Check Out The Completely Redesigned Las Palmas Latin Grill! 

Ramses & Ana Garcia invite you to sample their authentic Cuban and Latin specialties, including the flaky guava-filled pastry shown below. 

Although we told you last issue that Las Palmas Latin Grill had reopened in the same brick-&-mortar space as it was previously, at 6431 County Line Rd. (south of Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in the same plaza as LA Fitness and Five Guys), the new Las Palmas hadn’t actually reopened when we went to press with that issue, so we couldn’t show you any pictures of the place or the food. 

Well, the beautiful, new Las Palmas did open as planned on Oct. 24 (a little more than two years after a kitchen fire shuttered the place) with a small ribbon-cutting ceremony and a few close friends and family getting to enjoy the full menu that had to be greatly reduced when owners Ramses and Ana Garcia had their food truck in the same parking lot following the fire. 

If you’ve never had Ana’s picadillo (minced beef with olives, potatoes and tomato sauce), Ramses’

The full menu is back and available at the newly reopened Las Palmas Latin Grill, including (above) merluza a la Rusa and(below left) the pressed Tampa Cuban sandwich. 

merluza a la Rusa (fried flaky white fish filet topped with egg, tomatoes and spices), vaca frita (crispy shredded beef with garlic-lemon mojo sauce), the award-winning pressed Tampa Cuban (with ham, roasted pork, salami and Swiss Cheese, mustard, mayo & pickles) or the big variety of empanadas, croquettes and Latin pastries, you need to visit Las Palmas — which will hopefully soon have its beer and wine license, too. 

And, with the holidays coming up fast, don’t forget to check out Las Palmas and its outstanding catering menu for a holiday party you and your guests won’t soon forget! 

Las Palmas Latin Grill is open Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on Friday & Saturday (it’s closed on Sunday). For more information, call (813) 991-5500 or visit LasPalmasLatinGrill.com — and don’t forget to tell Ramses & Ana we sent you! — GN 

‘Shrek’ Was A Monster Hit; ‘Winter Wonder’ & ‘Dreamgirls’ Are Next!

Sadly, because of the timing of our print issues, we didn’t get to put a full review of the New Tampa Players’ production of ‘Shrek The Musical’ (at the end of last month) in print, but what a fun, touching, magical show it was!

Chris Cordero as the titular ogre & Brianna Fillippelli as his love interest Fiona were the outstanding stars, but the performances by Evan Lomba as Donkey, 6’-4” Kyle Fisher as the diminutive Lord Farquaad (which he impressively played on his knees) and 7-year-old Jordan Boyer as both Young Fiona & Baby Bear, plus a terrific supporting cast & great costumes & sets, really made the show something special.

Tickets are on sale now for NTP and Atlas Ballet Theatre’s one night only ‘Winter Wonder’ on Dec. 8, and for NTP’s ‘Dreamgirls’ in Feb.

Visit NewTampaPlayers.org for tickets & more information.

Nibbles & Bites: Mochinut Is Now Open On S.R. 56 & On BBD Blvd. In New Tampa! 

Last issue, I told you that Mochinut — which says on its website that its unique donuts are Hawaiian-inspired combinations of American donuts and Japanese mochi — was getting ready to open two locations in our area. The Lutz/Wesley Chapel Mochinut is located on the north side of S.R. 56 (in the former location of Pho 54, next to Astro Craft Ice Cream and Mellow Mushroom; right photo), while the New Tampa location is in the space previously occupied by Mahana Fresh on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., just north of I-75. 

Well, both Mochinut locations are now open and yes, the donuts — which are now served at more than 130 locations around the country, and are available in a rotating variety of flavors (see left photo for just a few of them), from biscoff creme to ube (purple sweet potato) frosted — are light, airy and definitely taste nothing like Krispy Kreme or Dunkin’ Donuts. 

I still haven’t sampled Mochinut’s rice flour hot dogs, but definitely plan to soon. All Mochinut locations also serve a variety of boba teas. 

The two locations are different from each other inside, to suit their individual spaces. 

For more information, visit or call the Lutz/Wesley Chapel location (25704 Sierra Center Blvd.), call (813) 949-5877. We could not find a phone number for the New Tampa location (17512 Doña Michelle Dr.), but you can visit Mochinut.com for more info about all of the Mochinut locations. — GN 

Playa Bowls Is Open On BBD

We first told you about it months ago when it was “Opening Soon.” And we updated the story when that original opening date didn’t happen (as happens so often here in Pasco County. 

Well, Wesley Chapel’s Playa Bowls has finally opened, at 2653 BBD Blvd. (in the same plaza as The Hungry Greek). It offers a large variety of healthy bowls. The concept was born at the Jersey Shore but is called “Pineappleland” because of its founders Robert Giuliani and Abby Taylor’s love of the acai and pitaya bowls they encountered during their surfing trips to Hawaii and California. 

Today, the founders’ shared vision has grown to more than 200 locations nationwide, including 15 here in the Sunshine State. 

In addition to healthy plant-based bowls (including oatmeal and chia pudding bowls), Playa Bowls features fresh juices, smoothies and cold brews. For more information, visit PlayaBowls.com. — GN 

Nibbles & Bites: Fazzoli’s & Barberitos Are Coming Soon To S.R. 54 

Research by Joel Provenzano 

The current construction at The Shoppes at Cypress Creek. 

Although it’s not going to be located in Wesley Chapel, a new 8,000-sq.-ft. building now under construction on S.R. 54 in Lutz, less than a mile west of the Tampa Premium Outlets (and just west of the Mobil gas station), will finally soon be home to two new restaurants — Fazoli’s and Barberitos. 

People have been asking for a while about these two fast casual eateries, as the signs for both had been located at the site for more than a year before the plaza, which is being called The Shoppes at Cypress Creek, began construction. 

The Take 5 Oil Change facility has been open for several weeks now in what is being called The Shoppes at Cypress Creek. 

Well, even though only the Fazoli’s sign is currently still standing, it appears that both restaurants are going to be included in the same under-construction building between the Mobil station and the new Take 5 Oil Change (see bottom photo), which is the first of what ultimately will be four buildings to be located on the 3.52-acre site. 

The site plan submitted with Pasco County by St. Petersburg-based retail developer Paradise Ventures, Inc., calls for three retail tenants in the under-construction building (photo below), the nearly 2,700-sq.ft. westernmost one (closest to the already-built Woodie’s Wash Shack) with a drive-through lane, which we’re assuming will be Fazoli’s, since all of the chain’s current locations (including the nearest one on E. Busch Bvd.) have a drive-through. 

The development’s site plan.

Based on the development’s site plan, it appears that Barberitos will be located in the 1,800-sq.-ft. easternmost space (closest to Take 5) and an as-yet unnamed retailer in the 2,675-sq.-ft. middle space. 

The third building at the site, which is not yet under construction, is a future restaurant pad that the site plan says will be a maximum of 5,500 sq. ft. 

For leasing and other information about the Shoppes at Cypress Creek, call John Mott at (727) 812-1555 or visit ParadiseVenturesInc.com. 

More About Fazoli’s 

According to Fazolis.com, the Kentucky-based chain founded in 1988 has more than 200 locations, the majority of which are franchises in more than half of the 50 U.S. states, including six in Florida. 

The Ultimate Sampler (fettuccine Alfredo, spaghetti & meatballs, penne w/meat sauce and lasagne w/ meat sauce.

The 35-year-old company’s slogan is “Fast. Fresh. Italian.” and fans of the brand say the breadsticks are “even better than Olive Garden’s.” 

Well, I’ve never been a fan of Olive Garden’s breadsticks, but I do love Italian food, so I am hopeful, since Jannah and I live so close to the coming-soon location, that it will be worth the long wait. I likely will visit the Busch Blvd. location sometime after this issue hits mailboxes to try it out. 

In addition to those breadsticks, Fazoli’s features pizzas, pastas (including baked pastas like lasagne and chicken parmigiana), “Snacks & Shareables” (like baked meatballs and fried mozzarella bites), hot and cold subs, salads and a variety of pasta samplers, such as the four-item combo shown above. 

More About Barberitos 
The burrito bowl at Barberitos. 

According to Barberitos.com, the Athens, GA-based fast-casual Southwestern cuisine eatery was founded in 2000 by Downing Barber. The restaurant’s slogan is “Food ‱ Community ‱ People.” 

The “Coming Soon” notification I found says that Barberitos features, “farm-fresh burritos, tacos, quesadillas, salads and more in a casual, family-friendly atmosphere. Choose one of our popular specialty items or create your own favorite from one of more than 30 toppings…and our made-in-house salsas.” 

The nearest to us of the 50+ Barberitos throughout the southeastern U.S. is in Panama City, FL, so I guess I won’t be able to visit one anytime soon.