The Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County is doing more than just helping drive sports tourism in Pasco. It is providing a unique venue for locals, both children and adults, to enjoy a variety of indoor and outdoor sports. On Jan. 3, the Sports Campus hosted a Community Open House inside the AdventHealth Sports Arena, which introduced mask-wearing, socially distant locals to these programs. And yes, it was a great success.
“We signed up more than 40 new people, mostly kids, from the event,” says RADDSports director of marketing Jannah Nager. “The event also introduced people who attended to our Sports Campus sponsors.”
At the Jan. 3 Community Open House for the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County, every attendee was temperature checked. The USF Bulls cheer squad held a practice inside the AdventHealth Sports Arena at the Sports Campus. Attendees got to meet the Sports Campus sponsors, including Abdoney Orthodontics, which provided a putting green, and Island Fin Poké Co., which had people hula-hooping.
RADD Sports is the private company providing the programs and managing the Sports Campus through a public-private partnership between RADD and the county. RADD Sports founder and CEO Richard Blalock says that although the Sports Campus is already proving to be popular for both locals and competitive tournaments in the “core” sports being offered — basketball, volleyball, cheerleading and soccer (both in and outside of the AdventHealth Sports Arena) — “Events like the Open House allow more local residents the opportunity to check us out and see everything we have to offer.”
Among the sponsors with booths at the Open House were Island Fin Poké Co. (see story on pgs. 34-35), Abdoney Orthodontics, Glory Days Grill, Culver’s, Urban Air Adventure Park, the Hilton Garden Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel, the Hampton Inn and the Neighborhood News.
For more info about programs at the Sports Campus, call (833) TEAM-RADD. For sponsorships, email Jannah@RADDSports.com.
When Island Fin Poké Co. opened last November next to LA Fitness (south of County Line Rd. and west of Bruce B. Downs Blvd.), owners Jeff, Brenda and Jason Sproat never could have anticipated what came in March.
“Fortunately we were able to remain open and were set up for all the pandemic concerns and restrictions,” Jeff says. “We have a very clean environment and quick service for takeout or delivery, while being affordable and healthy. We added on-line ordering with a curbside pickup option for convenience and safety.”
Jason, Island Fin’s general manager, says that he has seen many pre-Covid regulars starting to return recently.
“More of our guests are dining in and many long-time guests are coming in multiple times per week again,” Jason says.
Jeff, Jason and Brenda Sproat invite you to their Island Fin Poke Co. location next to LA Fitness off County Line Rd. at Bruce B. Downs Blvd.
Island Fin Poke Co. provides guests with “boat to bowl,” locally and responsibly sourced ingredients for each individual to create their own perfect poké bowl. With eight proteins, more than 25 toppings, a variety of house-made sauces and specialty mix-ins, the endless possibilities allow guests to get creative and try something new every visit. The restaurant’s comfortable beach shack environment bring residents on a short trip to Hawaii as they enjoy delicious, fresh and healthy, immune-boosting meals.
“Sushi lovers love our spicy tuna, salmon and ahi tuna,” Jason says, “while those who are not sushi fans or are hesitant about consuming raw seafood, can choose cooked chicken, shrimp or even octopus for their proteins.” And, Brenda says that the house-made sauces are what separate Island Fin from all others and the friendly, knowledgeable team helps you customize your perfect bowl.
Island Fin’s regular poké bowls typically provide 40g of protein and up to 90g in a double-protein bowl. Gym members, trainers and health professionals love it! Bowls that are perfect for Keto diets, and vegetarian and even vegan options also are available.
And Now, The Food!
I have been an Island Fin fan from Day One, especially since I can choose from spicy or regular tuna, or even have a scoop of each, in my bowl. Other proteins I didn’t mention before include salmon, Spam and tofu.
I try to stay away from both brown and white rice as my base, so I usually just choose the spring mix lettuce.
I love Island Fin’s mix-ins, although I keep telling Brenda I wish there were even more veggies to choose from, but my faves are the OG veggies, the spicy pickled veggies, edamame and corn. There’s also sweet onions and jalapeños available.
It’s easy to create your bowl your way by adding your base, proteins, toppings and finishing sauces & crunchy toppings. (Photos by Charmaine George)
The marinating sauces include Shoyu (gluten-free soy), Ponzu (soy with fresh orange, lemon and lime juices), Island Fin Fire (pineapple, habanero peppers, cilantro, wildflower honey & soy), Wicked Wahine (hot and sweet) and my favorite, the OG Sauce (sweet onions & fresh jalapeños, with soy, olive oil and rice vinegar). I avoid most of the crunchy toppings (like crispy onions, garlic, wontons and tempura crisps), but love adding sesame seeds, seaweed salad, cucumbers and pickled veggies.
I also don’t usually get a finishing sauce, but available options include avocado cream, wasabi cream, Togarashi and Jamaican cream, but I will probably try the new vegan Ono Ono sauce (sweet Thai chili, fresh cilantro and scallions and chili and ginger paste) in the future.
I love the Surimi (crab) premium topping. Other premium toppers include avocado, masago (fish eggs) and macadmia nuts, and they all cost you $1 extra per bowl.
Coming soon will be a Stubborn soda fountain drink machine. Stubborn sodas have unique and “healthier” options using pure cane sugar rather than high-fructose corn syrup or processed sugar.
But, speaking of sugar, I also love Island Fin’s cool & creamy Dole Whip desserts, available in rotating flavors. My favorite so far is the strawberry-vanilla swirl.
Community-Minded!
Island Fin has been active in the Wesley Chapel/New Tampa community. During the pandemic, the restaurant provided bowls and Dole Whips for front line workers at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, participated in community events at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County and recently sponsored a food drive with donations going to the Make A Difference organization.
As a family-owned business, Brenda, Jason and Jeff are most proud of the comments, reviews and ratings from the community.
“Seeing happy faces and hearing wonderful comments, along with 4.9 and 5.0 ratings on Facebook, Google, Yelp and UberEats, make all the hard work worthwhile,” Brenda says. “Guests realize that they can safely have really delicious tasting food that’s actually boosting their immune systems and is super fresh and healthy, too.”
One of the things Brenda says she loves to do is to bring mini-bowl samples of Island Fin’s delicious food to area gyms, fitness centers and health clubs, because, “it instantly translates into new customers for us! People who are working out and eating healthy really love our bowls!” And, even though Christmas 2020 is behind us, Island Fin does offer gift cards, both Classic (plastic card) and E-cards (send by text or email). Island Fin gift cards make great gifts for your dog sitter, co-worker or anyone who makes your day!
Island Fin Poké Co. is located at 6417 E. County Line Rd. (between LA Fitness and Winn-Dixie) and is open every day, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., for dine-in (socially distanced), take out, online ordering with curbside delivery and all major delivery services. For more info, call (813) 575-8002 or visit IslandFinPoke.com.
The Hungry Greek, like Vallarta’s, also keeps the locals happy (it’s #1 in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel) with great Greek and Mediterranean specialties at super-fair prices — especially when you factor in the quality of the food, the size of the portions served and the restaurant’s ability to get you in and out quickly while still cooking your food to order.
We recommend trying the Greek salads, gyro and chicken pita bread sandwiches (and platters) and variety of kabob entrées, falafel, dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), baked pastitsio (Greek lasagne) and spanikopita (spinach pie).
Wash it down with a Mythos or other Greek beer.
2 — Acropolis Greek Taverna New Tampa’s sit-down Greek restaurant has some of the best Greek cuisine around. Try the saganaki (Greek cheese flambé), grilled octopus, lamb chops and the Athenian fish.
3 — Little Greek on BBD in New Tampa is very similar in menu and serving style to Hungry Greek, and does an equally outstanding job of getting customers in and out quickly, even during its lunchtime rush.
4 — Minerva Indian Restaurant was the only Indian eatery to make this top-5 with its extensive menu packed with flavorful options, as well as one of the best Indian buffets around, with plenty of vegetarian choices.
5 — Al-Sham Palace in the Pebble Creek Collection is one of our area’s few truly authentic Syrian/Mediterranean restaurants, featuring a variety of shawarma and gyro sandwiches, plus kafta and chicken kababs & more.
The Next 5, in order of votes: Medilish Med Grill, Ice Spice Cafe, Atithi Indian, Taaza Mart Cafe, Petra Mediterranean Express (OOB).
Liang’s Bistro has been a consistent winner as the Favorite Asian Restaurant in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel pretty much every year since it opened and its location on BBD Blvd. in New Tampa (near I-75) is the favorite sit-down, upscale Chinese/Asian fusion restaurant in either of our distribution areas.
Liang’s has wonderful NY-style barbecued spare ribs, egg rolls and pan-fried dumplings, and even offers a popular seared ahi tuna appetizer.
The signature dishes at Liang’s include General Tso’s chicken, orange chicken, beef or shrimp, Mongolian beef, chicken or shrimp, excellent sizzling teriyaki or Shanghai-style steak and Liang’s recently added salmon and tuna poké bowls.
Another thing that sets Liang’s apart in our area is that it also offers Korean BBQ, Thai curry dishes and Japanese-style, as well as Chinese-style, fried rice.
You also have to try the sautéed string beans (I order them spicy), with or without ground chicken. Liang’s also serves beer and wine.
2 — Kobe Japanese Steakhouse has been our readers’ favorite Japanese steak house in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel pretty much every year it’s been open and it also serves great sushi, to go with top-quality hibachi steak, chicken and seafood.
3 — Bonsai Sushi was originally located on Bearss Ave., just south of New Tampa, but its Shoppes of New Tampa at Wesley Chapel location has been even more popular for delicious, fresh sushi and other Japanese specialties.
4 — Umu Japanese & Thai Since opening in the former OTB Café space in the plaza across from AdventHealth WC, Umu has been a local favorite with the best selection of white meat fish sushi, plus entrées like miso sake Chilean sea bass.
5 — China Wok has takeout locations in the WC Village Market and one on County Line Rd. in New Tampa. Since many of our readers didn’t specify which one they were voting for, it’s possible that neither finished this high.
The Next 10, in order of votes: Arroy Thai (WC), Asian Buffet, Sushi Cafe, Thai Ruby, Koizi, Hibachi Express, China Gourmet, Palm Thai, Thai Lanna, Gonna China.
FAVORITE LATIN: Vallarta’s
Vallarta’s Restaurante Mexicano (aka Los Vallarta) was the first Mexican place to open in Wesley Chapel and even though so many other Mexican places in both of our distribution areas have come and gone, it seems that Vallarta’s still strikes the balance that resonates with our readers for its authenticity, food quality and price.
There’s also good reasons why Vallarta’s is loved by the locals in all of its locations in the Tampa Bay area — even though its Tampa Palms restaurant closed in 2019.
First of all, we still think Vallarta’s has the best sizzling fajitas of any Mexican or Southwest place in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel. You also simply can’t beat the variety of tacos, nachos, burritos, quesadillas or enchiladas, but we also love the selection of steak, pork and chicken entrées, as well as the awesome daily and Happy Hour specials at its full liquor bar.
In other words, the Wesley Chapel Vallarta’s is here to stay.
2 — Cantina Laredo Wesley Chapel’s most upscale Mexican eatery is definitely a really nice restaurant with very good food and a premium full-liquor bar, even though it is a little pricy. Try the guacamole made tableside.
3 — Chuy’s Tex-Mex is still a relative newcomer to Wesley Chapel’s Latin restaurant scene (this is only its 2nd year in our survey), but it continues to attract plenty of votes from our readers for its food, full liquor bar and Elvis-themed vibe.
4 — Rice N Beans also has been open in Wesley Chapel for less than two years and its focus is on unique Puerto Rican dishes like mofongo and chicharrones, plus live music, salsa dancing and a premium, full-liquor bar.
5 — Las Palmas has the best Cuban around, having won the Best of Tampa top award twice, so it’s not open to debate. Start with a Tour of Havana Trio, but don’t forget to try the roasted pork and steak entrées.
The Next 10, in order of votes: Latin Twist, Capital Tacos, Chipotle, Tijuana Flats, Don Julio’s, Moe’s, Lima, Pollo Tropical, Taco Son, Taco Bus.
Cynthia Andujar shows off a delicious 900 Degree Woodfired pepperoni pizza.
When it comes to pizza in our area, we have a lot of great options from which to choose, but it’s hard to argue with the readers’ selection of 900º Woodfired Pizza in the Shops at Wiregrass as their favorite in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel for both 2019 and 2020.
There’s also no doubt that 900º Woodfired owner Steve Falabella (2nd from left in photo) is one of the most beloved restaurant owners in Wesley Chapel. But, the fact that his place serves both authentic wood-fired Neapolitan style, as well as legit New York-style pizza continues to keep 900º Woodfired Pizza among our readers’ favorites (and ours!).
We’re partial to 900º Woodfired’s square, thin-crust Sicilian-style and unique Grandma’s pizza, as well as many of its tasty pasta dishes.
2 — Pizza Mania is the pizza place that has been open the longest in Wesley Chapel, and it’s always been a top favorite of our readers at its location in the Shoppes of New Tampa at Wesley Chapel for its NY/New Jersey-style pizza and Italian fare.
3 — Amici’s Pizza won this category in 2018 and finished second last year, and it continues to be a top-three favorite of our readers — and for good reason. It features true NY-style pizza and the best linguine & clams in The Chap.
4 — Via Italia was one of the best places to open in New Tampa in 2020 and while it’s more of a sit-down, authentic Italian “ristorante,” it does serve wood-fired Neapolitan, Roman, “Campione del Mondo” and other unique styles of pizza.
5 — NY NY Pizza repeats its finish as our readers’ fifth favorite pizza place in our distribution areas, another choice that’s hard to argue. We love it for its garlicky Grandma’s pizza, but try this mainly takeout place by the slice or by the pie.
The Next 10, in order of votes: Mellow Mushroom, Cappy’s, Marco’s, Best NY Pizza, Fratelli’s, Noble Crust, Little Italy’s, Capri, Pomodoro, MOD Pizza.
FAVORITE BURGER: BURGER 21
The Outlaw Burger and a Wild Blueberry shake.
A burger is often just a burger, and when cooked right, that can be enough.
But, at Burger 21 on BBD Blvd. in New Tampa, which opened its first location in 2010 with 21 menu items, a burger is rarely just a burger. It is, as the restaurant says, reinvented, which helps explain why it is this year’s readers’ choice for the best burger in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel.
Burger 21 offers a variety of different burgers, all served on brioche buns, ranging from beef to chicken to veggie and there’s even a seafood burger, featuring a spicy Thai shrimp patty.
The regular beef burgers come in double-stacked (the “OMG”), blackened or even BBQ-style.
You can even get your burger on a gluten-free bun, and the fries (including the sweet potato version) are a tasty side. The menu has salads for non-carnivores, and don’t leave without having one of Burger 21’s creamy, hand-spun shakes. — JCC
2 — Five Guys is the delicious bridge between fast-food and restaurant hamburgers and has been a fan favorite everywhere it’s opened, including locations in both New Tampa and Wesley Chapel. And of course, the unique fries are addictive, too.
3 — Burger Monger received a recent makeover, so maybe that was part of the reason why it had its best-ever finish in our Reader Survey this year. Of course, its tasty burgers, hot dogs, shakes and new salads probably had something to do with it, too.
4 — Red Robin is another burger-oriented eatery which had its best finish in our Reader Survey this year. Red Robin features a large selection of “gourmet burgers and brews” and the bottomless fries are always a welcome treat (except for dieters).
5 — Culver’s is a cooked-to-order, fast-casual place that started in the Midwest but has continued to grow here in Florida with its delicious burgers and other sandwiches. The ultra-creamy frozen custard is really hard to resist, too.
The Next 6, in order of votes: Ford’s Garage, Glory Days, Bubba’s 33, Fat Rabbit, BJs Brewhouse, Mulligans.
