Category: Dining & Entertainment

Peabody’s To Host

Oktoberfest Oct. 21!

If you’re looking for something fun to do on Friday, October 21, we suggest visiting Peabody’s Grill & Bar in the Shoppes of Amberly plaza in Tampa Palms for Peabody’s Oktoberfest. The cost to attend is just $7 for advance tickets, $10 the day of the event, which will run 7 p.m.-10 p.m.

Peabody’s Oktoberfest attendees will be treated to great craft beer samples, live music, complimentary appetizers, chances to win great free prizes and of course, the beautiful Peabody’s servers and bartenders in their finest German attire!

And, don’t forget that Peabody’s also is your college and pro football headquarters, with more TVs, great beer and food specials, billiards, darts, live and DJ music and much more!

Check out the ad on page 19 of this issue for a coupon that will get you one free Peabody’s Oktoberfest ticket when you buy two. Peabody’s is located at 15333 Amberly Dr. For more info, call 972-1725 or visit PeabodysTampa.com.

 

PJ Dolan’s Adds Lunch!

In our last issue, we had a feature story on PJ Dolan’s Irish Pub & Grille, located in the Palms Connection plaza on E. Bearss Ave., just west of Bruce B. Downs Blvd.

Well, since then, PJ Dolan’s has decided to add lunch every day (Tuesday-Sunday; it’s closed on Mondays) and, with the ad on page 51 of this issue, you can get one lunch entrée free when you buy one at the regular price.

PJ Dolan’s also now has karaoke, live music and the great Sunday brunch we told you about last issue.

For more info, call PJ Dolan’s (2836 E, Bearss Ave.) at 374-2338 or visit PJDolan’s.com.

 

The New Quail Hollow CC Lounge Is A Must-Try!

Just because I can’t yet tell you what kind of cuisine is the top specialty at the newly renovated Restaurant & Lounge at Quail Hollow Golf & Country Club (QHGCC), that doesn’t mean the food isn’t awesome (it is) or the place isn’t beautiful and classy. (Yes, Quail Hollow! Go see it!)

New owner Andre Corolla recently reopened the decades-old local semi-private golf course and from what I hear, the course itself looks and plays so much better, all you’d really need to believe that Quail Hollow is not only all-new, but awesome, is a great-looking new clubhouse (check), an ultra-premium full-liquor bar (yep) and a real restaurant serving delicious food at, well, semi-private golf course prices.

There’s a lot more to tell you about QHGCC, but it’ll have to wait until I’ve tried more than two menu items, both of which are literally already among my favorite menu items in Wesley Chapel — the grilled romaine heart Caesar (which is on the current menu; photo) and a thick, grilled ribeye steak which was served on opening night (but isn’t on the current menu), topped with grilled onions and served with sautéed veggies and garlic mashed potatoes. The steak was seasoned right, not as fatty as some ribeyes can be and grilled to medium rare perfection. If this is my first taste, Andre, bring on the rest of the dinner menu!

The restaurant & lounge at QHGCC also is open for what sounds like an amazing breakfast with unique egg sandwich options…and for lunch, where the 10-oz hamburgers and Big Bertha hot dogs (and other great sandwiches) are all already becoming favorites among the locals.

QHGCC is located at 6225 Old Pasco Rd., less than a half-mile from both S.R. 54 and Oakley Blvd. in Wesley Chapel. Call 333-0033 for more info about the club, but please go and tell these folks we sent you!

By Gary Nager

Jalapeno – New Tampa’s Authentic Mexican Cuisine!

So, we finally have Mexican cuisine in New Tampa that can not be classified as “fast food.” Jalapeno Mexican Grille, which opened recently in the space previously occupied first by the Louis Pappas Market Cafe and more recently by Joy of Tokyo in the Oak Ramble Plaza, is a casual, but elegant restaurant featuring truly authentic (and delicious) Mexican cuisine.

Owner/chef Miguel Espinosa and his wife, Dawn Boyer, opened Jalapeno only a couple of months after Joy of Tokyo closed, due to the death of its owner (which we have reported in previous issues).

The place is lovely, the food is delicious and the price is right at Jalapeno, with everything from sizzling fajitas (photo, $10.95-$12.95), pescado Tampeno (lightly Panko-breaded and seared catch of the day served on a bed of rice and topped with arugula and pico de gallo, $10.95) and even a grilled 8-oz. New York strip steak served with an enchilada mole sauce ($12.95) are all priced low enough to enjoy every day. Most entrées and small plates at Jalapeno cost $5.95-$11.95 and Miguel, who worked at many different types of restaurants in New York City, delivers on his promise of delicious food. Even the homemade salsa rocks!

For more information, see Jalapeno’s ad on page 45, stop in at 19493 Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., call 977-0800 or visit JalapenoTampa.com. Jalapeno is open every day for lunch and dinner.

 

Machismo Moves To Palms Connection

If you’re looking for something a little faster, Machismo, the Southwestern build-your-own burrito bar that previously was located in the Oak Ramble Plaza (very close to Acropolis Greek Taverna), has re-opened in the Palms Connection on E. Bearss Ave., just west of BBD, less than a mile south of its previous location.

Now under new ownership, Machismo still features fresh, huge, create-your-own burritos and salad bowls, nachos, tacos and quesadillas with the finest ingredients and more than 30 different hot sauces at its hot sauce bar, but has now added ice cold Mexican and other imported and domestic beers to the mix.

If you liked Machismo before, check out its larger, more comfortable location and please tell them that the Neighborhood News sent you!

Machismo Burrito Bar is located at 2808 E. Bearss Ave., next to Big Papa’s Pit. For more info, visit MachismoBurritoBar.com or call 977-9796.

 

Tijuana Flats Opens On BBD

Speaking of fast Mexican/Southwestern cuisine, Tijuana Flats has opened another location in our area (the other close locations are on S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel and on S.R. 54 at Collier Pkwy. in Land O’Lakes).

The newest Tijuana Flats (17501 Preserve Walk Lane) opened in August in the space previously occupied by Shane’s Rib Shack, next to Verizon Wireless, in Highwoods Preserve off BBD at Dona Michelle Dr.

Tijuana Flats features burritos, quesadillas, chimichangas, enchiladas, tostadas and even fish tacos.

For more information, call 975-0483 or visit TijuanaFlats.com.

 

Here & There, This & That

In non-Mexican/Southwestern dining news, Cole’s BBQ, which previously was located in the Shoppes at The Pointe plaza in Tampa Palms, has re-opened in the space formerly occupied by Jimmy Z’s BBQ in the Cross Creek Plaza at 10861 Cross Creek Blvd., less than a mile west of Morris Bridge Rd. Owner/chef Bradley Cole and his wife Tracy invite you to visit Coles’ spacious new location or call 986-9500 for more info.

Although we did not have details at our press time, we saw that Wasabi Japanese Steak & Sushi on BBD in front of the Pebble Creek Collection has been sold. The new restaurant will still have a Japanese flavor, as the small Kobe Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar chain was getting ready to open in Wasabi’s space at 19601 BBD at our press time. Call (866) 543-5623 or visit KobeSteakhouse.com for info.

And finally, I recently stopped in on a Tuesday night at Café Olé in the Cross Creek Center plaza on Cross Creek Blvd. and I was surprised to hear the dulcet tones and light acoustic guitars of Vincent Indelicato and Conner McNamee singing and playing the guitar. The two New Tampa residents and Jesuit High juniors, who also attended Benito Middle School together, will be performing at Café Olé during $5 Tapas Tuesdays, including next Tuesday, September 13. For info, call Café Olé at 907-5242.) The boys also will perform at Mulligan’s Irish Pub at the Pebble Creek Golf Club (PCGC) on Saturday, September 16. For info, call PCGC at 973-3870. — GN