Señor Tequila — New Menu Items Add To Already Authentic Flavors 

The pollo Tapatio (top), ceviche (below right), Elote (Mexican street corn) (below left) and Xango (fried cheesecake) (Bottom right) dessert are all among our editor’s favorites at Señor Tequila in The Shoppes at New Tampa Plaza on BBD Blvd. south of S.R. 56. (All photos by Charmaine George) 

If it’s been a while since you first visited Señor Tequila — the Mexican restaurant that took over the former Bonefish Grill space in the Shoppes at New Tampa plaza (on Bruce B. Downs Blvd., south of S.R. 56) in May of 2021 — you should probably give it another try. 

Wesley Chapel Señor Tequila owner Alvaro Mellado and his family have opened and been operating all five of the restaurant’s locations — the original of which opened in Winter Springs (in the Orlando area) ten years ago, although Mellado also owns the location on N. Dale Mabry Hwy. in Carrollwood and opened a new one a year ago in Clearwater. Even so, the Wesley Chapel location recently got an impressive menu upgrade that likely will have it moving up in our readers’ rankings in the 2024 Dining Survey. 

Every restaurant these days seems to have — and many people love — Mexican street corn (“Elote” in Spanish), but photographer Charmaine George and I really enjoyed Señor Tequila’s new version, which covers corn on the cob sections on skewers with mayo, cotija cheese and queso sauce, cilantro and tajin seasoning. 

My favorite new appetizer, however (which should come as a surprise to no one) is the cevichĂ©, which is a new item normally served as a trio of lime-marinated fresh fish, shrimp and octopus, but I had to get mine with fish only, since I’m allergic to the shrimp. Señor Tequila’s version of this favorite adds fresh tomatoes, red onions, avocado and tajin. The fish was tilapia, which isn’t always my favorite, but the flavor was delicate and tangy and the tomatoes and avocadoes were a nice touch, too. 

We also sampled the super-tasty pollo Tapatio (Tapatio is the name given to people from Guadalajara, Mexico, as well as a brand of hot sauce). The dish features grilled chicken breast sauteéd with onions, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes and poblano peppers and is served with rice and the Mexican bandera salad (guacamole, sour cream and pico de gallo) and your choice of tortillas. The chicken was tender and tasty, but not at all spicy, and the sautéed veggies were excellent. 

Although I’m still more partial to the sizzling chicken and steak fajitas at Señor Tequila, Wesley Chapel marketing rep (and sometime server and weekend bartender) Dafne Dominguez says that among the most popular dishes are the brochetas — skewered steak, chicken, bacon, onions, and bell peppers that are marinated in a special house sauce with chile guajillo (a sweet type of pepper) and is served with rice. Please note that the brochetas are slow-cooked for 20 minutes and since everything at Señor Tequila is made fresh to order, you will wait for it. Please also take into account that if you prefer your steak medium rare to rare, it is hard have it that way on the same skewers as chicken, which has to be cooked all the way through. But, the flavor was excellent. 

Other top sellers at Señor Tequila include the steak Monterrey (skirt steak with a poblano pepper stuffed with shrimp and veggies, topped with creamy habanero pesto sauce), the birria tacos and the monster super burrito with your choice of beef or chicken. 

Save room for dessert, because not only does Señor Tequila serve delicious lava chocolate cake and flan, but also the ever-popular fried ice cream (with vanilla ice cream rolled in corn flakes, topped with caramel), as well as mine and Charmaine’s new favorite — the Xango (pronounced “Chang-o”), which is creamy cheesecake wrapped in a pastry tortilla and fried until golden brown, covered with cinnamon and caramel. Decadent! 

Señor Tequila’s full, premium liquor bar also is now featuring new bartender-created drinks, including a “True Blue” organic margarita, an Añejo old fashioned, sangritas (house frozen margarita with a sangria floater) and many more. The bar features a huge selection of tequilas and mezcals, from the usual favorites to top shelf and even many rare finds — and Happy Hour is Mon.-Fri., 3 p.m.-5 p.m.. 

Señor Tequila (1640 BBD Blvd.) is open every day for lunch & dinner and delivery through Doordash is available. For reservations (not required), orders or more info, call (813) 428-5411, visit TheSenorTequila.com. 

Meet Award-Winning RealtorŸ Dee Strom Of Florida Executive Realty 

Let Realtor¼ Dee Strom (left) of Florida Executive Realty in Tampa Palms, who lives in New Tampa and specializes in homes in New Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Lutz, Land O’Lakes and Odessa, help you buy or sell a home. (Photos provided by Dee Strom) 

Dee Strom, a multi-award-winning RealtorÂź at Florida Executive Realty (FER) in Tampa Palms since 2014, says she transitioned from hospitality management at the suggestion of her husband, Michael. She sought guidance and turned to Debbie Pearson, a friend and seasoned realtor at FER with 25 years of experience, who became her invaluable mentor. 

Dee expresses gratitude to Debbie, stating, “I have yet to work with an agent as wonderful and knowledgeable as she is. I am blessed to have learned from the best mentor and company.” 

In a unique move, Dee interviewed with FER Broker (Doug Loyd) before obtaining her real estate license and became the first agent he brought on who didn’t yet have a license. A USF business graduate, she initially entered the real estate field as, “a driven individual who saw nothing but success.” Marriage and motherhood followed, transforming Dee into one of the busiest working moms at the company. Dee commends Florida Executive Realty for its family-friendly environment, allowing children in the workplace and enabling moms like her to run successful businesses. 

Highlighting her experience and commitment, Dee asserts, “I have been a Realtor for over a decade, selling more than $20 million of real estate annually, placing me in the top 1% of the nation. My real estate business knowledge and experience put me far above most other agents.” 

In fact, Dee has been named FER’s “Agent of the year” each of the last three years. She says that building a solid relationship and chemistry with your Realtor is key in the real estate business. Both buyers and sellers should collaborate with a Realtor they genuinely connect with, like and trust. Dee’s work schedule is based on her client’s availability, not the other way around. 

“With me, you get me, and it’s a one-stop shop. As a Leading Real Estate Companies of the World (LRE) member, I market my listings locally and globally and receive relocation clients who move to our local area. I also assist my clients who move out of state and refer them to a Realtor they can trust in all parts of the world.” 

What To Expect… 
Let Realtor¼ Dee Strom help you find the home — and the living room — of your dreams, too. 

As for what she expects the local real estate market to be like in 2024, Dee notes that recent interest rate decreases, have improved affordability for prospective buyers. She predicts an uptick in local real estate sales later in the year and a return to more moderate growth in pricing compared with the post-Covid period. Although she covers all of Hillsborough and Pasco counties, Dee says her primary focus is on New Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Land O’ Lakes, Lutz and Odessa. 

Here is one recent trend Dee has noticed: As new construction continues to grow, younger Millennial buyers are seeking homes featuring wellness amenities like lap pools and gyms, with proximity to healthy restaurants. 

She takes pride in offering clients a substantial referral network for lenders, insurance providers and vendors. 

“I always say my clients are in good hands, not only with the real estate transaction but everything in preparation before selling or purchasing their home,” Dee says. “For example, packing and moving aren’t easy, so I have them focus on that, and I take care of the rest, literally.” 

Devoted to her clients, Dee shares her husband’s favorite anecdote about her: 

“Pregnant with my first daughter, Sloane (4), I had my computer in my lap negotiating in the hospital bed. After she was born, as soon as I was released from the hospital, I asked him if it was OK to go show a property, and off I went. As you can see, I am dedicated to my clients
.” 

Dee uses a restaurant analogy to describe why someone should work with an experienced, well-rounded Realtor for buying and selling. She explains that selecting the right Realtor is like choosing a steakhouse. Going to an average chain restaurant, there’s only about a 50/50 chance your steak will be cooked correctly. One time may be good, while another is an awful experience — both the meal and the customer service. 

“But, when you dine at a high-end steakhouse, like Ruth’s Chris,” she says, “the steak is perfect every single time and the customer service is always excellent. We frequent Ruth’s Chris; we have had the same server for over 10 years. Real estate, like dining out, is about developing relationships.” 

She adds, “My clients are like family! Without the proper knowledge, experience and resources, many agents out there do not know what should be known. We are working for buyers and sellers completing the largest purchase or sale of their lives.” 

Dee is proud that the majority of her business comes from repeat clients and referrals. She highlights a recent review she received out of the blue from a repeat client. 

The review said, “You will always be part of our family in the Tampa area, as everyone loves ‘Dee,’ the person and mom. I truly admire your work ethic and professionalism in handling your real estate business while juggling a growing family. You set high standards for others to emulate and follow, but only a select few can accomplish. By now, it should be paying off for you. In the business world, you are very rare… I now call it ‘The Dee Factor’ — a balanced combination of real-estate knowledge, professionalism, elegance, poise, perseverance, hard work, sales techniques, great attitude, well-spoken and charming. And, on top of that, someone who is more interested in the well-being of a satisfied customer than a simple commission check. That’s a major key to success. Well done.” 

“This is why my job is so fulfilling,” Dee says. “and I will do it a thousand times over.” 

Dee values the connections she makes with her clients, emphasizing her commitment to their lives well beyond the closing. Her overarching goal is to redefine and elevate the real estate profession and eliminate some of the horror stories of low-level representation. 

“We, Realtors, can change the public’s perception and reality of what real estate agents and brokers do for their clients to match other highly respected professions,” she says. “One client at a time.” 

Dee lives in New Tampa with her husband Michael, a Tampa Police Officer for 20 years, and daughters Sloane and Stella. When not surpassing client expectations, she and her family enjoy swimming and cooking out. 

Realtor¼ Dee Strom is based at Florida Executive Realty’s Tampa Palms office (15802 Amberly Dr.) For more information, visit DStrom.floridaexecutiverealty.com, search “DeeStromRealty” on Facebook, call (813) 525-7851.

New Tampa Business Briefs — Checking Out What’s New & Planned In Tampa Palms! 

Research & Photos by Joel Provenzano 

A view of the pool at the New Tampa Palms Luxury Apartment Homes rental community.

Although the only community in New Tampa where significant numbers of new single-family homes are still being built is K-Bar Ranch, there also are at least three current construction projects in Tampa Palms — one with new for-rent apartment homes, while the other two are commercial sites, one being a new office building and the other a new self-storage facility. The commercial projects are both adding to the Tampa Palms Professional Center, located on Primrose Lake Cir. off Commerce Park Blvd. 

New Tampa Palms Luxury Apartment Homes 

Located across Tampa Palms Blvd. from the Emerald Pointe townhome community near Lowe’s, there is a new rental apartment community that only recently had a monument sign erected announcing that the new development is called — even though it sounds more like a description than a name — New Tampa Palms Luxury Apartment Homes. 

New Tampa Palms, which is being developed by Tampa Palms Area 3 developer Warren Kinsler (who also developed the nearby Compton Place apartments), is a gated, resort-style rental community with a total of 402 spacious one- and two-bedroom apartment residences in 17 total buildings. 

The one-bedroom, one-bathroom “Palm Springs” model apartments at New Tampa Palms are all 1,264 sq. ft., and currently range in price from $1,705-$1,845 per month, depending upon location. 

The new monument-style sign at the entrance to that community. 

There also is a two-bedroom, one-bathroom “Palm Bay” model that offers 1,333 sq. ft. of living space currently ranging in price from $1,805-$2,245 per month, as well as two different two-bedroom, two-bath apartments — the “Palm Shores” model (1,409 sq. ft.), with rents now ranging between $1,905-$2,025 per month, and the “Palm Gardens” model (1,571 sq. ft.), with rents currently between $2,205-$2,325 per month. 

The rents for all of these different units currently are either $1.35 or $1.40 per sq. ft. and every unit has a patio or balcony with extra storage space, and ceiling heights of 9-16 feet. The residences feature gourmet kitchens with rich, dark wood custom cabinetry, granite countertops, gooseneck faucets, breakfast bars and pantries, walk-in closets and laundry rooms with full-size washers and dryers in every home. 

The community also offers a clubhouse, resident lounge, catering kitchen and fitness center, as well as a luxurious swimming pool (top photo), sundeck, veranda, pergola, al fresco dining and outdoor lounge areas with firepits. There also is a private community lake that offers nature trails, a walking path and a spectacular centerpiece fountain. New Tampa Palms also provides convenient resident parking with EV charging stations and is pet-friendly with a dedicated dog run. 

The community is expected to begin leasing and providing tours for prospective tenants either as you’re receiving this issue or shortly thereafter and the leasing agent we spoke with said that tenants could begin moving into the first two completed buildings by the middle of this month. In addition, for a limited time, New Tampa Palms is offering both one month free on a 13-month lease, plus a $1,000 move-in credit. Also remember to ask for the community’s special offer for first responders, active military, veterans and health care professionals. 

For leasing and more information, call (813) 513-1548 or visit RentNewTampaPalmsFL.com. 

Medical Office & Self-Storage 
The location (in yellow) of the planned self-storage facility in the Tampa Palms Professional Center on Primrose Lake Cir.

The Tampa Palms Professional Center, a large, multi-building complex located off Commerce Park Blvd., across from the New Tampa Recreation Center, Freedom High and Liberty Middle School, has been around for more than a dozen years, but still continues to occasionally add more along Primrose Lake Cir. (named for the Primrose School of Tampa Palms at the northern end of the complex), including a new self-storage facility located near both the Primrose School and the Discovery Village assisted living facility (see map right). 

Tampa Palms Professional Center developer Garrison (Gar) Urette says that the proposed three-story, 105,726-sq.ft. self storage building with 760 units has not yet pulled a permit but, on Dec. 21, requested a design exception from the City of Tampa Zoning Dept. to allow for eleven total parking spaces, rather than the 39 the city’s Land Development Code would normally require. 

We will update this story when we have additional information. 

The new 8,233-sq.-ft. medical office building (label in yellow) now under construction in the Tampa Palms Professional Center is located between the SpringHill Suites by Marriott Hotel & The Woman’s Group on Primrose Lake Cir. 

Much further along, however, is a new 8,233 sq.-ft. medical office building to be located on Primrose Lake Cir., between the SpringHill Suites by Marriott Hotel and the building that is home to The Woman’s Group. Although we weren’t able to reach the owner and general contractor for the project, Roberto Saez of Design & Construction Innovations, LLC, before we went to press, the permit with the City of Tampa appears to divide the building into four separate suites, each with their own entrances. 

In addition, on the title block of the site plan, one of the buildings is labeled “Derek Dental,”, but Gar Urette says he isn’t sure if the building had any officially signed tenants at our press time, so we won’t speculate as to who the tenant might be without confirmation from Saez. 

We also were told by a member of the construction crew that one of the suites may be a pharmacy for The Woman’s Group, but we had no confirmation of that as we went to press. What we did find, however, is an access agreement between the two property owners that has easement rights and shows that the building that is under construction and the Woman’s Group building will be sharing the existing parking lot. 

For more information about either of these projects or about spaces available for lease at the Tampa Palms Professional Center, call (813) 876-7697 or visit TampaPalmsCenter.com. 

Lima Peruvian Cuisine — New Specials, Same Delicious Food! 

Please tell owner Oscar Escudero that you want his new CevichĂ© Lima added to his regular menu, which already features favorites like the Lima Wrap sandwich (below, right) and the Tallarin Saltado de Mariscos (bottom). (All photos by Charmaine George) 

If you’ve somehow still never sampled Peruvian food — despite having an outstanding Peruvian restaurant right here on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. — I implore you to go visit Lima Rotisserie Chicken & Peruvian Cuisine in the Publix-anchored New Tampa Center. 

Lima, which is owned by Oscar Escudero, who was raised in Lima, Peru, continues to add amazing new dishes, thanks to Oscar’s passion and his happy supporting cast. The food at Lima is a fusion of Peruvian and Chinese cuisines, since Peru is on the west coast of South America and located directly across the Pacific Ocean from China, which means that in the same place you can find several varieties of authentic Latin cevichĂ©, you also can find wok-sautĂ©ed lo mein-style noodle and fried rice dishes. 

If that sounds too good to be true to you, trust me, it’s not. And, if that combination doesn’t make your mouth water, trust me, it should. I named Lima my Favorite Latin Restaurant in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel for 2023 because no other place in either of our areas offers a wider variety of uniquely spiced and tasty dishes. And, feel free to research why Peruvian food has been named as the best Latin American cuisine and among the favorite cuisines in the entire world by several trusted sources. 

If you like pot roast, you should definitely try Lima’s Asado de Res con Ensalada Rusa.

Speaking of unique, not only does Lima offer vinegar-and-lime-marinated cevichĂ© options like shrimp, mussels and calamari, as well as my favorite CevichĂ© de Pescado (raw white meat fish), Oscar recently added — as a special only, at least for now — his own twist on the classic dish that he calls CevichĂ© Lima, which adds a savory golden pepper sauce to the fish and two types of corn kernels, as well as a generous helping of flash-fried calamari. The sauce is so delicious that not only does it give the cevichĂ© itself a delightfully different flavor, with just a hint of spice, it also may be the best dipping sauce for fried calamari I’ve ever tasted. I told Oscar that I would tell my readers to ask — no, make that demand — that he add CevichĂ© Lima to the regular menu, so please feel free to do just that! 

Speaking of new specials that definitely should be added to Lima’s regular menu, Jannah, photographer Charmaine George and I also got to sample Oscar’s Asado de Res con Ensalada Rusa, which is slow-cooked-to-incredibly-tender beef tenderloin in a brown gravy of its own juices, with a side of Russian-inspired potato-and-beet salad. Jannah, who saw the purple color of this entrĂ©e’s side dish and immediately thought she wouldn’t like it, said the beef tenderloin was better than my mom’s brisket (pot roast) recipe, which might have started an argument between us if I didn’t kind of agree with her! And, although my wife didn’t love the beet-and-potato salad, Charmaine and I agreed it was pretty delicious, too. Feel free to also beg Oscar to add this one to the menu. 

Other dishes that aren’t new to the menu that we sampled for the first time on our most recent visit include the Lima Wrap sandwich, which is a tasty chicken salad wrap that adds small tomato wedges and cilantro, which gives the chicken salad an unusual zing. The fries were a perfect complement, even though I would order them extra crispy next time. But, since we had some of the CevichĂ© Lima sauce left over, we all dipped a lot of the fries in both that sauce and the gravy from the Asado dish until all of the fries were gone. Yum! 

And, although the Tallarin Saltado de Pollo (flamed diced chicken breast with sliced onions, tomatoes, scallions, julienned peppers and cilantro blended with pasta and Peruvian-style soy sauce) is still Jannah’s favorite dish at Lima, she and Charmaine both also raved about their first sampling of the Tallarin Saltado de Mariscos, which is the same dish, but with shrimp, calamari, mussels and clams, instead of chicken. And, although I couldn’t sample it because of my hated shellfish allergy (I could eat the calamari and clams, but not in the same dish as the shrimp and mussels), Charmaine said that all of the seafood was cooked to perfection and the flavors all blended amazingly well together. There also is a Tallarin de Carne, which replaces the chicken or seafood with tenderloin tips that I also love. 

Tallarin Saltado de Mariscos.

Similar wok-sautĂ©ed style dishes also are available without the pasta — replaced by sides of both white rice and French fries — in Lima’s Lomo Saltado, as well as in Oscar’s Arroz Chaufa (fried rice) with the same protein options as the Tallarin and Lomo Saltado. These also are excellent, but there’s just something about the way the pasta blends with the Peruvian soy sauce that makes it my preferred choice. 

And yes, Lima does feature its perfectly spiced rotisserie chicken, available as chicken-only or with side dishes that include some of the best black beans and rice in town. Other sides include pico de gallo, a zesty house salad, yuca fries and tostones (twice-fried green plantain slices). 

Other appetizers include Papa (boiled potatoes) or Yuca Huancaina (covered with cold yellow pepper cheese sauce) as well as tostones topped with chicken salad, tenderloin tips or shrimp, and choros a las Chalaca (mussels on the half shell topped with pico de gallo). There also are several soups on the menu, including Aguadito (cilantro chicken soup) and two different types of mixed seafood soups. And, there is a variety of other sandwiches, as well as a Lima Bowl (jasmine rice topped with black beans, romaine lettuce, pico de gallo and Lima chicken salad with cilantro house sauce). 

The Cake de Maracuya is light, refreshing and delicious.

Save room for dessert, too, as Lima has a number of new options we hadn’t sampled before, including the refreshing and light passion fruit Cake de Maracuya and Tres Leches de Lucian, which has hints of coffee and caramel. Kids will enjoy Lima’s chicken tenders with fries and Salchipapas, which are fries topped with diced all-beef hot dogs and a choice of sauces. Domestic and imported beer (including Peruvian Cusqueña and Sierra Andina) and sangria also are available for adults. 

Lima Peruvian Cuisine (19062 BBD Blvd.) opens every day at 11:30 a.m. and stays open until 8 p.m. Mon.-Thur., 9 p.m. on Fri. & Sat. & 7 p.m. on Sun. For more info, call (813) 304-0205, visit LimaTampa.com, or see the ad on pg. 43 for 10% off any take-out or dine-in order. Delivery also is available through DoorDash and Uber Eats. 

Qdoba Ready To Move Into Moe’s Spot In Highwoods 

By the time this issue reaches your mailbox, the new Qdoba Mexican Eats should either be open or within just a few days of opening in the former location of Moe’s Southwest Grill in the Highwoods Preserve area at 17509 Preserve Walk Ln. (off Bruce B. Downs Blvd., next to EggTown). 

Considering that Moe’s was pretty popular for years in the same spot, I’m guessing Qdoba will do pretty well there, too, even with a Chipotle located less than a half-mile north (Chipotle is in the same outparcel building in the Walk at Highwoods Preserve as Panera Bread). 

“We make everything fresh and have no freezers,” franchise owner Mike Montante, who also owns the Qdoba franchise on Falkenburg Rd. in the Brandon area (but not the closest location to us on E. Fowler Ave., next to MOSI, where I took the photos below), told me when we met him at the North Tampa Bay Chamber’s Final Friday event at Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux on Jan. 26. 

Qdoba allows you to craft your own entrĂ©e — whether you want a bowl, burrito, grilled quesadilla, nachos, salad or three tacos. Available proteins include veggie, grilled adobo chicken, ground beef, CholulaÂź hot & sweet chicken, pulled pork, grilled steak or brisket birria. There also is a nice variety of salsas and toppings — from tortilla strips, shredded cheese and pickled jalapeños, pico de gallo, salsa roja, chile crema and more, as well as both hot and mild queso sauces. 

For my bowl (right), I chose grilled steak, white rice, red beans, romaine lettuce, pico de gallo, chile corn salsa and the chile crema sauce and everything did indeed taste very fresh. 

The New Tampa Qdoba was still hiring at our press time, but I can’t be sure whether or not positions will still be available as you’re reading this, but you can text “116A” to 31063 to find out for yourself. For more information, call (813) 761-0005 or visit Qdoba.com.