A fresh new batch of Tampa Bay restaurants are in the oven.

Winter is supposed to be chilly, but things are are heating up over the next few months. Local diners will soon have a slew of new eats to choose from, including high-end dishes from a Chicago-based Michelin starred chef, Flavortown chicken, “Seinfeld” bagels, TikTok-famous drinks, new waterfront eats, and more.

Here’s what Tampa Bay has cookin’ as we head into 2025.

If you can’t wait, here are all the new restaurants that have opened so far this fall.

Cook Out

5501 E Fowler Ave., Temple Terrace | 16215 North Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa
A Tar Heel favorite will soon make its debut in the Tampa Bay area. North Carolina-based fast food chain Cook Out will open locations in Temple Terrace and Carrollwood, according to Hillsborough County property records. The popular 35-year-old chain has over 300 locations mostly in North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Mississippi. The two new Tampa outposts will be among Cook Out’s first locations in Florida. Last year, the company announced plans to open spots in Tallahassee and Pensacola areas. For the unfamiliar, Cook Out is known for its “trays,” or combos, which includes everything from burgers, barbecue, corn dogs, quesadillas, milkshakes, and more.
Photo via Cook Out/Facebook Credit: Photo via Cook Out/Facebook
Outback founder and Chef Chris Ponte’s new waterfront concept No exact address announced One of “America’s Best Restaurants” is about to get a neighbor. Two prominent Tampa restaurateurs have teamed up for a second time to create a brand new concept waterfront restaurant. According to Tampa Bay Business Journal, the still-unnamed concept will open right next to Rattlesnake Point’s Salt Shack on the Bay, which appeared on the New York Times’ 2023 list of “America’s Best Restaurants.” Bob Bashman, known for founding Outback Steakhouse and PDQ chicken tender shacks across the Bay area, has teamed up with Chris Ponte, who created the Michelin Guide-recommended Ponte in Tampa. The duo previously teamed up in 2022 to open Bare Naked Kitchen, a fast-casual-style restaurant, in South Tampa. Basham and Ponte’s new restaurant is currently slated to open in the fall of 2025. Photo via Google Maps Credit: Photo via Google Maps
H&H Bagels, as seen on the “Seinfeld” episode, “The Strike.” Credit: Screengrab via TBS/YouTube
Elliott Aster Credit: Rendering via The Vinoy
Tacos & Tequila Cantina No exact address announced Tampa Bay has no shortage of quality taco options, but a popular Florida Tex-Mex chain is headed to the Tampa Bay region regardless. HMC Hospitality Group, formerly known as Hooters Management Corporation, recently announced plans to bring Southwest Florida chain Tacos & Tequila Cantina to the Tampa Bay region and The Villages over the next few years. The chain’s menu spans everything from traditional style street corn and tacos to its signature “T&T Tacos,” which includes tacos made with less conventional ingredients like fried chicken, Buffalo chicken, cheeseburger toppings, pancakes, steak and American cheese, and more. The company currently has four locations across Naples and Fort Myers. Photo via HMC Hospitality Group Credit: Photo via HMC Hospitality Group
Swig’s “Dirty Sodas.” Credit: Photo via Swig
New Seminole Heights Food Hall 4205 N Florida Ave., Tampa If you’ve driven by Florida Avenue’s former Little Care Bears daycare recently, you may have noticed the speedy construction happening on the Seminole Heights building. The owner of NYC-based chain Champion Pizza Hakki Akdeniz tells Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that a brand new food hall is slated to open out of the former plaza at 4205 N Florida Ave. While recent permit-related documents acquired through Accela state that the upcoming food hall will be called “Hikari,” ownership says that its name may be subject to change. Photo by Kyla Fields
Green Lemon St. Pete 4400 4th St. N St. Petersburg A beloved Tampa modern Mexican institution Green Lemon is looking to tacover the Bay. The Ciccio Restaurant Group (CRG) told St. Pete Rising that Green Lemon will open a new St. Pete location at 4400 4th St. N in the former home of Baytenders Oyster Bar & Steamers. While no exact opening date was given, the new 150-seat, 2,580-square-foot space space hopes to debut by this fall, according to the blog. Photo via Green Lemon/Facebook Credit: Photo via Green Lemon/Facebook
Slim Charmer 2706 Central Ave. , St. Petersburg The folks behind St. Pete favorite Wild Child are opening a new sister concept called Slim Charmer. The new 800-square-foot space will focus on cocktails and small plates and will open right next door to Wild Child. Photo via Wild Child Restaurant & Cocktail Bar/Facebook
Bar Mezzo 1049 Central Ave., St. Petersburg A downtown St. Pete favorite is expanding its footprint in the Edge District this year. Intermezzo Coffee & Cocktails (1111 Central Ave.) recently announced the debut of its sister concept Bar Mezzo, which will boost the cafe’s already-stellar reputation for cocktails and spirits up a notch. While Intermezzo Coffee & Cocktails operates as a coffee shop during the day and laid-back lounge with simple beverages at night, the upcoming bar across Central Avenue will focus on upscale spirits, seasonal drinks, housemade syrups, infusions and cocktails on tap. Bar Mezzo will open out of the former St. Pete location of Independent Bar, which closed its doors in late 2022. Since Bar Mezzo will boast an extensive, yet rotating cocktail list, Intermezzo will continue to focus on beer, sparkling wine and coffee cocktail options during its evening service. Sabatini told ILovetheBurg that he wants Bar Mezzo to boast a “a mid-century Italian design,” while remaining comfortable, intimate and relaxed. Bar Mezzo’s space is slightly larger than Intermezzo’s at 1,600 square-feet, with additional seating on a large, covered patio. Bar Mezzo is slated to open its doors sometime in the early fall. Photo via independentbarstpete/Facebook
Bosphorous 1246 Central Ave., St. Petersburg Bosphorous, a popular Turkish restaurant in the Orlando area, will soon open a new location in Tampa Bay. The concept has signed a lease to debut within the new mixed-use Edge Collective in St. Petersburg. While no exact opening date was given, Bosphorous will open on the ground floor in a large 5,000 square-foot space previously occupied by Furnish Me Vintage, sometime during the Phase 1 opening of the development. Rendering via Story Studio for Architecture
Lara Ybor City It’s been well over a year since seasoned Tampa chef Suzanne “Suz” Lara announced the opening of her debut concept that pays homage to her newly-acquired last name, but watchers of the local dining scene haven’t forgotten about the unique bar, kitchen and marketplace. After taking a slight pause to deal with some personal circumstances earlier this year, owner and Executive Chef Lara says that her concept’s opening is chugging along. The 41 year-old chef tells Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that Lara’s doors are slated to open sometime this fall. Photo by Skyler June Credit: C/o Suzanne Lara

Pepper Lunch

4699 Park Blvd., Pinellas Park
Back in June, Japanese fast-casual concept Pepper Lunch announced that its first Tampa Bay location hopes to open in Pinellas Park by September. Tampa-based Majestic Restaurant Group—which operates Zukku concepts across the Bay area along with Lings Dumplings and the Han Hand Roll Bar—will own and operate Pinellas Park’s Pepper Lunch. The group has also signed on to open 10 more locations in and around Tampa Bay, Orlando and Gainesville over the next five years.
Photo c/o Papper Lunch Credit: Photo c/o Papper Lunch
The Huntsman 200 Central Ave. No. 100, St. Petersburg A new restaurant headed to one of downtown St. Pete’s most bustling blocks aims to expand the palate of diners throughout The ‘Burg. The Huntsman—a new American concept that focuses on ethically-sourced wild game and “farm & stream-to-table” fare—hopes to debut out of The Mill’s former space at 200 Central Ave. No. 100 during the third or fourth quarter of this year. With an appetizer menu of small plates like wood-fired bone marrow, grouper tartare, and fire-roasted oysters alongside entrees like boar and rabbit cacciatore, moulard duck cassoulet and seafood jambalaya, the upcoming restaurant will feature a wide spread of familiar dishes with an eclectic, wild bent. Photo via themilldtsp/Facebook
Hales Blackbrick Hyde Park 1809 W Platt St., Tampa A popular Drew Park concept is heading south—to Hyde Park, that is. Hales Blackbrick—a modern Chinese restaurant helmed by Tampa native Chef Richard Hales—will debut a second location in Hyde Park sometime this fall. The new spot plans to offer the same menu of dumplings, fried rice, noodles and stir-fried veggies, plus protein-packed plates like Peking duck, General Tso-style alligator, char siu pork belly, bison ribeyes and 40-oz tomahawk steak served with Hunan sauce. While its Raymond James Stadium-adjacent, Drew Park location pays homage to the building’s diner roots with refurbished booths, checkered tiles and retro lighting, design renderings shared by Hales Blackbrick depict its upcoming Hyde Park restaurant as a bit more modern, with sleek decor and gold accents. Photo via Halesblackbrick/Facebook Credit: Halesblackbrick/Facebook
Cheeky’s 2823 Central Ave., St. Petersburg A new raw bar, seafood grill and fried chicken bar is coming to St. Petersburg’s Grand Central District, and it’s from local restaurateur Nate Siegel, co-founder of new American restaurant Willa’s in North Hyde Park. Cheeky’s, which is expected to open by the end of 2024, plans to offer “fresh seafood, including East Coast oysters, shrimp, fish and daily specials from local waters and the Gulf, along with piping hot bowls of chowder, fried chicken, salads and more,” according to a press release. Rendering Courtesy of Cheeky’s

Mountain Mike’s Pizza

No exact address announced
“Mountain-sized” pizza is headed to Tampa. California-based pizza chain Mountain Mike’s Pizza has signed a 10-unit agreement to bring the concept to Tampa, Orlando, and Sarasota, with franchisees Sean Morrison, CEO of BizBox Group and Ned Algeo, Founder of Multipli Capital, according to a press release. Known for its signature 20-inch pies, the chain also serves chicken wings, garlic knots, salads, desserts, and a selection of beer and wine.Mountain Mike’s offers takeout and delivery options, but centers around a family-style dine-in experience, with most locations offering kids’ activity areas with arcade games, party rooms and big screen TVs.
Photo via Mountain Mike’s/Twitter Credit: Photo via Mountain Mike's/Twitter

Chicken Guy

25769 Sierra Center Blvd., Wesley Chapel
Chicken Guy, a fast-food chicken sandwich and tender concept spearheaded by the Mayor of Flavortown himself, will soon open a new location in Wesley Chapel. Co-founded in 2018 with Planet Hollywood founder Robert Earl, the chain’s menu primarily focuses on chicken tenders and Guy’s “Big Bite” chicken sandwiches, which are both served either grilled or “crispy fried.” There’s also shakes, fries, mac and cheese, salads and more up for grabs. No exact opening date has been announced for the new Wesley Chapel restaurant, but local blog Tampa Bay Is Awesome says it will debut in October.
Photo via Chicken Guy/Facebook Credit: Photo via Chicken Guy/Facebook