Welcome To The ‘Subcontinent Of New Tampa!’

New Tampa Has Become A Haven For Indian Food — Now With 11 Restaurants Serving Cuisine From Every Region Of India! 

When I first bought Neighborhood News in 1994, there were no Indian restaurants in zip code 33647. The first was Saffron on Cross Creek Blvd., which moved and then closed. Minerva in the New Tampa Center plaza on Bruce B. Downs was the second and there were only two or three for several years. 

Today, with the growth of the local Indian population, there are now eleven Indian restaurants in New Tampa, all of which are listed on this page. On the next page, you’ll find the list of the nine restaurants in New Tampa that serve Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food or at least serve Halal meat options. 

Next issue, we will provide the same type of list of the Indian & Mediterranean restaurants in Wesley Chapel. — GN 

Ambarsari Zaika Indian Cuisine — 10865 Cross Creek Blvd., in Mobil gas station convenience store. (656) 239-2813 Linktr.ee/AmbariZaikaTampa 

Pure veg, Sattvic- & Jain-friendly meals with bold, rotating menus. Ghar jaisa khaana, made fresh daily. Live pani puri. Chaat, Amritsari Kulcha, Paranthas 

Dosa Hut — 10942 Cross Creek Blvd. (813) 886-4555. GaramDosaHut.com 

Casual South Indian eatery featuring crispy dosas and other breakfast staples, plus a vegan menu. 

Gorkhali Kitchen — 10044 Cross Creek Blvd. (813) 388-6404. GorkhaliKitchenTampa.com 

Locally owned & dedicated to serving up great Himalayan-inspired, authentic flavors of Kathmandu City, Nepal, for lunch & dinner. 

House of Biryanis & Kebabs — 19430 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. (813) 388-6777. HBKTampa.com 

Authentic Hyderabadi dishes prepared with fresh ingredients, traditional spices and a commitment to quality and great hospitality. 

Ice Spice Café — 20304 Trout Creek Dr., #101. (813) 591-1758. IceSpiceIndianStreetFoodCafe.shop 

Authentic taste of Indian street cuisine with a fresh, vegetarian focus. Serves a range of flavorful dishes like chaat, samosa sandwiches, pav bhaji & Bombay sandwiches. Also serve unique Indian ice creams and fruit shakes. 

Jay’s Kitchen — 17501 Preserve Walk Ln., #103. (813) 866-5297. JaysKitchenUSA.com 

From rich & creamy gravies to smoky Tandoori delights, the menu includes vegetarian, vegan & non-vegetarian options. 

Kabob Café & Grill — 18101 Highwoods Preserve Pkwy., Ste 100. (813) 405-8740. KabobCafeandGrill.com 

Pakistani restaurant with meat curries, veg curries, kabobs, biryanis and some appetizers & desserts. 

Minerva Indian Restaurant — 19050 Bruce B Downs Blvd. (813) 978-8586. MinervaTampa.com 

Known for specialties like Gongura Chicken, Masala Dosa, and Onion Wada, this restaurant focuses on Halal and spicy dishes, plus a daily-changing lunch buffet. 

Namaste Express — 17503 Preserve Walk Ln., Ste B. (813) 866-1300. Namastexp.com 

Casual eatery for authentic dishes of South Indian cuisine, also offering vegan choices. 

Nawabi Hyderabad House — 15345 Amberly Dr. (813) 443-0198. Nawabihhtampa.com 

Growing chain of Indian restaurants known for authentic Hyderabadi cuisine, with a menu that showcases the flavors and spices of the Indian city of Hyderabad. Also known for its variety of biryanis. 

Taaza Mart Café — 6260 Commerce Palms Dr. (inside Taaza Mart grocery store). (813) 564-8100. TaazaMartFL.com 

Indian & Pakistani store featuring fresh produce, spices, sweets and Halal meat, the café offers a variety of hot Indian foods, prepared fresh daily. 

Check Out The Charity Poker & Casino Night at TrebleMakers Tonight!

One day after your N’Awlins feast, even though there’s a world of online gambling sites, if you still enjoy playing poker against other real men and women in a fun setting — with a chance to win great prizes while helping a wonderful cause — you should consider joining the Neighborhood News crew and North Tampa Bay Chamber members at Shark AI Solutions’ (formerly Shark Branding Solutions) “Aces & AI” Charity Poker & Casino Night. 

This fun and exciting event will be held on Monday, August 24, 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m., at TrebleMakers Sports Bar & Dueling Pianos (6034 Wesley Grove Blvd., The Grove at Wesley Chapel). It will be an unforgettable evening of blackjack, poker, roulette & craps and giving back to another outstanding local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization — the Robert Noa Foundation. 

According to RobertNoaFoundation.com, this motocross-focused charity “Pays it Forward to the Next Generation” of riders: 

“We believe the lessons learned at the track carry far beyond the finish line. Robert’s life embodied dedication, humility and the pure joy of riding — and his spirit continues to inspire everyone who throws a leg over a bike. 

“Our mission is to honor Robert’s legacy through scholarships, mentorship and community programs. We’re not just supporting young athletes, we’re fostering a culture of perseverance, sportsmanship and heart.” 

Your $40 admission price (plus $4.52 processing fee) includes: a delicious TrebleMakers dinner buffet, $25 in play chips (with opportunities to re-buy), professional casino tables with experienced dealers & opportunities to both network with local businesses and win some great prizes! 

Although there will not be any cash won, everyone who buys chips at the event will have a chance to win the following great prizes:

  • One-night stay in a King Suite at Saddlebrook Resort plus 18 holes of golf for two
  • Motocross track experiences at Dade City Motocross, including professional training, dirt bike rental, boots and helmet
  • Wakeboarding adventures
  • Ice skating and hockey experiences
  • PopStroke
  • Main Event games and entertainment
  • Comedy club tickets
  • Multiple hotel stays, including stays from Hampton Inn and Hyatt
  • Tickets to an upcoming Tampa Bay Lightning game
  • Additional local experiences and prizes

There also will be pro motocross riders and beautiful motocross bikes on display for photo opportunities. 

And, here’s more exciting news, the new “Chapel After Dark” Podcast also will be filming its first-ever episode during the event! 

Pre-registration is required. For more info or to purchase tickets, see the ad above or visit Eventbrite.com/e/aces-ai-charity-poker-and-casino-night-tickets-1996503011251. — GN 

Check Out The Charity Poker & Casino Night at TrebleMakers Tomorrow!

One day after your N’Awlins feast, even though there’s a world of online gambling sites, if you still enjoy playing poker against other real men and women in a fun setting — with a chance to win great prizes while helping a wonderful cause — you should consider joining the Neighborhood News crew and North Tampa Bay Chamber members at Shark AI Solutions’ (formerly Shark Branding Solutions) “Aces & AI” Charity Poker & Casino Night. 

This fun and exciting event will be held on Monday, August 24, 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m., at TrebleMakers Sports Bar & Dueling Pianos (6034 Wesley Grove Blvd., The Grove at Wesley Chapel). It will be an unforgettable evening of blackjack, poker, roulette & craps and giving back to another outstanding local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization — the Robert Noa Foundation. 

According to RobertNoaFoundation.com, this motocross-focused charity “Pays it Forward to the Next Generation” of riders: 

“We believe the lessons learned at the track carry far beyond the finish line. Robert’s life embodied dedication, humility and the pure joy of riding — and his spirit continues to inspire everyone who throws a leg over a bike. 

“Our mission is to honor Robert’s legacy through scholarships, mentorship and community programs. We’re not just supporting young athletes, we’re fostering a culture of perseverance, sportsmanship and heart.” 

Your $40 admission price (plus $4.52 processing fee) includes: a delicious TrebleMakers dinner buffet, $25 in play chips (with opportunities to re-buy), professional casino tables with experienced dealers & opportunities to both network with local businesses and win some great prizes! 

Although there will not be any cash won, everyone who buys chips at the event will have a chance to win the following great prizes:

  • One-night stay in a King Suite at Saddlebrook Resort plus 18 holes of golf for two
  • Motocross track experiences at Dade City Motocross, including professional training, dirt bike rental, boots and helmet
  • Wakeboarding adventures
  • Ice skating and hockey experiences
  • PopStroke
  • Main Event games and entertainment
  • Comedy club tickets
  • Multiple hotel stays, including stays from Hampton Inn and Hyatt
  • Tickets to an upcoming Tampa Bay Lightning game
  • Additional local experiences and prizes

There also will be pro motocross riders and beautiful motocross bikes on display for photo opportunities. 

And, here’s more exciting news, the new “Chapel After Dark” Podcast also will be filming its first-ever episode during the event! 

Pre-registration is required. For more info or to purchase tickets, see the ad above or visit Eventbrite.com/e/aces-ai-charity-poker-and-casino-night-tickets-1996503011251. — GN 

Love Cajun Cooking? Want To Help A Great Cause? Attend ‘A Taste of N’Awlins’ Today!”

(Above) Dr./Chef Elliot Cazes will again be in the kitchen cooking up an amazing New Orleans-style feast at the “A Taste of N’Awlins” fund raiser to benefit Faces of Courage on Sunday, August 23, at the Arbor Green clubhouse.

Speaking of great chefs, while my longtime friend Elliot Cazes, M.D., may not be a chef in a restaurant (at least not yet), he certainly could be — at least in one editor’s humble opinion. 

After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, Elliot (a noted local OB/GYN doctor and lecturer) and I hosted a benefit to raise money to send to the victims of that brutal Category 3 (by the time it hit Louisiana) storm. 

I had so much fun watching Elliot create his famous chicken & andouille sausage gumbo and other N’Awlins cuisine items that I told him then, “You know you could do this for a living.” 

Fast forward 21 years. “Chef Elliot” is still working as a doctor, but he and his wife Pam also have been helping a wonderful organization called the “Faces of Courage Foundation,” a New Tampa-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting cancer patients and survivors. 

According to FacesofCourage.org, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by New Tampa resident Peggie D. Sherry in Jan. 2004, “provides day outings, educational workshops and medically supervised overnight camps for women, children and families touched by all types of cancer and blood disorders — all at no cost.” The organization’s motto is “No one faces cancer alone.” 

Chef Elliot shares a laugh with student volunteer Caroline Perry at a previous event.

This year’s Women’s Cancer Camp, a weekend retreat sponsored by Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik’s Vinik Family Foundation, will be held Sept. 18-20, at Rotary’s Camp Florida in Brandon. But, Elliot, who has been cooking for this incredible organization’s camps for 20 years, says that, following the passing of another major sponsor, more money is needed for this year’s camps. 

To that end, he and Pam are hosting “A Taste of N’Awlins” dining event on Sunday, August 23, 4 p.m.-8 p.m., at the Arbor Greene Community Center (18000 Arbor Greene Dr.). 

“We’ll be serving my chicken and andouille gumbo (yum!), red beans & rice (double yum!) and assorted po-boy sandwiches (triple yum!),” Elliot says. “You can eat it there in the clubhouse or take it to go.” 

Please note that, the food will be cash-only — for only $20 per meal — although additional donations will be accepted in cash or by check. “It’ll be good food for a great cause and a great community,” Elliot says. “We hope to see you there on the 23rd!” 

For more info, visit FacesofCourage.org or see the ad below, but reservations are not necessary or being accepted for this event. Everyone is invited — you do not have to be an Arbor Greene resident to attend! 

Frammi To Close August 22 & Reopen In Tampa Palms In November!


Chef Luca Ammirati and his wife Erika are closing Frammi, the authentic Italian & American restaurant on BBD Blvd. on Aug. 22, but are reopening it by sometime in Nov. in the Shoppes at Amberly plaza in Tampa Palms. In the meantime, Luca wants to teach you how to make delicious parmigiana di melanzana (eggplant parmigiana, bottom left) and semi-spicy, al dente rigatoni amatriciana (bottom right) like he does — without burning down your house! (Photos by Charmaine George)

So, here’s a little bad news-wonderful news situation for you. 

First, the bad news: Luca and Erika Ammirati, the owners of Frammi — the authentic Italian & American restaurant previously known as Oakley’s Grille — are closing their location at 17631 Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in North Palms Village as of Saturday, August 22. 

The amazing news is that Luca and Erika will reopen Frammi at 15363 Amberly Dr., in the Shoppes at Amberly plaza in Tampa Palms (hopefully) by sometime in November of this year. 

I met Luca at the new location just before we went to press with this issue and although the space between the Tampa City Ballet and the Tae Kwon Do studios in the plaza was still an empty shell, Luca was meeting with his engineers to finalize the plans for the new Frammi’s layout that same day, and he believes “It won’t take too long to get the new Frammi open,” he said. “And it’s a larger space, so we will have room for a bar and more tables.” 

That’s great news, as is the fact that the new Frammi will expand Luca’s already-extensive menu of authentic Italian favorites. 

“But, other than the burgers (right), we will not be bringing the rest of the American menu from the old Oakley’s Grille with us,” he said. 

Please note that for the few days to a week of time between when you receive this issue and Aug. 22, the original Frammi (which the Ammiratis took over in 2018 and renamed in 2022) will still be open every day, serving both Luca’s authentic Southern and Erika’s equally legit Northern Italian specialties — as well as the fajita tacos, chicken sandwiches and more that made Oakley’s so popular. “And, I will still have chicken at the new location, so if you want a fried chicken sandwich, we can still help you.” 

Cooking Lessons & Private Chef Service 

In the 2-3 months’ time between Frammi’s closing and the new restaurant’s opening, Luca says he is offering both “Cooking Classes with the Chef” and “Private Chef Experiences.” 

Jannah and I are already getting a group of ten people together to take lessons from Luca. 

For just $50 per person, each guest will learn how to make two different pasta dishes (but not how to make the fresh pasta) and Luca will provide all of the ingredients and pair each pasta with a different Italian wine, as part of a full meal. Please note that for the cooking class, since Frammi will be closed, you will have to provide the kitchen for Luca and that ten people is the magic number for that $50-per-person price. 

Want more? Luca also is now offering a two-hour “Private Chef Experience” for up to four people for just $200. It includes two hours of Luca’s time preparing and serving your food in your home, but the ingredients for your private meal will be charged separately. 

Either way, if you’ve ever had Luca’s pasta, you know that both of these are well worth it! 

For more info or for reservations for the last day of the current Frammi (Aug. 22), call (813) 523-5075 or visit Frammi.com. For cooking lessons & private chef services, call Chef Luca’s cell at (813) 775-8279. — GN