Naya Navas loves making carloads of kids smile. Here she is serving a chocolate ice cream Twirl with Oreos, and a Cookiewich with Reeses Pieces.
1. Twistee Treat 8810 New Tampa Blvd. (321) 445-9103 TwisteeTreat.com
If you drive by New Tampa’s Twistee Treat on just about any night, you are likely to encounter an overflow line in the drive through. That’s a testament to the variety and flavors offered by the familiar “Big Ice Cream Cone” on the corner of BBD and New Tampa Blvds.
The 25-foot cone-shaped building serves up tasty ice cream on cones, in cups and between cookies (below left), to name just a few ways to enjoy it. Whatever you choose, however, seems to agree with local sweet tooths — in an area with some very good competition, Twistee Treat is No. 1 according to our readers.
Its Twirls — with the ice cream of your choice topped with more than 15 different kinds of cookies and candies of your choice — are among the most popular items.
Twistee Treat also has Waffle Tacos made to order, Cookiewiches (we got ours with Reese’s Pieces), brownie sundaes and banana splits, as well as shakes and slushies.
With the exception of cakes, if you can make it with ice cream, Twistee Treat can make it for you, with the kind of endless varieties that might also explain the long lines.
After all, a carful of kids can make choosing between nearly 30 flavors of ice cream to put on more than a half-dozen different cones with a variety of toppings an adventure, but a tasty one at that. — JCC
“Welcome to Cold Stone” might be four of the happiest words you can hear. Once inside, the ice cream parlor serves up delicious and creamy ice cream (mmmm, butter fat!) prepared with your favorite toppings (like Oreos, Kit Kats and M&Ms….or just a shmear of regular old peanut butter), on a cold stone while you watch. You can get regular ice cream flavors, but the signature creations, like a Birthday Cake Remix, Cookie Minster or Mud Pie Mojo, are the most popular way to go and perfect for any movie night at home.
And while ice cream with mix-ins is king here, Cold Stone may be almost as well known for its crazy-good ice cream cakes as well. The Cake Batter Fudge (above) or Cookie Dough Delirium might change your life.— JCC
Bruster’s Real Ice Cream is a long-time staple of New Tampa, having survived the Frozen Yogurt Wars of the early- to mid-2000s, and it is always among the dessert favorites in our reader survey.
Why?
The ice cream is creamy, rich and delicious and the choices are seemingly endless. No, really, you might spend as much time choosing your ice cream as you do eating it. There are more than 30 flavors, and all kinds of ways to order — cones, shakes, sundaes, mixers, pies and on and on and…— JCC
The rest of your 2021 NT Dessert Top 10: (4) Smallcakes (5) The Cake Shop (6) Grain & Berry (7) Dunkin’ (8) You Do The Dishes (T9) Ice SSSScreamin’ & Coffee Speaks & Tea Talks
Camila Jaramillo (left), Maria Burbano and Melissa Acosta serving up chips and salsa, the popular chicken fajitas and a steak burrito during lunch at Cantina Mexican Grill & Bar.
1. Cantina 10032 Cross Creek Blvd (813) 406-4856
Owner Yecid Cardenas opened Cantina Mexican Grill & Bar six years ago with the idea of filling what he saw as a hole in New Tampa’s dining options with a fusion of old Mexican cuisine with what he says is “new era” Mexican cuisine. After some mixed results when he first opened, Cardenas now has achieved one of his goals:
Cantina is this year’s top choice with our readers in the Latin category of our annual survey.
Cantina rose to the top of the charts this year with an improved and packed menu, and the consistency also was much improved. Cardenas also says many more people were exposed to the restaurant (which is tucked away behind a Shell station on the corner of Cross Creek Blvd. and Kinnan St.) due to a pandemic-influenced increase in to-go orders, and more customers equaled more votes.
“We try to do the same thing every day,” he says. “We want to be consistent. These are ‘Grandma’ flavors here, with new era fusion.”
The menu is extensive and varied. One of the stars of the menu is the 12 oz. ribeye served up a handful of different ways — you can get it topped with ranchero chile sauce or chorizo and fries, for example. The carne asada steak is another of the most popular dishes, along with the fajitas, and of course, the tacos and burritos. There are a host a seafood choices available, as well.
A bar with 12 different Mexican beers and, of course, tasty margaritas, complement your meal, which according to our readers, is the best Latin choice around. — JCC
Las Palmas has now had two locations in New Tampa — three if you count the food truck it currently is operating out of after a fire late in late 2021 damaged its County Line Rd. store — and it has always remained something of an under-the-radar local favorite, thanks to its award-winning Cuban sandwiches and a variety of delicious Latin-infused pork and chicken dishes.
The roasted pork entrée is a favorite, and you can try the vaca frita, or crispy beef (although “fried cow” is the literal translation) as an entrée or in a taco. And, while owner/chef Ramses Garcia says the menu at the truck is being expanded, the sides — yellow rice, black beans, plantains, etc. — are still the perfect complements to whatever meaty dish you choose, and don’t forget a Tres Leches dessert.—JCC
For a large chain, Tijuana Flats has a pretty simple recipe but is regarded for having some pretty good food. The regular burritos and dos tacos (hard or soft shell) are good, the nachos are enough for two and the chicken tinga burritios and tacos have a little extra kick.
Speaking of a little kick, one of the fun things about Tijuana Flats is the wide variety of different salsas, which are always worth trying out and comparing.
Locals also are raving about Tijuana Flats’ new wings, available with red chili rub, “bangin’” sauce, chipotle BBQ and smack jalapeño lime varieties.
Although tucked away off Bruce B. Downs Blvd., just north of I-75 in Highwoods Preserve, Tijuana Flats continues to draw a good local crowd, and is always a fun spot to be on Cinco de Mayo. — JCC
The rest of the 2021 Latin Favorites with our readers: (4) Chipotle (5) Lima (6) Don Julio (7) Moe’s (8) Chili’s (9) Cross Creek Deli
If you’ve never been to Liang’s Bistro, you may be the only person living in New Tampa (or Wesley Chapel, for that matter) who hasn’t. You also may be one of the few local residents who didn’t vote this year for what has been the Favorite Asian restaurant with our readers pretty much every year since it opened in North Palmas Village, in a former Burger King location off Bruce B. Downs Blvd.
Liang’s features amazing appetizers like the amazing Liang’s BBQ ribs and pork-and-veggie egg rolls, but also has its fried signature entrées, Mongolian beef, Thai-style wok dishes with basil, yellow, green and red curry, and both Japanese and Vietnamese-style fried rice, as well as Chinese and Singapore-style fried rice, and Singapore and pad Thai noodle dishes.
Liang’s also offers smaller-portioned Lunch Combo specials with Sichuan, Thai curries and even Korean BBQ wok classics (with your choice of white meat chicken, beef or shrimp. There also are excellent vegetarian dishes like Thai basil tofu, Buddha’s delight with mixed veggies and more.
And yes, you can enjoy a sit-down meal at Liang’s, with beer and wine.— GN
2. Acropolis 14947 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. Oak Ramble Plaza (813) 971-1787 AcropolisTaverna.com
Although new owners Stacy Esposito and her husband Eddie Nasr probably weren’t concerned about our Reader Dining Survey when they took over the ownership and management of New Tampa’s Acropolis Greek Taverna, they were determined to return what always had been one of New Tampa’s favorites to its former glory, after dropping out of the top-10 with our readers for the first time in a decade in 2020.
Well, even though it has always been in the top-5 Greek, Mediterranean or (this year) Asian favorites, Acropolis is back, as it is back up to #5 Favorite overall with our readers, with its delicious Greek specialties, from appetizers like spanakopita (above), saganaki (flambéed cheese) and grilled octopus, to entrées like lamb lollipops, whole red snapper, Athenian fish and more.
And of course, Acropolis offers a great full liquor bar, weekend entertainment and an outdoor hookah lounge. — GN
3. Sushi Café 18051 Highwoods Preserve Pkwy. The Walk at Highwoods Preserve (813) 977-7800
New Tampa residents who love great sushi have fewer options today than they did when Sushi Café opened several years ago, but many of you still turn to Sushi Café for great, creative and fresh sushi, plus Japanese specialties and more.
Sushi Café was not only the #3 Asian or Mediterranean restaurant in New Tampa with our readers this year, it also finished as the #8 Favorite Restaurant overall, it’s highest-ever finish in our survey.
Although I’ve never sampled the Hawaii roll pictured above, we have enjoyed everything from the unique tuna tataki to the soft shell crab roll, plus entrées like the chicken katsu, teppanyaki (although not made at your table) favorites like filet mignon and chicken and the Japanese-style fried rice. And yes, beer, wine and hot and cold sake are served. — GN
The rest of your 2021 NT Asian/Mediterranean Top 10: (4) Kobe (5) Thai Lanna (6) Little Greek (7) Koizi (8) Thai Ruby (9) Michi Ramen (10) Minerva & China Wok
1. Stonewood Grill 17050 Palm Pointe Dr. (813) 978-0388 Stonewoodgrill.com
Based on the results of our Annual Reader Dining Survey every year since 2011, it doesn’t matter how many new restaurants — chain or otherwise — open in New Tampa, the nearly unbeaten (it “only” finished second once, in 2015) champion is Stonewood Grill & Tavern in Tampa Palms.
After winning by a comfortable margin again this year with its third managing partner in as many years, Stonewood has shown that it doesn’t matter who’s in charge, its combination of delicious American cuisine, great drinks and outstanding service continue to make it top-of-mind with our readers — despite the fact it always has been one of the most expensive eateries located in zip code 33647.
Stonewood’s extensive menu includes everything from fresh seafood to great steaks and chops (photo, right), plus big salads, pasta dishes and more, and it likely has become even more popular with our readers since it began opening for lunch (with a smaller, and less pricey, lunch menu, although the dinner menu also is available at lunch time).
Among the favorite starters at Stonewood are the tasty and ever-popular bruschetta (served with a delicious balsamic dressing) and sesame-seed-seared ahi tuna served with wasabi cream and sesame ginger dressing.
Salad lovers definitely go for the Asian chicken salad (with ginger lime-marinated chicken, chilled sesame noodles and sesame ginger dressing) and the Stonewood salad (with blue cheese crumbles, dried cranberries, blackened walnuts and blue cheese vinaigrette).
Handheld favorites include the oak-grilled cheeseburger, two-hand chicken club and the veggie quesadilla.
And, with great steaks like two sizes of filet mignon and prime rib, a unique sweet tea brined pork chop and blackened chicken pasta. Market Fresh Fish options include ever-changing favorites like Chilean sea bass, grouper and the menu options like Atlantic salmon and yellowfin tuna.
Stonewood also has New Tampa’s second favorite bar with our readers this year and a great Sunday brunch with bottomless bubbles and unique menu items like creme brulée French toast, shrimp and grits and crab cake and prime rib Bennies. — GN
2. Mr. Dunderbak’s 14929 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. (813) 977-4104 Dunderbaks.com
J.B. Ellis bought Mr. Dunderbak’s with the intention of owning a bar, but over the years, he says the place has shifted from being 66% bar and 33% restaurant to 33% bar and 66% restaurant.
Ellis has only himself to blame. A combination of old-time classics (the sandwich board has barely changed in 50 years) to derivations of old family recipes Ellis has tweaked just a little keeps the crowds coming back for seconds. The food (like the Venison sausage platter pictured) must be getting better every year. After a No. 4 finish in 2019, and No. 3 in 2020, Mr. Dunderbak’s inches up another spot in our 2021 Reader Survey., its highest-ever finish.
Mr. Dunderbak’s is an experience. It also boasts this year’s No. 1 bar with our readers, featuring a seemingly unlimited variety of beer, a gift shop, a deli, and atmosphere that is pure Oktoberfest, with the best German dishes around. Choose from authentic favorites like schnitzel, Spaetzle, Kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes) and Sauerbraten, to name a few, and wash it all down with a delicious Hefeweizen. — JCC
3. Liang’s Bistro 17515 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. (813) 978-1225 LiangsBistroTampa.com
Like Stonewood and Mr. Dunderbak’s, Liang’s Bistro is another perennial favorite with our readers.
Although it is more of an Asian fusion restaurant — which also includes Japanese- and Thai-style options — than a classic New York-style Chinese place, Liang’s has been the favorite Chinese or Asian (depending upon which of those options have been offered in the Survey each year) place in New Tampa pretty much every year it’s been open and has never finished lower than sixth Favorite Restaurant overall.
Although I love it for menu items like the crispy pork egg rolls, Liang’s BBQ ribs, sautéed string beans (I order them spicy) and sizzling Shanghai steak, our readers always mention Liang’s signature dishes — like General Tso’s, sesame, orange, pineapple or tropical chicken — as their favorites.
Liang’s also offers lunch specials and currently is the only sit-down Chinese place in New Tampa, where you can enjoy a variety of wines and bottled beers. — GN
4. VIA ITALIA Outstanding pizzas and pasta, and the charcuterie is a treat.
5. ACROPOLIS New Tampa’s favorite Mediterranean returns to the top-5.
6. FIRST WATCH New location, same old results for bougie breakfast fans.
7. CALI Tampa Palms staple drops after 4 straight years at No. 2.
8. SUSHI CAFE The best sushi in New Tampa, according to our readers.
9. GLORY DAYS The place to go for good food, football & beer. Nice patio, too.
10. FRESH KITCHEN Another newcomer bowls into our Top 10, for good reason.
11. FAT RABBIT Tampa Palms hangout has all the ingredients of a perfect bar.
T12. KOBE JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE New Tampa’s only teppanyaki tables moves south on BBD
T12. LAS PALMAS Fabulous pork and Cubans sold from a food truck, for now.
14. BRUNCHERY Super specials for breakfast & lunch, tasty skillets and more.
T15. CANTINA REAL MEXICAN RESTAURANT Has built a loyal following on Cross Creek Blvd.
T15. CRACKER BARREL Still attracting attention & votes despite more competition.
T17. BURGER 21 The last to finish No. 1 ahead of Stonewood, back in 2015.
T17. FRAMMI Area is flush with delish Italian food, don’t sleep on Frammi.
T19. CAPPY’s The Chicago- and New York-style pizzas are reader favorites.
T19. RED LOBSTER In an area lacking seafood, Red Lobster remains popular.
1. TREBLE MAKERS 6034 Wesley Grove Blvd., Suite 101 (813) 406-4371 TrebleMakersofWC.com
As we already told you — Treble Makers Dueling Piano Restaurant & Bar was named our readers’ second-favorite Restaurant in Wesley Chapel with its outstanding menu created by executive chef Kevin Maggard.
But, considering that no fewer than two dozens restaurants and bars received votes in the Favorite Bar in Wesley Chapel category this year, being named their #1 Favorite Bar for 2021 by our Neighborhood News readers was something of a surprise to co-owner Jamie Hess, even though he and his GM/co-owner Lee Bevan have worked hard to add great new bartenders and entertainment options to go with the already popular weekend dueling piano shows.
Jannah and I have spent a lot of time at Treble Makers piano key bar, enjoying dinner and Tampa Bay Lightning hockey games or NFL or NCAA football games on the giant screen. We also loved singing karaoke there, as the dueling piano stage provided such a great opportunity to sing along with our favorite songs. Sadly, karaoke wasn’t a consistent crowd-puller, so Hess, Bevan and Co. decided to do away with those shows on Wednesday nights, replacing it with a rotating schedule of live music.
Other fun events at Treble Makers include live jazz on Mondays (and sometimes on Sundays), Team Trivia competitions on Tuesdays and free acoustic music on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
With delicious specialty drinks, and a variety of great beer and wine, Treble Makers truly is a great local bar. — GN
Remember when you basically had one option in the area for a good craft beer? Well, now you have a few choices and, according to our readers, there are none better than Florida Ave. Brewing Co. on S.R. 56.
In just a little more than a year, Florida Ave. has established itself as one of the area’s go-to destinations, thanks in part to a tap room offering a wide variety of beers — many now brewed just a few feet away in what may be the State of Florida’s largest craft beer operation (photo) — a terrific chef-created menu, a fantastic atmosphere and an outdoor seating area that is always packed.
Tours of the brewery are coming soon, and don’t forget to hit the beer cave for to-go beers on your way out. — JCC
3. DOUBLE BRANCH ARTISANAL ALES 5956 Wesley Grove Blvd. (813) 492-8800 DBAA.com
Double Branch Artisanal Ales (DBAA) hit the ground running when it opened in 2020, producing a creative assortment of beers and growing a loyal following. Now that it has added Omnivorous, the local craft brewery’s in-house and tasty food kitchen, it is complete as a perfect hangout for craft beer aficionados.
And, the location is lovely, right there in the Village at The Grove, where strung lights and lots of foot traffic make it a happening locale and the patio is a nice place to enjoy an outdoor drink. And, with Wesley Chapel’s No. 2 (Treble Makers) and No. 4 (Falabella Family Bistro) restaurants and No. 1 Dessert Place (Ice Dreammm Shop) a few steps away, DBAA just might be on the hottest corner in the area. — JCC
The rest of the Favorite Bar top 10: (4) Bahama Breeze (5) Rock & Brews (T6) BJ’s Brewhouse (T6) Glory Days (8) Rice-N-Beans (9) Chuck Lager (10) GrillSmith.
