The 25 hottest restaurants in Tampa Bay right now

Nebraska Mini-Mart

4815 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa
Nebraska Mini Mart has been serving up casual street food for well over a year now, but it’s starting 2020 with a brand new menu. Now, buffalo cauliflower nuggets, sloppy joe nachos and loaded fries can be found alongside chili-dusted chicken and waffles, glass noodle salad with fermented black bean vinaigrette and the concept’s signature chicken sandwich.

Photo via Nebraska Mini-Mart/Facebook

Luv Child

516 S Howard Ave, Tampa
Ciccio Restaurant Group (Fresh Kitchen, Green Lemon, Taco Dirty, Forbici) opened a 70s-inspired mexican restaurant in SoHo. The restaurant has a separate brunch and dinner menu, both accompanied by their own cocktail menu, featuring beer, wine, and frozen mojitos.

Photo via Luv Child/Facebook

Bar Fly

1026 Nebraska Ave, Palm Harbor
Last year, Bar Fly, a fly fishing-inspired bar and restaurant, debuted their second location in Palm Harbor. The location has its own outdoor patio and a stage for bands, complete with tiki decor and hand-painted Sweetwater Brewing Company logos.

Photo via Bar Fly/Facebook

Burger Culture

1821 E. 7th Ave, Ybor
The concept opened its doors among the hustle and bustle of Ybor’s bars in December. The build-your-own-burger option allows customers to be as creative or minimal as they’d like.

Photo via Burger Culture/Facebook

Greenstock

449 Central Ave, St. Petersburg
The salad-based concept appeared in downtown St. Petersburg in December, offering fresh ingredients and house-made dressings. They offer seven custom salads, paninis, and wraps, or creative customers can build their own salads at the bar.

Photo via Greenstock/Facebook

Meat Market Tampa

1606 W Snow Ave, Tampa
After making a name for itself in Miami Beach, Meat Market opened a location in Hyde Park. The luxurious restaurant features succulent meats, inventive cocktails, decadent accompaniments and knowledgeable staff. .

Photo via Meat Market/Facebook

Sugar Factory

5223 Orient Rd, Tampa
The Sugar Factory opened a new location in the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in December. The restaurant features a 4,000-square-foot, floor-to-ceiling candy wall with over 500 types of candy 64-ounce alcohol-infused smoking candy goblets.

Photo via The Sugar Factory/Instagram

The Brunchery

17507 Preserve Walk Ln, Tampa
The restaurant’s original location has been serving its signature fat plates for over 30 years, and opened a second sight in 2019. The menus are similar, meaning breakfast all day and a separate lunch menu, featuring soups and salads.

Photo via The Brunchery/Facebook

The Poké Company

1208 E Kennedy Blvd., Suite 116, Tampa
The fast-casual location opened back in November, adding its name to the growing list of poke restaurants in Tampa Bay. Customers can customize poké burritos and bowls, and snag a seaweed salad, krab salad, or key lime pie ice cream as an accompaniment.

Photo via The Poke Company/Facebook

Pok? Fish

500 S. Howard Ave., Tampa
Pok? Fish opened a new restaurant at 500 S. Howard Ave. in Tampa last year. The new SoHo location still offers build-your-own bowls with a variety of fresh toppings and sauces. Tofu and chicken substitutions are available for people who don’t like fish. Bowls range from snack size to large, and will set you back anywhere from $9.95 - $14.95. For an extra $2.95, you can get your meal in a pineapple bowl.

Photo via Pok? Fish/Facebook

Keel Farms Agrarian Ale + Cider

5210 Thonotosassa Rd, Plant City
The brewery formerly known as Two Henrys undertook a branding makeover last month. Now rebranded as ‘Keel Farms Agrarian Ale + Cider,’ the brewery’s new name and logo are meant to emphasize its rural roots.

Photo via Keel Farms Agrarian Ale + Cider/Facebook

La La's Sangria Bar

203 N Meridian Ave., Tampa
La La's Sangria Bar finally opened last November. Located in the Channelside District, the restaurant offers eight different sangrias for $10 or less. If you’re feeling hungry, grab a salad, flatbread or tapas dish for less than $20. Choices include brie stuffed meatballs with cranberries, scallops ceviche and crispy pork belly skewers.

Photo via La La's Sangria Bar/Facebook

Red Mesa Restaurant

4912 Fourth St. N, St. Pete
Nobody is knocking beer, wine or sangria. But, if you’re in the mood for something a little stronger, Red Mesa Restaurant finally got a liquor license after 24 years of service. The updated drink menu now includes a range of vodka, gin, whiskey, rum and, of course, tequila. They’re also serving cocktails and margaritas.

Photo via Red Mesa Restaurant/Facebook

Olivia

3601 W. Swann, Tampa
Sporting a menu full of Northern and Southern Italian dishes, Olivia finally opened its doors after over a year of construction on Nov. 27. Visitors can catch a glimpse of head chef Joseph Walsh through the dining room’s glass window that peers into the kitchen, or quench their thirst with the restaurant’s full bar and temperature-controlled wine wall.

Photo via Olivia/Facebook

Spaddy’s Coffee Co.

6102 S. MacDill Ave., South Tampa
Spaddy’s teamed up with Raw Smoothies Co. to open a second location in Tampa. Instead of visiting the trailer location in Seminole Heights, you can now get your caffeine fix and a smoothie bowl at the coffee shop’s first brick and mortar location.

Photo via Spaddy’s Coffee/Instagram

Vizcaya Restaurante South

3671 S. Westshore Blvd., Tampa
Vizcaya relocated and rebranded last year. Now called “Vizcaya Restaurante South,” the Spanish restaurant is serving up sangria and tapas only 11 miles from their former Carrollwood location. The new space hosts live music, an upstairs lounge, and rooftop outdoor seating.

Photo via Vizcaya Restaurante South/Facebook

Xilo Street Mexican

1701 N Franklin St., Tampa
Local chef couple, and co-founders of Xilo at Hall on Franklin, Chef Rosana Rivera and Chef Ricardo Castro made an appearance on the small screen in the Dec. 26 special "It Must've Been Love" episode of "Beat Bobby Flay."

Photo via Xilo Street Mexican/Facebook

Courigan's Irish Pub

1 Beach Drive SE suite 41, St. Pete
You can now fit even more of your friends in Courigan's Irish Pub. The bar and restaurant’s expansion was unveiled during its 14th anniversary on November 16.

Photo via Courigan's Irish Pub/Facebook

The Blend Coffee & Wine

490 First Ave. S., St. Petersburg
The mother and daughter owned coffee shop opened in St. Pete on Dec. 13. Offering espresso drinks, wine, kombucha and beer, The Blend isn’t trying to be another hipster coffee shop. Instead, it wants to offer visitors a relaxed setting and live music. A second location should open soon at 1211 Fourth St. N, in the Historic Old Northeast neighborhood.

Photo via The Blend Coffee & Wine/Facebook