Two-time Super Bowl champion Anthony “Booger” McFarland’s football journey began as a clever way to extend his curfew. A Louisiana native, McFarland excelled as a First-Team All-American and All-SEC defensive tackle at LSU. Drafted to Tampa Bay in 1999, he has called the area home ever since. Today, McFarland continues to make an impact on the sport as an NFL and college football analyst for ESPN.
ABOUT ME
I’m a big food guy, so anytime new restaurants open up and everyone is just learning about them, I like to check them out. Streetlight Taco is a place that just opened; it’s only been open a few months. I’ve taken several people there, including my wife, and we enjoy it. It’s become one of my favorite spots.
Lately, from a lunch standpoint, I’m more of a grab-and-go guy. I’m a big Fresh Kitchen fan. They do a great job, and I know the staff always laughs because I usually get a Six Bowl with all Brussels sprouts. When I first started doing it, they would look at me like, “Who is this guy taking all our Brussels sprouts?” Now, when I come in, they say, “Hey, make sure you get more Brussels sprouts out,” because they know exactly what I’m getting.
I’m a huge Dunkin’ Donuts guy I’m not a Starbucks guy. There’s a local Dunkin’ Donuts on the corner of Gunn and Van Dyke and if I’m in town, I go there every day. I usually get a large coffee with one cream and a little bit of Stevia, and that’s my morning meal.
For a family day in Tampa, we like doing a bunch of different things. One option is going to a movie. We like CinéBistro because you can kill two birds with one stone: you get a good meal and watch a movie at the same time.
A really good day is a Sunday. We go to church at 10 a.m. and then find a brunch spot afterward where everyone can get together. My kids are older now—they’re 16 and 13—so when we can have a nice setting, we sit back, talk, have fun and enjoy a meal. Sometimes it’s First Watch, and we’ve done Meat Market a few times for brunch, which is a really good spot. I’m a member at Avila, so we’ll go there for brunch sometimes.
Usually, when visitors come to see me, we play golf. We’ll go to Southern Hills or Avila, play golf, maybe have a little lunch, come home, relax and then do dinner depending on what they want. Having lived here for 25 years, I’ve been to just about every restaurant. For dinner, we go to Boulon, which is a good spot. If they want authentic Italian, we’ll go to Donatello. If they’re looking for a steak and want that old-school feel, we’ll go to Bern’s.
For a special occasion, Bern’s Steak House has always been a go-to spot for us. It’s one of those places we only visit once or twice a year. Here’s a fun fact: in all the times I’ve gone to Bern’s, I’ve only had a steak once. I’m not a steak guy, but the level of service and the ambiance there are always cool, especially when you don’t go often.
Anytime I want to feel the cultural side of Tampa, I’ll go to Ybor. That area is a little different with the streets and how it’s set up. Over in Seminole Heights, there are some great restaurants. There’s a restaurant there called Ella’s, which is different and kind of off the beaten path. These are the kinds of places I go when I’m looking for a little bit more of that cultural experience here in Tampa.
The perfect date night would be a nice comedy show at the Improv (now called Funny Bone) or Amalie Arena, then maybe a late dinner depending on the meal of choice.
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
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