Even though there are quite a few Mediterranean/Middle Eastern restaurants located in New Tampa, based on what Iâve already tasted and heard from customers, itâs still well worth a few-minute drive to the Eagle Plaza on Oak Grove Blvd. at S.R. 54 in Lutz to try the new Garden Mediterranean Grill.
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Owners Raja Saad and her husband, Chef Hedi Jlassi (top photo) are both from the Arabic North African nation of Tunisia and they offer a huge variety of delicious Mediterranean-influenced food in a beautiful, but casual setting.
The restaurant now called Garden Mediterranean Grill has had a number of previous tenants, including a Latin restaurant and a number of coffee shops, but Raja and Hedi and their family believe that they have brought the right cuisine and the right price to the location â and yes, the food is delicious!
Whether you dine as a couple of bring a large family or group of friends to the Garden, youâre sure to find plenty of options, as well as huge portions.
So far, the only salad Iâve sampled is the tangy house salad (diced tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, lettuce, parsley, herbs, olive oil and lemon juice), but there also is a great-looking Greek salad, fattoush, tahini and Caesar salads. You also can top your salad with a variety of meats and seafood, including chicken kabobs (so good) or shawarma, beef or lamb shish kabobs, kufta (ground lamb) kabobs, delicious, fresh-cut gyro meat, salmon or shrimp.
Like most Mediterranean restaurants, Garden Mediterranean Grill offers dessert favorites like baklava, warbat (filo dough stuffed with cream) and a variety of cakes, but my favorite so far are the almond baklava fingers shown and the salted caramel cheesecake. Iâve yet to try the baklava with ice cream, but itâs definitely on my list. As for beverages, try the Turkish coffee, the Moroccan mint green tea and the fresh mint lemonade.
Left to right: Mint lemonade, salted caramel cake and hot tea being poured.
Garden Mediterranean Grill is located at 1900 Oak Grove Blvd., Lutz (zip code 33559) and is open Mon.-Thur., 10 a.m.-10 p.m., 10 a.m.-11 p.m. on Fri., 9 a.m.-11 p.m. on Sat. and 9 a.m.-10 p.m. on Sun. For more information, call (813) 528-8088 or see the ad on pg. 39 of our latest issues for a Grand Opening Special 15%-off coupon.
Brian and Amy Makarski had the safe life, with secure, well-paying jobs in Baltimore working in the copier industry, in the middle of a pandemic when many people were losing jobs and too many of those who werenât were living in fear.
However, while everyone else may have been hanging onto their jobs for dear life, Brian and Amy decided to do the opposite.
They let go.
They took their hobby of cooking and catering, married it to an investment in a food truck and moved full-time to New Tampa to start Charm City Eats, a mobile eatery specializing in authentic Maryland crab cakes â broiled, not fried, and donât forget the Old Bay seasoning â and other tasty regional dishes.
âWe were incorporated in June, left our jobs to concentrate full-time on it and started distributing food to focus groups in Maryland to get the recipes just right,â said Brian. âThen, we sold our house in October.â
Neither of them have any regrets. Amy says they have never worked harder in their lives, and are physically exhausted by the end of most days. Some days, she says it feels like they have worked all 24 hours.
âI wore heels and a suit and ran a sales team, sold high-ticket items, but this, this is physically taxing,â says Amy, who was born in Baltimore. âThe amount of dishes, the amount of prep sauces, itâs physically demanding. But, itâs more fulfilling working for yourself.â
Brian, a New Jersey native who attended the University of Central Florida in Orlando, had been commuting back and forth from K-Bar Ranch to Baltimore, where Amy lived, for the past decade or so. In fact, he says he was one of the first K-Bar residents in 2012 when he built the home that is now the Makarskisâ full-time residence.
When Covid hit, however, the family â they have four kids ages 7, 9, 13 and 14 between them â was in Baltimore and quarantined, not leaving the house for months. When they finally did leave, it was for a new life.
âEveryone seems to be shocked that we would do that,â Brian says. âGiving up (nearly mid-six figures) to run a food truck? But, we felt we were stable enough financially to do this. We planned it out. We had all the angles covered. A lot of people thought we were a bit nuts. But if we donât do it now, weâre never gonna do itâ
Even before moving to Florida, Amy had arranged bookings for their first two months in Tampa Bay. She and Brian took advantage of a Pasco Economic Development Council (EDC) food business incubator in Dade City to help launch, and business has been even better than they expected. After meticulously laying out a business plan with reasonable projections, Brian says that, after four months, Charm City Eats was way ahead of our forecast. Our success, we feel, has been spectacular.â
Brian says they are filling a void. On his many trips to the Tampa area, he couldnât help but notice the lack of true Maryland fare in the area. He and Amy even did a tour of Tampa Bay and Orlando, trying every crab cake they could find and found them all lacking.
Brian says the food sold at Charm City Eats is as authentic as it comes. Nothing is frozen, and they prepare everything fresh daily in a commercial kitchen they rent space from in Lutz. Everything is made from scratch â and even the actual food truck was built from scratch.
In addition to focus groups in Maryland, the Makarskis say their own creativity helped forge their menu.
The crab cakes are the food truckâs specialty. Two of their most popular menu items are The Double Down Sandwich, a crab cake topped with hot blue crab dip, and the Crabby Patty is a quarter-pound grass-fed Angus beef burger topped with the blue crab dip. The dip is Amyâs grandmotherâs secret recipe, and Amy says she makes up to 16 quarts of it a day.
While the name of their food truck is a nod to one of Baltimoreâs nicknames â âCharm Cityâ â so are some of the menu items. The Wire is a nod to the legendary HBO crime drama series, which is based in Baltimore. The pickle-brined, double-dredged Sweet Heat chicken sandwich, with tangy cole slaw, is a best seller. Brian said he spent six months perfecting the sweet heat chicken.
Though youâll have to ask for it because itâs not on the menu, Brian and Amy (left) say The Gronk sandwich has been a top seller since the Tampa Bay Bucs started their Super Bowl run.
And, The Gronk has become a best seller as well, but itâs not on the menu. You just need to be in the know to order it. Named for Tampa Bay Bucsâ tight end Rob Gronkowski, The Gronk is truffle crab Mac and Cheese stuffed inside a Crabby Melt.
âItâs probably been our best seller since football season,â Brian says.
While Amy and Brian spend a lot of time in the truck, they have two cooks who work full-time as well.
âAmy and I have certain expectations,â he says. â(The food) needs to look the way I want it to look.â
Amy and Brian donât intend to spend the rest of their lives in front of a fryer. This is not their end game, they say. They are already close to opening a second Charm City Eats truck in Las Vegas, where they finalized expansion plans and got married this past New Yearâs Eve.
They see a lot more major expansion in their future. And no, they have no interest in opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant.
âWe nixed that idea before we were even incorporated,â Brian says.
Chappie Friess
Instead, the Makarskis take great pride in finding unique, popular spots to set up their truck. Trying to zig while everyone else is zagging, Brian says. They have been to various breweries (including Florida Ave. Brewing Co. on S.R. 56), dozens of local neighborhoods (such as Epperson Ranch, Arbor Greene and Cory Lake Isles), festivals like the Great American Redneck Biker Bash in New Port Richey and private catering events.
As small business owners, Brian says itâs hard work and there are certainly endless obstacles to overcome. But, they have never been happier. He says a good night in the truck is more satisfying than his last $10,000 commission check with the copier company. And sure, he misses his ties and suits, but when someone stops by to pick up dinner for the family because the food is so good, he bursts with satisfaction.
âWhen someone tells us our food takes them back home and should be illegal itâs so good, that gives us more joy than selling a copier ever did,â Brian says.
If you want to check out where Charm City Eats will be next, or see what else is on the menu, visit CharmCityEats.com.
1 — TREBLE MAKERS 6034 Wesley Grove Blvd. The Grove at Wesley Chapel (813) 406-4371 When Treble Makers Dueling Piano Bar & Restaurant was getting ready to open in the new Village at The Grove, I didnât know what to expect in terms of the food â that is, until I met with co-owner Jamie Hess and Executive Chef Kevin Maggard.
Then, I couldnât wait for it to open.
Maggard promised delicious, tender steaks (like the perfectly seasoned filet shown in the top photo), fresh fish and seafood and unique, inspired appetizers and in the six months or so that Treble Makers has been open, he has more than delivered on that promise, at least in one editorâs opinion.
His seared, sesame-crusted ahi tuna appetizer (photo, left) is as good as there is in the area, and although it hasnât always been as crispy as the perfect first time I had his sweet & spicy calamari, thereâs no doubt that itâs different than youâll find anywhere else. People weâve spoken with also rave about his imperial crab dip and homemade potato gnocchi appetizers.
In addition to the coconut curry grouper and the filet, definitely also try the seared diver scallops, the tender veal or chicken Marsala and I still plan to try the NY strip and prime rib steak options.
And of course, please also check out the dueling piano shows and other entertainment options at my favorite for 2020!
2 — TROPICS at SADDLEBROOK 5700 Saddlebrook Way (813) 973-1111 When Dempseyâs Steak House at Saddlebrook resort closed for much-needed renovations in 2020, it was a little easier for me to move Treble Makers up to this yearâs top spot in Wesley Chapel, even though much of the Dempseyâs menu is still available at the resortâs The Tropics restaurant. Another factor in dropping the only non-chain restaurant in Wesley Chapel to offer a tomahawk ribeye steak (photo) is affordability. Treble Makers definitely isnât cheap, but The Tropics is still primarily a âbig night outâ kind of meal for almost anyone, especially for a certain news magazine editor.
4 — ZUKKU-SAN SUSHI 25916 Sierra Center Blvd (813) 419-1351 While I donât want to spoil the surprise for you about why I love Zukku-San so much â my full-length review of this elegant, new and delicious sushi-and-so-much-more restaurant located just west of I-75 on S.R. 56 appears in our latest issue â I will tell you that it also is Jannahâs 15-month-old granddaughter Rosieâs favorite place to eat in our area, so weâve been going there a lot. And, itâs definitely not so much about the sushi, which is excellent, as much as it is about creativity. The dish shown above â a semi-spicy raw bluefin tuna appetizer topped with caviar and served with golden grape tomatoes â isnât on the menu, yet…but Iâm guessing it will be soon.
5 — ROCK & BREWS 26000 S.R. 56 (813) 537-6016 Directly across S.R. 56 from Zukku-San is Rock & Brews, which is owned in part, and inspired, by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of the rock group KISS. But, Rock & Brews is a really delicious restaurant offering everything from âsweet heatâ chicken (photo) and a really good 8-oz. filet mignon, to crispy calamari, unique Brews-chetta, blackened redfish, wings, blackened chicken pasta and even the âfront rowâ pizzas. And, even though it also opened during the pandemic, it seems that a lot of local people agree with me when it comes to the made-from-scratch food, the atmosphere and the live music on weekends (please call about availability). Jannah and I love the covered outdoor bar.
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6 — OMARI’S GRILL Lexington Oaks Golf Club 26133 Lexington Oaks Blvd. (813) 907-7270 Omariâs Grill at the Lexington Oaks Golf Club is still (sadly) one of Wesley Chapelâs best-kept secrets. And, even though you can only get co-owner/chef Anass El-Omariâs perfect grilled mahi-mahi topped with mango salsa (above), crispy, but tender chicken parmigiana and filet mignon with cream sauce as Friday night dinner specials, the regular golfer-oriented menu for lunch and dinner is delicious, too. From burgers and grilled chicken sandwiches to salads and wings, everything is made from scratch and it shows. You can even give it a try for free as a first-time visitor to a Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel meeting on Wednesdays at noon.
7 — FLORIDA AVENUE BREWING CO. 2029 Arrowgrass Dr. (813) 452-6333 When you think about craft beer breweries, you may not think of delicious food, but in the case of Florida Avenue Brewing Co.âs location in the former Sports + Field building on S.R. 56, youâd really be missing out on something yummy. With small plates like perfectly sesame-seared, Szechwan ahi tuna, excellent Chinese sticky ribs, Buffalo cauliflower and the jumbo lump crab cakes shown above (with zesty remoulade sauce), a variety of flatbreads, Korean-style bibimbap bowls, braised short ribs and Gulf grouper fish & chips, Florida Ave. has great chef-created food to go with a unique variety of craft beers and hard ciders and seltzers.
8 — BUBBA’S 33 26340 Silver Maple Pkwy. (813) 522-5090 Bubbaâs 33, which is an entirely different concept restaurant from Texas Roadhouse, features sports bar prices with restaurant-quality food. Delicious starters include the crispy wings in a variety of sauces and dry rubs to unique items like âBig Oâ(onion) Rings, crispy fried pickles, Bubbaâs fiesta dip (with bacon, ground beef and refried beans), plus tasty hand-tossed pizzas, excellent bacon grind bacon burgers (photo), plus everything from California grilled chicken to Southern fried chicken and chipotle chicken & shrimp pasta. Thereâs even two different Texas Roadhouse-quality grilled and marinated signature ribeye steaks and outstanding drink prices.
9 — LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE 2647 Creek Grass Way, Lutz (813) 909-0003 When Jannah and I feel like a delicious filet at a fair price, with great sides included, Longhorn is the first place we both usually think of â and not just because itâs the closest steakhouse to where we live. From the tender Floâs filet (photo) to the NY strip or the recently added bone-in âoutlawâ ribeye, Longhornâs steaks are always done to perfection and if youâre somehow ever not happy, the management will always make it right. We love the salad, the crisp-crust bread and always-fresh veggies, too. Jannah also loves the parmesan-crusted chicken. And, although we wish the bar area was a little bigger, the bartenders and drink prices are outstanding.
10 — AUSSIE GRILL 25340 Sierra Center Blvd. (813) 261-0140 You have to hand it to Bloominâ Brands, the parent company of Outback Steakhouse, for coming up with this fantastic fast-casual concept. Even though it opened in the middle of the pandemic, the new Aussie Grill â ours is the first freestanding unit â with its super-easy drive-through and order-ahead pickup options, was the right concept at the right time. The food is Outback-quality â from the topped, grilled chicken (photo) and seared beef tenderloin large plates, to the bacon âbombâ burger and braised brisket sandwich and more â Aussie Grill has been a welcome addition to our local dining scene. With a larger menu, it could have finished even higher on this list.
Wesley Chapel definitely had one of its biggest years ever, in terms of restaurant openings, in 2020, so my list this year looks very different than last year. Here are short write-ups about my 25 favorite restaurants (new and existing) in Wesley Chapel for 2020, starting with No. 25 and counting down to No. 11. Tomorrow, we’ll show you the Top 10.
25 — FRATELLIâSÂ PIZZA & CAFE 5327 Village Market (813) 991-1118 Even though I didnât remember the name of their long-time, open-24-hours-a-day original Fratelliâs in the Hunts Point Market in The Bronx, NY, I am so happy that the Fratelli brothers decided to sell that location and bring their tasty NY-style pizza and pastas to Wesley Chapel. I was even happier when I first sampled the truly authentic penne with broccoli rabe, chicken and sausage shown above. You wonât find better broccoli rabe in the Tampa Bay area and the baked pastas and hot subs also rock! Fratelliâs also features Jannahâs favorite garlicky Grandmaâs pizza in Wesley Chapel.
25 — AMICI PIZZA 26602 Wesley Chapel Blvd. (813) 973-9734 For anyone who loves authentic NY-style pizza, the new location of Amiciâs on Wesley Chapel Blvd (aka S.R. 54) in Lutz has brought me ever closer to the Mannino brothers and their delicious pizza. But, like 900Âș Woodfired, Amiciâs makes my list of Wesley Chapel favorites in part because it features a very authentic NY-style version of another one of my favorite pasta dishes â the linguine with white clams shown above. I canât really call it a sauce, because itâs correctly more of a light broth, but it is loaded with whole clams and garlic and is a definite must-try! And, although Iâve never been a big fan of the garlic knots at most pizza places, try Amiciâs garlic bread with marinara dip. Yum!
24 — RICE-N-BEANS 27405 Wesley Chapel Blvd. (813) 803-7974 Although I never really thought of Puerto Rican food as one of my favorite Latin cuisines until I tried the original location of Rice-n-Beans on S.R. 54 in Lutz, the beautiful new location (in the former Codyâs Roadhouse building) has kept me a fan of Wesley Chapelâs Rice-n-Beans, especially the amazing fried chicken chicharrons shown above. Iâm also a fan of the roast pork mofongo, the grilled pork chops and chicken breast in garlic sauce. And yes, the rice and (I prefer the red) beans served with every meal are also delicious and authentic. Rice-n-Beans also has great drink prices at its spacious, full-liquor bar and had added salsa dancing and other entertainment pre-pandemic.
23 — THE GARDEN GRILLE at the Hilton Garden Inn 26640 Silver Maple Pkwy. (813) 591-6900 Please stop me if youâve heard me say this before, but when the Hilton Garden Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel first opened in late 2018, it hosted a Grand Opening event, where the food served in the hotelâs Garden Grille restaurant was so good, I thought it mustâve come from an outside caterer. Wrong! The food at the Garden Grille is excellent, from delicious crispy wings, to tasty meatballs, perfect Pan Asian ribs and even a great New York strip steak (photo). I wish the Garden Grille was open for lunch, but itâs also great for âeventâ food like a unique French toast casserole for brunch and more. The bar is never crowded and has great drink prices.Â
22 — LITTLE ITALY’S 24436 S.R. 54, Lutz (813) 909-2122 Owners Jessica and Carl Meyersâ seemingly hard-to-find location on S.R. 54, a mile or so west of the Tampa Premium Outlets, has been bringing in hungry fans from the moment it opened and the addition of beer, wine and homemade sangria definitely hasnât hurt business, either. Although Iâve always said that the menu could be more diverse, if youâre looking for huge portions of lasagne, chicken or veal parmigiana (photo, usually offered as a special only)  and, especially the calzones, this is your place. I canât partake of the âlobstaâ ravioli, but Iâve seen and heard many rave about it.
20 — GLORY DAYS GRILL 28812 S.R. 54 (813) 535-7678 Iâve said before that when Glory Days Grill first opened in New Tampa a few years ago, replacing the popular Lee Roy Selmonâs, I wasnât a big fan. However, when Jannah and I first tried the new Glory Days on S.R. 54, less than a mile from my office, we immediately recognized that the menu had been greatly upgraded. Even though they did away with our favorite appetizer (zucchini fries), the burgers (try the proprietary blend) are excellent and I also enjoy the comeback chicken (with sundried tomatoes and feta cheese in lemon-butter sauce), fried chicken & waffles, the Boston clam âchowda,â the 1988 center-cut sirloin and the house-marinated pork chops shown above. Â
18 — TOP SHELF SPORTS LOUNGE at AdventHealth Center Ice 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd. (813) 953-1032 Based on my experience at other ice rinks when both of my sons played ice hockey, I had no real expectations for good food when what is now called AdventHealth Center Ice first opened. Boy, was I wrong. Not only does Top Shelf have some of the best wings, burgers (photo) and bar food around, it also serves delicious mixed veggies as a side and the craft beers from owner Keelan Cottleâs own 81Bay Brewing are definitely popular with the hockey moms and dads. Top Shelf also is mine and Jannahâs favorite place to watch Lightning games.
17 — THE HUNGRY GREEK 2653 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. (813) 345-8526 Now that there are so many new restaurants in Wesley Chapel, itâs easy to forget about The Hungry Greek, but not if you enjoy great Greek specialties (as I do) in a fast-casual environment that never disappoints for quality, service or price. Iâve yet to try the recent addition of Greek bowls (with brown rice, garbanzo beans, tomatoes, feta, olives, pepperoncini and tzatziki sauce, with your choice of chicken, gyro meat, shrimp, falafel or salmon), but the spanakopita and the gyro dinner shown above (I get it without the onions) are always great, especially with a Mythos or other Greek beer.
16 — BONEFISH GRILL 25264 Sierra Center Blvd., Lutz (813) 907-8202 When youâre looking for the best seared tuna sashimi appetizer (photo) in Wesley Chapel, thereâs no doubt in my mind that the recently relocated Bonefish Grill is still near the top of the list. The thick slices are always fresh, always well-seared but still rare and covered in black and white sesame seeds. Bonefish also features excellent fresh fish, but not as good for my money as Grillsmithâs. The Outback-quality steaks are an added bonus. I canât eat the bang-bang shrimp because of my accursed shellfish allergy (but they will make it as bang-bang chicken for folks like me) and itâs still among the best youâll find anywhere. Love the new bar area, too!
15 — UMU JAPANESE & THAI 2653 Bruce B Downs Blvd. (813) 591-6121 Many locals rave about the sushi at Umu Japanese & Thai and you can count me among them, but when you take a deeper dive into the menu (as I finally have), you find out that thereâs even more to love than the huge selection of sushi rolls and the best variety of white meat fish nigiri (on rice) and sashimi in our area. I have enjoyed the crispy soy-marinated Kara-Age chicken appetizer (from Umuâs âHot Tastingâ starters menu), the deep-fried chicken and pork (Umu-ton) katsu, the âWafu-styleâ Japanese NY strip steak and especially, the miso-marinated Chilean sea bass shown here.Â
13 — PASTA DI GUY 4839 Bruce B Downs Blvd (813) 994-1294 Owner/chef Guy Carmeli continues to add items to his still-smallish menu, but itâs hard to argue with the quality served up at the 2020 addition to our local dining scene. Our favorites at Pasta di Guy (see ad on pg. 42) are the made-from-scratch strozzapreti and spaghetti pastas, topped with any of the six different freshly made sauces (Alfredo, beef Bolognese, marinara, creamy pesto, vodka or aglio e olio (garlic and oil), and what may be the best house-cut zucchini noodles (above) in our area. Yes, it costs extra to add grilled chicken, house-made Italian sausage and veggies like broccoli and cauliflower, but itâs worth it. And, the recent addition of design-your-own, house-made pizzas is a step in the right direction, too.
11 — OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE 5710 Oakley Blvd. (813) 973-7717 The steak quality at the Outback Steakhouse has never been in question. The Victoriaâs filet is very similar in quality and price to Longhornâs Floâs filet and the bone-in New York strip shown here is, as the menu claims, full of flavor. In addition to the great variety of steaks, Outback also is famous for its shrimp on the barbie and bloominâ onion appetizers, Alice Springs chicken and surf & turf options that I sadly canât enjoy, but rewards members (like me!) get $20 off at Outback or Bonefish or $40 off at Flemingâs every third visit. Jannah and I still wonât wait for a table, but whether we sit at the bar or use the easy takeout system, weâre rarely disappointed.
Every year, after we report the results of our Reader Dining Survey & Contest, I always feel compelled to give you my dining favorites, including all of the restaurants that opened in (or very near) New Tampa and Wesley Chapel the previous year. And, with all the new eateries that opened in our distribution areas in 2020 after the reader voting ended, my âsurveyâ list looks even more different than usual than the places our readers voted for in our last issue.
Here are my favorite restaurants (new and existing) in New Tampa for 2020, from Nos. 11-25. The top 10 will publish online tommorrow. â GN Â
25. THE BRUNCHERY 17507 Preserve Walk Ln. (813) 533-7271 For those of us who had been begging for a great breakfast place in New Tampa, owner Stanley Athanâs The Brunchery filled that void. And, even though I prefer fried eggs over easy with crispy bacon to the beautiful pancakes topped with fresh fruit shown here, this was such a pretty picture we decided to use it instead. The Brunchery also serves a selection of âBenedictâ (poached egg) breakfasts, avocado toast, a lox (smoked salmon) platter, ultimate omelettes and an incredible variety of French toast options. The Brunchery also serves great burgers, sandwiches (including tuna and grilled chicken melts) and salads for lunch, too.
24. PEABODY’S Shoppes at Amberly 15333 Amberly Dr. (813) 972-1725 Peabodyâs is more than just a sports bar taken to the next level â with amazing video games, pool tables, dart boards and more TV screens to watch every game at once than just about anyplace else in New Tampa. Itâs also a great place for NY-style pizza, the best wings this side of The Fat Rabbit and a recently expanded menu offering Philly cheesesteak and Santa Fe egg rolls, pickle fries, and âClassicsâ like country fried chicken, loaded boneless wings and of course, some of the best burgers and hand-cut French fries in town. The full-liquor bar also has great drink prices and an outstanding selection of beers on tap.
23. THAI LANNA & SUSHI Cross Creek Center 10022 Cross Creek Blvd. (813) 991-0108 For those of you who donât live off of Cross Creek Blvd., Thai Lanna is another excellent (and pretty) Thai place that also features really good appetizers like Thai spring rolls, pan-fried dumplings (bottom right in photo above), fried calamari and even fried eggplant. There also are three kinds of crispy duck, with the volcano duck (with mixed veggies and sweet chili sauce) being my favorite. Try the crab fried rice, too. The basil and garlic & black pepper sauces are my faves. Thai Lanna also has added really fresh sushi (cooked shrimp sushi and California roll are shown in the above), too.
21. MR. DUNDERBAK’S Oak Ramble Plaza 14929 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. (813) 977-4104 When the original Mr. Dunderbakâs was in the University Square Mall, I thought it was a cool place for German food, even though I really only had roast beef and pastrami sandwiches there. The location on BBD (which has been around the last 15-20 of its 45 years in business) has a much more diverse menu, and I really enjoy German dishes like the crispy jagerschnitzel (available in veal or pork, both are great, photo above), the Holstein schnitzel, topped with two fried eggs, and the kassler rippchen (pork chops). Iâm not a big beer drinker, but Mr. Dâs biergarten has a huge selection. Great European chocolate selection, too.
18. WOODFIRED PIZZA & WINE BAR Palms Connection 2822 E. Bearss Ave. (813) 341-2900 The first woodfired pizza place to open in (or near) either of our distribution areas is known for its high-quality pizza ingredients, as well as owner Peter Taylorâs unique pizza names â like my favorite Pizza Raquel, which features house-made fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, grana padano cheese and olive oil, to which I usually add either pepperoni, fire-roasted sausage or Italian-style meatballs (Peterâs âcarnivoreâ pizza has all three) and fresh spinach. The woodfired meatball appetizer and wings and fresh Caesar and wedge salads also are excellent, too.
16. FULL CIRCLE PIZZA Pebble Creek Collection 19651 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. (813) 994-3700 Donât get me wrong…even though I find the deep-dish, Chicago-style pizza shown above very tasty, Iâll never say I like it as much as the New York-style pizza I grew up with. And, even though I know that deep-dish and thin-crust Chicago pizza is a big reason why many locals love Full Circle, Iâm actually a much bigger fan of the other delicious menu items owner/chef Freddy Nova and his wife Julia have added since taking over the place in 2017. My favorites are the chicken and broccoli in garlic and oil and the meatball and chicken parmigiana subs.
14. MICHI RAMEN 18027 Highwoods Preserve Pkwy. The Walk at Highwoods Preserve (813) 374-5320 Another newcomer breaking into my top-15 this year, Michi Ramen literally opened as the pandemic hit, and only served at a uniquely designed, plexiglass-enclosed takeout window for several months. But, once it did open, I could see that not only is Michi Ramen great for takeout, it also is a beautiful new place for a delicious sit-down lunch or dinner, with a full, premium-liquor bar. Iâm not the biggest ramen noodle fan, but I have heard folks rave about the flavor and variety and Iâm not surprised â Michi Ramenâs appetizers like pan-fried gyoza (pork dumplings) and semi-spicy, popcorn-style fried chicken are outstanding.
13. FRAMMI (formerly Oakleyâs Grille) 17631 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. (813) 523-5075 Even though the restaurant hasnât been owned by anyone named Oakley in a few years, owner Luca Ammirati kept the name of the popular burger-&-sandwich joint the same until revamping the place into an Italian & American eatery with a much bigger American variety than Oakleyâs, plus a big variety of Lucaâs authentic Italian dishes (like the amazing fusilli pasta with house-made pesto and grilled chicken above) with the new name âFrammi.” This yearâs 13th-place finish is based on Oakleyâs menu, but Frammi will finish higher next year.
12. THAI RUBY Shoppes at Amberly, Tampa Palms 15319 Amberly Dr. (813) 558-0570 As Thai restaurants go, Thai Ruby is the most beautiful Thai place in New Tampa and also has the best food, especially since Sukhothai closed. The spring rolls, ginger chicken, the spicy Thai combination fried rice (with chicken, beef and pork), the Siam chicken, filet of grouper and soft shell crab are all top-notch and Thai Ruby may have the largest selection of veggie dishes youâll find anywhere (I love the steamed broccoli with carrots, green beans and snow peas). But, this also is the place I go when I have a craving for Thai-style crispy duck with sweet & sour, ginger or garlic sauce.
11. KOBE JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE Pebble Creek Collection 19601 Bruce B Downs Blvd. (813) 994-6600 For those who crave the teppanyaki (hibachi) table experience in our area, please check out Kobe. And, even though Jannah and I usually sit at the bar rather than share a table with families with young children, you get the same great meal, just without the show. Kobe definitely has the best-quality filet mignon, sirloin steak and chicken of any Japanese restaurant in our area, and you can even get pepper-crusted tuna tataki hibachi, as well as beautiful-looking surf-&-turf combos with lobster, shrimp and scallops that I (sadly) canât eat. Great sushi, too.
