Tampa restaurants Psomi and Gorkhali Kitchen earn Michelin Guide Bib Gourmands

Later this month, inspectors will release their full 2023 Michelin Guide, but today the company awarded two new Bib Gourmands to a pair of Tampa restaurants on opposite sides of the city.

NoHo Greek favorite Psomi, and Gorkhali Kitchen, a Himalayan spot in New Tampa, earned Bibs in today’s update.

According to Michelin Guide, Bib Gourmand restaurants offer a meal of good quality at a good value. Last year, three Tampa restaurants—Rooster & the Till, Ichicoro and Rocca—earned bibs.

Those concepts could very well still have Bibs, and may be upgraded to stars when a full update to the Florida Michelin Guide happens on May 11 during a ceremony in Miami.

“We release just the new Bib Gourmands a week in advance to build excitement, but we don't provide the full list in order to save some intrigue for the ‘live reveal’ at the ceremony,” a rep for the Michelin Guide told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “We have to wait to find out!”

Last month, Michelin added three Tampa restaurants—Lilac, Ponte and Noble Rice—to its Florida guide.
No local restaurants won stars last year, and as previously reported, Michelin inspectors do not visit Tampa Bay restaurants because bringing the guide to the Sunshine State was an effort coordinated by Visit Florida, Visit Orlando, Visit Tampa Bay and Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Restaurants in Orlando and Winter Garden (Isan Zaap, Norigami, Otto’s High Dive, Taste of Chengdu), plus Miami (Rosie’s, Jaguar Sun) were also included in today's update.

In a blog post, Michelin praised the breadth of the menu at New Tampa strip mall spot, Gorkhali Kitchen—located at 10044 Cross Creek Blvd.—and noted its focus on Nepalese cuisine with a touch of Indian influence.

"Of course, there must be momo, those iconic Nepalese dumplings that are seared, pan-fried or even in jhol (soup). Chicken is a popular protein that appears often on the menu, but don't shy away from the goat specialties. They're falling-off-the-bone tender and savory," inspectors wrote.

Off N Howard Avenue near downtown Tampa, Psomi's second-generation owner-operator Christina Theofilos saw her bakery and brunch mecca earn high marks for the warm ambience and menu items like octopus ceviche and dolma (basically the Greek version of grape leaves).

"Of course, with a name that translates to bread, there must be baked goods and you'll find it all here," Micheline added about Psomi.