BREAKFAST
Samaria Cafe
502 N. Tampa St.
Run by a local Greek-American family, this classic diner is like a little slice of Manhattan in Downtown Tampa. Grab breakfast all day, every day, plus lunch until 4 p.m.
Yolk, White & Associates
100 N. Ashley Drive
Though it’s only open from 7 to 11 a.m. on weekdays, this food cart at MacDill Park made the Yelp 100 — the site’s 100 top-ranked restaurants in the country — in 2017. Try a frittata, omelet or egg sandwich.
La Tropicana Cafe
1822 E. 7th Ave.
Two words: Cuban toast. Two more: Cuban coffee. This Ybor City staple is serving up plenty of both from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
BRUNCH
Graze 1910
1910 N. Ola Ave.
Inside Armature Works, this stall serves tartines, egg bowls, chicken and waffles, and avocado toast (plus mimosas and rosé) all day. For a lunch-ier meal, try the Ray Ray’s sandwich or the crispy chicken bowl.
First Watch
520 N. Tampa St.
It’s not a weekend in Downtown Tampa unless the line to get into this spot spills out onto Tampa Street. First Watch is known for its healthier breakfast options, like avocado toast and power bowls, as well as their sweet morning-starters (finish a stack of their seasonal pancakes in one sitting, we dare you).
Ella’s Americana Folk Art Cafe
5119 N. Nebraska Ave.
The Seminole Heights favorite hosts a soul food brunch every Sunday morning. If you’re
in need of a good Instagram post, order the Bloody Mary, complete with a barbecue rib right on top.
LUNCH
The Hall on Franklin
1701 N. Franklin St.
With menu options from seven different vendors, the Hall is the perfect place to put together a collection of small plates for a meal. Start with a Stinky Bun from North Star Eatery, then move on to a Poke Rose bowl or tacos (Xilo), and finish up with a delicious pastry from Bake’n Babes. The Hall will also welcome two new vendors — Sorellina (a smaller outpost of downtown’s Bavaro’s pizzeria) and Fork & Hen (farm-to-table Southern soul food) — this fall.
Sunday’s Delicatessen
1930 E. 7th Ave.
Consider your sandwich cravings cured. Known for their impossibly large subs (or heroes, hoagies, what have you), Sunday’s offers more than 30 different sandwiches on homemade bread, plus salads, soups and burgers.
Fusion Bowl
504 E. Kennedy Blvd.
For a lighter lunch, Fusion Bowl serves up Vietnamese and Japanese-inspired options, including pho, banh mi, spring rolls, noodle bowls, and teriyaki chicken, beef and salmon.
DINNER
Hattricks
107 S. Franklin St.
If you’re heading to a Lightning game at Amalie Arena or just need a place to park it and watch football for a few hours, this is the place. Grab an order of shake-and-bake wings and a craft beer for the full experience.
Fabrica Pizza
142 S. Meridian Ave.
Tucked on the first floor of Pierhouse at Channelside, Fabrica keeps their menu small but tasty. They specialize in wood-fired Neapolitan pizza; create your own, or choose one of their signatures, including a rotating pizza of the month. Finish off with a cup of locally made gelato.
Columbia Cafe
801 Old Water St.
Get the best of the Columbia Restaurant with waterfront views. Attached to the Tampa Bay History Center, the cafe sits right over the Riverwalk and serves favorites like the 1905 Salad, devil crab croquettes, chicken and yellow rice, and Cuban sandwiches.
DESSERT
Dough Nation
505 N. Tampa St.
Thanks in part to the success of edible cookie dough on social media, Tampa-based charity Metropolitan Ministries opened this dessert cafe as part of the mission to help people transition back into the work-force. Try the aforementioned cookie dough, milkshakes or ice cream.
The Revolution Ice Cream Co.
6701 N. Florida Ave.
Unique flavor combinations rule at Revolution, including goat cheese habañero, vanilla with bacon, chardonnay caramel and buttered pancake. Grab a sampler to try a scoop of six different flavors.
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