Category: Nibbles & Bytes

By Gary Nager,

If you went to Bonefish Grill in the Shoppes of New Tampa at Wesley Chapel plaza on BBD earlier this month, you may have found the popular eatery closed for renovations. Although it is now reopened, the renovations were primarily to the kitchen, so don’t expect a whole new look if you visit Bonefish — but feel free to tell them we sent you!

Meanwhile, we’re still waiting for official announcements about the opening of the new Ciccio’s California Cuisine in the old World of Beer space in the Shoppes at The Pointe plaza in Tampa Palms and the new Vallarta’s Restaurante Mexicano in the most recent Ciccio’s space in City Plaza at Tampa Palms, but we’ve been told that both are still “coming soon.”

Vallarta’s may be open as early as next month, and there also is talk of Ciccio’s opening on December 3.

We’ve also heard a rumor that Lee Roy Selmon’s is once again planning to re-open in its original New Tampa location, but we’ll keep you posted.

By Gary Nager and Matt Wiley,

Two new restaurants are poised to fill the voids in the Shoppes of Wesley Chapel shopping plaza, which is located directly across BBD from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC) and already is home to Dickey’s BBQ, The Hungry Greek & the Latin Twist Café.

Moving into the space vacated by Baja Fresh is D’Alessio’s Restaurante, which will be a casual fine dining Italian restaurant and gourmet pizzeria. Owner Dom D’Alessio says his brother owns Francesco’s Pizzeria in Dade City, which has been very successful, “but this will be a little more upscale, with fine wines, beer and a unique Italian menu.”

Dom says D’Alessio’s should open sometime in November.

In addition, according to a flier posted on the window, Only The Best (O.T.B.) Delights Café will be moving into the space vacated by The Brewhouse coffee shop and Buddy’s Hot Dogs“We will be up early to provide you, our guest, a savory breakfast to start your day,” the flier reads. “We are working hard to open soon and can’t wait to see you!”

The flier says that the restaurant will focus on using local ingredients that don’t include unnatural nitrates, antibiotics or hormones and try to use as little processed food as possible.