More New Tampa Dining Openings, Closing & Rumors! 

As we get ready for the 2024 Reader Dining Survey & Contest, the New Tampa dining scene continues to evolve, with more closings, openings and rumors than ever. 

First, for the bad news: In the Palms Connection plaza on Bearss Ave. just west of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., Bearss Tavern & Tap and Mint Cocktail Club, both owned by Cody Jay, are now both permanently closed. We also heard, although have not yet been able to confirm, that the delicious Woodfired Pizza & Wine Bar in the same plaza was likely closing at the end of June. That would be a tremendous loss for the local Neapolitan-style-pizza-loving community. 

As for new openings, although it isn’t a restaurant at all, Bull Liquors & Cigar recently re-opened in its new space in the Acropolis Greek Taverna-anchored Oak Ramble Plaza on BBD, south of Tampa Palms. The original Bull Liquors was located in the same plaza, in a much smaller space near Papa John’s Pizza and Jersey Mike’s Subs, but the new location — which took close to a year to get open — is in the plaza’s other end cap, where the last business in there was a check-cashing place, but which also has been home to four restaurants — the first being the Louis Pappas Market CafĂ© and the last being Takara Sushi & Sake. 

The new Bull Liquors (at 14913 BBD) is a much larger, nicer location with a good selection of fine wines and spirits, as well as a walk-in cigar humidor. For more info, call (813) 513-8941. 

Our next stop is the Publix-anchored New Tampa Center plaza on BBD, just north of New Tampa/Cross Creek Blvd, where a new sign recently went up announcing that Everbowl is planning to open in the plaza’s space just north of Publix. 

Everbowl, a California-based chain of healthy bowl eateries (think Grain & Berry) with about 90 locations in 24 states, has only one other Florida location, near the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando, but its Everbowl.com website promises a wide variety of bowls featuring Açai, granola, fresh fruit, peanut butter, chia pudding, blue majik (naturally blue-colored spirulina), Coco Love coconut water, Cacao Wow and other healthy, all-natural flavors. 

I was surprised to not find a “Coming Soon” on the website for the location, but a spokesperson for the UCF Everbowl said that the franchisee for that location didn’t know about or ask for a Tampa location, “so it may be a different franchise owner.” We’ll keep you posted. 

Speaking of healthier eating, two different health-conscious concepts that recently closed in the Winn-Dixie and LA Fitness-anchored The Cypress plaza tucked in off BBD at the corner of County Line Rd. are both in the process of being replaced. 

The one we know for sure is happening is that Coffee Latitudes, which currently has a popular kiosk at the Shops at Wiregrass mall, is planning to open the Coffee Latitudes Coffee & Wine Bar in the former location of Juice Factory (at 6431 E. County Line Rd., Suite 110, next to Max’s Pets). 

But, all we can tell you about the other vacant space, that previously was home to Island Fin PokĂ© Co., is that the replacement could be a popular healthy eatery at the KRATE at The Grove Container Park. Again, we’ll keep you posted. 

Smallcakes in New Tampa is Closed!

We told you in our last issue that Smallcakes Cupcakery & Creamery (in the Shoppes at The Pointe plaza in Tampa Palms) was getting ready to close, but until a week or so before our press time, the cupcake chain’s local link was still open, with no formal announcement from owners Marissa and Justin Dewdney as to when it would close. 

Well, that fateful day (for those of us who loved those moist cupcakes and unmatched icing) did finally come and we already know that the Palms Pharmacy, located next to Smallcakes at 17008 Palm Pointe Dr., was planning to take over the bakery’s space. 

“It’s going to take a while,” Palms Pharmacy owner and Doctor of Pharmacy Shahida Choudhry told the Neighborhood News. “We’re looking at several months to build the space out and get it stocked.” Of course, the independent Palms Pharmacy is still open next door during the build-out, with its chain-matching (or beating) prices and unmatched customer service. 

Shahida, never one to take it easy, also recently opened The Primary Care of Wesley Chapel — with an outstanding team of three nurse practitioners, led by Scarlette Owens, APRN, FNP-C (formerly of Florida Medical Clinic in Tampa Palms) — at 2935 Pearson James Pl. (off Wesley Chapel Blvd. in the new Cypress Bend Professional Park in Lutz (photo), next to Wesley Chapel Harley Davidson). 

For more information about Palms Pharmacy, visit ThePalmsPharmacy.com or call (813) 252-9063. For The Primary Care of Wesley Chapel, visit PrimaryCareWesleyChapel.com or call (813) 991-4243.

New Eateries Now Open Or Opening Soon At The KRATEs & The Grove 

Retro Dogs Co-Owners (l-r) Gisella Latorre, Gisella Troncozo, Luis Latorre and Samantha Latorre (Photo by Charmaine George)

As you’re receiving this issue, the KRATE at The Grove Container Park recently finished celebrating its two-year anniversary on June 8, but the lineup of restaurants and shops at the KRATEs continues to evolve.

One of the biggest changes is that The Chicken Boss, the fried chicken concept opened last year by The Bacon Boss HQ owners Josh and Christy Norland, has closed. The Norlands’ announcement on The Chicken Boss’ Facebook page said, however, that “select menu items from The Chicken Boss will find a new home at The Bacon Boss HQ.”

Meanwhile, the Chicken Boss will be replaced at the KRATEs by Indian Street Kitchen, the faster-food concept from owner Harry Patel at Persis Indian Grill, the instant hit that opened earlier this year next to Double Branch Brewing & Bites in the Village at The Grove. 

“We’ll be serving every type of Indian street food at the new location,” Harry told me. “Come see and taste what we have to offer.” Although he wouldn’t give me any hints as to what the menu will include (“It’s not finished yet,” he said), a quick Google search revealed that samosas, those crispy, delicately spiced potato-filled pastries that are amazing at Persis, are the most popular type of Indian street food. Harry did say that Indian Street Kitchen should be open soon., although it weas not yet open at our press time.

Meanwhile, the Sausage King, located in the second space occupied by TJ’s Hot Dogs (TJ’s was the original tenant in the Chicken Boss space at the KRATEs), has closed just a few months after opening and has now been replaced by Retro Dogs. Retro Dogs is owned by Seven Oaks residents Gisella Troncozo and Luis Latorre, and their daughters, Gisella Latorre and Samantha Latorre (photo, above), and features a make your own hot dog station, a new hotdog being added every week, French fries, milkshakes and beer.

The hot dogs at both TJ’s and Sausage King were great, but hopefully, Retro Dogs will hang around a little longer.

Although not located in the KRATEs, Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken & Wings is expected to open in the former location of King of the Coop at the front of The Grove, next to Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. 

Like King of the Coop, Hangry Joe’s specializes in Nashville hot chicken sandwiches (photo, left), plus wings, shakes and waffle fries. With 21 franchise locations (including the nearest to us at 5347 Gall Blvd. in Zephyrhills, photo below), and restaurants in Korea and Dubai, Korean corporate owners Derek Cha and Mike Kim have a simple premise — “to deliver the finest chicken sandwich in town.” For more information, visit HangryJoes.com.

And finally, congratulations to new TrebleMakers Dueling Piano Bar & Restaurant (6034 Wesley Grove Blvd.) owner Jason Scott, who recently took over from original owners Jamie and Joe Hess and Lee Bevan.

Jason is an accomplished pianist who both played and booked the dueling pianists at TrebleMakers, and he is working hard to revamp the service and experience at the restaurant before trying to figure out what changes to make to the menu. He has started with new $8 lunch specials offered Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 

For more information, call (813) 406-4371 or visit TrebleMakersofWC.com.

A Familiar Name Opens Upscale Birkin’s Steakhouse In Lutz! 

(Photos by Charmaine George)

Even though his new place isn’t located in Wesley Chapel or New Tampa, a heartfelt congratulations goes out to Mark Birkin, the owner of the new Birkin’s Steakhouse & Sushi Bar on N. Florida Ave./U.S. Hwy. 41 in Lutz, in the former location of the once-popular L.A. Hangout (and a couple of other restaurants since then). 

Until I saw Mark the day his new steakhouse opened (May 29), I couldn’t remember how I knew his name. But, when we shook hands after Jannah, photographer Charmaine George, her boyfriend Brendan and I enjoyed an outstanding meal at Birkin’s, Mark and I immediately recognized each other. He’s the long-time owner of The Wexford Irish Pub & Grille (previously known as PJ Dolan’s Irish Pub). 

But, while his other local restaurants have had pretty good food, if you haven’t yet tried Birkin’s, you really need to go check it out ASAP. 

First of all, L.A. Hangout’s former live entertainment side is now a beautiful sushi bar with outstanding, beautifully presented, fresh sushi, like the tasty volcano roll shown here (top left photo). 

But, the real star of the show is the steakhouse side, serving everything from the fresh, sesame-seed encrusted seared tuna steak (top right photo) to escargots and a fried lobster bites appetizer (top middle photo). 

What really impressed me was Birkin’s 12-oz. filet mignon, grilled to medium rare perfection and, to quote my fellow New Yawkas, “like buttah” tender. No one else even has a 12-oz. filet in our area. Also on the menu are lollipop lamb chops, a tomahawk ribeye and much more. “Steak and sushi are my two favorite things to eat,” Mark says. “I wanted us to serve the best of both worlds.” 

Birkin’s also has tasty Italian specialties, like zesty meatballs, mushroom ravioli, chicken parmesan and more. Add to that great family-style side dishes like homemade mac & cheese, sautĂ©ed vegetable medley and creamed spinach. Birkin’s also has a full premium liquor bar with great craft cocktails (ask about the exclusive wine lockers, too) and decadent desserts like the cinnamon-y apple crumble with ice cream (above left photo) and Bailey’s Irish cream cheesecake. 

Birkin’s Steakhouse & Sushi Bar is located at 16411 N. Florida Ave. It is open Wed.-Sun. for dinner only (reservations are suggested, but not required, beginning at 3 p.m. For more information, call (813) 374-8002 or visit BirkinsSteakhouse.com. 

Dummy Crabby Is Open, But The Price In The Neighborhood News Was Wrong!

PRICE CORRECTION FROM OUR DUMMY CRABBY STORY IN OUR JUNE 11 WESLEY CHAPEL ISSUE!

Silly name, but really fresh, tasty seafood. That’s how I can sum up the new Dummy Crabby II, which recently opened in the space previously occupied by Medilish Mediterranean (next to Fratelli’s Pizza CafĂ©) at 5325 Village Market (Bruce B Downs Blvd., south of S.R. 54).

Dummy Crabby, which is a much smaller restaurant than the similar Hungry Crab Juicy Seafood on BBD in New Tampa, also serves its clams, mussels, crawfish, shrimp, scallops, lobster tail and dungeness, king and snow crab legs in Seafood Boils, covered in a variety of spices and sauces, inside those boil-in-bags . I’m still not sure I understand why people love making already messy food even messier, but I will say that if you love truly delicious snow crab legs, get The Grand Opening special at Dummy Crabby. 

You’ll receive one lb. of snow crab free when you buy one lb. for what is still a super-low price of just $30.95! The amount mistakenly put in the June 11 edition of Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News was $19.95, but that is NOT the correct price and was due to a misunderstanding on MY part. All I can do is apologize to the owners and employees of Dummy Crabby and to any customers who saw the price and have visited Dummy Crabby anytime since the June 11 hit their mailboxes. Believe me, the snow crab is worth every bit of $30.95 per lb., much less that price for TWO lbs., so I hope anyone else who shows up thinking that the price is $19.95 will understand that the mistake was entirely mine and NOT the fault of the owners or employees of Dummy Crabby! 

And, as the co-owner Kevin promised, the crab legs are just so fresh & delicious! Like the original Dummy Crabby on W. Hillsborough Ave. in Tampa, the Wesley Chapel location also has a Special Noodle seafood dish, raw or steamed oysters, wings, beer and more. 

For more info, call (813) 330-4136 or visit DummyCrabbyFL.kwickmenu.com.