1. CAPPY’S PIZZERIA There is no doubt that Harold Hasselback, the owner of one of the five individually-owned Cappy’s Pizzerias in the Tampa Bay area, has never lost sight of what his City Plaza at Tampa Palms shopping center location does best.
While some restaurants try to be all things to all people, Cappy’s menu consists mainly of pizza, calzones, salads (like the awesome Greek salad) and beer.
The pizza, which I have described in years past as “thin crust, but not New York-style” and “deep-dish, but not authentic Chicago-style,” has been among our readers’ favorites since Cappy’s first opened in Tampa Palms almost a decade ago, but had never won the title of “Favorite Pizza in New Tampa” — until now.
It’s a credit to Hasselback and his laser focus on what Cappy’s does best — delicious food at great prices — that this long-time favorite (which first opened in South Tampa) has ascended to the top of our readers’ Favorite Pizza list.
But, it’s not a big surprise. The formula of fantastic food (and beer) in a fun, funky, family atmosphere is a proven formula for success — and now, a Neighborhood News Reader Award! — GN
2. Taste of New York Pizzeria Taste of New York Pizzeria has been a favorite of yours truly and our readers in New Tampa since it opened, but this true NY-style pizza place has never finished as high in our annual Reader Survey as it has this year. It’s always, in my opinion, had the best NY-style crust and obviously, many of you agree.
3. Marco’s Pizza Marco’s Pizza is probably the best of the national pizza chains for my money, even though, like Cappy’s, you can’t call it true NY-style pizza. Also like Cappy’s, quality ingredients is the obvious key as to why so many locals love Marco’s, and with new locations still popping up everywhere, our readers aren’t alone.
4. Full Circle Pizza Full Circle Pizza has grown in popularity with our readers since new owners Julia and Freddy Nova took over last year, and for good reason. Not only does Full Circle feature authentic Chicago-style thin-crust and deep-dish pizza, it also has delicious Italian specialties like chicken parm and tasty pastas.
5. Precinct Pizza Precinct Pizza has only been open at the eastern end of Cross Creek Blvd. for a couple of years, but despite that somewhat remote location, owner Rick Drury has continued to build his following as a NY-style pizza place that also has great hero sandwiches, calzones, rolls, burgers and pastas.
6. Papa John’s 7. Capri Pizza-n-More 8. Westshore Pizza 9. Pizza Hut 10. Domino’s
Grillsmith is one of the Wesley Chapel/New Tampa’s favorite restaurants, according to our Reader Survey. (Facebook)
The results of our annual Reader Survey have been published, and first up:
The Favorite Restaurants.
In total, we had a record number of right around 1,500 ballots cast this year, surpassing our old record of more than 1,200 a few years ago. And the split of the voters was roughly 900 Wesley Chapel ballots and 600 New Tampa votes submitted this year.
One thing that I know helped stimulate more votes this year was the fact there were far fewer categories. For example, the only way to judge who won categories that didn’t appear on this year ballots — like favorite Latin, Asian, Mediterranean and favorite burgers was to see who received the most votes (five faves per ballot) for favorite restaurant in our coverage areas.
Liang’s Bistro, New Tampa (Facebook)
Your favorite Asian restaurant in Wesley Chapel was Yamato Japanese Steakhouse, followed by Bonsai Sushi, Umu Japanese & Thai, Asian Buffet and Arroy Thai. In New Tampa, the top vote-receiving Asian restaurant was Liang’s Bistro, followed by Kobe steakhouse, Sushi Café, Koizi, Sukhothai, Thai Ruby, Thai Lanna and Minerva.
The Latin restaurant that received the most Favorite Restaurant votes in Wesley Chapel was Chuy’s Tex-Mex, followed by Capital Tacos, Los Vallartas, Rice & Beans and Cantina Laredo. Rice & Beans also received more “Favorite Restaurant in Wesley Chapel” votes than any other newcomer, beating out Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar and Blaze Pizza.
Chuy’s Tex-Mex in Wesley Chapel.
The Latin restaurant in New Tampa that received the most Favorite Restaurant votes was Vallarta’s, followed by Las Palmas (which will finish quite a bit higher on my list next month), Cantina, Tijuana Flats and Chipotle.
And, despite there being several more options, only two Mediterranean restaurants — Acropolis and Little Greek — finished in our readers’ top 40.
Other top-20 surprises this year (at least in one editor’s opinion) included Chick-fil-A (#7 Favorite Restaurant?), Cracker Barrel and Panera Bread.
Here’s your overall winners for Favorite Restaurant:
Steak Oscar at Bahama Breeze. (Facebook)
WESLEY CHAPEL 1. BAHAMA BREEZE Bahama Breeze Island Grille has only been located on the north side of S.R. 56 for two years or so, but the popular chain continues to attract large numbers of visitors — and votes in our annual Reader Dining Survey — each year it has been open.
New general manager Melissa Altamare recently took over for the beloved former GM Jeannie Lafever, but Melissa is a long-time Bahama Breeze employee who helped Jeannie open what we call the Wesley Chapel location.
Melissa is equally as friendly as Jeannie and the bottom line is that a lot of people love the whole tropical feel and menu of Bahama Breeze — even though some locals complain that the restaurant seems somewhat out of place here because it’s not located on a body of water.
Jannah and I have always been fond of Bahama Breeze’s blackened or almond-crusted fresh catch, as well as the burgers and the ahi tuna salad, and I’m a fan of the churrasco steak pictured top left on this page and the braised oxtail and Jamaican sampler platter.
Melissa says her favorite dishes are the habañero wings, the jerk chicken pasta and the “tequila sunburn” glazed salmon (bottom left). “But I keep finding new favorites,” she says. “I really do love our food.”
And, considering that Bahama Breeze took first place for not only Favorite Restaurant but also Favorite Bar in WC (see next page) with our readers by comfortable margins this year, Melissa and her outstanding staff should continue to have big crowds to contend with at arguably our area’s most spacious freestanding restaurant. — GN
2. GRILLSMITH Grillsmith has always been among Wesley Chapel’s most popular eateries since it first opened in the Shops at Wiregrass, but a recent menu upgrade to include a truly fresh catch every day has kept it close to the top on my list as well. Try the mashed cauliflower, too!
3. NOBLE CRUST Noble Crust has stayed near the top of the favorites list for both yours truly and our readers in WC, not only for its unique “Southern Italian” cuisine, but also the great vibe at the bar. I do still wish there were more choices like the gnocchi appetizer, Chicken Fried Chicken Parm and double pork chop entrées.
4. FIRST WATCH First Watch was the only real surprise for me in our readers’ top-5 in WC, not just because it’s only open for breakfast and lunch but also because the parking and wait times, especially for weekend brunch are often unbearable. Even so, I agree that the menu options are unique and tasty.
5. 900 WOODFIRED 900 Degrees Woodfired Pizza also won this year’s “Favorite Pizza in Wesley Chapel” category and owner Steve Falabella’s quick stop in the Shops at Wiregrass has great NY-style and woodfired Neapolitan-style pizza. But, I was glad to see it also get some props as a restaurant because it has yummy pastas & salad, too.
NEW TAMPA 1. STONEWOOD GRILL Stonewood Grill & Tavern’s three-peat as our readers’ Favorite Restaurant in New Tampa should come as no surprise.
Zip code 33647’s most upscale eatery features great steaks and fresh seafood, plus an always-hoppin’ bar area that helped Stonewood also finish as our readers’ second favorite bar or tavern in New Tampa this year (see next page).
For me, Stonewood’s decision to start opening for lunch a year or so ago was a great move. And, even though the menu is a little pricier than what many people want to spend for lunch, the food is great and the quieter, less-crowded atmosphere is perfect for conducting a business meeting or social event.
Jannah and I especially enjoy the seared ahi tuna appetizer, the 6- and 9-oz. filet mignon options, the fresh fish (we shared an excellent grilled grouper on our most recent visit) and the fresh, always tasty veggies.
In terms of food quality and service, nothing has changed since new managing partner Matt Passardi took over after the beloved Dave Rathbun departed last year, so this favorite 8-location, Florida-based mini-chain can expect to stay at or near the top of our readers’ list every year. — GN
2. CICCIO CALI Ciccio Cali, also located in the Shoppes at The Pointe plaza in Tampa Palms (in the same parking lot at Stonewood) should receive all the credit for first bringing “bowl culture” to New Tampa, and also has great pizzas, burgers and wrap sandwiches.
3. LIANG’S BISTRO Liang’s Bistro Asian Cuisine may not be New York-style or even authentic Chinese food, but that hasn’t stopped it from being the favorite Asian restaurant in New Tampa with our readers virtually every year it has been open. Try the BBQ ribs and sautéed green beans (order ‘em spicy!).
4. MR. DUNDERBAK’S Mr. Dunderbak’s and Stonewood were the only restaurants that made the top-5 in two categories (Favorite Restaurant and Bar) this year, so people obviously love it for more than just its beer variety. I enjoy the tasty schnitzel, sausages and sandwiches, plus German chocolate bars. Sehr lecker!
5. ACROPOLIS GREEK TAVERNA Acropolis Greek Taverna has been the highest-rated Mediterranean restaurant in New Tampa by our readers since the days when it was the only Greek restaurant in New Tampa. If you haven’t tried the saganaki (flaming cheese appetizer), lamb chops, filet shish kabobs, or the Athenian fish, you should.
6. THE FAT RABBIT 7. CHICK-FIL-A 8. VALLARTA’S 9. KOBE JAPANESE 10. SUSHI CAFE 11. GLORY DAYS GRILL 12. LAS PALMAS 13. CRACKER BARREL 14. CAPPY’S PIZZERIA 15. THE LITTLE GREEK 16. BAYSCAPE BISTRO 17. KOIZI ENDLESS HABACHI 18. SUKHOTHAI 19. RED LOBSTER 20. PANERA BREAD
It’s Raining Berries…And It’s Not What We Thought!
Do you ever drive around Wesley Chapel and wonder what some of the new places will be like that you’ve never heard of before?
No? OK, maybe it’s just me. One of the places that fooled me with its name is the beautiful new Raining Berries, located in the outparcel building set in from S.R. 56 between Earth Fare and Walk On’s Bistro & Bar (at 25595 Sierra Center Blvd.) that also includes two not-not-yet-open businesses — Five Guys Burgers & Fries and Bijous Beauty Bar.
If you’re like me, you were thinking “another frozen yogurt place” (like CherriBerri, MochiBerri, LaBerry, etc.) and you’d be wrong.
I know being able to Google search everything has made mystery mostly a thing of the past but when a first-ever location of a new business hasn’t yet opened and their website wasn’t up (until recently)…but, would you have guessed that Raining Berries’ signature product is (drumroll, please)…ethically and sustainably sourced coffee (and hot and cold coffee drinks) — and really delicious coffee at that? There’s some pretty great-looking baked goods, too.
So, where do the berries come in? Raining Berries does have a variety of açai berry bowls, dragon fruit “pitaya” bowls and coconut bowls, but RainingBerries.com didn’t yet have pictures or descriptions of all of these bowls at our press time. See, still a little mystery!
At any rate, the place itself is very cool modern, but after sampling a most delicious (not sweet) “traditional” (not caramel) macchiato on my first visit, I was very happy knowing that Jannah and I live less than a mile from the place.
For info, call (813) 949-8299 or stop in and try Raining Berries for yourself and tell them I sent you!
• Managing editor John Cotey says other businesses getting ready to build in the Cypress Creek area include Zukku Sushi, Woofgang Bakery and a Charles Schwab office. These may or may not be located in the same building just west of Bahama Breeze along S.R. 56 as the European Wax Center, which does have its sign up, but look for details next issue.
Coffee Speaks N’ Tea Talks Opens!
Speaking of delicious coffee, congratulations to our friend Arlene Brooks (on the left in photo above) on the opening of her long-awaited Coffee Speaks N’ Tea Talks at 19651 BBD in the Pebble Creek Collection (behind Kobe Steakhouse, in what was the original location of Las Palmas Cuban Café).
Arlene hosted a North Tampa Bay Chamber ribbon-cutting event in November, which was well attended by her friends, neighbors and fellow Chamber members, as well as members of the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel, of which she is a member.
I personally missed the actual ribbon cutting, but have still enjoyed some delicious Ethiopian coffee at Coffee Speaks N’ Tea Talks since then and I look forward to checking out Arlene’s live jazz on Fri. and now Sat. nights (due to demand), especially because she’s a talented entertainer herself. Arlene sings with the Wesley Chapel Rotary’s Strictly Business Band.
“The smell of good coffee reminds me of my mom,” Arlene told us when we recorded a video at her opening for Neighborhood News Online. “She was the inspiration for this place.”
For more information, call (813) 528-8863 or search “Coffee Speaks N Tea Talks” on Facebook.
Congrats, Ben!
Congrats go out to Ben Hobe (3rd from left, with yours truly, Charmaine George and John Cotey). Ben’s a talented video editor we first were presented by Hands On Educational Services, Inc., a Tampa nonprofit that felt he would be a perfect fit for the Neighborhood News. And, after a no-risk, 80-hour trial run, we happily hired Ben as a permanent employee For more info, visit HandsOnEducation.net. — GN
I’m betting that most Wesley Chapel residents have never eaten an actual meal at the Hilton Garden Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel, located off S.R. 56, less than a mile east of I-75.
And, that makes me a little sad.
For those who have never stepped foot inside this beautiful, award-winning (the year-old hotel won the New Business of the Year honors at the North Tampa Bay Chamber’s 2019 Awards of Excellence gala in Nov.), 124-room hotel, much less enjoyed a meal there, I hope this article will help you decide to go.
Even if you don’t have relatives visiting or need a night in a local hotel room yourself, the Hilton Garden Inn’s restaurant — also known as the Garden Grille — serves outstanding food and drinks at great prices and will find its way into my top-10 favorite restaurants in Wesley Chapel when I release my list of favorites for 2019 in our March 13 issue.
I also hope that you’ll sit down with the hotel’s market director of sales Lisa Moore to discuss the possibility of hosting an event for 8-to-200 (and more) people at this contemporary hotel that still has that great new hotel smell.
Lisa, an ambassador with the NTBC who also is a member of the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel, is a fellow New Yawka who will make sure that your event comes off without a hitch and will send everyone home happy afterward.
For example, when my stepdaughter Kristen’s best friend Sami needed an affordable location last month for a bridal shower, Lisa sharpened her pencil for me, knowing that I was planning to write this story shortly afterward.
Sam and her fiancé Tyler were definitely on a budget, and they knew they would have roughly 40 people at the shower, so Lisa helped them come up with a nice brunch menu — including a unique French toast casserole, fresh breads and muffins and a mimosa bar, plus fresh fruit, mini-quiches and more. And, best of all was the service — the trays and mimosa bar were all constantly refilled and everything was delicious and well worth the price tag.
The Hilton Garden Inn’s spacious ballroom (above) is easily subdividable to fit the size you need to host a variety of amazing events.
“Just tell me what you need and we can make it happen,” Lisa says. “We have a set menu for dinner, but we have an extensive catering menu and a great chef (Frank Skalitza) on the premises who can make pretty much anything you want.”
Jannah and I were on hand for the Grand Opening of the hotel in October of 2018 and we were so impressed (as was everyone who was there) with the filet mignon carving station and the four different pastas (top right) that also were created in front of the guests that we figured it must have been an outside catering company that was brought in for it.
“Nope,” said Lisa, “that was all in-house. Pretty good, right?”
Actually, I would go so far as to say excellent, and the deliciousness doesn’t end there. Although the Garden Grille only serves buffet and cooked-to-order breakfast (that I haven’t tried yet) and dinner (I wish it was open for lunch), I have to say that virtually everything we’ve sampled there has been delicious.
My favorite appetizers so far are the bruschetta (above), the spicy meatballs with fresh mozzarella and the wings “your way” (my way is extra crisp with the sweet chili & sesame sauce on the side). My favorite entrées so far are the grilled 12.-oz ribeye steak and the fusilli carbonara. The burgers and sandwiches (my favorite is the yummy bistro chicken sandwich) are great, too, as are the variety of flatbreads.
In other words, there’s a good reason why the Hilton Garden Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel is going to make my Wesley Chapel top-10. The hotel is beautiful and has great amenities (nice pool, fitness center, etc.) and, even though we’ve never stayed there, we have toured some of the beautiful rooms, too.
For info about the Hilton Garden Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel (26640 Silver Maple Pkwy.), call Lisa at (813) 591-6907 or visit TampaWesleyChapel.HGI.com
Even though it’s the latest link in Wesley Chapel’s chain of chain restaurants, the new Bubba’s 33 on S.R. 56 between Ashley Furniture and the affiliated Texas Roadhouse has a few advantages the others don’t:
1. It’s the first Bubba’s 33 in the entire state of Florida
2. It not only has crispy-crust pizzas, excellent sports bar food and reasonably-priced drinks; it also has…
3. …Texas Roadhouse-quality ribeye steaks and…
4. …Amazing brunch on Saturday and Sunday and most of all…
5. Owner Jeff (at right in top photo) and his wife Crista Dean and their expertly-trained staff making sure that everyone leaves Bubba’s 33 a fully satisfied & happy customer!
Please tell Jeff, Crista & Co. that you read about them in the Neighborhood News!
