Tampa Bay restaurants Archives - Creative Loafing Tampa

Red Mesa Cantina restaurant in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida at sunset, featuring its historic brick facade and rooftop patio.

St. Pete’s Red Mesa Cantina abruptly closes after parent company files for bankruptcy

The company did not include the bankruptcy filing in today’s social media announcement.

by Colin Wolf June 2, 2026June 2, 2026

Downtown St. Petersburg’s longtime Tex-Mex spot Red Mesa Cantina announced its immediate closure this morning, just one day after its parent company filed for bankruptcy protection. “It is with heavy hearts that we announce that, effective immediately, Red Mesa Cantina will be closing after 16 unforgettable years in downtown St. Petersburg,” posted the restaurant on […]

‘One of the best donuts I’ve ever had in my life’: Guy Fieri heaps praise on Tampa’s Supernatural

Supernatural was the only Tampa spot highlighted in the 21-minute episode of ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.’

by Colin Wolf May 26, 2026May 26, 2026

Michelin-star restaurateur Johnny Tung plans to open ‘Tokyo Swim Club’ rooftop lounge in Ybor City

Tung and his brother Jimmy are involved in Tampa Heights omakase Kōsen and the Bento Asian Kitchen + Sushi chain.

by Ray Roa March 21, 2026March 23, 2026

An exterior corner view of The Bricks in Ybor City under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds. The two-story historic red brick building features large windows at street level, red awnings, and American flags mounted above the entrance. The restaurant sits at a quiet intersection with white crosswalks, power lines overhead, and a row of historic buildings and palm trees extending down the sunlit street.

New owner of The Bricks in Ybor City shares plans for the restaurant and venue’s future

Joshua Pardue’s firm acquired the building and business last January.

by Ray Roa March 21, 2026March 23, 2026

The exterior of The Chattaway, a historic restaurant in St. Petersburg, Florida. The pink wooden building features a mural of pink flamingos and green palm fronds. A white sign reading 'Chattaway Drive-In' sits atop a gabled roof, surrounded by lush tropical plants, succulents, and a large oak tree under a clear sky.

St. Pete’s Chattaway restaurant will close this summer: ‘It’s definitely bittersweet’

The property is under contract, and expects to have a new owner by August.

by Ray Roa March 17, 2026March 17, 2026

Cropped portrait of Joe Dodd, owner of Chicken and Pig, wearing a black chef's shirt and hat at the Depot 303 food hall in Mulberry, Florida.

Tampa’s hot chicken king just wants to be Joe again

After merging two restaurant concepts and logging off, Joe Dodd has found solace in the simplicity of fried chicken and porchetta sandwiches.

by Adrian O'Farrill February 20, 2026February 20, 2026

A wide-angle street view of a two-story historic red brick building on a corner, identified by a black sign as "THE BRICKS." The sidewalk in front features a yellow fire hydrant and two bright orange diamond-shaped construction signs that read "ROAD WORK AHEAD" and "ROAD CLOSED AHEAD." The scene is captured on a clear day with a blue sky and tall palm trees visible further down the street.

Property that’s home to Ybor City restaurant The Bricks has been sold

Plans for the restaurant are still unclear after the property transferred ownership in January.

by Ray Roa February 1, 2026February 9, 2026

The exterior of "Lara Apothecary Bar & Bazaar," a two-story tan brick building with a black awning and green double doors. The storefront features large windows reflecting the street, a vintage-style black lamppost with five white globe lights in the foreground, and a geometric tiled sidewalk out front.

Ybor City restaurant Lara celebrates first anniversary with free beer and tacos, more

Chef Suzanne Crouch opened the much-anticipated concept after years in other peoples’ kitchens.

by Ray Roa January 24, 2026January 26, 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

Monte Pizza is now open in St. Pete

Another slice spot for St. Pete-za.

by Selene San Felice November 24, 2025November 24, 2025

A smiling man wearing glasses and a white button-up shirt stands next to an open vehicle door and holds a sign that reads: "OUR MOST IMPORTANT TO DO LIST: ENJOY YOUR LIFE, HELP OTHERS" against a city street backdrop.

Andrew Ashmeade built Tampa’s Jerk Hut into a celebration of Caribbean culture—and he’s looking to expand

He opened the first Jerk Hut on N Nebraska Avenue in 1993, and currently operates four locations between South Tampa and the university area hotspot.

by Emily McLaughlin November 5, 2025November 5, 2025

Interior of Gigglewaters Social Club & Screening Room, featuring a long wooden bar with rows of high-backed chairs, shelves lined with bottles, and warm overhead lights. The space has a vintage feel with patterned tin ceilings, red tufted booth seating, dark walls, and hardwood floors.

As SNAP benefits end, here are all the Tampa Bay restaurants letting kids eat free

This is a developing post.

by Ray Roa October 30, 2025November 3, 2025

A large group of people celebrating inside a bright, new commercial space, raising glasses of champagne. The group includes a man in a blue blazer and a woman in a long black dress, surrounded by staff in black attire.

Legendary Tampa restaurant Mise en Place will open new Ybor City location in December

There’s one last party happening at the Grand Central location on Halloween.

by Ray Roa October 30, 2025October 30, 2025

A low-angle, exterior shot of a two-story restaurant named "Ella's." The building is painted bright red with black trim, and a black metal sign with "Ella's" in a distinctive font juts out from the wall. A dark awning covers a front patio area, which is accessed by stairs and enclosed by a rustic, dark-colored fence. Lush green foliage and trees surround the entrance, and a lit torch-style lamp is visible near the stairs.

A former Tampa chef is saving the recipes of bygone restaurants

Eric Hipol has recreated more than 20 local dishes for his Recipe Preservation Project

by Alisha Durosier October 28, 2025November 3, 2025

A silver-haired man in a navy jacket sits beside a young woman with dark hair tied back, both focused on something in front of them. The man gestures with his hand while the woman looks down intently. Another woman is partially visible on the right, with a water bottle on the table in front of her. The setting appears to be an indoor event or panel.

Food Network celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian plans to open a new downtown St. Pete restaurant

The still unnamed restaurant will live at The Central, a hotel coming to the Edge District.

by Kyla Fields October 1, 2025October 1, 2025

Exterior of Boda Authentic Mexican Cuisine, a white stucco building with a black roof and arched windows. A tall sign with the restaurant’s name stands at the corner of the lot. The outdoor patio has bright yellow umbrellas and a large banner reading “NOW OPEN,” set under a blue sky with scattered clouds.

Boda, a new Mexican restaurant from the same owners as Riveters, opens in Tampa

It’s right next to Mons Venus.

by Kyla Fields October 1, 2025October 1, 2025

anging sign for Mema’s Alaskan Tacos in Ybor City, Florida, with bold red “TACOS” lettering. The sign is mounted on the side of a building with string lights underneath the overhang. Power lines, palm trees, and a clear blue sky are visible in the background.

Mema’s celebrates anniversary with half-price Alaskan tacos this weekend

The Best of the Bay-winner was a staple in Ybor City for 13 years and re-opened in 2024.

by Ray Roa October 1, 2025October 1, 2025

Colorful illustrated sign for “King of the Coop,” featuring a muscular cartoon chicken wearing a gold crown and chain with arms crossed. Bold white text reads “KING OF THE COOP,” and below in a blue box, “THIS IS COOP COUNTRY.” Trees and sky are visible in the background.

King of the Coop closes new Seminole Heights restaurant, effective immediately

It opened just six months ago.

by Kyla Fields September 11, 2025September 11, 2025

A white table set with a variety of dishes, including shrimp with radish slices, pasta with braised beef and cherry tomatoes, a croque monsieur with side salad and dressing, eggs Benedict with smoked salmon, and a cup of mixed fruit. A cappuccino, a glass of red wine, and bright red napkins folded with silverware complete the presentation.

Sarasota’s Mademoiselle Paris is opening a French restaurant in Gulfport this winter

The Bay area location will be the chain’s fourth in Florida.

by Emily McLaughlin September 9, 2025September 10, 2025

Tampa Bay’s 31 best restaurants and pop-ups with international flavor

by CL Staff June 30, 2025