.

by Colin Wolf October 27, 2026October 27, 2026

Wicked Oak Barbeque is getting the Guy Fieri treatment. The popular Seminole Heights spot, located at 6607 N Florida Ave., announced on social media yesterday that it will be featured on Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” “We’ve been keeping a bit of a secret y’all. Wicked Oak is going to be featured on Diners, […]

Multiple illuminated vintage pinball machines, including an X-Men themed machine, lined up indoors at The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York

New elevated Mexican spot opens in downtown Tampa, St. Pete gets a pinball bar, and more in local food news

Plus, James Beard winning author Steven Raichlen is on town talking barbecue, Clearwater GreekFest is here and more in our weekly food news round-up.

by CL Staff October 23, 2026October 23, 2026

Exterior view of The Tides Seafood Market & Provisions building located at the corner of 3rd Ave N and Main St, featuring blue brick walls, large glass windows, and outdoor wooden seating.

Safety Harbor’s The Tides gets some NYT love, La La Sangria Bar says goodbye, and more in Tampa Bay food news

Plus, Taco Dirty pulls out of Riverview, a rundown of the area’s best gas station restaurants and more in our weekly dining round-up

by CL Staff 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

a platter of guac of Lolita's.

New Mexican restaurant Lolita’s Coastal Cocina opens in Clearwater Beach

The new Mexican concept is part of a series of new offerings at the Clearwater Beach luxury resort.

by Colin Wolf September 8, 2026September 8, 2026

Seminole Heights wants a Trader Joe’s, Rocky Point is getting a Yard House, and more in Tampa Bay food news

Plus, St. Pete’s Historic Manhattan Casino is back, Lucky Tigre celebrates fourth anniversary with a lumpia eating contest and more in our weekly food news round-up.

by CL Staff September 4, 2026September 4, 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

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

Two people holding iced Buddy Brew Coffee drinks outdoors, featuring cold brew with foam and a purple iced tea.

Pinellas gets a Buddy Brew, a Michelin-Bib earning chef heads to Ybor City, and more Tampa Bay food news

Plus, Tampa Bay gets the country’s first combination Buffalo Wild Wings Go and Jimmy John’s (Buffalohns?), and more in our weekly food news round-up.

by CL Staff August 14, 2026August 14, 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

Three Michelin-adjacent restaurants coming to Tampa Bay, Southern Brewing says goodbye, and more local food news

Plus, Cook Out opens in Temple Terrace, Gulfperk Coffee closes, and more in our weekly Tampa Bay food news round-up.

by CL Staff July 17, 2026July 17, 2026

Front of Bodega Bus featuring a gratified school bus to-go window and the words "Mini Mart," "NYC Deli" and "Vape Shop"

Bodega Bus arrives in downtown Tampa, Edison Food + Drink Lab takes a break, and more local food news

Plus, Red, White & Bayboro, a Safety Harbor hot dog eating contest and more in our weekly food news round-up.

by CL Staff June 26, 2026June 26, 2026

Tampa Heights gets a new cafe, Quaker Steak and Lube calls it quits, and more in our local food news round-up

Plus, Tampa’s Rome + Fig is closing next month, a new “food park” is coming to Seminole Heights, and more.

by Colin Wolf June 19, 2026June 19, 2026

Guy Fieri standing with the team outside SuperNatural Food & Wine restaurant in downtown Tampa, Florida, next to a menu board displaying breakfast and lunch options and a Michelin Guide 2025 sign

Tampa earns -1 Michelin stars, Guy Fieri loves Supernatural, Daily Eats says goodbye and more local food news

Plus, CL launches a beer supporting public transparency, Two Shepherds is getting out of the dog bar biz, Green Bench comes to Tampa and more.

by CL Staff May 29, 2026May 29, 2026

Angry Chair brewery exterior

Angry Chair selling, new gelato heads to St. Pete, and more Tampa Bay food news

Plus, Pepper Fest heads to Pinellas Park, Rialto Tea Room opens in Tampa Heights and more.

by CL Staff April 29, 2026April 29, 2026

Two people pick up food samples off of a table at Taste of Water Street

Guy Fieri, two ‘Taste’ parties and more Tampa Bay food news

Plus, the best food and drink events April 16-22.

by CL Staff April 14, 2026April 14, 2026

A modern restaurant interior with a long marble bar lined with dark upholstered stools, neatly set dining tables, and large windows letting in natural light. Shelves of liquor bottles line the back bar, with contemporary lighting and artwork throughout the space.

Mise en Place’s new Ybor City location is now open

A ribbon-cutting is set for Friday, Jan. 9.

by Ray Roa January 8, 2026January 8, 2026

A Krispy Kreme doughnut shop with a green awning and drive-thru lane sits on a corner lot, with a roadside sign reading “Krispy Kreme Doughnuts” and “Drive Thru,” trees lining the street, and cars parked nearby on a sunny day.

St. Pete’s only Krispy Kreme is being replaced by Chipotle

Enjoy the glow of that ‘hot now’ light while you can.

by Ray Roa January 7, 2026January 7, 2026

An interior view of a grocery store aisle. Grey shelves are stocked with various food products, including breakfast cereals like Weetabix and Alpen, jars of jam and condiments, bottled drinks, and baking supplies. A string of Welsh flag bunting hangs across the top of the aisle.

St. Pete gets its own ‘Wee’ slice of Britain & Ireland with special grocery

by Sophia Lowrie October 24, 2025October 24, 2025