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

Fatburger

No exact address announced
Last summer, Fatburger’s parent company announced that the popular burger chain plans a return to Tampa Bay. A total of four locations will open throughout Tampa over the next three years, according to a press release. While Fatburger is most known for its fresh, made-to-order burgers (and iconic rap references by Ice Cube and Biggie). other offerings on the menu include milkshakes, sides like fries and onion rings, chicken sandwiches, vegan options like it's Impossible burger, and a keto-friendly bunless “skinny burger.”
Photo via Fatburger/Facebook

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

Lost & Found

2420 Central Ave. St. Petersburg
Joining the ranks of other highly-themed, late-night concepts in downtown St. Pete is Hunger Thirst’s newest bar and cocktail lounge—the nostalgia-driven Lost & Found. Expect a variety of throwback cocktails—like the pornstar martini complete with passionfruit, vodka, vanilla and lime—alongside a selection of local craft brews and expected domestic beers. The upcoming bar won’t offer a food menu like most of Hunger Thirst Group's other concepts, but will host a variety of different food trucks in its outdoor, backyard area. Lost & Found joins Hunger Thirst Group's six other concepts throughout Tampa Bay including The Avenue, Park & Rec, Tropicana Field’s Ballpark & Rec, Dirty Laundry, No Vacancy and the recently-opened Asian fusion restaurant Good Fortune.
Photo via Lost & Found/Instagram

Late Start Brewing

1018 E Cass St., Tampa
Last spring, the Tampa born-and-bred company started buildout on its upcoming brewery. The roughly 2,500 square-foot building formerly housed a convenience store and market. With its current home-base located inside of Pour House Tampa in the Channelside District, Late Start Brewing is no stranger to downtown Tampa. You can grab its collaborative ales, lagers and stouts at Pour House before its permanent location—only half a mile away from its current one.—opens The Late Start Brewing website states that its new brick-and-mortar will debut sometime in 2023.
Photo via Late Start Brewing/Facebook

Torchy's Tacos

2314 Tyrone Blvd. N, St. Petersburg
If there's any sign that Tampa Bay is becoming Austin, it's Torchy's Tacos opening its first Florida location in St. Petersburg. Torchy's taco-focused menu consists of breakfast tacos, "damn good" tacos, items labeled under "not tacos," sides, sweets and drinks. While hosting a multitude of different dishes centered around meat and cheese combos, Torchy's also accommodates to all types of eaters with vegetarian options like its fried avocado taco and vegan dishes like its "Mofaux" taco with beyond beef and various veggies.
Photo via torchystacos.com

Predalina

1011 E Cumberland Ave,Tampa
Located on the bottom floor of the Cora building, Predalina is slated for an early 2023 debut. Future patrons can expect a full-service restaurant and bar that focuses on Mediterranean-style seafood, alongside a retail area that specializes in crafted tabletop wares and unique home décor. A press release from Strategic Property Partners says Predalina will have outdoor dining, a raw bar, wood-fired oven and wine cellar. The dining space spans almost 7,000 square-feet while its patio provides an extra 2,000 square-feet for Predalina’s future diners. Although the restaurant’s menu and other details haven’t been released yet, the Oxford Commons website states that its newest concept is “named after the owners’ great-grandmother, Predalina, and will be a nod to her long and prosperous life.”
Photo via predalina.com

Fat Boy's Pizza

No exact address announced
New Orleans-based pizza chain Fat Boy's is making its way to the Bay, and the company claims to have the "World’s Biggest Pizza Slices." The pizza chain has locations in Louisiana and Mississippi, and now plans to open 10 restaurants across the Tampa Bay region in the next few years. Fat Boy's serves up its pizza in either a half-slice, a 10 and 16-inch pie, or a "whopping 30-inch pie." The chain also boast wings, waffle fries, salads, meatballs, daiquiris and a full liquor bar.
Photo via Fat Boy's Pizza/Facebook

Cane & Barrel

110 2nd St. N., St. Petersburg
Sunset views are highly coveted throughout The Burg', and the city's newest rooftop destination is headed right to the heart of downtown St. Pete. Cane & Barrel, a Cuban-inspired rooftop bar and cocktail lounge, is slated to open early 2023. The Burg's newest rooftop bar will be located on the 8th floor of the 36-story hotel and apartment tower Ascent St. Pete. The new downtown destination will feature two separate bars—one on the inside and another on the terrace—and will be sure to offer Cuban-inspired signature cocktails that match its decor and ambiance. Rum will be star of the new rooftop bar's menu, as the name itself is a homage to the spirit's voyage from "cane" to "barrel."
Photo via Ascent St. Petersburg/Facebook

Wagamama

1050 Water St, Tampa
The U.K.-based Asian restaurant chain is expanding to Florida, and plans to open in Water Street in 2023. The 4,200-square-foot restaurant will be feature all the classic dishes the chain is known for, like gyoza, noodle dishes, ramens, shareables and craft cocktails.
Photo via Wagamama/Facebook

Noble Tavern

1650 Central Ave, St. Petersburg
Coming in 2023, Noble Crust and Fat Beet Farm Kitchen & Bakery will join forces to bring a new concept, Noble Tavern. The “polished casual craft cocktail bar with creative culinary dishes” will have an atmosphere set to mimic that of an old world tavern and wrap it into a modern design, according to Noble Tavern’s Instagram. Noble Tavern will use locally-sourced farm fresh flavors of Fat Beet Farm and their southern hospitality to create a unique experience. Its menu will feature classic and craft cocktails, craft beer and barrel fresh wines.
Photo via nobeltavern.com

Big Chicken

Locations TBA
Big Chicken, the Shaquille O’Neal-owned fast casual concept, is heading to Florida in a massive way. The company recently signed a 45-unit franchising deal with Florida-based commercial hospitality development company DMD Ventures, which means we can expect Big Chicken locations in Orlando, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami in addition to Tampa Bay. There's currently no timeline for when Tampa Bay's debut Big Chicken franchise will open, a representative for the company told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. The casual chicken spot's menu is a combination of Shaq's home-cooked childhood favorites and the hottest trending flavors, chock full of chicken sandwiches, tendies and more.
Photo via Photo c/o All Points PR

Pete's Ybor City

No exact address announced
One of The Burg’s favorite breakfast spots is making its journey across the bridge for an exciting—and slightly different—new concept. Popular bagel spot Pete’s Bagels will open a second location in Ybor City in spring 2023. Much different than its flagship storefront in St. Pete that closes at 2 p.m. daily, the new Pete’s in Ybor City will be an all-day cafe that offers sandwiches, coffee, espresso, salads, beer and wine alongside its beloved bagels. There's no address, but it appears to be in between Fourth and Fifth Avenues near the intersection of Angel Oliva Senior Street.
Photo via Pete's Bagels/Facebook

Bouzy

Hyde Park Village, Tampa
Champagne and cocktail bar, Bouzy, is coming to Hyde Park Vilage. Cru Cellars owner Jennifer Bingham is behind the project scheduled to open on West Snow Avenue. According to Bouzy's website, this forthcoming bar will be a prime location for date night, girls night out, or a little escape from the mundane. "Bouzy blends elevated elegance with poppy effervescence to embody the timeless spirit of our favorite drink. Our fizz-first menu features a thoughtfully curated selection of champagnes, pét-nats, craft cocktails, and small plates."
Photo via Bouzy/Facebook

Chef Tony Macaroni & Co.

5226 Gunn Hwy, Tampa
Chef Tony Macaroni & Co. was previously at the Seminole Heights American Legion, but now the Brooklyn-born chef is moving north. Macaroni's new restaurant will open at Tampa Food Park, Carrollwood’s eclectic collection of food trucks at 5226 Gunn Hwy. The restaurant will act as the park’s anchor spot, as all of its other concepts are either food trucks or trailers. Macaroni says there'll be a large bistro-like outdoor patio, a beer and wine bar, a stage for entertainment, and ample parking. The menu will feature a few “fine dining” dishes like branzino, octopus salad, calamari and more. The new Carrollwood resto will also offer made-to-order personal pizzas and calzones, an aspect that their previous kitchen simply couldn’t handle.
Photo via Chef Tony Macaroni & Co.

5 Bucks Drinkery

7402 49th St. N., Pinellas Park
5 Bucks Drinkery, known for cheap, yet stiff, drinks—will open its second location in Pinellas Park out of the former Pete and Shorty’s space. A grand opening party is set for January 2023. Signature drinks include the “Slutty Peter” cocktail with dragon berry rum, peach schnapps, pineapple juice and a splash of grenadine, and the “St. Peach Bomb” shot with peach vodka and tropical Red Bull. And if those fancy drinks don’t interest you, 5 Bucks still slings cheap shots of Fireball and other liquor.
Photo via Five Bucks Drinkery/Facebook

Elevenses

1001 E Columbus Dr., Tampa
If you've ever browsed any Indie Flea markets, then chances are that Elevenses' colorful macarons have caught your eye. Well, the Tampa bakery is about to have a permanent home for its unique treats. Although an opening date isn't set in stone, owner Jade Yelvington told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that she's aiming for an early 2023 debut in the V.M. Ybor neighborhood. Just a short scroll through its Instagram shows that the minds behind Elevenses can whip up any sweet treat imaginable from macarons and cookies to custom order cakes, cinnamon rolls, brownies and pies.
Photo via Elevenses Co/Facebook