The New Tampa PAC’s Truly Grand Unveiling! 

Free Concert On Apr. 5 Introduced The Community To The PAC’s New Steinway “Model D” Piano In Grand Fashion! 

Classical pianists Jane West and Grigorios Zamparas play the “Hungarian Dances for Piano Four- Hands No. 2 & No. 8” by Johannes Brahms on the Steinway & Sons “Model D” during the “Concert Grand” at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center on Apr. 5. (Photos by Charmaine George) 

When general manager Keith Arsenault took the job running the Hillsborough County-owned New Tampa Performing Arts Center (NTPAC) last year, he told members of the county’s staff that, “If this is really going to be a ‘real’ Performing Arts Center, then we need a real performing arts piano.” 

The PAC opened a little more than a year ago, but now, Arsenault finally has a truly grand piano that he believes will help fulfill the PAC’s destiny as a real performing arts center — a brand new Steinway & Sons “Model D” concert grand piano, also known as the flagship of this world-renowned and historic American brand. 

Only the Neighborhood News was on hand when the spectacular new piano was delivered and re-assembled on the NTPAC stage on Mar. 21 and we also attended the first-ever performance unveiling the new Steinway to the local community, which was held on Apr. 5 and was called the “Concert Grand” — and what a grand event it was! 

“When you’re making a substantial acquisition like this, you don’t just pick something out on eBay,” Keith said. 

So, Steinway & Sons graciously flew Keith, Steinway Tampa Bay (which has showroom locations in Clearwater and Tampa) vice president Jonathan Hunt and two “much better pianists” with them to the piano maker’s headquarters in Queens, NY. 

“We got a three-hour tour of the factory to see the amazing process of building these pianos,” Keith said. “And then, we were faced with a room with five of them — ostensibly identical Model D grand pianos — but each one with its own voice and personality.” 

They went up and down the line playing each piano and comparing them. 

“And then, finally,” Keith said, “someone sat down at the fifth one in the row and played a big fat chord and we all just kind of went, ‘Oooh, that’s the one.’ Not too long after that, the Steinway folks came out and put a ‘Selected’ tag on the piano, so that nobody else would get it.” 

He joked, “I knew I didn’t have to, but I even wrote down the serial number to make sure we got our piano.” 

Jonathan, who says he usually makes the trip to Queens “about three or four times a year,” said, “Steinway does a pre-delivery inspection, they disassemble and wrap the legs, wheels and foot pedals and pack it into a big box and deliver it to our factory. That takes about two weeks. We then have our own pre-delivery inspection and prep process. We put it back together, allow it to acclimate to the Florida weather, test the sound, and then disassemble and wrap and box it up again to get it ready for delivery.” 

Keith noted, “The whole process from Queens to final destination took a little less than the month we were told to expect it to take. And, throughout the process, we got blow-by-blow updates like, ‘The piano has left the factory,’ and so forth. It was basically like tracking it online as it made its trip. This was the first time I’ve had my hands directly involved in this process. It was very special.” 

A Truly Grand Concert Event! 
(Above, l.-r.) Pianists Grigorios Zamparas, Jane West, Svetozar Ivanov & Ghadeer Abaido, Keith Arsenault, Jonathan Hunt & pianists Simon Lasky & Pablo Arencibia after the Concert Grand performance on Apr. 5.

Speaking of special, “The Concert Grand event on Apr. 5 truly was just that. 

“We have six magnificent pianists performing tonight,” Keith said as he kicked off the Concert Grand festivities that evening, “these musicians range from classical to jazz to piano ‘four hands,’ where two of them play the piano at the same time.” 

It was a wonderful, free piano concert that filled nearly all of the 324 available seats at the NTPAC. It started with delicious, free food provided by Via Italia, the authentic Italian restaurant located in The Village at Hunter’s Lake plaza, which is in front of the PAC on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. 

The food — which included tasty meatballs and sauce, plus bite-sized pieces of tender chicken parmigiana, bruschetta, a charcuterie selection and more — was sponsored by Steinway Tampa Bay. 

Keith also noted that neither the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Tampa, Ruth Eckerd Hall nor the Mahaffey Theater in downtown St. Petersburg has its own Steinway. “So this is a pretty big deal that Hillsborough County has made this amazing investment in the performing arts for us here.” 

Jonathan added, “I also just love this facility (NTPAC). As much as the Concert Grand event is about this piano, we just want people to know that the New Tampa Performing Arts Center is here and is a great asset to this community.” 

As to how he feels about the selection his group made, Keith said, “I couldn’t be happier. As Jonathan said, ‘This piano is a rocket ship’ and, given the acoustical nature of this room, and the fact that we will likely be using this piano as much for legitimate jazz events as for classical, it’s just the perfect piano for this space.” 

He also noted that the purchase of the Model D also included two Steinway uprights manufactured in Hamburg. Germany. 

Editor’s note — It was absolutely mesmerizing to see the Model D being taken out of its special box, with each of its legs and the beautiful, easy-rolling brass wheels separately wrapped, and then rolled on a dolly to, and then laid out on, the NTPAC stage. And then, to see Jonathan and his two assistants meticulously re-attach the legs and foot pedals to the 8’, 11-3/4” long behemoth and then turning the nearly 1,100-lb. piano upright before wiping it down to allow the high-gloss, ultra-black paint to emit its perfect, reflective glow was a sight I know I will never forget. But, to hear it played by such outstanding pianists was even more incredible. Bravo, Keith and Jonathan! 

For more information about the NTPAC (8550 Hunters Village Rd.) visit NewTampaArtsCenter.org

Theatre Beat — The Players’ First Year At NTPAC & Congrats, Kyle & Co.! 

The New Tampa Players received $10,000 from Social Venture Partners of Tampa Bay at the “Fast Pitch” competition for NTP’s Ampersand programming for special needs adults. (Photos provided by the New Tampa Players)

Since the New Tampa Performing Arts Center opened a year ago, the New Tampa Players (NTP) theatre troupe has been on the move. 

If you saw all the New Tampa Players’ shows so far this year, you’ve visited an enchanted castle in France, the hallways of Rydell High, the walls of Duloc, and cities across the USA on tour with the Dreams. (Did you spot all those shows? That was “Beauty and the Beast,” “Grease,” “Shrek,” and “Dreamgirls” — what an amazing year!) 

But wait, there’s still more: 

City of Tampa Awards NTP $75K For Penguin Project & Ampersand Theatre Programs 

Last month, the Tampa City Council approved a grant for $75,000 to enrich NTP’s Penguin Project and Ampersand Theatre programs. 

Penguin Project is a national theatre program for children and young adults with special needs. NTP started its chapter in 2018, making it the first such program in Florida. Each year, the Players produce a Penguin Project musical with 40-45 artists with special needs. 

In 2023, NTP spun off Ampersand Theatre, a new theatre troupe concept for adults with disabilities. The program began with a summer intensive serving 25 artists, and it continues this month with a special Penguin Project/Ampersand Theatre collaboration on “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Rehearsals have been in progress for months, and the performances will be held the weekend of April 19-21. All of the artists and mentors (almost 100 performers altogether!) invite you to join them for a night of joy. 

Tickets for “Joseph” are available at NewTampaPlayers.org

NTP Wins 2nd Place at Social Venture Partners Of Tampa Bay “Fast Pitch” Competition 

The Ampersand artists won 2nd place in the 2024 Social Ventures Partners of Tampa Bay “Fast Pitch” Competition and will receive $10,000 for NTP’s Ampersand programming. The troupe competed against six other nonprofits in the Tampa Bay area, including WellFed Community, EmpowHERment, Girls Rock, the Florida Dream Center, NAMI Pinellas and Water Smart Tots Foundation. 

The Fast Pitch Competition program provides funding and strategic consulting to innovative nonprofits addressing critical issues in the Tampa Bay region. 

Auditions For “Singin’ In The Rain” 

NTP is hosting auditions for our summer musical: “Singin’ in the Rain.” The performances this summer will be at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center as usual, but if you come out for the auditions on April 27, April 29, April 30, and May 1, make sure you head for NTP’s blackbox theater and rehearsal space at University Mall —Uptown Stage. All New Tampa Players performers are local community members. 

Visit NewTampaPlayers.org or see the ad below for more information! 

Recapping Kyle Fisher’s “Ember” 

Fraud investigator by day and actor by night, New Tampa resident Kyle Fisher (who played Kenickie in NTP’s “Grease” and Lord Farquaad in NTP’s “Shrek: The Musical”) set out to answer the question “What is the cost of a wish?” His journey finding the answer to that question made its world premiere at Uptown Stage last month in “Ember: A New Musical.” 

The embers of Ember (no, I could not resist that pun!) began many years ago. Fisher can’t name a specific date he started working on the show apart from his habit of writing down any inspiration or line of music or dialog that comes to him. The first song to form was “Wish,” with the tagline “What do you wish for?” This song became the foundation for the rest of the musical, as it came together over nights of pizza and workshopping with choreographer Makayla Raines and actor Dylan Fidler, both of whom also have performed in multiple NTP shows. 

Ember is a spellbinding musical that explores the boundaries between dreams and damnation. In a world where the mundane meets the magical, farm boy ‘Guy’ yearns for adventure. When the enigmatic demon ‘Sequins’ offers to fulfill his deepest desires in exchange for his soul, Guy plunges headfirst into a Faustian bargain. The tale is a captivating journey of redemption and unexpected alliances. Can a demon, driven by ambition, rediscover forgotten compassion and love? Will Guy, armed with newfound powers and a heart full of hope, conquer the challenges laid before him? In “Ember,” the stakes are high, the magic is potent, and the battle for the soul takes center stage. 

Through the workshopping and production process, Fisher’s characters grow and evolve. The character that underwent the most transformation was Sammy, played by Ashleigh Dudek. 

“Between the first draft of the script and first performance of the show,” Fisher said, “Sammy gained a solo, a new feature, and a huge amount of screentime, and I’m so glad the character ended up where it did. Ashleigh is a super talented actor and vocalist and it would’ve been devastating to me to have her in any less.” 

What is next for Kyle Fisher and the cast of “Ember?” They are on all on a much-deserved, much-needed break. 

Fisher explained, “When I finally get back into it, the first thing (to work on) are edits. Although the show got a lot of praise, I think I can deliver an even better experience, and I’ve got a small army of people who are willing to help. From there, I think there are still one or two songs that deserve a spot in the show cooking up in my head, but we’ll see how it all shakes out with cutting the show down. I’d hate to spring a new song onto the cast before any potential cast album.” 

For behind the scenes footage and the latest news on “Ember” and Kyle, follow them on social media: Tiktok.com/discover/ember-musical, Facebook.com/people/Ember-A-New-Musical/61551728386782/ or Instagram.com/embermusical/ 

Gary’s Top 25 Favorite New Tampa Restaurants Of 2023! 

 The Grill at Morris Bridge, Stonewood & Via Italia Repeat As Gary’s Top-3 In New Tampa! 

he only tomahawk ribeye steak you’ll find on a menu in New Tampa is at The Grill at Morris Bridge, which is Neighborhood News editor Gary Nager’s favorite restaurant in New Tampa for the second year in a row. 

Every year, after our readers’ favorite restaurants in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel are published, I like to provide our readers with my own list of favorites — and there are always lots of differences between your choices and mine. 

I also always have a few haters every year who say that my reviews aren’t “real,” that I only pick my favorites based on which restaurants advertise with me and/or give me free food, that I have no taste whatsoever, etc. 

The primary thing these haters don’t seem (or want) to understand or believe is that the restaurants I tell you about in my annual “Gary’s Favorites” are not just the places I like the most, they’re also the places where I spend the most of my own money. And yes, when you consider that there are literally dozens of restaurants named, Jannah and I do spend a lot of our money dining out (and taking out food) — I’m betting more than just about anyone else in our two distribution areas, especially when you take into consideration our combined annual income. 

The haters also don’t seem to “get” the other reason I give my opinions on local eateries every year is that I so appreciate the feedback — both positive and negative — I get after my “Gary’s Favorites” are published each year. 

I can’t even tell you how many people come up to me and Jannah when we’re sitting at the bar at The Grill at Morris Bridge, TrebleMakers, Stonewood, Zukku-San, Azteca D’Oro or any of our other favorite eateries to tell me what they think of my opinions. The vast majority of them say things like, “I only even tried this place because of what you wrote about them” or “I didn’t really love this place the first time I tried it, but I decided to give it another try because of you.” If you’ve never felt that kind of love from absolute strangers before, I promise you that it’s one of the things that most makes the long hours I still put in 30 years since I first started doing this job worthwhile. 

And yes, a few people also come up to me to tell me that they totally disagree with my assessment of one restaurant or another. Others also tell me that they read my reviews “even though I know they aren’t real.” 

But the fact is that whether my haters believe it or not, my dining reviews are 100% real. And, unlike the online trolls who think they’re dining “critics” because they tell their few followers that they hated something they ate (or the service they received) at a particular place, I tell every restaurant owner in our area that when I write a review of their eatery, I will tell more than 170,000 of my “closest friends” (that’s the total possible number of readers we reach in print) everything I like about their place. Anything I don’t like I will tell the restaurant owner about — and pretty much all of them appreciate this approach a lot more then online trolls who cause their overall online ratings to drop. 

Although a number of new restaurants did open in New Tampa in 2023 — with the reopening of Kobé Japanese Steakhouse in its new location as the biggest news (although it happened too late for our readers to vote for it, it came in at #9 for me) — my top-25 Favorite restaurants in New Tampa didn’t change too much from 2022. In addition to Kobé, the only other “newcomers” to crack my top 25 were Johnny C’s Italian Eatery on Cross Creek Blvd. at #8 and Zio’s NY Bagel & Deli in the Pebble Creek Collection at #20, although I did also enjoy sampling many of the new restaurants in the Sijang Eatery food court at the new Lotte Plaza Market, as well as the unique Bang- Bang! Bowls in the Pebble Creek Collection. Feel free to tell these restaurant owners that I sent you and, as always, I welcome your feedback, both good and bad. 

1. The Grill at Morris Bridge  

10920 Cross Creek Blvd., Cross Creek Commons 

(813) 388-5353 

TheGrillatMorrisBridge.com

Since opening in late 2021, The Grill at Morris Bridge finished as the second Favorite Restaurant in New Tampa with our readers last year and third in this year’s voting, even though it has been #1 with me both years, thanks to its always-fresh fish (the bacon parmesan crusted grouper shown here replaced the same dish with mahi-mahi in 2023) and great steaks. In fact, The Grill’s bone-in tomahawk ribeye (see pg. 1), which is now a regular menu item, is the only true tomahawk in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel. 

Brothers Frank and Jimmy Gouveia also offer one of our area’s best Sunday brunches, the most extensive wine list of any local restaurant, craft cocktails and always-excellent service. 

2. Stonewood Grill & Tavern  

17050 Palm Pointe Dr., Pointe at Tampa Palms 

(813) 978-0388 

StonewoodGrill.com 

Stonewood’s run as the favorite with our readers continued for an eighth straight year in 2023, and it again comes in just below The Grill with yours truly. 

The quality of the fresh fish, steaks (like the unique hand-cut Manhattan strip steak, usually offered as a special, in this picture), pastas and even Jannah’s favorite bowl (the Southwest chicken bowl) in New Tampa, plus the always-packed bar scene make Stonewood an outstanding choice, whether it’s number 1, 2 or lower on your list. 

Like The Grill, Stonewood isn’t inexpensive, but there are plenty of much lower-priced restaurants to fill that need for you in our area that can’t match Stonewood’s quality or variety. 

3. Via Italia Wood Fired Pizza & Bar  

8644 Hunter’s Village Rd. 

Village at Hunter’s Lake 

(813) 475-4857 

EatViaItalia.com 

With four of my favorite pasta dishes — the linguine alle vongolé (with clams), cavatelli con salsiccia (sausage) & broccoli rabe and two different types of pesto (Sicilian and the Genovese shown above) — and the biggest variety of gourmet pizzas in town, the only things keeping Via Italia from finishing higher with me are some fresh fish and maybe a steak or veal chop. Love the bar, too! 

4. Lima Peruvian Cuisine  

19062 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. 

New Tampa Center 

(813) 304-0205 

Where do you go when you love ceviche but can’t eat shrimp? Why, Lima of course! I also love the Peruvian-style rotisserie chicken, the unique Chinese fusion dishes like lomo (lo mein) with steak or chicken, and I regularly crave a helping of ceviche with giant corn kernels and Lima is the only place I can enjoy it in New Tampa. 

5. Las Palmas Latin Grill 

6431 E. County Line Rd. (off BBD Blvd.) 

(813) 991-5500

LasPalmasLatinGrill.com 

Even though Las Palmas isn’t “new,” since it did have a food truck at the same plaza all year in 2022, owners Ramses and Ana Garcia’s Las Palmas moved way up on my list this year when they reopened their brick-and-mortar location a couple of months ago. Ramses’ merluza (white fish) a la Rusa (photo) is as good as it gets and his flank steak churrasco, vaca frita (fried steak), picadillo and roast pork also rock. 

6. Fat Rabbit Pub 

16029 Tampa Palms Blvd. W. 

City Plaza at Tampa Palms 

(813) 252-3004 

FatRabbitPub.com 

This “Upscale Neighborhood Pub” truly lives up to its name, as you can’t really call the Fat Rabbit just another “sports bar.” From the best wings and tater tots in town to outstanding grilled chicken sandwiches and big burgers (or choose the burger sliders shown above), plus craft cocktails & lots of whiskeys and that unique bar vibe, what’s not to love? 

7. Frammi American Grill & Italian Food  

17631 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. 

North Palms Village 

(813) 523-5075 

Frammi.com 

The restaurant formerly known as Oakley’s Grille still has great burgers, fries and other American food, but for yours truly, the attraction of Frammi will always be its outstanding Northern and Southern Italian fare. My favorite dish is the vongole (pasta with baby clams above), but the spicy arrabiata, less spicy Amatriciana, penne alla vodka, lasagne, eggplant parm and pesto options are what keep me coming back. 

8. Johnny C’s Italian Eatery  

10970 Cross Creek Blvd. 

(813) 278-8020 

JohnnysItalianEatery.com

From having no true Italian restaurants a few years ago to now having three that make my top-10 favorites in New Tampa, this highest-ranking (for me) newcomer offers great Italian comfort foods, like pizza, the meatball parmigiana appetizer above, chicken parm, Momma’s lasagna and penne alla vodka, as well as a variety of popular seafood dishes I can’t eat. 

9. Kobé Japanese Steakhouse   

17641 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.. North Palms Village 

(813) 680-5800 

KobeSteakhouse.com 

I guess I didn’t realize how much I missed the quality of Kobé until it reopened late last year, but wow, between the best filet mignon (photo) hibachi in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel — and even a Japanese Wagyu steak & lobster combo — and the perfect hibachi veggies, lo mein and fried rice, plus pretty good sushi, it’s nice to have Kobé back in New Tampa — and in my top-10 favorites in 33647. 

10. Acropolis Greek Taverna 

14947 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. 

Oak Ramble Plaza 

(813) 971-1787 

AcropolisTaverna.com 

From the grilled lamb chops above to the Athenian fish, saganaki (fried cheese) appetizer and more, the recently redecorated Acropolis found its way back into my top-10 for 2023, with or without belly dancing or hookah pipes. 

Gary’s 2023 Favorite Restaurants In New Tampa #s 11-25 

11. Woodfired Pizza (Bearss) 

12. Liang’s Bistro 

13. Cantina Real Mexican 

14. Cali Tampa Palms 

15. Bayscape Bistro 

16. Ha Long Bay 

17. Sushi Café 

18. Gorkhali Kitchen 

19. Thai Ruby 

20. Zio’s NY Bagel & Deli 

21. Thai Lanna 

22. EggTown 

23. Peabody’s Restaurant, 

Bar & Billiards 

24. Fresh Kitchen 

25. Michi Ramen 

Stonewood Edges Via Italia As Your Favorite Restaurant In New Tampa! 

The Grill At Morris Bridge, Cali Tampa Palms & The Fat RabbitPub Round Out The Top 5! 

(Above) The quality of long-standing favorites like its bruschetta appetizer, plus it always-outstanding service, has kept Stonewood Grill & Tavern as our readers’ Favorite Restaurant in New Tampa for eight consecutive years. 

1. Stonewood Grill & Tavern  

17050 Palm Pointe Dr., Pointe at Tampa Palms 

(813) 978-0388 

StonewoodGrill.com 

When our 2022 Dining Survey asked our readers to name their Favorite Restaurants in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel, Stonewood Grill & Tavern finished fourth in that overall voting (behind three restaurants based in or near Wesley Chapel), but still finished as the New Tampa restaurant our readers liked best. That means that with its win again this year, the mini-chain (with fewer than ten Tampa Bay-area locations), has won the title of our readers’ Favorite Restaurant in New Tampa for each of the last eight years, after finishing as our readers’ second Favorite in New Tampa in 2015. 

There’s no doubt that Stonewood’s long history in the same location and its never-wavering commitment to quality food and outstanding service has kept it at #1 with our readers for nearly a decade. 

(Above) The pasta Bolognese at Via Italia Wood Fired Pizza & Bar is one reason the restaurant has risen in the rankings with our readers every year since it first opened in 2020. 

2. Via Italia Wood Fired Pizza & Bar  

8644 Hunter’s Village Rd., Village at Hunter’s Lake 

(813) 475-4857 

EatViaItalia.com 

In one of the closer votes in recent memory in New Tampa, Via Italia narrowly trailed Stonewood with our readers in this year’s voting. Since it first opened in 2020, owner Roberto Maganuco’s quality pizza and pasta restaurant and bar has improved its finish with our readers every year — from 9th in 2020, to 4th in 2021, 3rd in 2022 and now 2nd in New Tampa for 2023. 

Via Italia offers more different styles of pizza than you’ll find anywhere else, and its many varieties of authentic Italian pastas keeps helping it add new fans. 

(Above) The seafood risotto at The Grill at Morris Bridge includes shrimp, scallops, lobster and a lobster cream sauce. The Grill has finished in the top-three with our readers in both 2022 and 2023.

3. The Grill at Morris Bridge  

10920 Cross Creek Blvd., Cross Creek Commons 

(813) 388-5353 

TheGrillatMorrisBridge.com 

Because it opened as the reader voting was already ending in late 2021, The Grill at Morris Bridge finished as the second Favorite Restaurant in New Tampa last year and third in this year’s voting. 

Owners and brothers Frank and Jimmy Gouveia added our area’s only true tomahawk ribeye steak to The Grill’s already impressive menu, which also features outstanding fresh fish and seafood and the Gouveias have constantly evaluated and improved the menu since it opened. 

The Grill also features New Tampa’s most extensive wine list and excellent service. 

4. Cali  

17004 Palm Pointe Dr. 

Shoppes at The Pointe 

(813) 975-1222 

EatCali.com 

Cali, the mini-chain previously called Ciccio & Tony’s and then Ciccio Cali, has finished as high as 2nd Favorite in New Tampa with our readers more than once, but the restaurant that first brought “bowl culture” to New Tampa also has somehow — and somewhat surprisingly — missed the top-25 a couple of times (including last year) after finishing 7th in 2021. 

5. Fat Rabbit Pub 

16029 Tampa Palms Blvd. W. 

City Plaza at Tampa Palms 

(813) 252-3004 

FatRabbitPub.com 

Having finished as high as 4th with our readers, and also being the runaway winner as Favorite Bar in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel this year (see pg. 36), the Fat Rabbit has been a pretty consistent favorite for its crispy, delicious wings, great burgers, sandwiches, salads, hot dogs, a wide variety of crispy tater tots and other bar favorites, along with a great “vibe.” 

6. Liang’s Bistro Asian Cuisine  

17515 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. 

(813) 978-1225 

LiangsBistroTampa.com 

Another consistent favorite with our readers, Liang’s was 4th Favorite in New Tampa last year, 3rd in 2021, 5th in 2020, 3rd in 2019, 3rd in 2018 and…well, you get the idea. Liang’s Asian fusion cuisine also has kept it atop our Favorite Asian Restaurant in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel reader rankings pretty much every year it has been open — and repeated that win again this year.

7. Fresh Kitchen  

8648 Hunter’s Village Rd. 

The Village at Hunter’s Lake 

(813) 336-3800 

EatFreshKitchen.com 

Fresh Kitchen has elevated the fast-casual bowl concept to both a science and an art form, as even the sometimes long lines (especially at lunch time) never really slow you down and the options are all delicious and definitely offers healthy options. 

The Florida-based chain, now with 12 locations, has only been open here since 2021, but it finished as the 10th Favorite in New Tampa with our readers that year and was up to 9th Favorite last year and has now jumped up to 7th for 2023. 

8. Mr. Dunderbak’s 

14929 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. 

Oak Ramble Plaza 

(813) 977-4104 

DunderbaksBeer.wordpress.com 

Although it mysteriously disappeared from last year’s top-25 with our readers, Mr. Dunderbak’s and its German cuisine has otherwise been super-consistent — 2nd in 2021, 3rd in 2020 and 4th in 2019. 

Also known for its huge selection of beers, Mr. D’s is Tampa’s “German Bierhalle, Braueri, Marketplatz und Restaurant” 

9. Olive Garden  

9. Olive Garden 

17011 Palms Pointe Dr. 

The Pointe at Tampa Palms 

(813) 866-5253 

OliveGarden.com 

This is the one restaurant that has ranked with our readers nearly every year that I simply don’t understand, other than for its value. Even with its unlimited salad (which I do like) and breadsticks, I have never been a fan. 

Although Olive Garden missed our readers’ top-25 in New Tampa last year, it finished 23rd in 2021 and 14th in 2020. 

 

10. Minerva  

19050 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. 

New Tampa Plaza 

(813) 978-8586 

MinervaTampa.com 

Not only is this Minerva’s first-ever top-10 finish with our readers, I’m pretty sure it’s the first Indian restaurant to ever crack the readers’ top-10. 

Known for its huge lunch buffet and dishes from every region in India, Minerva has won “Favorite Indian Restaurant in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel” before, but this was a major rise in its overall rank. 

Our Readers’ 2023 Top-25 Favorite Restaurants In New Tampa (#s 11-25) 

11. Sushi Cafe 

12. Lima Peruvian Cuisine 

13. Frammi American Grille & Italian Food 

14. Chili’s Grill & Bar 

15. Cantina Mexican Grill & Bar 

16. Glory Days Grill 

17. EggTown 

18. Thai Lanna & Sushi 

19. First Watch 

20. (tie) Kobe Ichiban Japanese Steakhouse 

20 (tie) Hungry Crab Juicy Seafood 

22. Acropolis Greek Taverna 

23. Capri Pizza & Pasta 

24. (tie) Gorkhali Kitchen Tampa

Recapping The New Tampa Performing Arts Center’s First Fall Festival 

Dancers from the Tampa City Ballet catch some air during the ballet company’s performance at the first-ever Fall Festival at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center Sept. 8-10. (Photo by Charmaine George and Gary Nager)

If you somehow missed the first-ever Fall Festival at the all-new New Tampa Performing Arts Center (NTPAC), you missed a truly special weekend (Sept. 8-10) of 100% free performances of virtually every kind. 

A spectacular dance performance by the Jansen Dance Company.

Everything from ballet to modern dance and from Broadway to traditional Indian dance was available to attendees, thousands of whom packed the NTPAC throughout the weekend. NTPAC executive director Keith Arsenault (photo below) was clearly beaming all three days of the Fall Festival. 

“We couldn’t be happier with the performances, the attendance and the feedback we’ve received from everyone who visited this weekend,” Arsenault said. “It’s clear that this community has been hungry for more cultural opportunities.” 

Although we weren’t able to take pictures at every performance, Neighborhood News photographer Charmaine George and I were proud to be on hand for most of the weekend’s festivities, which also included Arsenault unveiling a plaque of thanks (bottom middle) to Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan (bottom left). Arsenault said that the land for the NTPAC was dedicated 15 years ago, and that it took 15 County Commission votes to make the Center a reality. “We have many people at the county to thank,” Arsenault said, “but we would not be standing here today without the long-standing efforts of Ken Hagan.” 

Hagan was clearly moved by the plaque. “Politicians are rarely at a loss for words, but I am blown away by this. Thank you!”

After the impressive and super-fun performances on Friday afternoon and evening, the NTPAC’s Fall Festival didn’t rest on its laurels. To the contrary, it may have even stepped it up to another level on Saturday, as the outstanding Wharton High band (above) first filled the main stage theater and no one left disappointed. 

But, as great as the ‘Cats musicians were, the performance by the Tampa City Ballet (above pics) Saturday evening was the first of the weekend to have to turn away people who wanted to check out this professional-level ballet company, as somewhere between 20-30 people had to watch the dancers and the troupe’s incredible backgrounds that were projected onto the cyclorama (cyc) at the back of the NTPAC stage on a TV in the lobby. 

There was no let-up on Sunday, either, as the Rudram Dance Company brought a huge number of traditionally-costumed Indian dancers to the NTPAC’s main stage. Then, before two one-act plays (“Co-Workers” and “Sherlock Holmes & Case of the 5-Pound Note”) were presented by winners of the Tampa Bay Theatre Festival, the folk rock acoustic duo of Daisies & Axes performed in Studio 2. There also was a “Fun with Broadway Trivia” game presented by the New Tampa Players, followed by ATLAS Modern Ballet’s contemporary dance performance, but we didn’t get to shoot those because of our deadline. Wow! Can’t wait ‘til next year!—GN