NT & WC’s Favorite Breakfast and Dessert Restaurants

Pumpkin pancakes

New Tampa and Wesley Chapel’s longtime favorite has always dominated this category, and while the vote was much closer in 2020 as newer options sprouted up, First Watch and its healthy and unique menu still sits on our readers’ breakfast throne.

 Located in Wesley Chapel but currently building a second location in New Tampa in The Village at Hunter’s Lake, First Watch is known almost as much for its morning crowds as for its diverse menu made with fresh and local ingredients. 

Sure, you can get simple scrambled eggs and bacon, but why not expand your horizons with farmhouse hash (picture), a smoked salmon and roasted vegetable frittata, a carnitas burrito with pork and eggs or a BLT Benedict on a toasted ciabatta roll?

Instead of regular pancakes, give the cinnamon chip pancakes a try, or maybe go healthy with one of First Watch’s quinoa power bowls.

And, a Million Dollar Bloody Mary made with New Amsterdam Gluten Free Vodka and Million Dollar Bacon will surely kickstart your day. — JCC

2 — Wolf’s Den is terrific. They keep it simple, and that’s a compliment. Eggs, bacon, hash browns, toast and coffee and an old-time diner feel give it a homey feeling unmatched by other breakfast places.

3 — Cracker Barrel, with locations in Wesley Chapel and just off BBD in New Tampa, typically serves up tasty country breakfasts, although, with its vast menu, you can start your day off with meatloaf while the kids down pancakes.

4 — Brunchies has been another favorite with locals since moving into the former Stage Left location on S.R. 54 in Lutz, a little west of the outlet mall. And, you can add a mimosa to enjoy the great breakfast and lunch items. 

5 — The Brunchery is new to the local scene (on BBD in New Tampa), but has been a welcome addition, thanks to its sizable portions of morning favorites, house-made biscuits, french toast, skillets, potatoes and more.

The Next 6, in order of votes: Panera Bread, Big Apple Bagels (Lutz), Buttermilk Provisions, Waffle House, Bagelicious, Bayscape Bistro.

Twistee Treat doesn’t just offer a large selection of delicious soft serve desserts, it also offers what few other places can without even serving up its first cone — the excitement of ordering from people inside, well, a giant 25-foot fiberglass ice cream cone.

Twistee Treat, with a Bruce B. Downs Blvd. location each in Wesley Chapel (at S.R. 54) and New Tampa (at New Tampa Rd.), keeps it relatively simple, which might explain its success. Plus, the homemade soft serve ice cream is good, the toppings are plentiful and there’s just enough variety to keep you coming back.

The menu has a selection of teats like shakes, slushies, sundaes and even Nathan’s Famous hot dogs, if you need a quick bite before dessert.

Whether it’s a simple vanilla or chocolate ice cream cone, with a chocolate dip, or a Twirl blended with your choice of candy and cookie bites, or one of the popular waffle tacos, Twistee Treat is the most popular dessert stop for New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News readers this year.  — JCC

2 — Ice Dreammm Shop is the best Mom-n-Pop ice cream place around, with fresh-made ice cream, funky flavors (including some with alcohol, for adults only) and no artificial colors. They may need to add a few more “mmms” to their name.  

3 — Coldstone Creamery has some of the tastiest ice cream around, and watching them fold in the mix-in treats is always a joy. And, don’t sleep on last year’s winner’s ice cream cakes — they are arguably among the best around. 

4 — Nothing Bundt Cakes was last year’s runner-up in this category, and still has the most outstandingly moist bundt cakes or mini bundtelets around. A Nothing Bundt Cake is always a great gift to bring to parties. 

5 — Bruster’s Real Ice Cream is a long-time New Tampa staple that has withstood the test of time. A massive variety of flavors and combinations makes it perfect for a family of varying desires. Try the ice cream pies!

The Next 8, in order of votes: 365 Caffe Italiano, Baskin-Robbins, Dairy Queen, Grain & Berry, Buttermilk Provisions, Cake Shop, Menchie’s, Mr. Penguin.

NT/WC’s Favorite Asian & Latin Restaurants

Shrimp-fried rice

Liang’s Bistro has been a consistent winner as the Favorite Asian Restaurant in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel pretty much every year since it opened and its location on BBD Blvd. in New Tampa (near I-75) is the favorite sit-down, upscale Chinese/Asian fusion restaurant in either of our distribution areas.

Liang’s has wonderful NY-style barbecued spare ribs, egg rolls and pan-fried dumplings, and even offers a popular seared ahi tuna appetizer.

The signature dishes at Liang’s include General Tso’s chicken, orange chicken, beef or shrimp, Mongolian beef, chicken or shrimp, excellent sizzling teriyaki or Shanghai-style steak and Liang’s recently added salmon and tuna pokĂ© bowls. 

Another thing that sets Liang’s apart in our area is that it also offers Korean BBQ, Thai curry dishes and Japanese-style, as well as Chinese-style, fried rice.

You also have to try the sautéed string beans (I order them spicy), with or without ground chicken. Liang’s also serves beer and wine.

2 — Kobe Japanese Steakhouse has been our readers’ favorite Japanese steak house in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel pretty much every year it’s been open and it also serves great sushi, to go with top-quality hibachi steak, chicken and seafood.

3 — Bonsai Sushi was originally located on Bearss Ave., just south of New Tampa, but its Shoppes of New Tampa at Wesley Chapel location has been even more popular for delicious, fresh sushi and other Japanese specialties.

4 — Umu Japanese & Thai Since opening in the former OTB CafĂ© space in the plaza across from AdventHealth WC, Umu has been a local favorite with the best selection of white meat fish sushi, plus entrĂ©es like miso sake Chilean sea bass.

5 — China Wok has takeout locations in the WC Village Market and one on County Line Rd. in New Tampa. Since many of our readers didn’t specify which one they were voting for, it’s possible that neither finished this high. 

The Next 10, in order of votes: Arroy Thai (WC), Asian Buffet, Sushi Cafe, Thai Ruby, Koizi, Hibachi Express, China Gourmet, Palm Thai, Thai Lanna, Gonna China.

FAVORITE LATIN: Vallarta’s

Vallarta’s Restaurante Mexicano (aka Los Vallarta) was the first Mexican place to open in Wesley Chapel and even though so many other Mexican places in both of our distribution areas have come and gone, it seems that Vallarta’s still strikes the balance that resonates with our readers for its authenticity, food quality and price. 

There’s also good reasons why Vallarta’s is loved by the locals in all of its locations in the Tampa Bay area — even though its Tampa Palms restaurant closed in 2019.

First of all, we still think Vallarta’s has the best sizzling fajitas of any Mexican or Southwest place in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel. You also simply can’t beat the variety of tacos, nachos, burritos, quesadillas or enchiladas, but we also love the selection of steak, pork and chicken entrées, as well as the awesome daily and Happy Hour specials at its full liquor bar.

In other words, the Wesley Chapel Vallarta’s is here to stay. 

2 — Cantina Laredo Wesley Chapel’s most upscale Mexican eatery is definitely a really nice restaurant with very good food and a premium full-liquor bar, even though it is a little pricy. Try the guacamole made tableside. 

3 — Chuy’s Tex-Mex is still a relative newcomer to Wesley Chapel’s Latin restaurant scene (this is only its 2nd year in our survey), but it continues to attract plenty of votes from our readers for its food, full liquor bar and Elvis-themed vibe. 

4 — Rice N Beans also has been open in Wesley Chapel for less than two years and its focus is on unique Puerto Rican dishes like mofongo and chicharrones, plus live music, salsa dancing and a premium, full-liquor bar.

5 — Las Palmas has the best Cuban around, having won the Best of Tampa top award twice, so it’s not open to debate. Start with a Tour of Havana Trio, but don’t forget to try the roasted pork and steak entrĂ©es.

The Next 10, in order of votes: Latin Twist, Capital Tacos, Chipotle, Tijuana Flats, Don Julio’s, Moe’s, Lima, Pollo Tropical, Taco Son, Taco Bus.

NT/WC’s Favorite Pizza & Burger Places

Cynthia Andujar shows off a delicious 900 Degree Woodfired pepperoni pizza.

When it comes to pizza in our area, we have a lot of great options from which to choose, but it’s hard to argue with the readers’ selection of 900º Woodfired Pizza in the Shops at Wiregrass as their favorite in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel for both 2019 and 2020.

There’s also no doubt that 900º Woodfired owner Steve Falabella (2nd from left in photo) is one of the most beloved restaurant owners in Wesley Chapel. But, the fact that his place serves both authentic wood-fired Neapolitan style, as well as legit New York-style pizza continues to keep 900º Woodfired Pizza among our readers’ favorites (and ours!).

We’re partial to 900º Woodfired’s square, thin-crust Sicilian-style and unique Grandma’s pizza, as well as many of its tasty pasta dishes.  

2 — Pizza Mania is the pizza place that has been open the longest in Wesley Chapel, and it’s always been a top favorite of our readers at its location in the Shoppes of New Tampa at Wesley Chapel for its NY/New Jersey-style pizza and Italian fare.

3 — Amici’s Pizza won this category in 2018 and finished second last year, and it continues to be a top-three favorite of our readers — and for good reason. It features true NY-style pizza and the best linguine & clams in The Chap.  

4 — Via Italia was one of the best places to open in New Tampa in 2020 and while it’s more of a sit-down, authentic Italian “ristorante,” it does serve wood-fired Neapolitan, Roman, “Campione del Mondo” and other unique styles of pizza.

5 — NY NY Pizza repeats its finish as our readers’ fifth favorite pizza place in our distribution areas, another choice that’s hard to argue. We love it for its garlicky Grandma’s pizza, but try this mainly takeout place by the slice or by the pie.

The Next 10, in order of votes: Mellow Mushroom, Cappy’s, Marco’s, Best NY Pizza, Fratelli’s, Noble Crust, Little Italy’s, Capri, Pomodoro, MOD Pizza.

FAVORITE BURGER: BURGER 21

The Outlaw Burger and a Wild Blueberry shake.

A burger is often just a burger, and when cooked right, that can be enough.

But, at Burger 21 on BBD Blvd. in New Tampa, which opened its first location in 2010 with 21 menu items, a burger is rarely just a burger. It is, as the restaurant says, reinvented, which helps explain why it is this year’s readers’ choice for the best burger in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel.

Burger 21 offers a variety of different burgers, all served on brioche buns, ranging from beef to chicken to veggie and there’s even a seafood burger, featuring a  spicy Thai shrimp patty.

 The regular beef burgers come in double-stacked (the “OMG”), blackened or even BBQ-style. 

You can even get your burger on a gluten-free bun, and the fries (including the sweet potato version) are a tasty side. The menu has salads for non-carnivores, and don’t leave without having one of Burger 21’s creamy, hand-spun shakes. — JCC

2 — Five Guys is the delicious bridge between fast-food and restaurant hamburgers and has been a fan favorite everywhere it’s opened, including locations in both New Tampa and Wesley Chapel. And of course, the unique fries are addictive, too.

3 — Burger Monger received a recent makeover, so maybe that was part of the reason why it had its best-ever finish in our Reader Survey this year. Of course, its tasty burgers, hot dogs, shakes and new salads probably had something to do with it, too. 

4 — Red Robin is another burger-oriented eatery which had its best finish in our Reader Survey this year. Red Robin features a large selection of “gourmet burgers and brews” and the bottomless fries are always a welcome treat (except for dieters).

5 — Culver’s is a cooked-to-order, fast-casual place that started in the Midwest but has continued to grow here in Florida with its delicious burgers and other sandwiches. The ultra-creamy frozen custard is really hard to resist, too.

The Next 6, in order of votes: Ford’s Garage, Glory Days, Bubba’s 33, Fat Rabbit, BJs Brewhouse, Mulligans.

NT/WC Favorite American Restaurants

1 — TREBLEMAKERS

Coconut curry grouper

In our most competitive category in our 2020 Survey, where the top five vote getters were separated by just a handful of votes, Treble Makers, one of the first new restaurants to open in The Village at The Grove shopping center, sneaked into the top spot as your favorite American eatery in either of our markets.

While that may seem a little surprising when you consider how many restaurants are now located in Wesley Chapel alone, it’s no surprise at all to anyone who’s eaten there — especially if you’ve enjoyed a delicious dinner and stayed for the dueling piano shows on the weekends or for the live music on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Chef Kevin Maggard’s menu will likely continue to grow and evolve over time, but he already has a lot of favorites from which to choose, including the unique coconut curry grouper and some of the tenderest, best-seasoned steaks in either of our distribution areas. 

I also regularly rave about Treble Makers’ calamari, ahi tuna and diver scallops appetizers. — GN

The chicken wings at Bubba’s 33 are some of the best around.

2 — BUBBA’S 33
The surprise here isn’t that Bubba’s 33 finished #2 in this “Favorite American” category, it was more that Bubba’s only finished as your 17th favorite restaurant in WC despite its great menu and drink and food prices.

3 — BONEFISH GRILL
Bonefish Grill is obviously one of the consistent favorites among our readers again this year, as it finished as both your third favorite restaurant in Wesley Chapel and third favorite American restaurant in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel.

4 — BAHAMA BREEZE
Bahama Breeze Even though a good portion of its menu isn’t necessarily “American” food, Bahama Breeze also was pretty consistent, finishing as your fifth favorite restaurant in WC and fourth favorite American restaurant in both of our markets.

5 — FAT RABBIT
Fat Rabbit in Tampa Palms is a classic American joint. The bar serves ice cold beer, including its own craft brew, the burgers and wings are terrific and the super-crispy tater tots shouldn’t be as good as they are. 

The Next 10, in order of votes: Oakley’s, GrillSmith, Ciccio Cali, BJ’s Brewhouse, Stonewood, Mr. Dunderbak’s, Glory Days, Walk-On’s, Cheddars, Ford’s Garage.

 

Wesley Chapel’s 2020 Favorites!

With the possible exception of the hotel/tourism industry, there’s little doubt that the restaurant business was among the most Covid-affected industry sectors in Florida in 2020.

And, although many of the new eateries that opened in Wesley Chapel in 2020 were delayed by the pandemic, the past year was still one of the busiest for new restaurant openings in Wesley Chapel.

Among the new eateries that opened in 2020 in (and adjacent to) Wesley Chapel were the following:

Main Event — Yes, we realize that the bowling and entertainment center is more than “just” a restaurant, Main Event did host one of the first North Tampa Bay Chamber ribbon-cutting events following Gov. Ron DeSantis’ pandemic-caused shutdown of just about everything here in the Sunshine State.

Double Branch Artisanal Ales — Again, Double Branch, located in The Village at The Grove of Wesley Chapel (above), doesn’t yet qualify as a “restaurant” — at least not until its kitchen opens — but it has offered pizzas from a food truck outside the craft beer brewery and should open a kitchen inside in 2021. Even so, enough of Wesley Chapel’s craft beer-crazed residents voted for it as their Favorite Bar in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel for it to finish in this year’s top-5 in that category.

Treble Makers— Another entertainment venue that opened in The Grove at Wesley Chapel during the early stages of Florida’s restaurant re-openings, Treble Makers was one of the few newcomers to register more than a blip with our readers, finishing as the 4th Favorite restaurant in Wesley Chapel (see list, right) and Favorite American Restaurant in both of our distribution areas. if you haven’t tasted the  coconut curry grouper, fried calamari or grilled filet mignon, you owe it to yourself to check out Treble Makers for a dueling piano show on Friday or Saturday night ‚ or anytime!

Rock & Brews — Considering how packed the place has been (even with social distancing) inside and out since the moment it opened, we were a little surprised that the first Tampa Bay link in this small chain (on S.R. 56) — inspired and owned in part by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of the rock group KISS — didn’t get any votes at all from our readers, until we realized that it didn’t open until a week before we shut down the voting. With great live music on the weekends and everything from unique bruschetta to sweet heat fried chicken on the menu, Rock & Brews will likely make our 2021 top-10 — and look for it to finish at least that high when I reveal my 2020 favorites in our next issue.

Florida Ave. Brewing Co. — Another hotly-anticipated entry that opened too late to receive reader votes this year, the former location of Sports & Field on S.R. 56 has a unique menu, with items like bibimbap bowls, Chinese sticky ribs and smoked gouda lobster mac & cheese, to go with more typical sports bar fare, an amazing craft beer selection, full liquor bar and private tasting rooms.

Zukku-San Sushi Bar & Grill — Again, Zukku-San opened too late to get any reader votes this year, but it is a beautiful new restaurant with a full liquor bar, great sushi and Japanese specialties (including the best tempura and chicken teriyaki we’ve had in years) and a true South Tampa vibe. Look for Zukku-San to register with our readers in 2021 and to finish very high in my list of faves this year.

Chuck Lager America’s Tavern — After years of failed attempts to improve the former PrimeBar location in the Shops at Wiregrass, the third location of Chuck Lager’s in the U.S. (and only one in Florida) brought in great food from the mind and kitchen of celebrity TV chef Fabio Viviani and a beautiful-looking new place for lunch and dinner that also opened too late to register with our readers (above) this year but will still make my list of Wesley Chapel favorites and will surely do just as well with our readers next year.

Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. — As a transplanted native New Yorker, I appreciate the “legit” kettle-boiled-then-baked bagels and “Brooklynized” water used for the bagels and coffee at this new favorite on S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel, which could contend for “Favorite Breakfast” in our distribution areas with our readers next year. 

Crumbl Cookie — Although it also opened too late to make a splash in this year’s Reader Survey, not since Nothing Bundt Cakes opened in the Shops at Wiregrass has any new dessert-only place created such a stir in our community. The decadent churro and s’mores cookies are our favorites of Crumbl Cookie’s rotating flavors so far.

Moschella’s Italian Eatery & Market — See story here.

As for the favorites in our Reader Survey:

GrillSmith’s offering of fresh fish dishes helped make it Wesley Chapel’s favorite.

1 — GrillSmith has been among the favorite restaurants in Wesley Chapel with our readers since the day it opened in the Shops at Wiregrass, but it was a little surprising for it to regain its top spot as the #1 in Wesley Chapel from 2018 (after finishing second to Bahama Breeze last year) with all the new places that opened.

Even so, it’s hard to argue with our readers on this one, as GrillSmith does have a great menu with a lot of variety that has been added over the years — including an increased choice of steaks, flatbreads, pastas and more.

I also believe that the fact that GrillSmith has added truly fresh “short trip” Florida fish and is one of the few local places that can surprise you with cobia, corvina or even amberjack, in addition to the more common grouper, snapper and mahi-mahi.

Plus, throw in its bottomless bubbles for weekend brunch, its expanded lunch menu and socially distanced bar area and prime location in the Shops and you’ll understand why GrillSmith’s return to the top spot isn’t that surprising at all.  

2 — 900Âş Woodfired Pizza is more than just a “regular old pizza place,” although few do pizza any better. But its delicious tortellini della casa, pesto di Genovese and other pasta dishes make it so much more. 

3 — Bonefish Grill is one of the few other choices for truly fresh fish in our area and there’s no doubt its now-open new location on S.R. 56 (with plenty of parking!) will help make it even more popular with our readers in 2021. 

4 — Treble Makers was one of the first new restaurants to open in “The Chap” early enough in 2020 to register with our readers and its outstanding steaks, fresh fish and tuna (above) and dueling pianos entertainment will likely keep it high on this list for years to come.

5 — Bahama Breeze dropped a few slots this year when compared with last, but this island-themed eatery’s popular Jamaican, Cajun and American specialties, live music and indoor/outdoor bar areas featuring tropical drinks (above) are appreciated by our readers.Â