original tampa restaurants
tommyThe New York Times recently wrote about the dearth of original dining in Tampa. It basically says all we locals want to do is eat big portions of decent flavor at the chain restaurants. For this story, they contacted displaced Katrina victim and food lover Kevin Lacassin.
Because of Hurricane Katrina, Kevin and his blog were relocated to Tampa. The self-proclaimed NOLA Foodie laments the typical Tampan choice of Bonefish Grill, Outback, and back to Bonefish Grill mentality. Kevin’s biggest complaint: You settle for mediocre food.
We can’t really disagree with Kevin’s assessment. The support we all show for chain restaurants is really overwhelming.
But there is hope. Kevin has already found Ceviches. And he’s found one of Jeff’s favorites, El Taconazo. But he is looking for more original restaurants with good food. I think we ought to help him find them. Please tell us about your favorite local restaurants in the comments, so Kevin can find some decent food.
Both Seminole Heights and Population Statistic have more on this story.
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May 11th, 2006 at 9:38 am
Splash. It’s in Lutz, but worth the drive. Caffee Amaretto in Town and Country, Cafe Paradiso in South Tampa, Circles in South Tampa, and guess it would be a chain since I think they have more than one location, but like Cicco and Tony’s too.
May 11th, 2006 at 9:46 am
Gengiz Khan Mediterranean Grill at the corner of MacDill and Interbay. Closed Monday, no liquor license, friendly though at times inefficient service, but food that never disappoints. It is the only restaurant, chain or otherwise, in Tampa that the family has patronized more than twice in the 6 months we’ve lived here. (Not counting the Dairy Joy on Manhattan across the street from the Jan Platt Library. They have a $1.87 pulled pork BBQ sandwich to die for. A little saucy for my NC style preference but super, and the clientele never fails to fascinate. Outdoor seating only.)
On another note. I think you need to cut Tampans a bit of a break on the chains. Chain restaurant concepts are practically the hometown industry. Complaining about them is like going to Silicon Valley and saying the populace spends too much time on their computers.
May 11th, 2006 at 10:29 am
Is this the part where all the people who typically hate on south Tampa begrudgingly admit that, in some ways, it might actually be superior? OK, not in very many, but at least there’s plenty of original dining. We love SideBern’s (way better than regular ol’ Bern’s), Spartaco, Ceviche, Restaurant B.T., Mise En Place, Caffe Paradiso, Bella’s, Cappy’s Pizza, Mangroves, Vino e Pasta, Chihuahua’s, Rattlefish … the list goes on.
But there’s good stuff elsewhere, too. La Terrazza (Ybor), El Taconazo (Seminole Heights), First Choice BBQ (Brandon), both Jasmine Thai and Sukothai (near Carrollwood), Pelagia Trattoria (International Plaza), Brocato’s Sandwich Shop (east Tampa), Udipi Cafe (Carrollwood), La Teresita (West Tampa), etc. Again, there are too many to name.
And that’s not even mentioning all the great places across the Bay.
The point is, if you can’t find good “original” dining in the Bay area, you’re just not looking hard enough.
May 11th, 2006 at 10:37 am
Estella’s (yes it is a chain but it is OUR chain, loactions now in Brandon, Davis Island, St Pete, and Dale Mabry) Still good hearty mexican food brought to you by nice people who speak little english, how much more authentic do you want? The Campbell’s Dairy Isle in Brandon for ice cream Twisters. Thai Island on Davis island is excellent. Byblos’s Cafe at Macdill and Bay to Bay for mediterranean and belly dancers. We don’t celebrate these places enough certainly but they are there. Also I went to New Orleans quite a few times, they do have excellent food but they have more than their share of tourist traps and crappy restaurants as well, they are just better at promoting the really good places than we are.
May 11th, 2006 at 10:50 am
Ivarone’s, can’t forget that. Kojak’s BBQ, the Lucky Dill Deli. Also some chains are successful because they are good, Bonefish and Grillsmith come to mind as being chains that I am always happy at. If you want a taste of nola you can go to Harry’s up near citrus park. I didn’t care for it myself, serving everything with a grit cake doesn’t make it good after all, just more starchy.
May 11th, 2006 at 10:57 am
Here’s my list of favorite non-chain feed-bags in the Big Guava:
Mexican - Taco Bus (Hills & Nebraska), Augusto’s (Kennedy)
Cuban - Carmines (Ybor)
Italian - Bernini’s (ybor), Bellas (Soho)
Pizza - Cappy’s (soho)
Thai - Sumos (downtown), The one on Soho
Jamaican - Jerk Hut (downtown)
bbq - House of Soul (Columbus & Armenia)
All around - Front Porch (seminole heights)
I am now too hungry to continue. There are sooooo many good eats in Tampa town, I could go on and on.. For starters try ybor, soho and for great spanish go down columbus and choose anything.
May 11th, 2006 at 11:22 am
Add Gourmet Pizza Company (SoHo), Sally O’Neals (SoHo), Laughing Cat (Ybor), Chihuahuas (on MacDill in South Tampa) and Tampa Bay Brewing Company (Ybor) to the list.
May 11th, 2006 at 11:29 am
see, the fact that so many think, say, the pizza is good at cappys, saly oneills, etc shows just one thing: these people have never been anywhere but tampa. there is no decent piza anywhre in this town, much less a decent slice, a concept that seems to elude the ‘pizza chefs’. and estellas? good god. thats the worst excuse for ‘mexican’ ive had since canned taco bell. take a few trips, people!
May 11th, 2006 at 11:49 am
I responded to this at PopStat, but it bears repeating.
There are TONS of great restaurants in Tampa and St. Petersburg - I listed a very small selection on Costa’s site - and there’s something really wrong with showing up in a city you don’t know your way around for jack and then berating it publicly.
Frankly, I don’t see why anyone should care if this guy gets a good meal. When you want to find ways to enjoy yourself, you do.
May 11th, 2006 at 12:07 pm
Well Tampa is not nearly as old as New Orleans, nor does it have the diverse culinary history. But that’s ok, I can think of few US cities that could compare to New Orleans in that way, and I don’t know if any of them are in Florida. You just have to accept what it is–when I go to New Orleans, I dont’ frown at the lack of decent beaches.
May 11th, 2006 at 12:13 pm
Oh I complain! - anonymous
May 11th, 2006 at 12:17 pm
Pelagia’s Trattoria at the Renaissance in International Mall is OUTSTANDING ! The new Earl of Sandwich shop is really good.
Come on down to SOHO- 717 South , Ceviche’s, Sangria’s, Mangrove’s, Water Sushi, Bern’s, SOHO Sushi, SOHO Oasis, Side Bern’s, Bellas, 42nd Street Bistro, and more !!! ALL ARE GOOD and FUN TOO ! Will be glad to give you the SOHO tour.
May 11th, 2006 at 12:31 pm
I want to give the guy some room - it must be difficult to be removed from a city with nary an equal on the food front. But it’s also possible that he’s just a snob and won’t be happy unless he can find a Brennan-owned place.
That being said there’s plenty here if you bother looking or asking, but for me it’s mostly Mise en Place and Mel’s Hot Dogs.
May 11th, 2006 at 12:43 pm
Criminy, there’s a ton of great places to eat here, as several have pointed out.
I agree with the previous bad assesment of Estella’s. I think it’s really gone downhill. When I first moved here in 98 I liked it quite a bit.
And apparently I need to drop everything I’m doing and go eat at the Taco Bus. It seems it’s all I’ve heard about all week.
And am I a bad human being for liking Bonefish despite the fact it’s a chain? It’s good! The bang bang shrimp make my nipples explode with delight, and I’d slap any one of you to get a piece of that pistachio and parmesan encrusted trout.
Other frequent-flying favorites: Tampa Bay Brewing Co. (let’s see if that holds up for me after the move), House of Soul, Teresita, SideBern’s, Ceviche, Yokho’s, Algusto’s, Angithi, Bella’s and every so often I get a seafood and wing hankering that only Skipper’s can fix. You can take the boy our of Jacksonville, but …
If there’s anything all of my traveling has taught me it’s that you can find good food anywhere, you just have to look.
May 11th, 2006 at 2:19 pm
It’s ok to like some chains. It’s just not always easy to dine at a locally owned place. I really enjoy Bonefish too.
David, where is Skipper’s? It sounds like the kind of place I am often looking for. Sorry if they are everywhere but I don’t live in Tampa and I’ve never seen it.
May 11th, 2006 at 2:53 pm
Corner of Skipper Rd and Nebraska in north Tampa.
May 11th, 2006 at 4:05 pm
Yeah, Skipper’s is really out of the way for me, living in Tampa Heights. I did go to Rick’s a few weeks back and they had great raw oysters (HUGE!) but I was disappointed they didn’t have any kind of steamed shrimp or crab or anything. Apart from the oysters the rest of the seafood was fried or on a sandwich.
May 11th, 2006 at 4:36 pm
Sounds like this guy has us confused with Orlando. As for the NYT article, I’m willing to bet this writer never even came here to do her story. Hey it’s happened before! (See Blair, Jayson)
May 11th, 2006 at 7:39 pm
Yeah, well, since Lacassin himself corroborates that Times reporter Jennifer Steinhauer met with him in Tampa for the article, I guess you lose that bet. Next time, try actually clicking through to the links and reading.
A bit further afield, but related: As well as Rachel*’s comments, my site includes Michael’s argument that the shortcomings of professionalism among Tampa’s service workers may play into a lacking dining experience. Part of eating out is how you’re treated; even if the food is spectacular, it can be overshadowed by wait staff that’s slow, not attentive, etc. Another consideration in the mix.
May 11th, 2006 at 7:43 pm
I have noticed that other cities have more professional wait staff, while most places here seem to hire whomever is waiting for class to start, their parole officer, or their weed dealer to stop by.
May 12th, 2006 at 9:22 am
Hey Anonymous Pizza Snob, newsflash - people like different types of pizza. Just because it doesn’t conform with your idea of what pizza should be doesn’t mean it’s not good. I would bet I’ve traveled throughout the US and world quite a bit more than you, and I’ve had ‘good’ pizza (in Budapest-egads), and crappy pizza (yes, even in NY and Chicago) all over.
May 12th, 2006 at 9:02 pm
Breakfast at the Tampa General Hospital Cafeteria - great sausage gravy with biscuits
May 12th, 2006 at 11:39 pm
god in the food court? really? which place?
May 13th, 2006 at 11:59 am
Here’s my vote for Best Cuban Sandwich: D&D Delights on south 2oth street in Palmetto Beach. (Or the Silver Ring, with several locations)
There are many great independent dining options in Tampa bay. So many, in fact, it would be hard to list all the good ones.
I also must agree with PortTampa in the second comment about the chains. Many of the chains in Tampa are OUR chains. They got started in Tampa Bay and are now nationwide phenomena. Take Hooters, Shells, Outback, Bonefish, Beef O Brady’s, Hops and Westshore Pizza just to name a few. Now I’m not saying those are the best places to eat in Tampa or anywhere else, but just because they are chains does not mean they are not “local”
May 13th, 2006 at 8:33 pm
Honestly Sally O’ Neals is not good pizza…way too much cheese, it goes all over the place and makes the tummy feel icky…don’t get me started on the Calzone’s, possibly the worse ive ever had. Also all the employees tell me she is not very nice.
May 15th, 2006 at 2:39 pm
There is a place called Opium in North Tampa before you get to Bearrs. It is in the red brick plaza across from Shapes in Carrollwood. It is very very good and different. It has mostly french and european food and lots of wine, yummy!! There is St. Barts in Soho along with several other little places that are to die for. This person is the kind of person who goes out to dinner with the intent of hating whatever is served. Here is a suggestion…..Take a cooking class and invite friends over to taste your chainless food!!!
May 18th, 2006 at 8:04 pm
Since I am a little late to the party, I’m not sure if this will even get read, but I figured this venue to be a great place to respond.
I wanted to thank everyone who responded with some great suggestions. Some restaurants I have tried and enjoyed, and some I have tried to forget, but there are plenty of places out there that I have yet to enjoy. I think I may have even started a bit of debate here. Nothing like a little press from the NYTimes to get the party started.
I hate to break it to the “heads in the sand,” but Tampa is turning into a chain restaurant city (please don’t get up in arms about that, I enjoy chains too). There is hope, and there is good food, and I am on a quest to find it. If no one holds restaurants accountable for serving good food, all we will be left with is Red Lobster for seafood and Olive Garden for Italian. I’m sorry to those that had such a negative knee jerk reaction to the article. I do want you to realize that the article was “about” me, not “by” me. I didn’t write it. I can tell some of the negative commenters haven’t even read any of my writing, or they wouldn’t have responded so. No need to feel sorry for me, I am finding my way around Tampa pretty well and have a fantastic network of friends. I know Nicole hasn’t read any of my site or she would figure out that I DO cook a lot, and teach my friends how to cook; and yes, it is chainless food
No, I don’t hate “whatever is served.”
Rachel*, from a fellow writer and someone who may have been judged in the past, I wish you wouldn’t have jumped to conclusions so quickly. If you had read any of my writing, you would know that I absolutely love Tampa. I moved here by choice, and I could move anywhere else if I wanted; I choose to stay here. Sorry you can’t accept the fact that I am a food person, and I will not settle for bad food, especially when it costs money. If I can do anything positive for Tampa, it is help people find good food, and that is what I will be doing with my new TampaBayEats website (coming soon). So yes, I will find a good meal, whether you help me or not (you already did - thank you for the recommendations). I look forward to meeting you in the future.
Last, I wanted to thank Tommy for bringing up the article and the subject. I’ve printed out the entire comment section and plan to try some of the better selections (sorry, not going to subject myself EVER again to the food at Estella’s). I look forward to it, and I will see all of you around this site (I’ve been a sporadic reader since I moved to Tampa).
-Kevin
May 30th, 2006 at 10:59 pm
Yes, the best pizza I’ve ever had is Chicago’s own Gino’s, but nothing beats Demmi’s Market. I love sharing a pie with friends, drinking cold beers, playing the jukebox, and people watching through the window to 7th Ave. Still, the pizza is enough on it’s own. It’s just darn good NY style pizza.
June 6th, 2006 at 11:52 pm
I’ve already had sent a coupon valid until August 31st of 2006 for 25% off on our “All-you-can-eat meat” buffet. This Brazilian barbecue consists of 12 to 14 knds of meat plus a buffet with hot plates, salads, desserts, etc. For more info read our review on tbo.com or weekly planet. Our web site is under construction yet, but the menu is there. The site is http://www.brasagrillrestaurant.com
June 7th, 2006 at 5:26 pm
I’m being repetitive but like others have mentioned, a lot of the ‘chains’ started here: probably the most infamous being Red Lobster who also own Olive Garden and Bahama Breeze. Unfortunately, food is extremely subjective so take any comment on the quality of ‘local’ food with a grain of salt. For example, I pretty much hate cajun style food, so let’s just say if I wrote an article on NOLA food it wouldn’t be too kind either.
June 11th, 2006 at 11:54 am
…has Bryan driven by a Hops lately?
June 19th, 2006 at 9:24 am
[...] First of all we hit up Hugo’s Spanish Restaurant, a little eatery near where I live in South Tampa. Mmm mmm delicious. My purdy wife had half a cuban sandwich and I ordered the pollo con arroz amarillo y frijoles negros, as well as the other half of my wife’s sandwich. Not the most high fallutin’ food on earth, but surely a hearty meal for nary that much at all. Couple that with $1.50 drafts and it won my corazon. Really rather tasty too. I apologize to all the foodies, I’m not a food reviewer. For that, head over to New Orleans Foodie, dude lives in Tampa now I hear. [...]
July 5th, 2006 at 12:36 pm
[...] Remember when we met Kevin Lacassin? We asked for suggestions on local restaurants for the self-proclaimed foodie to try. He eventually responded in the comments, thanked us for the suggestions, and promised to try some of our selections. [...]
August 3rd, 2006 at 3:53 pm
I have to agree with others here…if you can’t find good restaurants in the Bay Area, you aren’t asking the right people. Driving down Dale Mabry or SR 60 in Brandon is not looking. Nor is asking your neighbor who moved to Tampa last year. You have to ask someone who has lived here a while, and you also have to ask someone who, at some point, has lived in South Tampa. If you ask Joe Midwestern who just bought a house in Westchase and has lived here all of 6 months, you’re going to find yourself eating at Red Lobster and Chili’s. There are a ton of suggestions in the thread here, ALL of them great places to eat, and all Tampa originals. No offense Kevin Lacassin, but you’re not giving Tampa BAY (we may be provincial to a degree but we get along on both sides of the bay) its due.
Oh, and to the pizza snob…get over yourself. I’ve had pizza in NY, Chicago, Philly, and even in the birthplace of pizza, Napoli. I think I’ve eaten enough good stuff to say that I think Cappy’s is good pizza.
August 15th, 2006 at 8:28 pm
thought i’d throw my own two cents’ in here…i’ve only been in tampa for a few years, but i married a true tampon
who knows his way around the best of tampa’s non-chain eats. some of the ones i haven’t seen anyone else name yet:
bbq: Jazzy’s on Waters near the Veteran’s. none mo bettah.
mexican: Guadalajara on Hillsborough
pizza (thin crust): The New World Brewery in Ybor serves up pies from Ybor Pizza that can’t be beat.
pizza (Chicago-esque): Windy City in Carrolwood has the closest to Gino’s I’ve had. Still no dice on a true Chicago pie, but this one’s a decent substitute.
chili-dogs: tie bewteen Campbells in Brandon and Dairy Joy in South Tampa on Manhattan
best non-fast-food-fast-food-burger: Biff-burger on 49th St, Pinellas Park.
sammiches: Wright’s Gourmet House on Dale Mabry
diner breakfast (the REAL deal): Niko’s on Florida.
and how has no one mentioned the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor??!?! Get the 1908 Salad, or whatever year it’s named…good stuff, as is their homemade sangrias. Yum!
There’s a lot more great local food to be had, but to Kevin’s point, the service has to be part of the reason to go. That’s why we stopped going to Viva La Frida’s and The Front Porch, both on Florida. There’s only so many times that bad service can be shrugged off.
August 18th, 2006 at 1:32 pm
You also need to understand that with so much of Tampa being new, construction costs of restaurants and real estate prices make the gamble for an independent restaurant owner rather large when in the newer areas, (which is almost all of Tampa outside of South & West Tampa), you look up and down the street and the predominant vision is chains with deep pockets, able to Market better, purchase a tad cheaper, and weather things like a turning economy, road construction etc… independents are waiting for chains to go out of business to create location opportunities, but that doesn’t happen that early in a chain restaurants life, and as the area continues to grow geographically and age a bit, you’ll start to see independents taking advantage of select opportunities…..there is a sufficient market out there that did not grow up with chain restaurants and would rather eat at a local restaurant with local personality and a menu that might have more highs and lows than the consistency chains deliver, as long as the highs are high enough, the service more than competent and the owners/partners remember their names & preferences.
November 22nd, 2006 at 10:16 pm
I was in Tampa from North Caolina on Tuesday, 11/22 and I went to 206 N. Morgan and found that the Silver Ring was no longer there. I went to Ybor City but to no avail. Any idea where they are, of if they still exist???
May 4th, 2007 at 11:48 pm
I’ve recently started a Tampa restaurant directory. Take a peek and let me know your thoughts.
May 11th, 2007 at 10:44 am
[...] year ago this week, about a guy from New Orleans trying to find a good meal in Tampa. It created quite a buzz with Sticks of Fire readers who thought it to be a critical jab at the food scene in Tampa. That [...]
August 4th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
I have two favorites. Thai Island on Davis Island serves the best Thai food I’ve ever had. I’ve been to Thailand several times and my wife is Thai. The food is always fresh and spicey and delicious. They have the best I’ve tried in Tampa. Also, El Taconazo it my favorite Mexican. The food is awesome, the price is right and I like the casual atmosphere.
September 20th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
THE BEST PIZZA AROUND HERE HAS TO BE THE NEW PIZZERIA IN CHANNELSIDE, NYPD PIZZA. EXCELLENT PIZZA, WINGS, HEROES, PASTA, DESSERTS, BEER, WINE, CALZONES, GOURMET SALADS, ETC. . I MET THE OWNER, RICK, WHO IS ALWAYS THERE. HE IS RETIRED PARAMEDIC INJURED IN 9/11 IN NYC. REAL NICE GUY, GREAT STORIES OF NYC. THE FOOD IS THE REAL DEAL. LITTLE ON THE EXPENSIVE SIDE, BUT THE QUALITY OF THE FOOD IS OBVIOUS. STUFFED PIZZA WE HAD WAS BEST I HAVE EVER HAD. GOT TO TRY IT. DELIVERY,TOO.
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:25 pm
[...] Arroz Amarillo y frijoles negros [...]