The 20 most-anticipated new restaurants coming to Tampa Bay in 2022

PopStroke

Wesley Chapel and Sarasota
A golf-centric casual dining concept co-owned by Tiger Woods plans to open this spring in Wesley Chapel and Sarasota in spring. Includes a 36-hole professionally-manicured putting facility, dining area and outdoor playground complete with games like ping-pong and cornhole.

Dave’s Hot Chicken

Various locations
National chain Dave’s Hot Chicken is currently searching for eight spots around the Tampa Bay area to open, including in Pasco and Polk counties. The founders of the hot chicken joint will be assisted by the owners of Tampa Bay’s Fuzzy’s Tacos franchises, Tampa natives Ian and Adam Lieberman.

Mochinut

11401 N 56th St., Temple Terrace
Mochi + Donut=Mochinut. The hybrid desert franchise already has 20 nationwide locations and is set to open its first Tampa store in Temple Terrace. Pinellas Park, Bradenton, and two Orlando stores are also on the way. combines the Japanese rice cake mochi, with a traditional American donut. Alongside the dessert mashup—which will come in a wide variety of flavors like mango, black sesame, matcha and Nutella—there will also be Korean rice-flour hot dogs (aka corn dogs) and boba on the menu.

Sweetgreen

Hyde Park Village, Tampa
Popular Los Angeles salad chain Sweetgreen is set to open at some point next year in Hyde Park Village. The chain has an ambitious mission, which includes becoming carbon neutral by 2027, and Sweetgreen’s menu includes bowls for days (curry cauliflower, elote, “shroomami”), salads, a hot honey chicken plate, plus sides like buffalo cauliflower and focaccia bread.

Portillo’s

St. Petersburg
Chicagoland favorite Portillo’s is opening its third Tampa Bay location near Tyrone Square Mall in St. Petersburg in the first half of next year. The Chicago-style weiner and steak sandwich slinging, fast casual concept already has locations in Tampa (2102 E Fowler Ave.) and Brandon (1748 Brandon Blvd.), but this is the restaurant's first foray into the ‘Burg.

The Pearl

Water Street, Tampa
The Pearl, a tavern and oyster room from Ocean Prime’s Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, will debut next to the Publix GreenWise Market at the development’s luxury tower, The Heron. The concept, which has two locations in Ohio, features an “expansive menu of chef-inspired cuisine featuring made-from-scratch entrees, shareable plates and seasonal oysters.”

Boulon Brasserie

1001 Water St. Tampa
Boulon Brasserie, the second concept from Next Level Brands, announced plans to open summer 2022 at Water Street’s Thousand & One building in downtown Tampa. The French bistro-style restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a three-in-one space: restaurant, bar, and cafe.

The Crane

575 Central Ave., St. Petersburg
Steak and seafood concept The Crane hopes to open in January, with a wide selection of craft cocktails to match its upscale, elegant decor. Owner, Sean Thongsiri, recently opened Asian-inspired Mangosteen plus Savannah, Ga.’s Chive Sea Bar + Lounge and Tangerine Fusion and Sushi Bar

Good Intentions

1900 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg
Good Intentions—culinary love child of Black Radish Grocer, Golden Dinosaur and Nah Dogs—opens in Grand Central District next year. Specializing in modern, American cuisine that’s 100% vegan the owners plan to have late night hours to accommodate nighttime baseball games and the local bar crowd.

Big Shake’s Hot Chicken and Fish

800 W Kennedy Blvd.,Tampa
Big Shake’s Hot Chicken & Fish is coming in hot with a new South Tampa restaurant opening soon near the University of Tampa. Started by Chef Shawn Davis—aka former "Shark Tank" contestant “Big Shake”—the fast casual restaurant focuses on Nashville-style fare plus the item that almost got Mark Cuban to invest: the shrimp burger.

Union New American

1111 N Westshore Blvd.,Tampa
A two-story 9,358-square-foot restaurant focusing on "traditional American fare inspired by global ingredients" that will have indoor and outdoor seating with a “contemporary, upscale ambiance.” The concept is the first project by Next Level Brands.

The Works

495 7th Ave. N, St. Petersburg
Technically, The Works—a vegan cafe from the folks behind Squeeze Juice Works—might be open before 2022. Located at the former Historic Uptown location of Pete’s General, the spot is already hiring and plans to be an extension of the beloved juice bar but with more specialty drinks and food options.

Peach Cobbler Factory

Tampa
Alongside different types of cobbler, the Peach Cobbler Factory—set to open until spring of 2022—will also offer other sweet treats like banana pudding, cinnamon rolls and ice cream. The first Florida location doesn’t have an addressyet, but its Instagram page states that lease negotiations are underway, and that it will update its future patrons with any further details.

Central Park Food Hall

551 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL
Kojo (stylized "KOJO"), a modern Asian restaurant, and Speaks Clam Bar, a seafood-forward concept are the first of many eateries that will occupy the 24,000 square-foot, multi-story food hall that just started construction. Both of these restaurants are brought to St. Petersburg by Hi Hospitality—a group founded by food hall owner Natalia Levey.

Hampton Chocolate Factory

Sparkman Wharf, Tampa
Chocolate and dessert shop out of New York brings its gourmet goodies to Tampa. The concoctions are the product of French pastry chef Jean-François Bonnet.

Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux

140 Gramercy Lane,Tampa
Sports bar co-owned by former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, featuring Louisiana fare like Cajundillas, voodoo shrimp & Grits, po’ boy sandwiches, salads, and burgers. Opening in Midtown Tampa TBD.

Jay & Luigi

3201 4th St. N, St. Petersburg
Another concept taking a little longer than planned, the Italian trattoria-style pizzeria will offer modern and traditional fare with pastas, salads, small plates, cauliflower rice bowls, and two types of pizza–New York and Roman-style aka pizza al taglio.

Small Giant Bar & Restaurant

The Cora at Water Street, Tampa
Ohio-style pizza spot Small Giant Bar & Restaurant is one of many new concepts opening soon at the mixed-used development Water Street Tampa. FYI, Ohio pizza is super thin-crust, square-cut, and toppings all the way to the edge.

Cephas Gilbert’s herbal shop and smoothie stand

Cephas Gilbert—who served Jamaican food, aloe shakes, and holistic health advice (whether you wanted it or not) in Ybor City for almost 40 years—will open yet another Tampa business sometime in 2022. Gilbert will combine his passion for farming with his love for sharing health advice with customers face-to-face. Not much information is set about when and where, only that it is happening which is exciting on its own.

Del Taco

Various Locations
A taste of the West Coast is making its way down South with the fast-food joint specializing in Mexican cuisine with some American foods like burgers, shakes, and fries. A recent earnings announcement said locations are slated for the Sarasota-Bradenton area although Del Taco Senior Vice President of Development Jeff Little said the franchisee is looking all over the area. Still patiently waiting, but getting antsy.