Yard House Unconfirmed But Now Rumored To Be The Front Runner To Replace Bahama Breeze On S.R. 56
Above is an absolutely not-to-scale NN composite map showing the existing businesses on the south side of Wesley Chapel (WC) Blvd. between Old Pasco Rd. & Gateway Blvd., with the site plan for the now-under-construction Gateway Plaza Retail Center superimposed to show the approximate location of Olive Garden (believed to be “Restaurant #1” on map) and Seasons 52 (believed to be “Restaurant #2”). The project also will include a dental office that will have its entrance off Gateway Blvd. The map shows Centerline Dr., which starts behind Slim Chickens, intersecting with the new plaza, but does not properly show where WC Blvd. & Gateway Blvd. connect to it. (NN-created map sources: Google Maps & Pasco County)
The restaurant rumor mill in the Wesley Chapel area has been swirling even more recently, with the previously announced planned closure and rebranding of the Bahama Breeze Island Grill on the north side of S.R. 56.
At almost the same time, the previously announced Olive Garden restaurant, located at the intersection of Wesley Chapel Blvd. (aka S.R. 54), Gateway Blvd. and Centerline Dr. (see map), began clearing the land for the Gateway Plaza Retail Center with Olive Garden, a dental office and a second previously unnamed restaurant.
After reading on one of the local Facebook groups that the second restaurant was going to be Seasons 52, I then had my research guy and correspondent Joel Provenzano look into the development plan and Joel did find that Seasons 52 is indeed the second restaurant coming to that site — even though Seasons 52 also was announced as one of the Darden Restaurant brands that could replace Bahama Breeze on S.R. 56.
We will keep you posted on the progress of Olive Garden and Seasons 52, but having those two Darden Brands now coming to Wesley Chapel Blvd. less than 5 miles from Bahama Breeze, seems to have narrowed even further the possible options to replace the island-themed eatery across from the Tampa Premium Outlets.
The Wesley Chapel area’s existing Darden Brands already include Longhorn Steakhouse, Chuy’s, Cheddars Scratch Kitchen and now Olive Garden and Seasons 52.
That leaves only Darden’s most upscale restaurants — Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, Ruth’s Chris Steak House and The Capital Grille, plus Yard House sports pub, with Yard House rumored (also in online chat we’ve seen) to be the front runner. But, with Bahama Breeze still 12-18 months from being repurposed and no official announcement yet forthcoming from Darden, all we can say is we’ll keep you posted.
All of the remaining links in the Bahama Breeze Island Grille chain are either completely shutting down or will be converted to other Darden Restaurants brands — including the Bahama Breeze located at 25830 Sierra Center Blvd. (across S.R. 56 from the Tampa Premium Outlets) (photo).
All 28 remaining Bahama Breeze locations across the U.S. are closing, according to a Feb. 3 Darden news release, after previously shuttering a third of its locations in 2025.
As mentioned above, half of those remaining Bahama Breeze locations — including the one in Lutz/Wesley Chapel — will be converted to other Darden eateries (see below), although it was not disclosed in the press release which locations would be converted into which brands.
The other 14 Bahama Breezes will close permanently on April 5. The 14 that are remaining open — including ten of the 14 in Florida, where the brand first opened in the 1990s — will remain open for the next 12-18 months, although there will likely be some temporary closures along the way, as needed for the locations to be converted.
The list of the Darden brands still operating include a number of more upscale eateries that many locals — after first reading about this news on social media — are hopeful will find a home at the location on S.R. 56.
Here is that list of possible Darden brands that our Bahama Breeze could become:
• Eddie V’s Prime Seafood
• Ruth’s Chris Steak House
• The Capital Grille
• Seasons 52
• Yard House
• Olive Garden Italian Kitchen
• Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen
• Longhorn Steakhouse
• Chuy’s
Of course, Cheddars, Longhorn and Chuy’s all already have locations on S.R. 56 and a previously undeveloped parcel on Wesley Chapel Blvd. to the east of Chick’n Fun is now under construction and may include Olive Garden, although we were unable to get official confirmation as to whether or not Olive Garden is still coming to 27391 Centerline Dr., just west of Gateway Blvd. — the plans for which were apparently submitted way back in Aug. 2025 — or whether that location would preclude another Olive Garden being opened in the former Bahama Breeze spot.
Obviously, the first four or five (as most people would probably also be OK with Yard House) Darden brands on the list would be the most desirable to locals, but we will keep you posted on any such announcements. — GN
In our most competitive category in our 2020 Survey, where the top five vote getters were separated by just a handful of votes, Treble Makers, one of the first new restaurants to open in The Village at The Grove shopping center, sneaked into the top spot as your favorite American eatery in either of our markets.
While that may seem a little surprising when you consider how many restaurants are now located in Wesley Chapel alone, it’s no surprise at all to anyone who’s eaten there — especially if you’ve enjoyed a delicious dinner and stayed for the dueling piano shows on the weekends or for the live music on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Chef Kevin Maggard’s menu will likely continue to grow and evolve over time, but he already has a lot of favorites from which to choose, including the unique coconut curry grouper and some of the tenderest, best-seasoned steaks in either of our distribution areas.
I also regularly rave about Treble Makers’ calamari, ahi tuna and diver scallops appetizers. — GN
The chicken wings at Bubba’s 33 are some of the best around.
2 — BUBBA’S 33 The surprise here isn’t that Bubba’s 33 finished #2 in this “Favorite American” category, it was more that Bubba’s only finished as your 17th favorite restaurant in WC despite its great menu and drink and food prices.
3 — BONEFISH GRILL Bonefish Grill is obviously one of the consistent favorites among our readers again this year, as it finished as both your third favorite restaurant in Wesley Chapel and third favorite American restaurant in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel.
4 — BAHAMA BREEZE Bahama Breeze Even though a good portion of its menu isn’t necessarily “American” food, Bahama Breeze also was pretty consistent, finishing as your fifth favorite restaurant in WC and fourth favorite American restaurant in both of our markets.
5 — FAT RABBIT Fat Rabbit in Tampa Palms is a classic American joint. The bar serves ice cold beer, including its own craft brew, the burgers and wings are terrific and the super-crispy tater tots shouldn’t be as good as they are.
The Next 10, in order of votes: Oakley’s, GrillSmith, Ciccio Cali, BJ’s Brewhouse, Stonewood, Mr. Dunderbak’s, Glory Days, Walk-On’s, Cheddars, Ford’s Garage.
With the possible exception of the hotel/tourism industry, there’s little doubt that the restaurant business was among the most Covid-affected industry sectors in Florida in 2020.
And, although many of the new eateries that opened in Wesley Chapel in 2020 were delayed by the pandemic, the past year was still one of the busiest for new restaurant openings in Wesley Chapel.
Among the new eateries that opened in 2020 in (and adjacent to) Wesley Chapel were the following:
Main Event — Yes, we realize that the bowling and entertainment center is more than “just” a restaurant, Main Event did host one of the first North Tampa Bay Chamber ribbon-cutting events following Gov. Ron DeSantis’ pandemic-caused shutdown of just about everything here in the Sunshine State.
Double Branch Artisanal Ales — Again, Double Branch, located in The Village at The Grove of Wesley Chapel (above), doesn’t yet qualify as a “restaurant” — at least not until its kitchen opens — but it has offered pizzas from a food truck outside the craft beer brewery and should open a kitchen inside in 2021. Even so, enough of Wesley Chapel’s craft beer-crazed residents voted for it as their Favorite Bar in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel for it to finish in this year’s top-5 in that category.
Treble Makers— Another entertainment venue that opened in The Grove at Wesley Chapel during the early stages of Florida’s restaurant re-openings, Treble Makers was one of the few newcomers to register more than a blip with our readers, finishing as the 4th Favorite restaurant in Wesley Chapel (see list, right) and Favorite American Restaurant in both of our distribution areas. if you haven’t tasted the coconut curry grouper, fried calamari or grilled filet mignon, you owe it to yourself to check out Treble Makers for a dueling piano show on Friday or Saturday night ‚ or anytime!
Rock & Brews — Considering how packed the place has been (even with social distancing) inside and out since the moment it opened, we were a little surprised that the first Tampa Bay link in this small chain (on S.R. 56) — inspired and owned in part by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of the rock group KISS — didn’t get any votes at all from our readers, until we realized that it didn’t open until a week before we shut down the voting. With great live music on the weekends and everything from unique bruschetta to sweet heat fried chicken on the menu, Rock & Brews will likely make our 2021 top-10 — and look for it to finish at least that high when I reveal my 2020 favorites in our next issue.
Florida Ave. Brewing Co. — Another hotly-anticipated entry that opened too late to receive reader votes this year, the former location of Sports & Field on S.R. 56 has a unique menu, with items like bibimbap bowls, Chinese sticky ribs and smoked gouda lobster mac & cheese, to go with more typical sports bar fare, an amazing craft beer selection, full liquor bar and private tasting rooms.
Zukku-San Sushi Bar & Grill — Again, Zukku-San opened too late to get any reader votes this year, but it is a beautiful new restaurant with a full liquor bar, great sushi and Japanese specialties (including the best tempura and chicken teriyaki we’ve had in years) and a true South Tampa vibe. Look for Zukku-San to register with our readers in 2021 and to finish very high in my list of faves this year.
Chuck Lager America’s Tavern — After years of failed attempts to improve the former PrimeBar location in the Shops at Wiregrass, the third location of Chuck Lager’s in the U.S. (and only one in Florida) brought in great food from the mind and kitchen of celebrity TV chef Fabio Viviani and a beautiful-looking new place for lunch and dinner that also opened too late to register with our readers (above) this year but will still make my list of Wesley Chapel favorites and will surely do just as well with our readers next year.
Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. — As a transplanted native New Yorker, I appreciate the “legit” kettle-boiled-then-baked bagels and “Brooklynized” water used for the bagels and coffee at this new favorite on S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel, which could contend for “Favorite Breakfast” in our distribution areas with our readers next year.
Crumbl Cookie — Although it also opened too late to make a splash in this year’s Reader Survey, not since Nothing Bundt Cakes opened in the Shops at Wiregrass has any new dessert-only place created such a stir in our community. The decadent churro and s’mores cookies are our favorites of Crumbl Cookie’s rotating flavors so far.
GrillSmith’s offering of fresh fish dishes helped make it Wesley Chapel’s favorite.
1 — GrillSmith has been among the favorite restaurants in Wesley Chapel with our readers since the day it opened in the Shops at Wiregrass, but it was a little surprising for it to regain its top spot as the #1 in Wesley Chapel from 2018 (after finishing second to Bahama Breeze last year) with all the new places that opened.
Even so, it’s hard to argue with our readers on this one, as GrillSmith does have a great menu with a lot of variety that has been added over the years — including an increased choice of steaks, flatbreads, pastas and more.
I also believe that the fact that GrillSmith has added truly fresh “short trip” Florida fish and is one of the few local places that can surprise you with cobia, corvina or even amberjack, in addition to the more common grouper, snapper and mahi-mahi.
Plus, throw in its bottomless bubbles for weekend brunch, its expanded lunch menu and socially distanced bar area and prime location in the Shops and you’ll understand why GrillSmith’s return to the top spot isn’t that surprising at all.
2 — 900º Woodfired Pizza is more than just a “regular old pizza place,” although few do pizza any better. But its delicious tortellini della casa, pesto di Genovese and other pasta dishes make it so much more.
3 — Bonefish Grill is one of the few other choices for truly fresh fish in our area and there’s no doubt its now-open new location on S.R. 56 (with plenty of parking!) will help make it even more popular with our readers in 2021.
4 — Treble Makers was one of the first new restaurants to open in “The Chap” early enough in 2020 to register with our readers and its outstanding steaks, fresh fish and tuna (above) and dueling pianos entertainment will likely keep it high on this list for years to come.
5 — Bahama Breeze dropped a few slots this year when compared with last, but this island-themed eatery’s popular Jamaican, Cajun and American specialties, live music and indoor/outdoor bar areas featuring tropical drinks (above) are appreciated by our readers.
There’s no doubt that Bahama Breeze Island Grille is popular, but considering the selection of bars and restaurants now located in Wesley Chapel, it was a bit of a surprise to see the popular Darden Restaurants brand take home both our readers’ Favorite Bar in WC and Favorite Restaurant.
It probably shouldn’t be so surprising, however, considering that the Bahama Breeze bar has more seats — inside and out — than any other in or near Wesley Chapel. In addition, it’s one of our area’s few live music venues and, Melissa says, “with so many other restaurants and businesses having opened around us, there’s a lot more nearby parking than there was when this location opened.”
And of course, for those seeking sweet tropical specialty drinks, few local hangouts offer the variety that Bahama Breeze does, from a full line of mojitos to cocktail flights to the famous Bahamarita, or half-priced appetizers during Happy Hour and other bar specials.
And, Melissa says, all Bahama Breeze locations will again be celebrating National Margarita Day with $2.22 margaritas all day. Might I suggest a ride-share service to go that day? Bahama Breeze is located at 25830 Sierra Center Blvd., Lutz. For more information, call (813) 949-0779 or visit BahamaBreeze.com. — GN
2. Brass Tap, for my money, is truly Wesley Chapel’s premier bar hangout and has only grown in popularity since the nearby Primebar closed in the Shops at Wiregrass. With the cheapest premium full-liquor bar prices at the mall and karaoke, live music and trivia, the Brass Tap is hard to beat.
3. BJ’s Brewhouse would finish higher on my own list of Wesley Chapel favorites if it just had a few additional seats at its always-packed bar. BJ’s has one of the more-rounded food menus in Wesley Chapel, and reasonable enough prices, it just could use a more bar-friendly configuration, in one editor’s opinion.
4. The Basement has long been one of Wesley Chapel’s best-kept secrets, especially since it’s technically located in Lutz. But, its great beer and hard seltzer/wine-based cocktail selection, karaoke and DJ dance music and occasional comedy nights always bring out a lively, fun crowd — and the drink prices are great.
5. Noble Crust truly offers one of the great bar scenes in Wesley Chapel, with ultra-premium liquor but still fair prices and usually enough seats to accommodate those who don’t want to sit at a table. Noble Crust was the only place this year other than Bahama Breeze to make the top-5 as both a restaurant & bar.
