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Tampa Bay’s 25 hottest new restaurants to open in 2023

By Colin Wolf and Kyla Fields on Fri, Dec 8, 2023 at 3:11 pm

For better or for worse, Tampa Bay's dining scene took a giant leap forward in 2023.

Over the past 12 months, three local restaurants bagged the region's first Michelin stars, a high-end members only dinner club emerged, multiple omakase spots debuted, Hollywood stars opened new concepts, and some highly-anticipated chains finally made their big debut.

Well, I guess this means growing up. But overall Tampa Bay's dining scene saw a vast variety of new culinary flavors and ideas. From new rooftop bars, health-focused Vietnamese spots, and even a "modern ouzeri," it truly has never been a better time to be a diner in Tampa Bay.

What follows are the most exciting new eateries that popped up in Tampa Bay this year.

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Ebbe

1202 N Franklin St., Tampa
Internationally-acclaimed, two-time Michelin star winner Chef Ebbe Vollmer’s newest restaurant Ebbe (stylized “EBBE”) opened in what used to be Mole y Abuela’s in late May. “Our menu. Our choices…a fixed menu that features all the best seasonal produce,” Ebbe's newly-formed website reads. Currently the restaurant offers a fall tasting menu, featuring seasonal ingredient from Florida and Scandinavia.
Photo via Ebbe Vollmer/Instagram

Beacon

510 Water St, Tampa
Situated on the 27th floor, JW Marriott Tampa Water Street’s new rooftop bar Beacon is the “tallest public rooftop bar in Tampa,” according to the company, and the second tallest in the state of Florida. The space debuted last September, and became a viral sensation almost immediately, offering guests the chance to sip on craft cocktails, snack on booze-friendly share-ables, and arguably the best view of Hillsborough Bay, the Garrison and Sedon Channels and the Ybor Turning Basin.
Photo via JW Marriott

Sunda New Asian

648 Midtown Dr, Tampa
After a full year of anticipation, Tampa’s Sunda New Asian celebrated its grand opening last June. The Chicago-based eatery brings pan-Asian cuisine that spans everything from Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, Thai food and more. Some menu highlights include sushi rolls, crispy pork belly, and bulgogi roti tacos. If this wide spread of Asian-inspired dishes wasn’t enough—Sunda also boasts a sizable sushi menu complete with specialty rolls, sashimi and nigiri.
Photo via Midtown Tampa

The Pearl

823 Water St. Suite C-100, Tampa
The Pearl had its grand opening at the beginning of March. The interior is inspired by vintage and urban design, and offers a variety of menu options, from weekend brunch favorites like chicken and waffles, to dinner specialities like ricotta dumplings with acorn squash. Indoor dining room seating is available, but its outdoor patio offers a view of the city and the Amalie Arena. And kids of all ages will love the deviled egg appetizer.
Photo via The Pearl/Facebook

Fortu

332 Beach Dr. NE, St. Petersburg
Fortu, a new upscale Asian fusion dining experience, opened last November in downtown St. Pete. Serving “elevated Pan-Asian cuisine,” the steakhouse took over the old Ceviche location on Beach Drive, serving up everything from Japanese whiskeys to wagyu beef with an emphasis on quality.
Photo via @forturestaurant/Instagram

Omei Restaurant Group

Kosen

307 W Palm Ave.,Tampa
From the folks behind Bento, a new concept leaning with New York and Tokyo flavor debuted in October. Kōsen's chef, Wei Chen is an alum of New York Japanese restaurant Masa, a three-Michelin star establishment. Kosen’s private omakase room hold just 10 people at the sushi counter, and a separate dining room can fit 25 people. A 10-course, $150 per person tasting menu is available, as well as a 18-course reservation-only omakase, which will run you $250/person.
Photo via Omei Restaurant Group

Small Giant

1011 E Cumberland Ave., Tampa, 813-921-0571
Boasting a large dining room with easy to eat food and drink like Columbus-style pizza and cocktails, Small Giant has deemed itself a “little bar with a big heart” according to its Instagram. Small Giant opened in mid-February in the booming Water Street district, and is owned by Cru Hospitality, which also owns six other concepts in Tampa Bay. Some highlights of the menu include the kimchi bacon cheese burger, and its featured blush and bashful beer.
Photo via Small Giant/Facebook

Tori Bar

442 W Grand Central Ave #190, Tampa
Last March, popular Tampa cocktail staple Fly Bar closed its doors, and a new concept from the owners of Izakaya Tori took over the space. Debuting last September, the "late-night" Japanese tapas spot focuses on Japanese whisky, high balls, craft cocktails, grill skewers, sashimi and hand rolls.
Photo by Tori Bar

Boulon Brasserie

1001 Water St., Tampa
From the same company as Union New American and Forbici, comes Boulon Brasserie. This French style brasserie with a modern twist opened in Tampa’s Water Street District towards the end of January. The 7,000-square foot restaurant spared no expense in design and buildout, and features two outdoor patios and floor to ceiling windows. Its menu boasts entrees like scallop risotto, and duck confit, and was created by Chef Habteb ‘Hab’ Hamde, who previously worked as executive chef at Bern’s Steakhouse for 26 years. Don’t skip out on the blue crab croquette.
Photo via Boulon Brasserie and Bakery/Facebook

Ro
1500 W Swann Ave, Tampa
Ro's kitchen is helmed by Michelin-starred Chef Kiichi Okabe, who has worked at fine dining restaurants across the world in cities like Japan, Dubai and Las Vegas— including Singapore's Shoukouwa, which earned two Michelin stars in 2016 under Okabe’s leadership. Patrons of the upcoming Hyde Park concept can expect a wide spread of sushi featuring fresh seafood from Tokyo’s famed Toyosu Market, table-side Peking duck (which must be ordered in advance due to its lengthy preparation process), and an A5 wagyu entree.
Photo via Ro Hyde Park

Ro

1500 W Swann Ave, Tampa
Ro's kitchen is helmed by Michelin-starred Chef Kiichi Okabe, who has worked at fine dining restaurants across the world in cities like Japan, Dubai and Las Vegas— including Singapore's Shoukouwa, which earned two Michelin stars in 2016 under Okabe’s leadership. Patrons of the upcoming Hyde Park concept can expect a wide spread of sushi featuring fresh seafood from Tokyo’s famed Toyosu Market, table-side Peking duck (which must be ordered in advance due to its lengthy preparation process), and an A5 wagyu entree.
Photo via Ro Hyde Park

calidastpete / Instagram

Calida Kitchen & Wine

2909 Dr M.L.K. Jr .St. N, St. Petersburg
Debuting last spring, Calida brings an intimate, globaly-inspired cuisine to St Petersburg's Crescent Heights neighborhood. The eclectic menu and curated wine selection certainly make it a destination for foodies across The 'Burg, offering popular dishes like chow noodles, loaded with ginger, garlic, fresh vegetables, tamari, sesame and lime. Calida also offers a rotating charcuterie board, empanadas, baked polenta and decadent weekend specials—like its spiced ahi tuna with sesame ponzu, radish, and garlic chips.
Photo via Calidastpete/Instagram

Union New American / Facebook

Union New American

1111 N Westshore Blvd. Annex B, Tampa
Union New American, the new two-story concept from Tampa-based restaurant group Next Level Brands, centers its dishes around an American white oak fire hearth, and spans 10,000-square-feet. The main floor features a huge dining area and bar, with a lounge and terrace on the second floor. The kitchen is led by Chef Adam Polisei, who led concepts like Ocean Prime and Mitchell’s Fish Market. Some menu highlights guests can expect are sushi, smoked eggplant enchiladas and yellowfin tuna tartare.
Photo via Next Level Brands

Cane & Barrel

110 2nd St. N, St. Petersburg
Located on the eighth floor of the 36-story hotel and apartment complex Ascent St. Petersburg, Cane and Barrel is a Cuban-inspired bar and lounge that opened in early March. There’s an indoor bar and outdoor patio, with rum being the star of the menu, as the name itself is a homage to the spirit's voyage from "cane" to "barrel."
Photo via Cane and Barrel/Facebook

Photo via Kura Revolving Sushi Bar

Kura Revolving Sushi Bar

214 Westshore Plaza C-39, Tampa
As the name suggests, Kura Revolving Sushi Bar centers around a two-layered conveyor belt system, which moves around the room and allows guests to choose from over 140 Japanese-style dishes as they pass by the table. Besides sushi, the menu offers various soups like ramen, udon and miso, as well as sides including dumplings, fried rice, tempura, and a fairly large dessert menu spanning items like mochi ice cream, sesame balls and cheesecake.
Photo via Kura Revolving Sushi Bar

coasistampa / Instagram

Coasis

7701 N Nebraska Ave., Tampa, 813-551-0791
Known for her mouth-watering success with Three Generations food truck, Chef Melissa “Melly” Gardner opened her debut brick-and-mortar restaurant, Coasis, in February. Coasis was created in a partnership with Gardner’s business and life partner Brandi Gergle, known for her local salons and wig business, B Blaze Hair Boutique. Offering weekend brunch, modern steakhouse dinners, and late small-plates, the restaurant wants to expand on the culture built with the Three Generations food truck.

Pete’s Ybor

1804 E 4th Ave., Ybor City
From the minds behind Pete’s Bagels, Pete’s Ybor opened last March bringing its famous breakfast and bagels to this side of the Bay featuring five all-day bagel options, as well as yogurts and granola. Besides breakfast, fig and brie sandwiches are also up for grabs. There's also a nice selection of local beer and wine, and a patio that offers free wifi perfect for working and social gathering.
Photo via Pete’s General/Facebook

Barbouni

2701 Central Ave., St. Petersburg
Barbouni, a new raw bar and “modern ouzeri” from the folks at Baba, opened last March and features conservas, which are known as canned seafood in European countries served with bread or crackers. There’s also an intimate raw bar that allows guests to watch their fresh oysters being shucked, but the main thing here is conservas, including mackerel, sardines, smoked mussels and razor clams.
Photo via Barbouni/Instagram

Bamboozle / Facebook

Bamboozle

7107 N Florida Ave., Tampa
After 14 years at its flagship location in downtown Tampa, health-focused Vietnamese restaurant Bamboozle moved to Seminole Heights last summer. Loyal customers of Bamboozle will recognize the new Seminole Heights restaurant's menu, which include a variety of fresh spring rolls, piping hot bowls of pho, bánh mis, curries and traditional Vietnamese salads. Since wellness is at the forefront of Bamboozle’s mission, its menu caters to a variety of gluten-free and vegan diets as well.
Photo via @eatbamboozle/Instagram

Sesh St. Pete / Facebook

Sesh

2221 4th St. N, St. Petersburg
St. Pete’s highly-anticipated craft brewery and restaurant, Sesh, opened last April after years of restoring its historic 4th Street building. With a history of supposed ghost sightings, Sesh embraces its past, calling its kid’s menu for ‘lil goblins.’ The menu is stacked with hearty dishes like grouper sandwiches, burgers and bowls. Its beloved jelly doughnut burger—two smash burgers, berry jam, bacon and cheese smothered between two doughnut buns—certainly gets the stoner stamp of approval.
Photo via Sesh/Facebook

The Dan

905 N Florida Ave., Tampa
Earlier this year, one of downtown Tampa’s most notable historic landmarks debuted its swanky new dining addition. The historic Floridan Palace Hotel—now known as Hotel Flor—opened its new restaurant The Dan last May, replacing the hotel's former signature restaurant Sapphire Lounge. Inspired by the Roaring'20s with a New Orleans-style approach to cuisine, The Dan is a “modern take on old-school speakeasies."
Photo via TheDan/Facebook