The 25 most-anticipated Tampa Bay bars and restaurants opening in 2023

Without a doubt, 2022 was a great year for new eats in the Tampa Bay area, and it actually looks like 2023 might be even better. The menu for the next 12 months includes a new omakase hot spot from a Michelin-starred chef, a high-end French bistro, an Austin-based taco chain and the "world's largest pizza slices," to name a few highlights. Here are a handful of the most exciting new restaurants coming to the Bay in 2023.

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Ash
1050 Water St, Tampa
Back in July, Strategic Property Partners announced its newest concept, Ash, which will debut on the ground floor of Water Street Tampa’s Asher building, the district's newest residential development. The new restaurant is brought to downtown Tampa by a familiar name: Proper House Group (PHG), the minds behind Rooster & The Till, Nebraska Mini-Mart and more. PHG said that its latest concept will specialize in Italian-inspired cuisine and boast an extensive outdoor patio. The 2,400 square-foot restaurant and its accompanying 1,000 square-foot patio will debut in the spring of 2023.
Photo via Proper House Group

Ash

1050 Water St, Tampa
Back in July, Strategic Property Partners announced its newest concept, Ash, which will debut on the ground floor of Water Street Tampa’s Asher building, the district's newest residential development. The new restaurant is brought to downtown Tampa by a familiar name: Proper House Group (PHG), the minds behind Rooster & The Till, Nebraska Mini-Mart and more. PHG said that its latest concept will specialize in Italian-inspired cuisine and boast an extensive outdoor patio. The 2,400 square-foot restaurant and its accompanying 1,000 square-foot patio will debut in the spring of 2023.
Photo via Proper House Group

Kōsen

307 W Palm Ave., Tampa
Bento already has a presence at Tampa Armature Works, but its owners have plans to try and bring New York and Tokyo vibes to a new restaurant across the street. Kōsen's chef, Wei Chen, spent the last six years at Japanese restaurant Masa, a three-Michelin star concept in New York City's Columbus Circle. A press release said Chen has plans to do a $250 per person, 18-course reservation-only omakase, which includes 12 nigiri pieces. The omakase will go down in a separate room that can accommodate 10 people at the sushi counter, and a separate dining room will accommodate 25 people who can partake in a 10-course, $150 per person chef's tasting menu.
Photo c/o Omei Restaurant Group

Flatbread and Butter

160 W Tyler St., Tampa
Tampeños will soon get a taste of a downtown St. Pete favorite. Flatbread and Butter’s new cafe is slated to open by early 2023, and will feature a one-of-a-kind 3D printed coffee bar from Palm City company Printed Patio.The cafe and brunch spot is known for its variety of espresso drinks and matcha lattes, in addition to a small menu of burritos, loaded toasts, yogurt bowls, breakfast sandwiches, pizzas, and of course, flatbread.
Photo via flatbreadandbutter/Instagram

Boulon Brasserie

1001 Water St., Tampa
Boulon Brasserie, the latest concept from Next Level Brands, announced its plan to open at Water Street’s Thousand & One building in downtown Tampa last fall. The French bistro-style restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a three-in-one space featuring a restaurant, bar, and cafe. The Brasserie joins other recently announced projects that are currently in the works—at various stages of development—for the new work-live-play waterfront neighborhood including Ohio-style pizza spot called Small Giant Bar & Restaurant and Wine on Water, a modern neighborhood wine and liquor shop with around 200 wines plus some spirits as well.
Photo via Rockaway PR

Sunda New Asian

Midtown Tampa
Florida’s very first Sunda New Asian restaurant, slated to open in 2023, will occupy the space adjacent to The Loft and Element hotels at Midtown Tampa. Sunda is the culinary brainchild of actor, entrepreneur and restaurateur Billy Dec, who opened the flagship location in his hometown of Chicago. The Filipino actor, known for his work on shows like "Criminal Minds" and "Empire," has several other businesses in addition to the restaurants. Dec also founded The Underground Nightclub and Cocktail Club and the advertising agency COACT, according to the biography on his website.
Photo via Sunda New Asian/Facebook