Nibbles & Bites: Las Palmas Grand Reopening Now Set For Oct. 24!

You may have been wondering why the Las Palmas food truck is no longer operating in the parking lot in front of the New Tampa Winn-Dixie, just south of County Line Rd. It’s because our friends Ramses and Ana Garcia are getting close to reopening their Las Palmas Latin Grill in the same brick-&-mortar space as it was previously, at 6431 County Line Rd. in the same plaza as LA Fitness and Five Guys.

Las Palmas fans know that a kitchen fire in 2021 closed the restaurant, after which, Ramses bought a food truck so he and Ana could still serve at least some of their delicious, award-winning Cuban-style fare (photos) to their loyal customer base. 

And, although our Oct 17 New Tampa issue, when it hits mailboxes, will report that the revamped Las Palmas was expected to be open by the time that issue reached mailboxes in New Tampa (a little more than two years after the two-year anniversary of the fire), the revised reopening date — as reported on Ramses’ Facebook page — is now set for Tuesday, October 24. 

For more info, visit LasPalmasLatinGrill.com.—GN 

Kobé Japanese Steakhouse Finally Opens! 

Like many of you, we have been waiting for about two years for the official word that the relocated Kobé Japanese Steakhouse would be opening in its new location at 17641 Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. (next to Chili’s Grill & Bar) in New Tampa, a little more than a mile south of its former location in front of the Pebble Creek Collection. 

Well, our wait is over, as the new Kobé opened on Sept. 13, and it is definitely a larger, nicer location (previously occupied by two failed Mexican concepts and Romano’s Macaroni Grill before that) than its previous locale and has already been bringing in large numbers of people since that day. 

The New Tampa Kobé is one of about a dozen locations owned by members of the same family in the Orlando and Tampa Bay areas.

 

On our first visit, Jannah and I and photographer Charmaine George and her boyfriend Brendan all sampled not only some great filet mignon, sirloin steak, chicken, shrimp and scallops on Kobé’s teppanyaki table, we also enjoyed great appetizers like pan-fried gyoza (pork dumplings), a seared tuna tataki and vegetable tempura (photo, right) — all of which were excellent. And of course, who doesn’t love fresh hibachi-grilled veggies, lo mein noodles and fried rice? Jannah also said that her “Peachy Lychee” martini from the new Kobé’s full-liquor bar was excellent. 

For more info about Kobé Japanese Steakhouse’s New Tampa location, which is open for dinner only Mon.-Sat. and for lunch & dinner on Sun, call (813) 680- 5800 or visit KobeSteakhouse.com. — GN

Interested In Advertising On Our Website?

Until recently, only our Neighborhood News print advertisers could advertise on our NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net website, which averages more than 30,000 legitimate “hits” every month — people who log on to actually read our exclusive content — and some stories have generated more than 50,000 hits in a single day. The most recent to generate huge numbers were our breaking story about the new Wesley Chapel Contract Postal Unit opening soon and our story about the “Two Curley Rds.” 

Call (813) 910-2575 or email Jannah at ads@ntneighborhoodnews.com for more information about both print and online advertising with the Neighborhood News!

Nutrition Smart — Wesley Chapel’s Original ‘Green’ Grocer & More!

Special to the Neighborhood News

The knowledgeable and friendly staff at Nutrition Smart’s Wesley Chapel location is ready and eager to serve you!  (Photos by Charmaine George)

In case you missed it, there is a local, natural grocery and vitamin market located in your neighborhood. If you’re interested in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, buying natural groceries, and getting knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful service while shopping for your health needs, you’re in luck —  Nutrition Smart is located right down the street from you, on Bruce B Downs Blvd., just south of S.R. 56.

 Nutrition Smart has long excelled at creating an enjoyable place to shop with competitive prices. CEO Yuda Saban explains, “We are committed to providing the community with an option for healthy living.”  

Are you super busy or just prefer ordering online? Not a problem. Nutrition Smart offers both local delivery and curbside pickup. 

Here are just some of the things you will find in the store:

• Fresh all-organic produce

• Natural groceries, 

• High-quality vitamins & nutritional supplements

• Sports nutrition

• Natural pet care

• Herbs

• Bulk foods

• Raw milk

• Hemp & CBD products

• Aromatherapy

• Homeopathy

• Health & beauty care

• Household products

• And more — at affordable prices.

What makes Nutrition Smart different than the rest?

• The health of Nutrition Smart’s customers really matters to the management of each store and its staff. So, it is the top priority for all of them to provide personalized service to everyone who walks in the door, in order to help them find the right products for their lifestyle.

• Nutrition Smart has been serving the local community for 13 years — featuring an extensive, “niche” selection of healthy living essentials you can’t typically find at other markets.

• Nutrition Smart also offers so many ways to save! Active and veteran military members, first responders, nurses and teachers all receive 10% off  their purchases all day, every day. On Tuesdays, seniors (ages 55 & older) also receive 10% off. You also can sign up for Nutrition Smart’s Email Club, Text Club & and Loyalty Rewards Programs for even more savings. 

Don’t forget – the store offers weekly and monthly sales, consisting of tons of BOGO options. They even price-match their competitors!

And, now that the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic appears to be behind us, the store is re-introducing educational seminars on everything from meditation to juicing and also will be making appearances at community events like the Easter Egg Hunt at the Tampa Premium Outlets this Saturday, March 25. 

For more information, visit NutritionSmart.com or call the store at (813) 341-4444. And please, stop in and see for yourself at 1821 BBD Blvd.

Mayor Castor Keeps Promise To Help Trash Project 

Makenna Reel

No one can say that Tampa Mayor Jane Castor isn’t true to her word.

After promising a few weeks ago at a community forum at Coffee Speaks & Tea Talks in Pebble Creek (as we reported last issue) to come take part in a trash pick-up event planned by Clark Elementary fourth grader Makenna Reel, the mayor, despite having to be at the Gasparilla Distance Classic in downtown Tampa at 5:30 a.m., showed up for the roadside trash pick-up right on time.

“I was still a little surprised,” said a smiling Makenna. “She could have been there or not been there, but she took time out of her day to be there.”

Castor met with many of the volunteers and posed for pictures while encouraging the cleanup of the parking lot at The Walk At Highwoods Preserve shopping center, at the corner of Highwoods Preserve Pkwy. and Bruce B. Downs Blvd., only a mile or so from Makenna’s school.

“This is our home and I think it’s critically important that we keep it clean,” Castor said. “To see litter out in the community, it sends a message that we don’t care about Tampa. So, it’s a huge focus of mine, and I’ll continue to focus for the next four years on keeping Tampa clean.”

Makenna started the Green Clean club at her school after builders of a new roof at Clark left debris behind. She also planned the Feb. 25 cleanup, and was joined by more than two dozen volunteers, who collected about 20 bags of garbage. Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, which provided the bags and gloves, also picked the trash up after it had been collected.

Makenna said the event, her first outside of school property, was a success and added that she’d like to do more.

“I was thinking about going to Flatwoods Park, or maybe I’ll take some suggestions,” Makenna said. “I want everyone to be a part of it.”

PopStroke Ready To Open!

Video screen grab (PopStroke)

Tiger Woods has made it official — PopStroke Wesley Chapel/Tampa is opening at noon on Friday, Feb. 17.

The golf legend announced the opening via his Twitter account Thursday morning.

Located just north and east of the intersection of S.R. 56 and Wesley Chapel Blvd., PopStroke is co-owned by Woods and Craig Bartoli. TGR Design, which is Woods’ golf course design company.

The Wesley Chapel location will feature two 18-hole courses — one will be harder than the other — featuring synthetic turf greens designed to mimic putting on real golf courses. The courses lack the usual mini-golf obstacles, instead focusing on a more realistic experience with undulated greens designed to challenge golfers of all ages, as well as fairways and sand traps.

The mini-golf is complemented by a 10,000-sq.-ft. restaurant and kid’s playground. The restaurant will feature premium food and drinks, as well as 24 different flavors of ice cream. Golfers can see their scores displayed on a large scoreboard, and even order drinks, via an app, that will be delivered to them on the course. 

“It’s one of the only concepts I know of anywhere in world, really, where you can find a 3-, 8-. 27- and 80-year-old enjoying it to the same extent,” Bartoli said at the February 2022 groundbreaking.