Tampa Bay restaurants Archives - Page 2 of 10 - Creative Loafing Tampa

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

Skins Par & Grill brings ‘upscale casual dining’ and premier indoor golf to Ybor City

by Sponsored by Centro Ybor June 26, 2025June 26, 2025

The Studio Public House closing after four years in St. Pete

Mike Crippen’s gastropub is looking for a new home.

by Marleigh Brown June 23, 2025August 1, 2025

‘Free food from here would be the best NIL deal in the world’: Bucs rookie Shilo Sanders has deep thoughts about this Tampa restaurant

The sparkling-water-loving football star ordered a little bit of everything and had a four-top table covered in plates at one point

by Jani Burden June 23, 2025August 4, 2025

Decades after leaving, fast food chain Bojangles has plans to return to Tampa Bay

The North Carolina-born chain hasn’t had a presence in the Tampa Bay area since the ’80s.

by Ray Roa June 18, 2025August 5, 2025

Food & Drink, Things to Do

27 Black-owned restaurants in Tampa Bay everyone should visit

by Tyana Rodgers, Colin Wolf and Kyla Fields June 17, 2025

Pete’s Bagels opens long-awaited St. Pete drive-thru location

Bagels that rise to the occasion for the seaside town.

by Marleigh Brown June 9, 2025July 29, 2025

Four Green Fields is renovating its Curtis Hixon location, Foxtail enters Largo, and more Tampa Bay food news

Plus a new Vietnamese spot in Gulfport, another Raising Cane’s and a review of Slim Charmer in St. Pete.

by Marleigh Brown, Jani Burden, Kyla Fields and Ray Roa June 6, 2025August 5, 2025

Review: Slim Charmer, St. Pete’s carefully-curated, curious, new cocktail bar and tasting room, signals an even brighter future for the Bay area dining scene

The concept from owners of Wild Child is a dazzling new addition to an already bustling stretch of Central Avenue.

by Kyla Fields May 30, 2025August 4, 2025

Photos: Look inside Slim Charmer, a new St. Pete restaurant and cocktail spot that’s raising the bar on Central Avenue

by Kyla Fields and Dave Decker May 30, 2025

New ‘French-ish’ bistro, Bar Terroir, opens in South Tampa next month

by Jani Burden May 20, 2025