Bagels Plus, located at 2706 E. Fletcher Ave. (a little west of Bruce B. Downs Blvd.), has finally reopened after a kitchen fire had closed the long-time favorite local New York bagel place for about five months.
“Everyone already knows we’ve reopened,” the owner Steve told me this morning. “At least it feels like everybody knows. We’ve been packed since we reopened yesterday (Monday)!”
In fact, Bagels Plus was out of Asiago cheese bagels when I arrived a little after 10:30 a.m. today. Thankfully, the store still had plenty of sesame bagels available to scoop out and toast to make my bacon (they do also have sausage), egg and cheese sandwich.
“This is the only place I know locally with bagels that taste like New Yawk,” one customer who said they were from Brooklyn told Steve while I was chatting with him today. “I’m so happy you’re open again!”
That seemed to be a popular sentiment among the seven or eight other customers inside the place, which definitely got a full interior makeover. Bagels Plus also carries tuna, chicken and egg salad, a wide variety of different cream cheeses — from lox and light plain to cranberry-walnut and veggie and more. Other pastries baked in-house include butter croissants, black-&-white cookies and apple and cherry turnovers and more. Pretty great coffee, too.
Bagels Plus is open Monday-Saturday, 6 a.m.-4 p.m., and 7 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, or to pre-order call (813) 999-1216.
A new fast-casual restaurant is opening tomorrow — Saturday, March 29, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. — in the Pebble Creek Collection plaza at 19651 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., behind Hungry Juicy Crab. Sushi Bowls by Kazoku Sushi, which features not only fresh tuna, salmon and snow crab poké bowls, but also amazing appetizers like chicken gyoza dumplings, crispy vegetable spring rolls, crab Rangoon and deliciously unique “Sushi Fries” (you have to taste them to really “get it!”). The husband-and-wife team of Sergio and Cristina Chanquin, who also own Sushi House in Ybor City, are proud to bring their skills to New Tampa and our first visit definitely exceeded all of our expectations. Find out more about Sushi Bowls in our April 15 Wesley Chapel and April 29 New Tampa print editions, call (813) 406-4111 or click on the followinglink: Facebook.com/events/s/grand-opening-of-sushi-bowls-b/1296410661425913
When Julio and his wife Ximena Rodriguez first opened the original Don Julio’s Mexican Restaurant in the Palms Connection plaza on E. Bearss Ave. seven years ago, the restaurant was an homage to Julio’s mother Esther Rodriguez (or Doña Esther). Esther began putting her cooking talents to good use in the late 1980s and early ‘90s by selling her authentic Mexican cuisine out of her garage in West Tampa after her husband, the original Don Julio, passed away when her three children were still young. She did well enough to put all three kids through college.
As we reported last year, since then, Julio and Ximena opened a much larger restaurant, with a full-liquor bar, in the City Plaza at Tampa Palms shopping center, which has really helped increase the Rodriguez family’s exposure in the community “and brought in a lot of new customers,” Julio says.
But, just a few days before we went to press with this issue, Julio and Ximena had moved the original Don Julio’s two spaces down in the same plaza — to the much larger space previously occupied by Bearss Tavern & Tap. “It just got too packed on the weekends at the old space, Julio says.
I promised Julio that Jannah, photographer Charmaine George (who took all of these pictures), her boyfriend Brendan and I would visit the “new” location to not only check out the much larger space but also to sample some of Doña Esther’s “autentica” recipes we hadn’t tried before.
And, it just so happens that Doña Esther (center in above photo, with Ximena and Julio) was helping out in the kitchen on the day we visited — and yes, we definitely sampled! We started by sharing the huge Don Julio’s Sampler (photo right) from the “Antojitos/Cravings” menu. The sampler includes crisp taquitos (we had them filled with chicken), a tamale (corn dough stuffed with pork, wrapped in a corn husk and steamed), a sope (handmade thick corn tortilla topped with refried beans, lettuce, onions, cheese and sour cream; we added ground beef to it), a tostada (similar to a sope, but flatter; we added carne asada steak to it), nachos (we added pastor and ground beef) and our new favorite, the perfectly cheesy quesadillas to which we added shredded chicken.
We each also ordered a main course. Jannah got her usual fave (although it was her first time having it at Don Julio’s) — the ground beef enchiladas (with refried beans and a red guajillo chile sauce). Charmaine really enjoyed her taco salad (bottom right photo) with tender carne asada steak. Brendan also raved about his chimichanga al pastor (marinated pork cooked on a vertical spit; left photo), which also was stuffed with plenty of cheese and topped with melted cheese).
I also tried the Bistec Ranchero (below), which is round steak cooked (and covered) in an amazing combination of tomatoes, onions and serrano peppers. The steak itself was not quite as tender as the carne asada, but the flavor was truly fantastic.
The new restaurant itself is beautiful. Julio says, “It took us six months to build this out, but we’re very pleased with the result,” including the authentic Mexican Talavera tile behind the bar (bottom left photo). We’d have to agree.
And, speaking of the bar, the newest Don Julio’s still features an incredible selection of tequilas and mezcals, some very upscale and rare, but all at very reasonable prices. Brendan, previously a long-time bartender, said his strawberry margarita was “spot on,” Charmaine savored her tequila sunrise and Jannah raved about the white sangria. I, of course, also had no complaints about my Woodford Reserve bourbon.
Ready For Cinco?
Julio promises that both locations of Don Julio’s will be throwing “the best Cinco de Mayo party in town” the weekend of May 3-4, “and the big final blowout on Monday, the 5th.”
“We’ll have DJ music, drink specials and, at the Bearss location, we’ll be serving quick and easy tacos from our food truck outside,” he says. “Plus the new location has this huge outdoor patio, so come check us out!”
Both award-winning Don Julio’s locations (2802 E. Bearss Ave. and 16023 Tampa Palms Blvd.) are open Sunday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m., and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Friday & Saturday. For more information, visit DonJuliosMexican.com or find them on Facebook or Instagram. For reservations (not required but suggested, especially on the weekends), call (813) 898-2860 (Bearss Ave.) or (813) 644-7899 (Tampa Palms).
The friendly, professional staff at San Antonio Dental Care is led by dentists Dr. Kim Tran-Nguyen (above center & photo below) and Dr. Lou Cerillo (to her right above), on Curley St. in San Antonio, just north of Wesley Chapel. (Photos by Charmaine George)
San Antonio Dental Care has been keeping patients in the Wesley Chapel/San Antonio area smiling with incredible care and skilled dentists for the past 15 years. Currently located on Curley St., off C.R. 52, just north of Wesley Chapel, the practice was started by local general dentist Louis Cerillo, D.D.S., who has had a practice in the Tampa Palms community of New Tampa for more than 30 years.
A year ago, Kim Tran-Nguyen, D.M.D., joined the team and, together with their team, the dentists take care of patients’ various dental needs, including corrective, restorative and emergency dental care. San Antonio Dental Care can help whether you need a regular check-up, teeth whitening, a crown, Invisalign® aligners, dentures, oral surgery or cosmetic dental services.
As the first dental practice located in San Antonio, Dr. Cerillo says that opening his second office in that community was actually due to a patient’s persistence and determination.
“We had our original practice in Tampa Palms, and we had patients and team members that lived in [San Antonio],” explains Dr. Cerillo. “We started having patients come to us from this area and one patient told me that I needed to set up a practice there.” He says that even though it all started as something of a joke, since the patient was just hoping she wouldn’t have to drive as far to see him.
However, when Dr. Cerillo told her he’d do it if she could find a place where that office could be located, the patient took him up on that offer. and got back to him a few months later to let him know she had found an office for him. Less less than six months after that, the San Antonio office was up and running.
“We opened in 2009,” Dr. Cerillo says. “There was no dentist up here, other than in Dade City,. We were originally in a small office up the road, it was a home that a veterinarian had converted to their vet practice. But then, [the vet practice] outgrew the building and built a new office. We moved in and put a dental office in there.”
Dr. Cerillo’s practice was located in that small, three-bedroom house until 2018, when it also had outgrown that original space. The current location, which previously was a Wells Fargo Bank, provided the room needed for Dr. Cerillo’s growing clientele.
Dr. Tran-Nguyen was excited to join San Antonio Dental Care a year ago, in large part due to the reputation of Dr. Cerillo, along with seeing the positive environment he had built at the practice.
“He has been working here for a long time,” Dr. Tran-Nguyen shares. “And, when I first came here, I felt like the team had nothing but good things to say about what he has done for the community. He has built the practice. It was important for me to work with someone who has the same amount of care that I want to give to people.”
And, it’s not just the dentists that are involved in helping patients, it is a team effort — from the dental assistants and hygienists, to all the people who work in the front office.
“It is something that has to be built and takes time,” she says. Dr. Cerillo adds that her experience, training, conscientiousness, meticulousness and focus have made her a great addition to the practice.
Originally from Miami, Dr. Tran-Nguyen knew she wanted to explore other cities after graduating from high school. She attended the University of Florida in Gainesville for her undergraduate and graduate studies. After receiving her Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Biology, she completed her Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) degree from the school’s College of Dentistry. She then completed a General Practice Residency at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull, located in Brooklyn, NY, and has been practicing dentistry for almost eight years.
Cosmetic dentistry and surgical dental implants are two of Dr. Tran-Nguyen’s specialties and she says she enjoys how dentistry utilizes her varied skills. “I get to use my creative side, because I get to do cosmetics,” she explains. “I’m making people healthier, but I am also helping them have a prettier smile. I feel like it is a good balance of both science and art.”
Dr. Tran-Nguyen’s love of the work, desire to go above and beyond and her obvious passion for lifelong learning were additional factors that made it clear to Dr. Cerillo that she would be a good fit for the practice. For example, she completed more than 100 hours of continuing education, which was more than three times the State of Florida’s requirement. “I’m always learning,” she says. “I take a lot of continuing education, more than what is required by the state. I’m always trying to better myself so that I can provide better quality care for the patients.”
Dr. Tran-Nguyen also says that her initial decision to pursue the field of dentistry was inspired by both her older sister being a dentist as well as her positive experiences with her family dentist.
“I had a really good relationship with my dentist when I was younger,” she shares. “He always knew the ins and outs with me and my family, and was very personable. I felt like there was actually a solid connection and I found that to be really important to me. I want to be able to connect with people and I would like to break down the barriers for people who are afraid to come to the dentist.”
That sense of connection, and service to the community, comes across in the approach of both dentists in their work, as well as their interactions with clients and the neighborhood. And, the practice’s patients are appreciative of the excellent service they provide.
“This has by far been the best dental office I have ever visited,” says patient Julie Crocker. “The staff is warm and friendly and genuinely cares for their patients. Even though they are professional, they also are so very personable. Walking in the door feels like visiting family. I actually cried when I saw my new smile.”
Patient Kathy Marino also shares her recommendations for San Antonio Dental Care: “They are the greatest team. They always make me feel very comfortable and confident.”
For all the staff at San Antonio Dental Care, maintaining rapport and positive relationships with clients and the community is a priority.
“As you look at the growth of the [local] community, we’ve grown at the same rate,” says Dr. Cerillo. “So, it’s been really good to be here, and I’m proud we were the first dental office here.”
San Antonio Dental Care is located at 11938 Curley St., and is open Mon. & Wed., 7a.m.- 3 p.m.; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on Tues. and Thur.; and 8 a.m.-1 p.m. on Fri. For more info, visit SanAntonioDentalCareFL.com or call (352) 668- 4819. Dr. Cerillo’s Somerset Dental Care is located at 15277 Amberly Dr. For more info, visit SomersetDentalCareFL.com, or call (813) 971-1688.
The team at Apex Internal Medicine of Tampa, located in the Cory Lake Professional Center on Cross Creek Blvd. in New Tampa, includes (l.-r.) medical assistants Jennifer Araujo and Leticia Jerguson and Dr. Mukesh Satodiya. (Photos by Charmaine George)
Dr. Mukesh Satodiya opened Apex Internal Medicine of Tampa three years ago to serve the community and neighborhood that he lives in and loves. The primary care practice is located in the Cory Lake Professional Center on Cross Creek Blvd. in New Tampa, minutes from Wesley Chapel.
Working with a wide range of adult patients is something that Dr. Satodiya appreciates about his location and clientele.
“It’s a mixed population, a mix of ethnicities, working people to retired, 18-year-olds to seniors,” he says. “A broad spectrum from the medical practice point of view.”
Dr. Satodiya’s 15+ years of practicing medicine, along with his incredibly personable approach, serve his diverse clientele well. Board-certified in Internal Medicine, he earned a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree from B. J. Medical College in Ahmedabad, India, in 1999. He completed his residency training in internal medicine in 2007 at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, NJ.
His previous experience includes working in both a hospital environment, as well as with a corporate medical practice. Dr. Satodiya says that having his own practice allows him to focus on the level of patient care, which is what matters most to him. Born and raised in India, his decision to become a doctor was inspired by his view of it as a noble profession focused on helping others.
“Our main purpose is to offer more personal care, rather than treating a certain number of patients per day,” explains Dr. Satodiya. “Most of our patients like that we’re not a huge office, and they know me personally, as well as the staff. And we know them.”
That extra level of interaction and accessibility makes it easier for patients to feel comfortable reaching out to the office when they have needs or concerns. Dr. Satodiya and his staff make sure to always get back to patients promptly.
“They will hear back quickly,” he says. “Either from my medical assistant or I will call them back and talk to them myself. And, if we need to see them, we see them as early as possible, either the same day or the next day.”
He knows these are important things that patients often find frustrating about their experiences at larger medical offices with multiple providers. Administrative details and goals set by insurance companies or corporate offices, often can be the priority in those types of environments.
“It’s easy for anybody to set these goals and deadlines and say these are the things we need to focus on,” Dr. Satodiya says. “Then, between all these other influences, sometimes the quality of care for the patient is not the best.”
Patients definitely notice the difference in the care at Apex Internal Medicine. For example, patient Joe Spoto found out about the Apex office a couple of years ago, and has been with Dr. Satodiya ever since.
“I’ve stuck with him because he listens to you,” Spoto says. “He doesn’t rush you through your appointment. You’re not just limited to one topic if you have more than one thing going on. And, he’s nice! I’ve had doctors that rush you in and rush you out, but he’s been great. I really appreciate him.”
Dr. Satodiya understands that providing primary care requires more than a cookie cutter approach. That’s why the office tailors the length of appointments to allow him to have an adequate amount of time with each patient.
“Especially when we talk about senior care, we do need more time sometimes,” explains Dr. Satodiya. “[The elderly] have a lot of concerns, they are taking many medications and they may have more medical problems. Sometimes 30 or 35 minutes is not enough to address everything that we need.”
Expert Care For Seniors
An expert in senior care, Dr. Satodiya understands the common issues many elders face. He helps his patients improve their quality of life and works to keep them under control whenever possible. He sees the treatment of his patients as far more than just prescribing medications.
“Education also is very important, because just a medication is not going to help them completely,” he says. “I try to make sure [my patients] know about their medical conditions and what else they can do, besides just taking their medication — whether it is diet, physical activity or if there is some monitoring or testing they can do at home — so they can take care of themselves better. We educate them on what to watch for, including potential side effects and how can we minimize their medication doses. That’s always better, because there are less side effects and complications for the patient.”
Another priority at Apex Internal Medicine is providing resources to patients. For example, some senior patients have limited resources at home or may be living by themselves. Dr. Satodiya encourages them to call and reach out to the office whenever they are unsure of something, and he connects them to information and helpful organizations.
He says, “We tell them where there are senior centers, community churches and other social places that will make them feel good and help them make new friends, rather than just always staying by themselves.”
While Apex Internal Medicine sees patients ages 18 and up, the staff often finds that seniors are having more challenges, including navigating insurance, understanding the medication they are taking, as well as scheduling other procedures.
“Let’s say they need X-rays or labs,” explains Dr. Satodiya. “The younger population can go online and find that stuff by themselves. But, some seniors have limited access to information. I train my staff to help them, give them more options and guide them.”
Patients can have blood draws, urine tests, blood sugar checks, flu tests, Covid tests as well as electrocardiograms (EKGs) on-site at Apex, which also offers medical weight loss programs. When there is a time sensitive follow-up that needs to be done off-site, the staff will call and help set up the appointment for them.
“That way it will be easier for the patient to go and get it done, rather than them having to figure it out by themselves,” Dr. Satodiya says.
He recommends people not wait until they have problems to visit. Preventive care is ideal since small things taken care of early can help avoid future complications. He also says that regular check-ups are important for people of all ages. Even when someone is feeling fine and doesn’t have any symptoms, there could still be underlying conditions that have not reached a level that is noticeable.
“There are certain undiagnosed conditions in the early stages that don’t have any red flags you can see,” explains Dr. Satodiya. “We encourage people to do their annual check-up. Young adults, seniors… we live in a very modern society where people don’t have time for themselves. Whether they are doing good or not, they may not know that they have very high cholesterol or high blood pressure and it’s not going to cause any symptoms until it’s something serious like a stroke or heart attack. If they let it go untreated and undiagnosed it could already be causing damage to their kidneys or their heart.”
Dr. Satodiya also says he tells all of his patients to get more physically active daily, and puts that into practice himself. He walks, rides a bicycle and plays volleyball and badminton to stay active. He also enjoys spending quality time with his family. He recommends everyone get out in nature and do something that makes them feel good physically and mentally, rather than worrying about how many calories are being burned.
“If you can’t do a lot, just do something!” he says. “It can be something simple, like walking around the house or the neighborhood.”
Apex Internal Medicine of Tampa is accepting new patients and Dr. Satodiya would like to see more people coming to visit for regular check-ups, not just when something is wrong.
Apex Internal Medicine of Tampa is located at 10353 Cross Creek Blvd., Suite D, in the Cory Lake Professional Center. It is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (closed for lunch from noon-1 p.m.), and evening appointments are available. The office accepts several major health insurance plans. To make an appointment or for more information, call (813) 725-4983 or visit ApexIMT.com.
