Category: Wesley Chapel

Nibbles & Bites: Skipper’s Smokehouse, new restaurants and a ribbon cutting.

Pick Of The Week: Skipper’s Smokehouse!

Although it’s located 20 minutes or so south of Wesley Chapel, the legendary Skipper’s Smokehouse (910 Skipper Rd., off N. Nebraska Ave. in North Tampa) has officially reopened — and anyone who has lived in this area for more than a few years surely has visited (and missed!) this fun and funky non-chain seafood restaurant and live music venue.

I visited the closed-since-Covid restaurant on one of its soft pre-reopening days a few weeks ago and was thrilled with the latest incarnation of this long-time favorite.

Back when Wesley Chapel had only a handful of homes and New Tampa had only a few restaurants of its own, Skipper’s was famous on both sides of the county line for its great drink prices, outstanding live music, fresh fish (like the yummy grilled wahoo, above right, that I brought home to Jannah), raw oysters and great wings (above left). My new friends Terri and Michael (below) enjoyed those crispy wings (with medium-spicy “hotter” sauce on the side) so much that they got a second order of them. And, Skipper’s has revamped its menu from its soft opening to include a few more of its all-time favorites, from gator ribs to pulled pork and from fried shrimp to crawdaddy mac and more.

And, the locally famous Grateful Dead cover band, Uncle John’s Band, returned for its first Thursday evening show at Skipper’s in more than a year just before we went to press with this issue, and another popular Skipper’s staple, The Red Elvises, put on the first Saturday night love music show at the Skipperdome.

Hopefully, Skipper’s also will bring back its famous, adults-only Freakers Ball this year to celebrate Halloween properly.

Call (813) 971-0666 or visit SkippersSmokehouse.com for more Grand Reopening info, showtimes and the new menu — and please tell them I sent you! — GN

More Food Coming Soon To Our Area!

Years ago, Carrabba’s Italian Grill was rumored to be coming to Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in Wesley Chapel, on a still-undeveloped parcel located south of where Bonefish Grill used to be located (where it has been replaced by Señor Tequila).

Then, originally reported in 2019 to be coming to the Cypress Creek Town Center area on the north side of S.R. 56, along with the now-open Aussie Grill, and the new location of Bonefish, Carrabbas’s has finally begun construction. According to Pasco County’s permitting records, the 5,074-sq.-ft. Carrabba’s will be built in between Bonefish Grill and Aussie Grill. — JCC

Meanwhile, Zaxby’s (right), the fast-casual fried chicken eatery, is getting ready to open on the south side of 56, near ALDI and the Tidal Wave Car Wash and was still hiring additional employees as this issue went to press. — GN

The ExerScience Center Hosts A Ribbon Cutting!

Congratulations go out to my friend and Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Dr. Lauren Leiva of The ExerScience Center, located at 24706 S.R. 54 in Lutz, less than two miles east of the Tampa Premium Outlets.

Lauren, her family and staff hosted a Greater Pasco Chamber ribbon cutting on July 19 and she, of course, couldn’t resist the urge to cut the ribbon with a Samurai sword, instead of the traditional (and boring, at least to her) scissors.

Lauren has helped strengthen my knees and Jannah rehab her back and The ExerScience Center also offers outstanding personal training, nutrition counseling, group fitness and yoga classes, in addition to her award-winning physical therapy — as she has been named the People’s Choice Best of the Best Physical Therapist by the Tampa Bay Times two years in a row. To find out more, call (813) 803-7070 or visit TheExerScienceCenter.com. — GN

Bosco’s Italian-To-Go — Great People Serving Great Value!

I consider Bosco’s Italian-to-Go owners Nancy and Charles Frankulin to be my friends, even though they know that because their thin-crust pizza is made “Detroit style,” or on a conveyor belt oven, instead of on a traditional New York-style stone, their pizza is never going to finish at the top of my list of local favorites.

Even so, I give them high marks for quality ingredients (I do love the taste of their pizza sauce and mozzarella cheese), super-fair prices and for being quality people who genuinely care about their community.

These Wesley Chapel High graduates have seen a lot of local pizza places come and go in their nearly five years since taking over the Bosco’s location in the Freedom Plaza on S.R. 54 from original owner David Bosco.

And, while many more restaurants failed because of the Covid-19 pandemic the last year+, Bosco’s has maintained its clientele and has continued to deliver (more on that below) its Italian fare to more and more people in every community in Wesley Chapel.

Plenty Of Favorites…

I do want to make it clear that although Bosco’s isn’t my favorite pizza locally, there are plenty of options on their menu that I do genuinely enjoy.

First of all, the pepperoni on the hand-tossed pizza (above) is delicious, and I also like their plain cheese and “meat feast” pizzas (the latter with pepperoni, Italian sausage and bacon). Photographer Charmaine George, who took all of the photos on this page, said the Buffalo chicken pizza had just the right amount of spice and there also are veggie, “Honolulu pineapple,” white winter spinach and chicken Alfredo pizzas on the menu, starting as low as $11.50 for a 14” plain cheese and going up to no more than $20.99 for the 18” meat feast and “Works” pizzas.

I also genuinely like Bosco’s crispy, naked baked chicken wings (I get them plain, as shown below, with the sauce on the side; 8 wings for $7.99, 16 for $14.99 and 40 for $35.99), the sides of homemade meatballs or sausage ($3.39), the chicken Alfredo pasta dinner ($8.49) and especially, the chicken parmigiana dinner ($8.99, it also comes with pasta) and hot sub sandwich ($8.49). The cut-up strips of chicken parm aren’t breaded, and the thicker tomato sauce is extra zesty, so you can enjoy the entrée even if you’re on a low-carb diet (although you’ll probably want to try it with one of Bosco’s fresh salads instead of the pasta if you’re keto-ing).

As for the subs, the bread does come out with a crispy edge, so I do recommend not only the chicken parm, but also the meatball ($8.49) and sweet Italian sausage (with onions and peppers) subs (also $8.49). There also are cold Italian ($8.49) and ham and cheese ($7.49) subs that Nancy says are very popular but I haven’t tried. All of Bosco’s subs come with a bag of chips and a can of soda, too.

Speaking of salads, Bosco’s has a very tasty Greek salad, with olives, feta cheese and banana peppers ($8.99), as well as Caesar ($6.49), chicken Caesar ($8.99), grilled chicken or chicken tender salads (both are $8.49) and an antipasto salad ($8.99) I’ve never sampled.

I do also like Bosco’s garlic bread sticks ($4.99) and garlic cheesy bread sticks ($5.99), as well as the lasagne ($9.49), baked ziti ($7.99) and stuffed shells ($8.49). All dinners are served with a small salad and garlic knots. I’ve also never tried include calzones (with one topping of your choice, ricotta and mozzarella, for $11.49), strombolis (stuffed with 3 Italian meats & 3 Italian cheeses for $12.99). Add $1.75 for each additional topping with your calzone or stromboli.

Save room for dessert, as Bosco’s offers hand-piped cannolis ($3.39) and delicious CinnaStix ($5.50). “There’s a baker in New Port Richey who provides our cheesecake ($3.39), tiramisu ($3.99) and cannolis,” Charles says.

Helping Those In Need

Charles and Nancy also enjoy doing their part to help the local community, as they have done school supplies drives in years past and now have a small food pantry on at Bosco’s to help local residents in need.

“We collect non-perishable food items and offer them to anyone in the community who says they need help, no questions asked,” Nancy says. “There is no stigma here. We’ve only been collecting items for a few months, but already have had a lot of locals thanking us for the help.”

Bosco’s also provides its own pizza delivery, instead of using Grubhub, Uber Eats or other delivery services. “We deliver to all of Wesley Chapel,” Charles says proudly.

Bosco’s Italian-to-Go is located at 30122 S.R. 54 and is open Mon.-Thur., 11 a.m.-10 p.m., and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on Fri. & Sat. For more information, call (813) 907-2440 or visit BoscosItalianFL.com.

Bosco's food

Bubba’s 33 In Wesley Chapel Adds More Italian-Inspired Fare

I have been a fan of Bubba’s 33, located next to its sister restaurant, Texas Roadhouse (just east of the S.R. 56 exit off I-75), since before the location officially opened at the end of 2019. We attended the groundbreaking ceremony for Bubba’s 33’s first Florida location in September of that year, and even though we didn’t get to sample any of the delicious food at that event, there was a great energy that day that I have personally seen flow through the restaurant’s management, employees and patrons ever since.

Our first sample of the Bubba’s 33 menu came in December of that year and the burgers, wings, pizza and other predominantly sports bar-oriented fare we were given that day gave us a pretty good idea of what to expect — always-made-from-scratch food at very fair prices, with great adult beverage prices, too.

New managing partner Joe Vergona has only been with Bubba’s 33 since January of this year, but as a fellow New Yorker, he and I were both excited to see Bubba’s recently expand its Italian options beyond its not-quite-New-York-style (but still delicious) tin-crust pizzas, which definitely are made with fresh ingredients and served extra crispy (the way I prefer).

“We have added an Italian-style meatball appetizer,” the native Brooklynite says, “as well as both a chicken parmigiana sandwich and a chicken parmigiana pasta option. They’re all already doing very well.”

And for good reason. The Momma’s Homemade Meatball starter offers three nice-sized beef-and-pork meatballs in a semi-spicy tomato sauce, covered with melted cheeses and served with spot-on garlic bread for dipping up the extra sauce and cheese. It definitely has been added to mine and Jannah’s ever-expanding list of Bubba’s favorites.

I haven’t sampled the chicken parm pasta dish yet, but the sandwich is a generous portion of breaded chicken strips, topped with a slightly different-tasting tomato sauce and mozzarella and provolone cheeses (I might order the pickle slices served on top on the side instead), plus a generous portion of crispy French fries (or your choice of sides, including fresh broccoli, sweet potato fries, mac n’ cheese, chili and more).

Speaking Of Favorites…

Although we had tried several of Bubba’s pizzas before, on our most recent visit, Jannah, photographer Charmaine George and I were all really excited about The Dickie V pizza, named (of course) for long-time college basketball commentator and Tampa Bay-area resident Dick Vitale.

This zesty, flavorful pizza includes Italian sausage, a hint of cherry peppers, fresh basil, grated parmesan cheese and a garlic buttered crust. As Dickie V himself would (and the menu does) say, “It’s awesome, baby!”

And, for every Dickie V “Pizzas for Victory” sold, Bubba’s 33 donates to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, so it’s a super-tasty way to support a worthy cause.

Other Italian-oriented items on the Bubba’s 33 menu include strombolis (the “Super” version includes pepperoni, salami, Italian sausage, Canadian bacon, mozzarella, provolone and marinara; there’s also a meatball stromboli), garlic knots (with marinara and cheese dipping sauces), “Crooked” fried cheese, really good lasagne and even an Italian chopped salad (with salami, pepperoni, Canadian bacon, smoked turkey and mozzarella).

Other great pizzas on the menu include an Italian margherita (with smoked tomatoes and basil), the Meaty Meaty, the fresh veggie and the pepperoni. There’s even a goat cheese arugula option I’ve never tried.

And, I also really love both the grilled ribeye and the Signature ribeye Texas Roadhouse-inspired steaks. The Signature is marinated in a Starbucks® espresso blend and both steaks are hand-cut and served with two sides.

Our other favorites include the crispy traditional and boneless wings (try the raspberry chipotle or Habanero Heat sauces), the California chicken (grilled chicken with avocado and pico de gallo), bacon grind double-patty and half-pound Angus beef burgers, the bacon mac n’ cheese and Charmaine also offers a happy shout out to the chipotle chicken and shrimp pasta.

A True Community Partner

Bubba’s 33 also is one of our area’s best community partner eateries, offering fund-raising events to local PTAs and other nonprofits, and working with the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County, where there’s a Bubba’s 33 MVP of the Month board honoring young athletes, as well as AdventHealth Center Ice and more.

“We really do have something for everyone,” Joe says proudly, “so come check us out!”

Bubba’s 33 (26340 Silver Maple Pkwy.) is open Mon.-Thur., 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on Fri. & Sat.; and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Sun. For more info, call (813) 522-5090 or visit Bubbas33.com.

Bubba's 33 food Italian

Nibbles & Bites: Total Wine, Ice Dreammm deliciousness & more!

Total Wine, Spirits, Beer & More!
You long-time readers know how bummed out I was about the closing of the old Earth Fare “green” grocery store on the north side of S.R. 56 at Wesley Chapel Blvd. And, while many had hoped that Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s would open in that space, I continue to be excited that a new Total Wine, Spirits, Beer & More has now opened in that location.

I did a Facebook Live video that received several thousand views in front of the store the morning Total Wine opened and there’s no doubt that the 15,734 different options (over 8,000 wines, nearly 5,000 spirits and 2,700 beers) inside are all at or near the lowest prices you’ll find anywhere.

Store manager Albie Johnson Escoto, who came from Total Wine’s Clearwater location, said she “jumped at the chance” to open and manage the new store in our area — and I may be about the only person as or more excited than Albie, although Total Wine’s happy, friendly staff is right up there, too.

I picked up some outstanding Grand Opening deals on Opening Day, including a 750-ml bottle of my favorite value Irish whiskey, Wolfhound, for only $16.99, plus great deals on Italian reds like Barolo and Amarone, French Meursault (white burgundy) and so much more. And, while they didn’t advertise the deals in this publication, the American bourbons, in particular, appeared to be flying off the shelves.

Hopefully, Total Wine’s marketing department will see fit to advertise some of its upcoming Tastings and other special events in these pages. Total Wine & More is located at 25535 Sierra Center Blvd. and is open 9 a.m.-10 p.m. every day (until 11 p.m. on Fri. & Sat.). For more info, visit TotalWine.com or call (813) 435-1207 — and tell Albie and her staff I sent you! — GN

Ice Dreammm -mmm-good!

Shortly after Falabella Family Bistro opened in The Grove, owner Joe Schembri (photo above) opened his second location of the Ice Dreammm Shop directly across from Falabella in the Village at The Grove plaza.

Featuring the same creamy, delicious homemade ice cream (including those amazing alcohol-infused flavors for adults only) as in the original Ice Dreammm Shop on S.R. 54 in Lutz, Schembri promises that the new location will soon add more freshly baked goodies to go with the decadent chocolate chip cookies, hand-made waffle cones, hand-spun shakes and dairy- and gluten-free ice cream options to the mix at the new location.

“Ice cream is my passion,” Schembri says. “I gave up my corporate job (to do this) and I’m excited to scoop for everyone in the Wesley Chapel community.”

The new Ice Dreammm Shop (6013 Wesley Grove Blvd., #101) is open every day 11 a.m.-9 p.m. (& until 10 p.m. on Fri. & Sat.). For info, visit icedreammmshop.com or call (813) 586-3767. — GN

Congrats To Our SVB Contest Winner!
Congratulations to the super-excited winner of our Sarah Vande Berg (SVB) Tennis & Wellness Center contest winner — Jennifer Pedraza of Avalon Park West!

When she picked up her prize package valued at more than $500 at our office, Jennifer told us that she’s been wanting to “check out the new tennis center in our community.”

She also was thrilled that, in addition to winning a 60-minute massage and a 25-minute Salt Room session, plus brunch for two at the Vesh Bistro (that we reviewed in our last issue) and an SVB “swag bag” (which included an SVB logo mask, Mahala cup, lipstick, sunstick, black cup & borosilicate verre water bottle) for herself, she was happiest to receive one week of Recreational Kids Summer Camp for her son.

If you didn’t win the contest, check out all there is to offer at the SVB Tennis & Wellness Center, located less than 20 minutes from most of Wesley Chapel (at 6585 Simons Rd. in Zephyrhills) — from the amazing variety of tennis courts, to the padel and pickleball courts and the delicious Vesh Bistro for breakfast, lunch, weekend brunch or dinner.

For more info, call (813) 361-6660 or visit SVBTennisCenter.com. — GN

Coming Soon!
Although we still don’t know exactly when it is expected to open, the Miller’s Ale House to be located on the south side of S.R. 54, across the Wesley Chapel Blvd. Extension from Aldi, the Tidal Wave Car Wash & and the soon-to-open Zaxby’s chicken restaurant, has now gone vertical. We’ll keep you posted with any news we receive about the new Ale House. — GN

ice dreammm Total Wine & More

Lima Peruvian Cuisine Celebrates One Year With New Menu Items!

I remember very clearly when I first met Oscar Escudero, the owner of Lima Rotisserie Chicken & Peruvian Cuisine in the New Tampa Center plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd.

It was when Oscar opened, only a couple of weeks before the Covid-19 pandemic shut down the world in March of 2020. We wondered together not just if, but also how long, the pandemic would affect his new eatery.

Needless to say, it wasn’t an ideal time to open a new restaurant. But, while Lima is a true sit-down restaurant, it also adapted very well to take-out (and delivery) only and, while it’s been a rough 15 months, Lima has weathered the storm, thanks to its outstanding food and an owner committed to success.

When I did my first review of Lima, I mentioned that Peruvian food has long been considered the best of the Latin cuisines and was actually named the #1 cuisine in the entire world by Bloomberg.com in 2017.

But, whether Peruvian food is already among your favorites or you’ve never previously tried it before, you owe it to yourself to give Lima a try.

When you walk into Lima, the heady aroma of Peruvian-spiced rotisserie chicken immediately lets you know you’re in for a delicious meal. But, while the crispy skin and moist, delicious chicken is hard to resist, it’s far from the only reason to visit Oscar’s place. Last year, I told you about the Conchitas Parmesana (baked scallops on the half-shell, topped with butter and parmesan cheese) and the perfect fresh fish Ceviche de Pescado appetizers (there also is a fish ceviche served with a trio of sauces, and a shrimp, mussels and calamari ceviche, too), as well as the Lomo Saltado Lima, which is hearty beef tenderloin tips wok-sautéed with spices, sliced onions, fresh tomato wedges, cilantro and a touch of soy sauce and vinegar, served over a bed of crispy French fries.

Speaking of wok-sautéeing, I also mentioned that I was surprised that Peruvian cuisine was heavily influenced by the Chinese engineers and builders who came across the Pacific and settled in Peru to help build the railroad that went from the desert coast of Lima on the Pacific Ocean to and through the Andes mountains that divide the north from the south of the west coast South American country.

Among the wok-sautéed dishes available at Lima include the “lo mein”-style Tallarin Saltado de Pollo that features pulled “a la brasa” (rotisserie) chicken (although you also can have it with steak or seafood), with sliced onions, tomatoes and cilantro, blended with delicious lo mein noodles, soy sauce and vinegar. The fried rice has scallions, egg and a distinctively nutty taste and is topped with everything from chicken and crispy noodles to the Arroz con Mariscos (seasoned rice topped with mixed seafood — shrimp, clams, calamari and mussels).

Speaking Of Seafood…

As you long-time readers know, I’m highly allergic to shrimp, mussels and lobster, so I can’t indulge in many of the newer seafood dishes on Lima’s menu. However, since my last review of Lima in these pages, I have found at least one new favorite — the Pescado a la Chorillano (fresh snapper or basa fillet, lightly fried and topped with sautéed onions, tomatoes, cilantro, spices and a splash of wine) shown in the top left photo on the previous page.

However, in addition to the new fish dish I love, Oscar says the pandemic caused him to add some new menu items to make sure he utilized all of the seafood he already was ordering, so I had photographer Charmaine George, who took the pictures on both of these pages, sample Oscar’s other new seafood options on the menu.

Among those are the Jalea, which is breaded and seasoned seafood deep-fried and topped with Peruvian salsa, and the Pescado a la Macho, which includes a mix of seafood atop a breaded filet of fish sautéed in a creamy yellow pepper/wine sauce. Charmaine and another patron at Lima the day we shot most of these photos gave enthusiastic thumbs-up to all of these dishes.

Lima also features Cusquena Peruvian and other domestic and imported beers, plus delicious soups, salads and chicken and beef tenderloin sandwiches, as well as sides of yuca, tostones (fried plantain slices) and some of the tastiest black beans and rice I’ve ever tasted.

Lima Rotisserie Chicken & Peruvian Cuisine (19062 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.) opens every day at 11:30 a.m. and stays open until 7 p.m. on Sun., 8 p.m. Tues.-Thur., and until 9 p.m. on Fri. & Sat. For more info, call (813) 304-0205, visit LimaTampa.com or see their ad in our latest issue for a great 15%-off coupon!

lima peruvian