2024 Dining Survey & Contest – Wesley Chapel Top-25 

(l-r) Coopers Hawk Churrasco Steak and Azteca D’Oro Taquito

Meanwhile, Wesley Chapel is where chain eateries continue to dominate the landscape, as well as our voting (despite my best efforts to get our readers to vote for non-chains). 

But, while Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant did mistakenly appear on the ballots for the first issue of the voting, it was so dominant in the voting after it came off the ballots that it would still have been #1 “Favorite Restaurant in Wesley Chapel” without that one-issue advantage. Anyone who has been to the place on a Tuesday or Wednesday night, when it is still on a wait throughout its dinner hours, can understand how Cooper’s Hawk took home this year’s top prize in WC in its first year of eligibility. 

Azteca D’Oro and Grillsmith repeated as our readers’ #2 and #3 Favorites in WC, while last year’s first-place finisher, Noble Crust, dropped to #4 this year. New to this year’s top-10 were Vallarta’s at #5 (up from #12), Mac’s Custom Meats & Deli at #7, Florida Ave. Brewing Co. at #8 (up from #16) and Chuck Lager at #9. Dropping out of this year’s top-10 were Zukku-San (down from #5 to #11), Bubba’s 33 (down from #10 to #19), Bonefish, BJ’s Brewhouse and Bahama Breeze (down from #8 to #17). The last four of these are all chains that weren’t on the ballots. — GN

1. Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant 

2. Azteca D’Oro 

3. Grillsmith 

4. Noble Crust 

5. Vallarta’s Mexican Restaurant 

6. The Living Room 

7. Mac’s Custom Meats & Deli 

8. Florida Ave. Brewing Co. 

9. Chuck Lager America’s Tavern 

10. Ford’s Garage 

11. Zukku-San Sushi & Grill 

12. Falabella Family Bistro 

13. PizzaMania 

14. Señor Tequila 

15. Glory Days Grill 

16. Umu Japanese & Thai 

17. Bahama Breeze 

18. Yamato Japanese Restaurant 

19. Bubba’s 33 

20. EggTown 

21. Amici Pizza & Café 

22. The Hungry Greek 

23. First Watch 

24. Arroy Thai 

25. Crazy Sushi 

1. Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant 

28963 S.R. 56, Wiregrass Ranch 

(813) 755-4445 • CHWinery.com 

If everyone in Wesley Chapel is so sick of chain restaurants, then how and why did Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant dominate the voting in this year’s Reader Dining Survey & Contest? 

The answer to that rhetorical question is that all of you are tired of mediocre chains and although Cooper’s Hawk isn’t Fleming’s, Charley’s or Ruth’s Chris, it is definitely a step up from most of the other chains in the “Chap.” It boasts a solid menu of very good steaks, good seafood, pretty decent pasta and a nice variety of starters, lunch and brunch menu items. 

When you add to that the novelty of getting to taste an ever-changing array of palate-pleasing wines in Cooper’s Hawk’s wine bar (although I wish there were seats in it, or at least allowed), it’s easy to understand why locals are fighting for tables there every night. We’ll see how long the party lasts, but so far, so good. 

2. Azteca D’Oro Mexican Restaurant 

2000 Piazza Ave., #170, The Shops at Wiregrass 

(813) 527-6033 • AztecaDOro.com 

It’s clear that last year’s top-vote-getting newcomer did not suffer a sophomore jinx with our readers this year, as Azteca D’Oro repeated as your #2 overall Favorite Restaurant in Wesley Chapel and again won Favorite Mexican Restaurant in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel, albeit by a much smaller margin than last year. 

With tasty menu items like chicken taquitos (top), plus a huge variety (above pic from DoorDash) of authentic Mexican favorites like fajitas, molcajete, burritos, tacos and quesadillas, plus beautiful indoor & outdoor bar areas with great Happy Hour specials, Azteca D’Oro also features a private room that is the perfect place to host your holiday party with its lively music and festive atmosphere. 

3. Grillsmith 

2000 Piazza Ave., #100, Shops at Wiregrass 

(813) 907-1900 • Grillsmith.com 


Grillsmith is always among our readers’ favorites every year and repeated last year’s #3 “Favorite in Wesley Chapel” finish again this year. This five-unit mini-chain continues to serve quality fresh fish (photo), plus assortments of flatbreads, salads, steaks, burgers, chicken and pasta options that keep our readers coming back for more. It also is a popular weekend brunch spot with everything from bananas Foster French toast to chicken & waffles Benedict. 

4. Noble Crust 

28330 Paseo Dr., Shops at Wiregrass 

(813) 703-2602 • Noble-Crust.com 


Even though it was bumped down to #4 Favorite this year by our readers after a two-year run in the top spot, Noble Crust’s “Deep South Italian” fare continues to garner lots of attention, as well as votes (even though it fell short of making this year’s “Favorite Pizza” list). With unusual entrées like bronzed salmon (photo), chicken fried chicken parm, bucatini & meatballs & Cajun shrimp risotto, Noble Crust also claims to feature the “Best Brunch in Wesley Chapel.” 

5. Vallarta’s Mexican Restaurant 

5335 Wesley Chapel Village Market 

(813) 907-5161 • VallartasMexican.com 

Whenever you see people in a local online community ask for recommendations for a great Mexican restaurant, roughly half the people highly recommend Vallarta’s, while the other half say “it’s gross.” 

Those who love it point to the restaurant’s huge menu with even bigger portions (like the burrito shown here) at the best prices of any true Mexican restaurant in Wesley Chapel. We guess those folks helped Vallarta’s jump from #12 “Favorite WC Restaurant” with our readers last year to #5 Fave in 2024. 

6. The Living Room 

2001 Piazza Ave., #100, Shops at Wiregrass 

(813) 934-7911 • TLR.Restaurant.com 

Although a lot of online community members complain vehemently about its 20% service charge, our readers still kept The Living Room in the same #6 “Favorite in Wesley Chapel” spot it occupied last year. 

That means that a lot of our readers care more about dishes like the Bobby Boucher pasta shown here, sautéed red grouper, “You Bet…Churrasco” and adobo braised pork osso bucco than they do about having to pay the service fee. The Living Room also is another local brunch favorite. 

7. Mac’s Custom Meats & Deli 

26316 Wesley Chapel Blvd., Grand Oaks Plaza, Lutz 

(813)428-6573 

It seems like there’s at least one restaurant that seems to come out of nowhere to crack the top-10 with our readers every year. 

This year’s surprise is Mac’s Custom Meats & Deli. Although we also enjoy Mac’s quality sandwiches (photo), it’s still really more of a meat market than a restaurant, but whether it made this year’s list because of ballot-stuffing or because enough people really love it this much likely won’t be known until next year’s Reader Survey. 

8. Florida Avenue Brewing Co. 

2029 Arrowgrass Dr. (at S.R. 56), Wesley Chapel 

(813) 452-6333 • FloridaAveBrewing.com 

Jumping up eight places from #16 last year is Florida Avenue Brewing Co., which has changed its food menu so often it’s hard to keep up with all the new items to go with its crowd-pleasing variety of house-brewed beers, hard ciders and seltzers. Of course, you can’t go wrong with Florida Ave.’s wings (photo), cheesesteak egg rolls, smash burgers and chimichurri-style Argentine flatbread. Also ask about the Express Lunch menu and about becoming a Brew Perks member. 

9. Chuck Lager America’s Tavern 

2001 Piazza Ave., #175, Shops at Wiregrass 

(813) 820-4500 • ChuckLager.com 

Another mini-chain making a big jump with our readers this year is Chuck Lager America’s Tavern, which narrowly missed the top-25 last year to jump up to #9 this time — giving The Shops at Wiregrass five of this year’s top-10 Favorites in Wesley Chapel! 

Now with three locations and another coming soon to Ft. Myers, Chuck Lager continues to serve tasty giant pretzels, flatbreads, sliders (all in photo), as well as everything from Chuck’s citrus salmon to NY strip steak and Italian specialties like chicken parmesan and Fabio’s meatball sub. 

10. Ford’s Garage 

25526 Sierra Center Blvd. (at S.R. 56), Lutz 

(813) 540-3673 • FordsGarageUSA.com 

Meanwhile, Ford’s Garage, located across from the Tampa Premium Outlets, dropped one spot from #9 last year to #10 this year, but still garnered plenty of attention from our readers for its popular sports bar-style fare, like the Giant Funnel Tower of Jumbo Piston Onion Rings, Famous Firestone Shrimp, BBQ pork ribs, chicken mac & cheese, smoked brisket burnt ends melt and especially, its Burgers of Fame (photo). 

Plus, Motor Club members get 25% Off every 4th visit, a free birthday appetizer, exclusive news & events and more. 

NTBC Celebrates ‘Ribbon Cutting Day’ In Style! 

Among the seven businesses cutting ribbons with the NTBC on Mar. 20 were the Chamber itself (above) and Signature Workspace (below), where all of the businesses were located. (Photos by Charmaine George) 

Congratulations to the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce (NTBC), which celebrated the most ribbon-cutting events on a single day in its history on Mar. 20, when the NTBC itself cut a ribbon at its new office at the Signature Workspace at the Shops at Wiregrass. Among the six other businesses hosting ribbon cuttings that same day were the Signature Workspace itself, plus The Copeland Team, Wesley Chapel Fingerprinting Services, Cornelius Demps for Circuit Judge, Gulf Coast Accounting & Tax and the Injury Law Office of Lucas, Macyszyn & Dyer. 

In addition to all those ribbons being cut, the event also featured amazing free food provided by Vesh Catering, Azteca D’Oro, Chuck Lager America’s Tavern, Crazy Sushi, Grillsmith, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Pinchers Crab Shack and The Living Room. If you missed it, you missed something special! 

For more info about the NTBC, visit NorthTampaBayChamber.com. 

Gary’s Top 25 Favorite Wesley Chapel Restaurants Of 2023! 

Treble Makers Is Again Gary’s Favorite In Wesley Chapel! The Dueling Piano Bar & Restaurant Beats Out Falabella Family Bistro & Zukku-San For The Top Spot! 

Neighborhood News editor Gary Nager checks out a few of his favorite dishes at TrebleMakers, his favorite restaurant in Wesley Chapel again for 2023. (Photo by Charmaine George) 

 Every year, after our readers’ favorite restaurants in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel are published, I like to provide our readers with my own list of favorites — and there are always many differences between your choices and mine. 

I also always have a few haters every year who say that my reviews aren’t “real,” that I only pick my favorites based on which restaurants advertise with me and/or give me free food, that I have no taste whatsoever, etc. 

The primary thing these haters don’t seem (or want) to understand or believe is that the restaurants I tell you about in my annual “Gary’s Favorites” are not just the places I like the most, they’re also the places where I spend the most of my own money. And yes, when you consider that there are literally dozens of restaurants named on of this issue, Jannah and I do spend a lot of our money dining out (and taking out food) — I’m betting more than just about anyone else in our distribution areas, especially when you consider our combined annual income. 

The “trolls” also don’t seem to “get” the other reason I give my opinions on local eateries every year is that I so appreciate the feedback — both positive and negative — I get after “Gary’s Favorites” are published each year. 

I can’t even tell you how many people come up to me and Jannah when we’re sitting at the bar at The Grill at Morris Bridge, TrebleMakers, Stonewood, Zukku-San, Azteca D’Oro or any of our other favorite eateries to tell me what they think of my opinions. The vast majority of them say things like, “I only tried this place because of what you wrote about them” or “I didn’t really love this place the first time I tried it, but I decided to give it another try because of you.” If you’ve never felt that kind of love from strangers, I promise you that it’s one of the things that most makes the long hours I still put in 30 years since I first started this job worthwhile. 

And yes, a few people also come up to me to tell me that they totally disagree with my assessment of one restaurant or another. Others also tell me that they read my reviews “even though I know they aren’t real.” 

But, the fact is that whether my haters believe it or not, my dining reviews are 100% real. And, unlike the online trolls who think they’re dining “critics” because they tell their few followers that they hated something they ate (or the service they received) at a particular place, I still tell every restaurant owner in our area that when I write a review of their eatery, I will tell more than 170,000 of my “closest friends” (that’s the total possible number of readers we reach in print) everything I like about their place. Anything I don’t like I will tell the restaurant owner about — and pretty much all of them appreciate this approach a lot more then online trolls who cause their overall online ratings to drop. 

Despite all of the new restaurants that opened in the area I call Wesley Chapel — which includes everything from west of the Tampa Premium Outlets to Oak Grove Blvd. in Lutz — the only newcomers to make my top-25 are Azteca D’Oro and Cooper’s Hawk. And, even though we had never dined at any of family-owned Azteca’s previous locations, Cooper’s Hawk had a bit of an unfair advantage for me because Jannah and I have been eating and enjoying the huge varieties of wines at the Tampa location for the last nine years, so we’d already sampled most of the menu. Other newbies that received consideration but didn’t make my top-25 cut include Slim Chickens, Shuckin’ Shack, Crazy Sushi, Rice N’ Beans Express and even the Leonidas Chocolates Café which only added sandwiches and salads in Oct. of 2023. 

1. TrebleMakers   

6034 Wesley Grove Blvd., The Grove at Wesley Chapel 

(813) 406-4371 

TrebleMakersofWC.com.com

TrebleMakers continues to be my Favorite Restaurant in Wesley Chapel, and all you’d have to do to know this is true is check my bank records to see just how many times Jannah and I have eaten there every month since it opened. We just love sitting at the bar to enjoy a craft cocktail and we often share a Caesar salad and the always-fresh coconut curry grouper or a tender 8-oz. filet mignon. 

Whenever we’re not sharing, I will usually get one of the following: the lollipop lamb chops shown here, the 16-oz. prime rib or the diver scallops, and the seared ahi tuna or potato gnocchi appetizer (although co-owner Jamie Hess says the Baked Imperial Crab Dip is the most popular app). Try any of these and let me know what you think! 

2. Falabella Family Bistro    

6027 Wesley Grove Blvd., The Grove at Wesley Chapel 

(813) 428-6957 

FalabellaBistro.com

Any of my top-10 favorites could have made it to this spot, but one of the main reasons, for me, that Falabella Family Bistro nails down the #2 spot is because of its amazing weekend dinner specials, which can be anything from a honey bourbon pork chop to tender veal parmesan or Marsala and so many more. 

Anytime I miss a possible new favorite special (like on my deadline weekends), I always check with owner Steve Falabella to see if I can still get the special after the weekend. Of course, when your regular menu includes crispy zucchini chips, Sam’s meatballs,short rib ragu and the tender chicken parmesan shown here, plus one of our area’s best dessert displays — and the recent addition of full liquor to go with the Bistro’s already popular wine and beer options — helped make it even more popular with the Nagers. 

3. Zukku-San  

25916 Sierra Center Blvd., Lutz 

(813) 419-1351 

ZukkuSushi.com/zukku-san

Although I love the fresh sushi, there’s no doubt that the reason Jannah (who really only enjoys California roll) and I always have to come back to visit Zukku-San Sushi Bar & Grill is because of the amazing Starters — like deep-fried pork gyoza, steamed Zukku dumplings, veggie spring rolls, the incredible assortment of veggie tempura options (try the sweet potato and/or zucchini) and the chicken (photo) and tenderloin yakitori. The Japanese fried rice, grilled short ribs, crafted bowls and lychee martinis also are favorites. 

4. Pisco Express   

5903 Goldview Pkwy., Ste 109-111 

KRATE at The Grove 

(813) 703-2725 

PiscoRest.com 

Like Lima in New Tampa, there’s only one place in Wesley Chapel serving authentic Peruvian-style fish ceviche de pescado with giant corn kernels (photo) — Pisco Express. But, Jannah and I also crave other dishes at this unique Peruvian-Chinese fusion restaurant, including the fried pork chicharrons, tallarin saltado (with chicken or steak) and lomo saltado (steak sautéed with onions, tomatoes & peppers). 

5. Azteca D’Oro   

2000 Piazza Ave., Unit 170 

The Shops at Wiregrass 

(813) 527-6553

AztecaDoro.com 

From our first visit to the new Azteca D’Oro, Jannah and I agreed that its Mexican food was significantly better than Cantina Laredo, the restaurant Azteca replaced. We love Azteca’s huge menu of authentic dishes you won’t find at other local Mexican restaurants, including the borrego (lamb shank) shown above, the taquitos appetizer, the bar area and the place’s “vibe.” 

6. Cooper’s Hawk  

28963 S.R. 56 

Wiregrass Ranch 

(813) 755-4445 

CHWinery.com 

Although it opened in Wesley Chapel too late in 2023 to earn votes in our Reader Survey, Cooper’s Hawk has been a solid chain restaurant in the Westshore area of Tampa for years, so Jannah and I already had a few favorites, including the pan-roasted mahi (photo), parmesan-crusted filet mignon & others,. But, we’ve also found a few new faves since it opened here. 

7. Grillsmith   

2000 Piazza Ave., Unit 100 

The Shops at Wiregrass 

(813) 907-1900 

Grillsmith.com.com 

Grillsmith, the “mini-chain” with five Tampa Bay-area locations, has consistently finished in my top-10 favorites in Wesley Chapel, in large part because of its “Daily Catch,” which can include anything from mahi and grouper to pompano, amberjack and the Mediterranean-style corvina shown above. We do enjoy other entrées at Grillsmith, including the lemon feta chicken, port wine filet, as well as the crunchy ahi tuna appetizer and the great service. 

8. Noble Crust  

28330 Paseo Dr. 

The Shops at Wiregrass 

Noble-Crust.com

As our readers’ Wesley Chapel Favorite the last three years, Noble Crust also appeals to yours truly, but it seems that several of the dishes that have been my favorites get removed from the seasonally-changing menu or it would finish higher with me, because I love the place. The chicken fried chicken parm, ricotta gnocchi and steak frites (photo) are among my current faves.  

9. The Living Room  

2001 Piazza Ave., Unit 100 

The Shops at Wiregrass 

(813) 934-7911 

TLR.restaurant 

Despite its 20% service charge, the second location of The Living Room has been a welcome addition to the Wesley Chapel dining scene, although Jannah and I differ on our favorite dishes. She loves the beef tenderloin empanadas and pan-seared crab cakes (and the house white cosmo), while I’m partial to the brown butter scallops (photo), adobo-braised pork ossobuco and “You Bet…Churrasco.”  

10. Arroy Thai  

27427 Wesley Chapel Blvd. 

Pinebrook at The Grove Plaza 

(813) 501-4924 

ArroyThaiWesleyChapel.com 

If Jannah were a fan of Thai food, I’d eat at (and take out from) Arroy Thai a lot more. Still the only place in Wesley Chapel for crispy duck, soft shell crabs, and Thai-style chicken with garlic and black pepper sauce, as well as Thai-style house fried rice, Arroy Thai is a little hidden gem in the same plaza as Joe Whiskey’s. 

Gary’s 2023 Favorite Restaurants In Wesley Chapel #s 11-25 

11. Yamato 

12. Longhorn Steakhouse 

13. Rice-n-Beans 

Puerto Rico 

14. Pasta di Guy 

15. Florida Ave. Brewing Co. 

16. Top Shelf Sports Lounge 

17. Chick N’Fun 

18. Bubba’s 33 

19. Hungry Greek 

20. Blush Wine Room 

21. EggTown 

22. Café Zorba 

23. The Bacon Boss HQ 

24. Carrabba’s Italian Grill 

25. Señor Tequila 

The Readers Have Spoken! Noble Crust “Three-Peats” & These Are Your Top-25 Favorite Restaurants In Wesley Chapel For 2023!

Azteca D’Oro Finishes 2nd & Grillsmith 3rd In Super-Close 2023 Readers Dining Survey & Contest 

Its unique fusion of Italian and Southern cuisine has made Noble Crust in The Shops at Wiregrass the winner of our readers’ Favorite Restaurant in Wesley Chapel for three consecutive years. (Photos by Charmaine George) 

1. Noble Crust 

28330 Paseo Dr., Shops at Wiregrass 

(813) 703-2602 

Noble-Crust.com 

Since it only has three locations — Wesley Chapel, Carrollwood and the original in St. Pete — you can’t really call Noble Crust a chain. 

What you can call it, however, is a three-peat winner as our readers’ Favorite Restaurant in Wesley Chapel. Noble Crust, which is known for its Southern-inspired Italian fare, craft cocktails and great vibe, has been in our readers’ top-5 every year since it opened in the Shops at Wiregrass in 2017, and has taken home top honors for 2021, 2022 & 2023. 

Although runner-up finisher Azteca D’Oro (see below) had the most first-place votes, Noble Crust had more 2nd-, 3rd-, 4th- and 5th-place votes than any other Wesley Chapel restaurant this year to secure the top spot with our readers. 

Although it has been open in the Shops at Wiregrass less than a year, Azteca D’Oro’s monster burritos helped make it our readers’ Second Favorite Restaurant in Wesley Chapel for 2023.

2. Azteca D’Oro 

2000 Piazza Ave., #170, Shops at Wiregrass 

(813) 527-6553 

Aztecadoro.com

A family-owned mini-chain with eight other locations from New Smyrna Beach to Lakeland, Azteca D’Oro opened in the Shops at Wiregrass earlier this year to mostly rave reviews and came within a few points of winning the top spot with our readers in its first year here. 

Azteca D’Oro’s quality, authentic Mexican cuisine and huge portions helped the newcomer earn the most first-place votes of the more than 500 Neighborhood News readers who voted in this category this year and it might have finished ahead of Noble Crust had it had as many 2nd-5th-place votes. 

Grillsmith has been in our readers’ top-10 Favorite Restaurants in Wesley Chapel every year it has been open, and it gives the mall a clean sweep of the top-3 this year. 

3. Grillsmith 

2000 Piazza Ave., #100, Shops at Wiregrass 

(813) 907-1900 

Grillsmith.com.com 

Another perennial favorite, this five-location mini-chain has finished in our readers’ top-10 every year since it opened (including first-place honors as recently as 2020), Grillsmith’s third-place finish this year gives the Shops at Wiregrass a clean sweep of the top-three spots in this year’s survey. 

The restaurant’s fairly-priced American fare, like its “short-trip fresh fish,” and comfortable bar continue to attract fans among our readers. 

4. Bonefish Grill 

25264 Sierra Center Blvd., Lutz 

(813) 907-8202 

BonefishGrill.com 

Although it’s never finished in the top-10 at its newer location on S.R. 56 before, this former two-time Readers Survey winner jumped up to #3 this year, thanks in part to its revamped menu. 

With nearly 200 locations nationwide, Bonefish is a full-fledged chain known for its fresh seafood, like the bang-bang shrimp shown here. 

5. Zukku-San 

25916 Sierra Center Blvd., Lutz 

(813) 419-1351 

ZukkuSushi.com

Jumping up from its #19 finish with our readers last year (and #14 in 2021), Zukku-San on S.R. 56 is an upscale, family-owned Japanese restaurant with a premium full-liquor bar and delicious food. 

Starting with just a sushi “stall” at Tampa’s Armature Works, Zukku-San has added a full location in North Carolina and another fast casual concept called Ato at the KRATE Container Park at The Grove. 

6. The Living Room 

2001 Piazza Ave., #100 

Shops at Wiregrass 

(813) 934-7911 

TLR.restaurant 

It was only open for a short time when most of our readers submitted their ballots last year, so it came in at #25, but this upscale addition to The Shops at Wiregrass obviously pleased a lot of locals this year. 

The original Living Room in downtown Dunedin is a perennial favorite, and the Wesley Chapel location being voted Best Pasco Restaurant by Creative Loafing readers probably didn’t hurt its recognition factor with our readers this year. 

7. BJ’s Brewhouse 

2300 Grand Cypress Dr., Lutz 

(813) 575-1830 

BJsRestaurants.com 

Jumping up from #11 with our readers in 2021, BJ’s is another full-fledged chain with more than 200 U.S. locations that is still serving a wide variety of favorites, despite obviously reducing its number of menu options over the past year. 

Its ideal location in front of the Tampa Premium Outlets on S.R. 56 definitely helps keep the parking lot and wait list full at our local BJ’s and its fair pricing and premium full-liquor bar has helped keep it among our readers’ favorites 

8. Bahama Breeze 

25830 Sierra Center Blvd., Lutz 

(813) 949-0779 

BahamaBreeze.com 

Like BJ’s Brewhouse, Bahama Breeze didn’t crack the top-25 when we asked readers for one list of favorites among all Wesley Chapel and New Tampa restaurants last year, but it was #7 in Wesley Chapel in 2021, the last time we split our areas into separate votes, as we did this year. 

This 43-unit chain still attracts plenty of locals with its island-inspired fare. 

9. Ford’s Garage 

25526 Sierra Center Blvd., Lutz 

(813)540-3673 

FordsGarageUSA.com 

This is by far Ford’s Garage’s highest finish with our readers since 2019, when it finished 11th. 

The 22-location chain, which utilizes the Ford Motor Company’s logo, is located on the north side of S.R. 56 and features a wide variety of hand-crafted burgers and other better-than-the-average-burger-place food, plus a full-liquor bar. 

10. Bubba’s 33 

26340 Silver Maple Pkwy. 

(813) 522-5090 

Bubbas33.com

Bubba’s 33, the 27-unit sports bar chain from our friends at Texas Roadhouse, is another eatery that has finished higher with our readers this year than in any of the last five years. 

Bubba’s has been a solid top-20 finisher with our readers most years, but its combination of great food, sports and music videos attracted its most votes ever. 

Our Readers’ 2023 Top-25 Favorite Restaurants In Wesley Chapel (#s 11-25) 

11. Texas Roadhouse 

12. Vallarta’s Mexican Restaurant 

13. Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen 

14. Chuy’s Tex-Mex 

15. PizzaMania 

16. Florida Ave. Brewing Co. 

17. Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux 

18. TrebleMakers Dueling Piano Bar & Restaurant 

19. Amici Pizza 

20. Outback Steak House 

21. Umu Japanese & Thai 

22. First Watch 

23. Hungry Greek 

24. (tie) Yamato Japanese Restaurant 

24. (tie) Sonny’s BBQ

Your Favorite Wesley Chapel Restaurant!

Our local readers cast their votes, and despite a number of new options, Noble Crust Tops The List in Wesley Chapel…Again.

Waitress Kaitlynn Kapp displays Noble Crust’s popular braised lamb shank entree (Photos: Charmaine George)

Since opening in 2017, Noble Crust has established itself as one of Wesley Chapel’s premier restaurants, and based on the votes of our readers, the premier restaurant.

For the second straight year, Noble Crust tops the list as our readers’ favorite in Wesley Chapel (and New Tampa, this year).

With competition stiffer than ever, Noble Crust’s Southern Italian-style dishes resonate with local foodies. The seasonal menu includes such favorites as the Ricotta Gnocchi (pictured, bottom right), bronzed salmon, Southern fried chicken (bottom left), fire-roasted Pork Chops and the F.G.B.L.T. — fried green tomatoes, Tabasco honeyglazed pork belly and pimento cheese.

“I think it’s the consistency and quality of the food that wins people over,” says Brad Elia, Noble Crust’s executive director of marketing and events, adding that great service also goes a long way. 

Elia adds that, despite the industry struggles post-Covid, Noble Crust never substituted cheaper ingredients to make their dishes. The team at Noble Crust meets every Thursday at noon, 52 weeks a year, to discuss ways to tweak the offerings and make sure everything on the menu is always up to par.

That has resulted in a rustic, ever-changing menu with few weaknesses, from a plate of spaghetti and meatballs to a pizza with pear and burrata to a bowl of rigatoni & beef ragout. And, Noble Crust’s popular bar offers unique craft cocktails and a variety of craft and other beer and wine options. — JC
2. Chuck Lager 
3. Grillsmith
4. TrebleMakers
5. Falabella Bistro
6. Vallarta’s
7. Yamato
8. Bonefish Grill
9. Brunchery
10. Texas Roadhouse

Tomorrow: New Tampa’s top restaurant is familiar to local residents, and we reveal the top 25 overall in the combined New Tampa and Wesley Chapel area. Category winners will be published in the coming days, so make sure you check back.