Category: Dining & Entertainment

Nibbles & Bites: Sweet and Savory Comes To Cross Creek!

Fire Up Halal Grill Serves Delicious Mediterranean Cuisine!

Although the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel already has several Mediterranean-themed restaurants (as well as several that have closed for good), there seems to always be room for one more.

That’s especially true in the case of the new Fire Up Halal Grill, located at 10016 Cross Creek Blvd., in the Cross Creek Plaza (in one of the spaces previously occupied by Café Olé).

The family that owns and operates the new Halal Grill (which is not to be confused with, or owned by the same people, as the Halal Café, which opened briefly further east on Cross Creek Blvd.) moved here recently from Dallas, Texas, where they operated a couple of Halal restaurants.

The owner, Mustafa, is rightfully proud of the new Fire Up Halal Grill. According to its website (FireUpHalalGrill.com), “Fire Up Halal Grill is home to amazing Halal cuisine. Enjoy our homemade dishes and welcoming space! In case you’re searching for top-notch Halal food, Fire Up Halal Grill is unquestionably one of the spots to go in Tampa. Our menu features your favorite Mediterranean dishes — such as: chicken shawarma, beef kebab, lamb shawarma wrap, falafel, baklava and much more deliciousness!”

All I can say is that after sampling both the chicken kabob entrée and lamb gyro pita wrap sandwich (photo above left, shown without onions and the accompanying sauces, as I ordered it), Mustafa and his family definitely are living up to their promises of delicious Mediterranean food in an inviting space.

The menu also includes beef, chicken and lamb shawarma entrées served over the same delicious rice as shown in the top picture, beef, chicken, lamb and kofta kebab entrées and wraps, plus falafel, hummus, tabouleh and dolma, plus flaky baklava for dessert. They even offer catering and delivery is available through UberEats, DoorDash, GrubHub & Toast. For more info, call (813) 591-1133. — GN

Hello Sweetness Opens In Cross Creek Plaza!

A new dessert place called Hello Sweetness is officially open at 10018 Cross Creek Blvd. (at Kinnan St.) in the Cross Creek Center plaza, between the also-new Fire Up Halal Grill and The Liquor Shoppe. All three stores are helping revive the plaza, which has had vacancies in those spaces for a while.

We never were able to catch up with the owners of Hello Sweetness, but the website HelloSweetnessDesserts.com says the new café features gelato, crepes, waffles and coffee. For their most popular desserts you pick a base (such as a crepe or a waffle) and then pick two fruits (strawberries, blueberries, bananas, peaches or raspberries), two sauces (Nutella, white chocolate, caramel, marshmallow, peanut butter or lotus) and two toppings from a variety of choices.

Crepes, waffles and gelato seem to be the stars of the show at Hello Sweetness, but its nice spacious interior and super-friendly staff also make it a nice spot on that end of Cross Creek Blvd. to stop in for a coffee or latte.

For more information, call (813) 575-9003. — GN

Nibbles & Bites

Thousands Flock To KRATE Opening! (Photo gallery, too!)

“It’s a home run.”

That’s how Wesley Chapel’s Jon Kramer described the KRATE at the Grove’s Grand Opening on June 4, while sitting in the shade holding a beer as his wife Faith sipped on a sangria. Their dogs, Marley, a 5-year-old Golden Doodle, and Maverick, a 6-year-old Labradoodle, also enjoyed the shade.

Developer Mark Gold promised KRATE would be cool. And on June 4, that’s what he delivered.Thousands — maybe 8,000 or so, according to one estimate, but no matter your guess, the number was many more than expected — swept up and down the rows of converted shipping containers. Some sat and listened to music, children got their faces painted and frolicked on the playground, and slowly but surely the large crowd completely drained many of the 18 open restaurants of their tasty contents. leaving the owners and their employees with no time to catch their breath.

Miguel Calvo, who owns Chamo Bites, lives five minutes from the KRATE at the Grove, and had to run home four times to get more food to restock his container. At the end of the day, he was moved, maybe even a little shaken, by the outpouring of support. He called it “life-changing” and showed off an arm full of goosebumps.

It was the kind of festive event that Chappies have been yearning for.

“This is the best thing to ever happen to this place,” said Jon, who has lived just a few footsteps away from The Grove for 22 years. He has watched what was once nothing but a strip mall sprout from the ground, then wither and nearly die, until Gold showed up and promised to save it.

When Gold and Co. crossed the finish line at the Grand Opening, Jon and Faith were there to celebrate with them.Twice, in fact. The Kramers came in the morning, and then returned again in the evening.

And, get this — in between, they drove to downtown Tampa to have a drink at Sparkman Wharf, the trendy, smaller container park that opened along Channelside Dr. in 2018.

And, while Wesley Chapel may still not be quite as hip as downtown Tampa, it’s clear to Jon that Sparkman Wharf is now officially Tampa Bay’s “other” container park.

“KRATE blows it away,” he says. “They have a few bars and food and nothing else. Here, there is that and local artisans and local shops. It’s just better.”

That will be music to Gold’s ears. On numerous occasions, due to the delays and hurdles, the developer has referred to the nearly three-year KRATE project as “Mission Impossible.” But, he never doubted that once it was completed, it would be a big hit.

A home run, even.

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KRATE Balls Of Fire, It Officially Opens Saturday!

The KRATE Container Park at The Grove has opened in bits and pieces over the past few months, but this Saturday, June 4, the park will finally celebrate its Grand Opening.

More than 70 percent of the 94 repurposed shipping containers will be “officially” open for business — although many have been open for months — and the celebration will be marked by live music at a new bandshell, family events and plenty of food and shopping.

The Grand Opening celebration on the 4th is scheduled from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., with nighttime entertainment from 6 p.m.-9 p.m.

A Friends & Family event was held June 1, drawing a sizable crowd that included social media influencers with a total following of roughly four million.

“Opening KRATE was mission impossible,” Grove developer Mark Gold of Mishorim-Gold Properties says. “We did not expect a pandemic, supply chain shortages, and a backlog in permitting. But, we did it and everything we promised we would do has become reality. We are proud of the sense of community we have built here at the Grove at Wesley Chapel and our KRATE park and look forward to providing even more opportunities to bring together friends, families, and neighbors.”

KRATE is just one part, but perhaps the crown jewel, of The Grove’s transformation, which began when Mishorim-Gold Properties, a partnership between Gold and Mishorim Real Estate, bought the 200+ acres for $62.7 million in 2019. Gold has since poured more than $100 million into renovations, including $20 million or so for a container park he promised would be one-of-a-kind.

KRATE faced a number of obstacles to opening, primarily due to Covid-19 and permitting snags. But little by little, the containers were transformed inside and outside — thanks in large part to artist Whitney Holbourn, whose hand-painted, business-themed murals adorn the exterior of each shop — into an attractive, outdoor shopping park featuring 70% restaurants and 30% retail businesses.

Nickole Davis, who opened All Good Things Gifts in February, says she is excited to see KRATE take another step toward reality. Davis sells a variety of personalized items, like her popular Wesley Chapel-branded home decorations, and says local consumers will be pleased by the variety of different kinds of shops in the KRATE, which include a children’s boutique, a Budget Blinds showroom and a huge variety of different cuisines from around the world, including Puerto Rican, French, Hawaiian, Mediterranean, Venezuelan and Japanese influences and so many more.

“The park is still in its infancy and there’s a lot of room for growth, so I think as more people know that it’s open, it can become something special,” says Davis, who added that her business has been hitting sales goals and doing very well since opening.

She is not alone. Some of the restaurants, like the Bacon Boss HQ, TJ’s Hot Dogs and Mojo Grill Latin Fusion, have been regularly selling out and running out of inventory, a sign that the public is eager for the KRATE.

Portions of the parking area between the various KRATEs have opened, including by the Bacon Boss HQ (nearest the stage at the north end of the park) and other interior parking areas around the other KRATEs, but that parking will be closed for the Grand Opening event on June 4, due to the amount of foot traffic expected in the area.

There will be plenty of KRATE parking in the lot in front of the big box stores at The Grove, including World Market and Dick’s Sporting Goods. Gold also promises that a separate KRATE parking lot is coming to the south end of the container park (north of the Outback Steak House) that should be done “soon.”

Also Coming Soon…

In addition to KRATE, Gold continues to fill the rest of The Grove property. New businesses slated to open in the near future include: Woodie’s Wash Shack, Five Below, Bealls Outlet/Home Centric, Starbucks, a national rental car chain, a national grocery store and a miniature golf course.

“We are the ultimate shopping and entertainment destination, not just for Wesley Chapel, but for the region and around the world,” Gold says.

Which KRATEs Are Already Open & Which Ones Are Still To Come?

OPEN RESTAURANTS & BARS:

Please note that we will have full reviews of each of the following open & planned eateries in future issues. But, where else but the KRATE Container Park can you find all of these cuisine types?:
• Tasty Ramen
• El Prince Mediterranean
• Shake-A-Salad
• The Fryroom
• La Creacion Express
• Mojo Grill Latin Fusion
• Provisions Coffee & Kitchen
• The Bacon Boss HQ
• TJ’s Hot Dogs
• Tacos El Patron
• Chamo Bites Venezuelan Cuisine
• Subzero Nitrogen Ice Cream
• Blush Wine Room
• Urban Sweets
• Palani’s Hawai’i Noodles
• Brew Bar
• Yummy Tablas
• Rhythm Pon Jamaican Grill

OPEN KRATE RETAIL SHOPS:
• The Rebellious Hippie
• Maeberry Co.
• Katie Beth’s Boutique
• Pasco EDC’s Smart Start
• All Good Things Gifts
• We Rock Rocks
• Gadgets Emergency Room
• Tonella’s Flower Shop
• Budget Blinds
• Center Ed

RESTAURANTS STILL TO COME:
• Boba Mac’s Tea & Eats
• Falafel Factory
• Pisco Peruvian Chinese
• Ato Japanese
• 365 Café
• Bakery X
• Bebo’s Cheesesteaks
• Sugar Pop!
• Flipn’ Fries
• Higher Flour
• Café Zorba

KRATE RETAILERS STILL TO COME:
• Insane Vape & Smoke Shop
• The Toy Jungle
• Grove Cigars
• 2 Extreme Tattoos
• Valiart Jewelry Designs
• Life Essentials Refillery

Nibbles & Bites: Toys & More KRATE Goodies

Zen’s Toyland Opens On S.R. 56

Zen’s Toyland has opened on the north side of S.R. 56, in the former location of Mattress One, between Mellow Mushroom and Chuy’s Tex-Mex.

This is the third Zen’s Toyland location, as the same owner has stores in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

The large toy store has a great selection of fun and educational toys and games, everything from Globber scooters, Brio train sets and Wild Republic plush animals to Schleich dinosaur figures (photo above), Lego blocks, Green Toys trucks and “Bubble Glob” NeeDoh and so much more.

And, if you join the Zen’s Toyland Loyalty Program, you’ll get $10 off every $100 you spend in the store!

Zen’s Toyland is open every day except Sunday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (until 7 p.m. on Thurs. & Fri.). For more information, call (813) 949-5111, visit ZensToyalnd.com

Check out some of the latest KRATEs

Although, as we’ve been telling you, several additional former shipping containers at the KRATE Container Park are likely to open before the June 4 Grand Opening event, a couple of additional KRATEs have opened since our last issue.

I am definitely impressed with both the food and the desserts at the new La Creacion Express, which has a larger original bakery location on W. Hillsborough Ave. in Tampa. The Puerto Rican cuisine items include the Tripleta sandwich (with pork, ham and steak, American cheese and mayoketchup) and tender chicken or pork skewers (I ordered the zesty barbecue sauce on the side). La Creacion also offers a variety of empanadas (beef, chicken, pizza, octopus & shrimp), as well as desserts called quesitos (flaky pastry stuffed with cream cheese). Finish it all off with a Puerto Rican Medalla Light beer. For more info, call (813) 528-8163.

Speaking of great beers, the new Brew Bar at the KRATEs is a self-pour tap room with a rotating variety of 21 beers on tap, including locals like Big Storm Brewing Oatmeal Stout, and Tampa Bay Brewing Co. Reef Donkey, plus favorites like Stella Artois and Blue Moon, hard ciders, prosecco, red sangria, moscato and more.

For more information, visit “Brew Bar Wesley Chapel” on Facebook. — GN

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Frammi Italian & American Cuisine Adding More Italian Fare!

For everyone who hasn’t yet tried Frammi American Grille & Italian Food, located on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. just north of I-75 in New Tampa, I only have one question — Why not???

For those who loved the burgers at the old Oakley’s Grille, which Luca and his wife Erika took over nearly four years ago, Frammi does still serve those award-winning burgers, crispy fries and other American favorites, but Luca and Erika have brought, as he says, “the genuine cuisine that you find in the homes of Italians, in the everyday kitchens of Sunday family lunches.”

Luca, who is from southern Italy, and Erika, who is from the north of the boot-shaped country, have each contributed their favorite recipes of their respective regions to Frammi, which was changed from Oakley’s during the pandemic — and folks from New Tampa and beyond have been rightfully thrilled with the results.

“We import many ingredients in our dishes from Italia to maintain authenticity,” Luca says, “and all Italian and American dishes are prepared from scratch, so please realize that cooking fresh food from scratch takes time.”

And, speaking of fresh, Luca adds, “We apologize if we don’t always have your favorite dishes, but we don’t freeze anything and our quantities are limited.”

So, What’s New?

Luca has definitely committed to expanding both the Italian and American sides of his two-sided menu. Our favorite new American dish is the fried chicken sandwich, which is a full breast filet, lightly battered and flash-fried to golden crisp on the outside, but still incredibly juicy on the inside. When you add in those perfect fries (which are included), you really can’t go wrong.

But, as much as we love Frammi’s American food (the chicken fajitas, which really are more like fajita meat soft tacos, are pretty great, too), it’s the always-amazing Italian fare that keeps bringing us back. And, Luca says the Italian menu items are definitely from both the north and south of his native country.

My favorite from Luca’s southern region is probably still the linguine alla vongole (with clams, diced tomatoes, parsley, extra virgin olive oil, red hot crushed peppers, white wine and garlic) and Jannah’s favorite is the parmigiana di melanzana (eggplant parm), but the new, lightly spicy pasta Amatriciana (rigatoni with fresh tomato sauce, pancetta, diced tomatoes, pecorino Romano cheese, red hot peppers and parsley) is an amazing addition.

Our favorite dish from Erika’s northern region is the ragu di salsiccia (penne with Italian sausage ragu (onions, celery, carrots, tomato sauce, Italian sausage and red wine), although the Black Angus beef ragu also is outstanding, and the lasagna (made with bechamel sauce, instead of ricotta) is both authentic and a best-seller.

And, although they aren’t new to the menu, on our most recent visit we also loved two of the other pasta entrées we hadn’t tried before — the fettuccine carbonara (with crisp pancetta, parmesan and pecorino Romano cheeses, eggs and black pepper) and the fusilli alla pesto (made with basil and pine nut-rich pesto sauce imported from Genova). All of Frammi’s pasta dishes are served al denté (firm) without having to ask for them that way and are so authentic, they’ll have you singing “O Sole Mio” in no time.

One of the other dishes from the Italian side of the menu that we tried recently but hadn’t gotten to sample before is the vegetable soup (with carrots, onion, celery, potatoes, extra virgin olive oil, parmesan cheese and rosemary), which Luca says is like real Italian minestrone, but not like the red broth-based minestrone you may have had at other places.

We also enjoy the bruschetta (diced tomatoes, garlic and extra virgin olive oil on crisp Italian ciabatta bread) and the meatball sandwich, which are Luca’s famous authentic fried Black Angus meatballs topped with mozzarella cheese, but with a side of tomato sauce for dipping, instead of served on the sandwich itself. The mixed Italian salad is a huge portion of romaine and iceberg lettuce, diced tomatoes, carrots, hard-boiled eggs and fresh imported mozzarella cheese served with Italian dressing. The hot pressed Cuban, spicy Italian and mufaletta sandwiches proudly include Boar’s Head meats, and include a free soda if you order one of them on Saturday.

Other daily specials are served Tuesday-Saturday — Burger Tuesday, Chicken Wednesday (both specials include a free soda), Philly Thursday (get $1 off the ribeye or chicken cheesesteak and fries) and Healthy Friday (all salads are $1.50 off).

And, while we rarely leave room for dessert, the tiramisu and Nutella crepes are great options and Frammi also offers beer, wine and soft drinks.

Frammi (17631 BBD) is closed on Mon. but is open Tues.-Sat, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., and noon-8 p.m. on Sun. Call (813) 523-5075, or visit Frammi.com. Delivery is available through DoorDash, Mobile Meals and Uber Eats.

Frammi