Guac Tequila and Tacos
If you want the full Guac experience, make sure you’re parked here by 5 p.m., when customers at the bar receive a free round of tequila shots. No matter what time of day you find yourself at this Henderson spot (the previous location of O Cocina), grab one of the restaurant’s all-day daily drink specials with tacos, burritos, bowls, and even a churro donut.
4110 Henderson Blvd.
Suite B
(813) 373-6985
guactampa.com
Grain & Berry
This local franchise specializes in healthy bowls of all kinds, including acai (the berry), oatmeal (the grain), spirulina, pitaya, kale and yogurt bowls. Additional nutrient-packed offerings include smoothies, fresh juices, avocado toast, along with yogurt-based parfaits and banana splits. Grain & Berry is planning six new Tampa-area locations, including one in South Tampa (opening in February) and potentially the Channel District.
1155 S. Dale Mabry Hwy.
grainandberry.com
The Mill
Expected in early February, The Mill’s Hillsborough County location is moving from Brandon to South Tam-pa. The St. Petersburg-based restaurant is known for its creative cocktails and Southern-inspired cuisine for brunch, lunch and dinner (crab corn fritters, charcuterie, shrimp and grits, pork shank pot pie). The new location, formerly a Ceviche, will feature a patio and interior mural made up of gears and pulleys — a tribute to the restaurant’s name.
2500 W. Azeele St.
themillrestaurants.com
Meat Market
A long-awaited addition to Hyde Park Village, Meat Market is a South Florida-based steakhouse that puts a glamorous spin on the concept. Menus vary in each of Meat Market’s locations, but they are typically steak-heavy (plus a huge selection of sauces and butters) with a wide selection of appetizers, sides and craft cocktails to round out a meal. Construction in the new Snow Avenue building is underway, with a projected opening sometime in the spring.
1607 W. Snow Ave.
meatmarket.net
Olivia
Former James Beard nominee Chris Ponte is making his latest endeavor a family affair. Ponte, his wife, Michelle, and their son, JT Mahoney, are the co-owners of this new Italian spot, which is named for the couple’s daughter. The restaurant (formerly Carmel Kitchen) will serve a combination of northern and southern Italian cuisines, including pizzas and pastas with house-made mozzarella made in front of a glass window that gives diners a peek into the kitchen. Opening is slated for early this year.
3601 W. Swann Ave.
Salt Shack on the Bay
Promising “good views and good company,” Salt Shack on the Bay is a new waterfront seafood bar and grill near the Gandy Bridge. So far the restaurant’s social media has teased locally sourced fish and seafood and fun cocktails in a “rustic refined” beachy atmosphere. Opening is scheduled for this spring.
5415 W. Tyson Ave.
salt-shack.com
The Lucky Dill/New York Kitchen & Lounge
The long-awaited second location of the Palm Harbour deli finally opened in the Westshore area in November. The Lucky Dill has made a name for itself with its massive New York diner-style menu, featuring huge sandwiches (corned beef, pastrami and Reubens are all well represented), matzo ball soup, burgers and much more — the variety of food options is enormous. In the same building, New York Kitchen & Lounge is a Manhattan-inspired nightclub with craft cocktails, craft beer and small bites to fuel partying worth of the city that never sleeps.
4606 W. Boy Scout Blvd.
(813) 444-5188
luckydillwestshore.com
(813) 898-7397
ownthenyte.com
The Nest Neighborhood Kitchen
This breakfast spot is leaning in to the trend of incorporating technology into fast-casual dining, with customers placing orders at self-serve tablets. Egg bowls (many of them gluten free) and sandwiches make up the bulk of the menu, plus a selection of avocado and nut butter toasts and two unique signature items. A dish called The Nest is made up of potato puree and coddled egg cooked sous vide and served in a mason jar with toast points; the French toast nuggets are available in up to a 50-piece tray (!) with maple-blueberry syrup on the side.
2217 S. Dale Mabry Hwy.
(813) 512-6099
thenestnk.com
Sorrento Sweets
The Pasco County bakery relocated in late fall to Hyde Park Village, where they’re serving up classic Italian sweets — including a case full of Italian tea cookies. Master baker Salvatore Paturzo hails from Sorrento, Italy, where he honed his skills with family recipes that date back 60 years. The bakery also offers a selection of savory pastries, plus TeBella tea drinks, espresso beverages and gelato shakes.
716 S. Village Circle
(813) 999-1282
sorrentosweets.com
Babbaluci Cucina Italiana and Lounge
In the former home of CDB’s Southside, Babalucci will serve upscale Italian food along one of Westshore’s more residential stretches. Menu items have not yet been announced ahead of an anticipated spring opening, but the restaurant’s name could pro-vide a clue. According to Best of Sicily Magazine, babalucci is the Sicilian word for small snails, which are typically boiled in salt water, left to sit for a day or so, lightly sautéed and served with a mixture of diced celery, parsley, and garlic. Saluti!
3671 S. Westshore Blvd.
Cali
The Ciccio Restaurant Group has brought their New Tampa favorite Ciccio Cali to South Tampa. Rebranded simply as Cali, the restaurant borrows Fresh Kitchen’s bowl concept with a twist. Diners choose from a selection of pre-designed bowls, like the Hot & Crunchy (cucumber-jicama mix, soy sauce, avocado, sriracha aioli and tempura onions) or the Fajita (black beans, grilled bell pepper, onion, guacamole and jalapeño jack cheese), then add their choice of base and protein. The menu suggests base and protein pairings for each bowl, or you can freestyle and make it your own. Other menu options include pressed wraps, pizza at lunch, and breakfast bowls and toasts in the morning.
217 S. Dale Mabry Hwy.
(813) 305-2473
cicciocali.com
CAMP Tampa Expansion
The cycling, yoga and circuit classes at CAMP Tampa have become so massively popular since the studio opened in 2016 that its owners recently purchased the lot next door to begin expanding. Construction is scheduled to wrap up in May, with the new space allowing for dozens more classes, an additional circuit studio and a studio dedicated to CAMP’s “hot” full body classes.
3012 W. Palmira Ave.
(813) 999-1900
camptampa.com
The Daily Dose
While The Daily Dose technically opened last year on Gandy Boulevard, in January the restaurant moved to a larger location on Westshore to accommodate its growing success. Co-owned by local attorney Scott Jeeves and chef Antoine Ludcene (who formerly manned the kitchens of Timpano and Cask Social Kitchen), The Daily Dose specializes in breakfast and brunch, with a selection of breakfast sandwiches, bowls, omelets and toasts, plus crab Benedict, chicken and red velvet waffles, and loaded home fries. A few brunch options carry over to dinner starting at 4 p.m., where other offerings include lobster ravioli, roasted chicken and filet mignon.
4817 S. Westshore Blvd.
ddcoffeehouseandeatery.com
The Shoppes at Bayshore at Tampa International Airport
Tampa International Airport is making it increasingly attractive to buy a plane ticket just to hang out in its terminals. Beyond its wide swath of local restaurant options, TPA recently opened The Shoppes at Bayshore, which feature 6,300 square feet of Tampa goods. You’ll find local brands like Bourbon and Boweties, La Segunda Central Bakery, Toffee to Go and Kawha Coffee, plus a pop-up shop featuring a rotating selection of Tampa companies. In total, TPA has opened 69 new shops and restaurants in phase one of its multi-billion-dollar master plan.
Tampa International Airport (Main Terminal)
4100 George J. Bean Parkway
tampaairport.com
Capital One Cafe
Part coffee shop, part… bank? That’s what customers can expect at this new Hyde Park spot, which will feature Peet’s Coffee and a selection of local pastries, plus on-site financial guidance from Capital One team members, money coaching and workshops, account support, WiFi and fee-free ATMs. This is the company’s third Florida location, joining cafes in West Palm Beach and Delray Beach.
744 S. Village Circle
capitalone.com/cafes
