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.
Here’s Gary’s favorite restaurants in New Tampa. If you missed Gary’s New Tampa favorites from 11-25, CLICK RIGHT HERE.
Here’s the Top 10!
1 — STONEWOOD GRILL & TAVERN 17050 Palm Pointe Dr., Tampa Palms (813) 978-0388 Even though it hasnât always been my #1 favorite restaurant in New Tampa, thereâs no doubt that Stonewood Grill & Tavern in Tampa Palms has been near the top of my list since the day it opened two decades ago. And yes, it did win with our readers again in 2020, too.
GM Matt Passardi â who previously ran the Grillsmith in the Shops at Wiregrass â and his staff also are back to keeping their guests happy at New Tampaâs most-happening bar scene, but of course, Covid-19 had shut down the bar and Stonewoodâs elegant dine-in experience for several months.
Passardi told me that the posting of the picture of the ribeye steak with last issueâs Reader Survey results definitely helped boost his ribeye sales since then.
2 — VIA ITALIA 8644 Hunterâs Village Rd. The Village at Hunterâs Lake (813) 475-4857 The fact that Via Italia had only been open a short time before our annual survey ended but still finished 9th in New Tampa with our readers is an indication of what a great place it is. Owner/chef Roberto Maganucoâs place has an amazing variety of different styles of pizza (Neopolitan, Roman and others), but I love it even more for its beautiful, full-liquor bar and amazing pasta selection â including two types of pesto â Genovese and Siciliano â as well as linguine with clams, cavatelli with broccoli & sausage (photo above) and more. If Roberto adds fresh fish and maybe a steak special next year, Via Italia could move up to #1.
3 — THE FAT RABBIT 16029 Tampa Palms Blvd. City Plaza at Tampa Palms (813) 252-3004 The Fat Rabbit in Tampa Palms is another place with outstanding food (like the best wings in New Tampa, and great burgers and tater tots) and beverages that could finish even higher on my list with even more menu options. Adding a fresh catch â fish (photo), or sometimes shellfish â option in 2019 definitely moved it up and the addition of a petite (5-oz.) âFat Filetâ has given it even more appeal for me. And of course, The Fat Rabbit also has a large and attractive, premium liquor bar that would make it a great option for live music or karaoke (or both), in addition to its regular trivia nights, but maybe thatâs just my opinion.
4 — LIMA PERUVIAN 19056 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. New Tampa Center (813) 304-0205 When Lima opened basically a couple of weeks before the pandemic hit in the former location of El Pescador in the Publix-anchored New Tampa Center plaza, I was excited, because I already loved Peruvian-style rotisserie chicken (photo) and fresh fish ceviche. And, owner Oscar Escuderoâs delightfully different (at least from any place in our area) take on the cuisine widely considered as the best of the Latin countries is absolutely delicious and my second favorite new place (to Via Italia) to open in New Tampa in 2020. Try the baked scallops (conchita parmesano) appetizer and the Peruvian/Chinese-style fried rice, too!
5 — CALI-TAMPA PALMS 17004 Palm Pointe Dr. Shoppes at The Pointe (813) 975-1222 The Ciccio Restaurant Group has created one of the most successful slates of local eateries in the entire Tampa Bay area, with concepts like Green Lemon, Daily Eats, Ciccio Water and Better Byrd (look them all up), but Cali (nee Ciccio Cali) has been the only one in our area since Lodge closed in the former Ciccio & Tonyâs location in City Plaza. But, I have always credited Cali as the first to bring âbowl cultureâ to New Tampa. The menu has been simplified, with multiple âbowl styleâ options (try the âLean & Cleanâ with tuna), plus crisp-crust, hand-tossed pizzas and famous wrap sandwiches (photo; the Cali Club is my fave).
8 — ORONZO HONEST ITALIAN 18027 Highwoods Preserve Pkwy. The Walk at Highwoods Preserve (813) 730-0100 What happens when you take a fast-casual concept like Chipotle but instead of Mexican fare, you offer homemade Italian dishes with freshly made pasta, unique wrap sandwiches, pizza-style flatbreads and more? In the case of Oronzo, the answer is âsomething delicious.â Owner Dan Bavaro, who also has Bavaroâs Pizza locations in downtown Tampa and downtown St. Pete, offers house-made spaghetti (with delicious meatballs, above), sausage, veggies and a variety of sauces, plus beer, wine and yummy desserts.
10 — BAYSCAPE BISTRO at Heritage Isles Golf Club 10630 Plantation Bay Dr. (813) 994-3445 Former Wharton High culinary teachers Eddie and Lourdes Bujarski have created an impressive restaurant inside the Heritage Isles GC clubhouse. As I said last year, with a more extensive menu, Bayscape would finish even higher on my list, because itâs hard to beat for breakfast, lunch or dinner. There are great wings, burgers, salads and sandwiches, but my faves are the dinner âsignaturesâ like country fried chicken and slow-roasted, top round roast beef with brown gravy above. Itâs been a while since Jannah and I stopped in for dinner and Friday night karaoke, but weâll definitely be back.
If you missed Gary’s New Tampa favorites from 11-25, CLICK RIGHT HERE.
Every year, after we report the results of our annual 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. Some of you love my opinions; others…not so much.
Even so, most people I meet out in our neck of the woods tell me they agree with my choices more than they do those of the readers year after year.
For example, even when my kids were young and I ate a lot more fast food, I liked Chick-fil-A, Steak-n-Shake and others enough, but when I see enough people voting for any fast food eatery to place it in our readersâ top-10 â especially now, when we have more than 150 different restaurants between our two markets â I always feel like I need to have my say, too.
But, when I get to sit down to a perfect medium-rare, bone-in ribeye (photo) or big filet, with spicy bourbon creamed corn, a Caesar salad (with or without anchovies) and a glass of Malbec from my favorite restaurant in Wesley Chapel â Dempseyâs Steak House at Saddlebrook Resort, I know my judgement canât be all bad. â GNÂ
— 1 Â —Â DEMPSEY’S 5700 Saddlebrook Way | (813) 907-4574
From the day it first opened at Saddlebrook Resort off S.R. 54 somewhere around 20 years ago, Dempseyâs has been my favorite restaurant in Wesley Chapel â and for good reason!
Itâs not because I used to live in Saddebrook before Dempseyâs opened, or because itâs the most expensive restaurant in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel. Dempseyâs gets my nod year after year because the steakhouse named for Saddlebrook owner Tom Dempsey always features the best hand-cut steaks, freshest, top-quality fish and amazing starters and sides.
In other words, Dempseyâs isnât just the best restaurant in the Chap. Itâs a top-5 steakhouse in the Bay area, as good (and as pricy) as the Council Oak at the Seminole Hard Rock, Flemingâs, Charleyâs and the 1200Âș Chophouse on St. Pete Beach.
When I told Saddlebrook assistant food and beverage director Geoffrey Rutgers that Dempseyâs was #1 with me again this year, the long-time Neighborhood News reader quickly set up the photo shoot for my picture on pg. 30. âIâve trusted your picks for years and I know Iâm not the only one,â he said.
Even though Grillsmith has always made my top-10 since it first opened in the Shops at Wiregrass, itâs now grabbing its loftiest spot on my list of WC favorites since the Tampa Bay-based chain first opened because of the addition of what they call âshort-tripâ fresh fish (like the grouper Mediterranean style shown above; weâve also enjoyed corvina, snapper, mahi and even pompano and never had a bad piece of fish). Thereâs now also a larger selection of steaks and the mashed cauliflower is the best around.
Bubbaâs 33 may be the highest-finishing new restaurant on my list since Dempseyâs, even though itâs an entirely different concept, price-point and feel.
Local Bubbaâs 33 franchisee Jeff Dean and his wife (and marketing whiz) Crista have years of experience in the restaurant business, but Texas Roadhouseâs new concept also is amazing â sports bar prices with restaurant-quality food. âEverything is house-made,â Crista says. âFrom our hand-tossed pizzas to our hand-cut steaks.â And, the chicken-&-not-waffles above is my current favorite brunch item in Wesley Chapel.
My friends Anass El-Omari and his wife Susana only renamed and reopened the restaurant inside the Lexington Oaks Golf Club a little more than a year ago but it has been a best-kept secret in Wesley Chapel ever since. And, even though you can only get Anassâ perfect grilled mahi-mahi (above), crispy, but tender chicken parmigiana and filet mignon with cream sauce as daily specials since he revamped his own menu after the golf course was closed for renovations last year, the more golfer-oriented food is still excellent.
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 to the NY strip, Longhornâs steaks are aways done to perfection and if youâre somehow ever not happy, management will always make it right. We love the salad, the crisp-crust bread and always-fresh veggies, too. And, although we wish the bar area was a little bigger, the bartenders and drink prices are outstanding.
— 6 — GARDEN GRILLE Hilton Garden Inn Tampa-WC 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 and even a great ribeye steak. I wish the Garden Grille was open for lunch, but itâs also great for âeventâ food like the French toast casserole shown above.
— 7 — BONEFISH GRILL Shoppes at New Tampa (WC) 1640 Bruce B Downs Blvd. | (813) 907-8202
When youâre looking for the best seared tuna sashimi appetizer (photo) in Wesley Chapel, thereâs no doubt in my mind that Bonefish Grillâs is #1. The thick slices are always fresh, always well-seared but still rare and covered in black and white sesame seeds. Bonefish does also feature excellent fresh fish, but not as good for my money as Grillsmithâs. And, the Outback-quality steaks are an added bonus. I canât eat the bang-bang shrimp because of my accursed shellfish allergy, but people say itâs the best â and most often imitated â youâll find anywhere.
— 8 — FORDâS GARAGE 25226 Sierra Center Blvd., Lutz | (813) 540-3673
— 10 — TOP SHELF SPORTS LOUNGE 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 three years ago. Boy, was I wrong. Not only does Top Shelf have some of the best wings, burgers and bar food around, it also serves delicious mixed veggies as a side and the beers from owner Keelan Cottleâs own 81Bay Brewing are definitely popular with the hockey moms and dads.
The steak quality at the Outback Steakhouse has never been in question. The Victoriaâs filet shown above is very similar in quality and price to Longhornâs Floâs filet. Itâs all a matter of whose seasoning you prefer. 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.
— 12 — BAHAMA BREEZE 25830 Sierra Center Blvd., Lutz | (813) 949-0779
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 the best lasagne, chicken or veal parmigiana (the latter is usually a special) in our area, this is your place â and the portions are huge, especially the calzones! The homemade Sicilian-style pizza is also unique and yummy.
— 15 — THE HUNGRY GREEK 2653 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. | (813) 345-8526
Any time you can offer quality food at excellent prices, you should have a chance to be successful in the restaurant biz and The Hungry Greek is proof of that theory. Years before AdventHealth Wesley Chapel opened directly across the street, The Hungry Greek was packing in the people, especially at lunchtime, with its classic gyro and souvlaki sandwiches and platters, shish kabob combo and chicken Caesar pita sandwich and the Greek salad is the most authentic and delicious in our area, too. I also really enjoy the Greek beer and decadent desserts.
— 16 — 900Âș WOODFIRED PIZZA Shops at Wiregrass 28152 Paseo Dr. #195 | (813) 527-6940
The new location of Amiciâs on Wesley Chapel Blvd./S.R. 54 in Lutz has brought me ever closer to the Mannino brothers and their delicious pizza, like the sausage and pepperoni NY-style shown above. 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. 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!
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 a better broccoli rabe in the Tampa Bay area and the baked pastas and hot subs also rock!
— 19 — LA PRIMA PIZZA 1211 Bruce B Downs Blvd. | (813) 907-2878
The fact that I have been friends with owner (and fellow transplanted New Yawka) Willie Lopez (and his son and pizza man Chris, photo) for more than 20 years has nothing to do with why I say La Prima has my favorite NY-style pizza in Wesley Chapel (or New Tampa, for that matter). However, it takes more than just great, oversized slices of pizza to make my list of favorite restaurants and La Prima also has really good Italian specialties like huge calzones and oven-baked meatball parmigiana subs.
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 spacious and beautiful new location (in the former location of Codyâs Roadhouse) 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. Great drink prices, too.
— 21 — YAMATO JAPANESE Shops at Wiregrass 28347 Paseo Dr. | (813) 907-8701
Still the only Japanese steakhouse in Wesley Chapel, Yamato has a tremendous variety of hibachi-grilled proteins (photo) and the quality of the NY strip and filet mignon, as well as the chicken and even tuna teppanyaki dishes (and veggies) is good, although maybe not quite at the same level as Kobe in New Tampa. Even so, the sushi also is fresh and Yamato even has a full, premium-liquor bar, as well as its popular sushi bar and teppanyaki tables. Jannah and I enjoy the food more than the show at Japanese steakhouses. (Photo: Yelp)
I can live without the line dancing, but the food and service at Texas Roadhouse are both very good and I like picking out my own steak from the steakhouseâs display window before I order my meal. I prefer the NY strip over the filet or ribeye at Texas Roadhouse, but all of them are tasty and not as heavily seasoned (or quite as expensive) as at Longhorn or Outback. And, although I usually prefer bread with a crisp crust, the honey butter Roadhouse rolls are kind of addictive. Jannah and I always sit at the bar to avoid the sometimes-long wait for a table.
GARYâS NEXT 25 FAVES (in alphabetical order) All of these restaurants are very good, just not good enough (in my opinion) to make my Top-25 in Wesley Chapel. Iâm even admitting to liking three âfast foodâ places.-GN
