Stonewood Wins Again As Your Favorite In New Tampa! 

Las Palmas Wins Favorite Latin & #2 Overall; Via Italia Is 3rd & Also Wins Fave Pizza & Italian! 
Executive Chef Danny Manzur, sous chef Jason Price, kitchen manager Gary Zimmerman & operating partner Dennis Diaz celebrate the fact that Stonewood Grill & Tavern in Tampa Palms again won “Favorite Restaurant in New Tampa” with Neighborhood News readers for 2024. (Photo by Charmaine George)

There isn’t much more we can say about Stonewood Grill & Tavern that hasn’t already been said each of the past eight years as our readers’ Favorite Restaurant in New Tampa, so we won’t even bother. Suffice it to say that Stonewood’s combination of quality food, an elegant setting, outstanding service, New Tampa’s most hopping upscale bar crowd and fair prices continue to keep it at the top of your list. 

This year’s second-Favorite Restaurant in New Tampa (and Favorite Latin Restaurant in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel) was at least a little bit of a surprise, NOT because Las Palmas Latin Grill isn’t a great mom-&-pop restaurant, but because owners Ramses and Ana Garcia were still operating out of a food truck, rather than their brick-&-mortar location, when last year’s survey was conducted. For Las Palmas to nudge past last year’s second place finisher, Via Italia, after not making the 2023 top-25 was very impressive. 

Overall, seven of your 2023 top-10 Favorite Restaurants in New Tampa still made this year’s Top-10 (some moved up, others down), but Las Palmas, EggTown and the reopened Kobé moved into the top-10 while Fresh Kitchen, Olive Garden & Minerva (which still won for Favorite Indian Restaurant) dropped out. — GN 

1. Stonewood Grill & Tavern 

2. Las Palmas Latin Grill 

3. Via Italia Wood Fired Pizza & Bar 

4. Liang’s Bistro Asian Cuisine 

5. Fat Rabbit Pub 

6. The Grill at Morris Bridge 

7. Mr. Dunderbak’s 

8. Cali Tampa Palms 

9. EggTown Breakfast & Lunch 

10. Kobé Japanese Steakhouse 

11. Sushi Café 

12. Johnny C’s Italian Eatery 

13. Hungry Crab Juicy Seafood 

14. Fresh Kitchen 

15. Lima Peruvian Cuisine 

16. Cappy’s Pizzeria 

17. Frammi American Grille & Italian Food 

18. Thai Lanna 

19. Thai Ruby 

20. Minerva Indian Restaurant 

21. Taste of NY Pizza 

22. Burger 21 

23. Acropolis Greek Taverna 

24. Don Julio’s Mexican Restaurant 

25. (tie) Gorkhali Kitchen & Peabody’s 

1. Stonewood Grill & Tavern 

17050 Palm Pointe Dr., Pointe at Tampa Palms 

(813) 978-0388 • StonewoodGrill.com 

So, even though it is part of a mini-chain with fewer than ten units, no one should be surprised that Stonewood Grill & Tavern — which was the first upscale restaurant to open in New Tampa and has always been at or near the top of our Reader Survey rankings ever since — took home top honors again this year. 

With new menu items like peach bourbon-glazed pork chops (top) and the huge tuna poké stack appetizer (bottom) always being added to the chain’s menu by Tampa Palms executive chef Danny Manzur, and the most New Tampa of all bar scenes in zip code 33647, it’s not difficult to understand how Stonewood keeps itself at the top of our reader rankings (and at least near the top of mine) every year. Kudos to Manzur and operating partner Dennis Diaz and their staff for never skimping on quality. 

2. Las Palmas Latin Grill 

6431 E. County Line Rd. 

(813) 991-5500 • LasPalmasLatinGrill.com 

When owner and chef Ramses Garcia told me last year that he sold his Las Palmas food truck and was getting ready to reopen in the same space his brick-&-mortar Las Palmas Latin Grill had been in before (after closing for about a year because of a kitchen fire), I knew he was going to be successful, but I had no idea that he would be able to go from not making the top-25 in the 2023 Reader Dining Survey to #2 Favorite Restaurant in New Tampa in such a short period of time. 

Of course, adding beer and wine had to help, but adding new dishes — like his delicious fried whole snapper (top photo) to go with his award-winning Tampa- and Miami -style Cuban sandwiches (bottom photo) likely helped even more. 

No matter what menu items you love at Las Palmas, it’s clear that Ramses and his wife Ana have provided the restaurant comeback story of the year for not just our readers, but for yours truly as well. 

3. Via Italia Wood Fired Pizza & Bar 

8644 Hunter’s Village Rd., Village at Hunter’s Lake 

(813) 475-4857 • EatViaItalia.com 


Finishing closely behind Las Palmas for #2 this year was last year’s #2 finisher, Via Italia. I don’t believe that the drop of one spot from last year has anything to do with former owner Roberto Maganuco selling the restaurant to new owner Sonny Patel, as the restaurant still serves the same delicious Italian fare (like the tagliatelle Bolognese shown here). I just think Via Italia fell victim to a new wave of support for Las Palmas. 

4. Liang’s Bistro Asian Cuisine 

17515 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. 

(813) 978-1225 • LiangsBistroTampa.com 

Jumping up from #6 last year to the fourth spot this year is Liang’s Bistro, which also continues to dominate the “Favorite Chinese Restaurant in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel” vote, as it has every year since it opened. 

As I have often said, while not all of Liang’s dishes can be called “New York-style” (although its crispy egg rolls, right, are very NY-ish), there’s no doubt that it has been our area’s only quality sit-down Chinese place. 

5. Fat Rabbit Pub 

16029 Tampa Palms Blvd. W., City Plaza at Tampa Palms 

(813) 252-3004 • FatRabbitPub.com 

There’s no doubt that the Fat Rabbit Pub has been a model of consistency since it opened to rave reviews several years ago and this year is no exception. 

Fat Rabbit has repeated as our readers’ #5 Favorite Restaurant in New Tampa, thanks to still serving its more upscale pub items (like its new fattened shrimp appetizer and a variety of new rice bowls, including the Fish Taco bowl with Mojo mahi-mahi), as well as some of the best wings (photo) in our distribution areas. 

6. The Grill at Morris Bridge 

10920 Cross Creek Blvd., Cross Creek Commons 

(813) 388-5353 • TheGrillatMorrisBridge.com 

Although it dropped from #2 Favorite Restaurant in New Tampa two years ago to #3 last year and #6 this year, there’s no doubt that a large number of our readers love owner Frank Gouveia’s Grill at Morris Bridge, as it finished only a few votes behind the #3-#5 favorites on this page, all of which were significantly ahead of #s 7-#10. 

Plus, with the recent addition of new bar menu items (like this chili cheese dog), The Grill isn’t just for “date night” anymore. It’s also a great place to watch a game, too. 

7. Mr. Dunderbak’s 

14929 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Oak Ramble Plaza 

(813) 977-4104 • DunderbaksBeer.wordpress.com 


After returning to the top-10 (#8) in New Tampa last year, following a mysterious one-year absence from our readers’ top-25, Mr. Dunderbak’s and its German (and American) cuisine continues to be not only a popular place to have a beer, but also everything from corned beef Reuben sandwiches (photo) to jagerschnitzel, as it rose to #7 this year. In short, Mr. Dunderbak’s is still Tampa’s “German Bierhalle, Braueri, Marketplatz und Restaurant.” 

8. Cali Tampa Palms 

17004 Palm Pointe Dr., Shoppes at The Pointe 

(813) 975-1222 • EatCali.com 

Although New Tampa’s original “bowl culture” eatery has risen and fallen a few spots year over year, Cali Tampa Palms continues to be one of our readers’ Favorite restaurants in New Tampa. 

Known not only for its tasty bowls (like the “Lean & Clean” shown here), but also for delicious wrap sandwiches, salads and oven-baked pizza — all with quality ingredients, Cali is likely to remain a consistent favorite for years to come. 

9. EggTown 

17507 Preserve Walk Ln. (New Tampa) & 27607 S.R. 56 (Wesley Chapel) 

(813) 533-7221 (NT) & (813) 994-9666 (WC) • EggTown.com 

Jumping up eight spaces from #17 last year is this year’s #9 Favorite restaurant in New Tampa, EggTown. 

Despite losing out to Keke’s in this year’s “Favorite Breakfast Place” voting, this growing (now up to five units) mini-chain (with locations in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel) is a great place for delicious breakfast items (like the egg, chicken & waffles shown here) but also delicious lunch/brunch specialties like chicken salad croissants, burgers and grilled chicken sandwiches. It has super-fair prices, too! 

10. Kobé Japanese Steakhouse 

17641 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. 

(813) 680-5800 • KobeSteakhouse.com 


You can’t really call Kobé Japanese Steakhouse a “newcomer” to our area because it had a New Tampa location for several years before shutting down to relocate a few miles south on Bruce B. Downs Blvd., but it is the first time in a couple of years Kobé has been open and our readers obviously are still taken with what is now New Tampa’s only place for “dinner-&-a-show” teppanyaki-table Japanese fare. Our readers obviously appreciate that Kobé — now with eleven locations throughout central Florida, — has returned with the same quality it had before. 

Las Palmas Latin Grill Adds New Entrées, Cerveza & Sangria! 

The new whole, fried red snapper at Las Palmas Latin Grill on County Line Rd. is crispy outside, tender & flaky inside. (Photos by Charmaine George)

I have been a fan of Ramses Garcia’s authentic Cuban and Latin cuisine since he first took over the original Las Palmas in the Pebble Creek Collection more than a decade ago. 

Like so many of their loyal customers, Jannah and I followed Ramses and his wife Ana to the relocated Las Palmas in the plaza at the intersection of County Line Rd. and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. that also includes LA Fitness and Five Guys Burgers & Fries. 

And yes, we also frequently took out from the Las Palmas food truck in the same parking lot after the restaurant had to close following a major kitchen fire three years ago. 

You can now have a Presidente cerveza or house-made sangria with your meal at Las Palmas. 

But now, ten months after Ramses and Ana sold the food truck and reopened the new Las Palmas Latin Grill in the same space in the plaza last October, they are happy to announce that they are now also able to serve cerveza (beer) and homemade sangria and Ramses and many of his loyal customers couldn’t be more excited about it. 

“People have been asking me, ‘When are you going to serve alcohol?’ from the day we first opened,” Ramses says. “We would love to be able to sell full liquor, but we’re happy to have cerveza and sangria and believe it will help business.” 

The long-time local mom-&-pop favorite — which has consistently finished in the top three Favorite Latin Restaurants in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel in our annual Reader Dining Survey & Contest — should definitely get a boost from beer and wine. 

“Right now, we have Corona, Presidente, Coors Light and Heineken beer,” Ramses says, “but we will add more in the future. And, our customers tell me our sangria is pretty awesome, too.” 

And yes, yours truly agrees. 

New Entrées, Too! 

Although I still have some old favorites that I will order forever at Las Palmas (see below), Ramses has added a couple of new entrées that will now be in my regular rotation whenever we visit (or take out from) the restaurant. 

Although I know a lot of people (including Jannah) won’t eat anything that’s looking back at you, if you’re already a fan of whole snapper, you honestly can’t beat the crispy outside, flaky inside whole snapper at Las Palmas. 

The new churrasco steak entree at Las Palmas. 

I’m also a big fan of the recently re-added churrasco steak, served with Ramses’ homemade chimichurri sauce. The flank steak is tender, with just the right amount of garlic and the tangy chimichurri is a perfect complement. 

“We had to take the churrasco off the menu until I found the right supplier with the right steak,” Ramses says. “The new churrasco is fire.” 

And, like all of the entrées at Las Palmas, the whole snapper and churrasco are served with your choice of two delicious sides, from black or red beans, yellow or white rice, boiled yuca, French fries, sweet or savory plantains, green beans or salad with Las Palmas’ signature creamy herbal dressing. 

You can’t go wrong starting your meal with some empanadas. 

Start your meal with beef or chicken empanadas, deviled crab, ham croquettes, savory tostones bites (crispy green plantain bites stuffed with your choice of beef picadillo or mojo pork) or the “Fan Favorite” golden brown fried yuca sticks served with creamy, tangy cilantro sauce. 

Many of Ramses’ customers still come in for his award-winning pressed Tampa Cuban sandwich, with ham, Swiss cheese, roasted pork, salami, mustard-mayo sauce and pickles. Or, try the Miami Cubano (with no salami and mustard only), or the slow-roasted pork sandwich cooked with onions and garlic-lime mojo. 

My favorite entrées are still the merluza a la Rusa — a tender basa filet in panko-spiced blend and served with the traditional “Russian-style” sauce — and the vaca frita (tender beef, marinated in garlic and lime and “grilled-fried” until crispy). 

The new whole snapper is awesome, but so is Ramses’ merluza a la Rusa, shown here with a side of perfect black beans.

There’s also ropa vieja (Spanish for “old clothes), with shredded beef slow-cooked with tomatoes, bell peppers and onions; roasted chicken on rice (arroz con pollo), grilled pork chops (chuletas) and fried pork bites (masitas). Jannah also loved the huge “crumbed” pan-fried chicken breast coated with a seasoned panko-crumb mixture. and topped with sautéed onions (called pechuga empanizada). There’s also a golden seared chicken fillet with fresh herbs and spices if you’re looking for a delicious chicken dish that’s grilled. 

I also should not forget to mention to the slow-roasted “lechon asado” mojo pork. Yum! 

And, although I still can’t eat shrimp, Charmaine flipped for the shrimp in garlic sauce (gambas al ajillo) in a fragrant garlic-lime and butter sauce, with a touch of white wine and fresh herbs. 

The zesty shrimp with garlic sauce (shown with yellow rice and sweet plantains).

Your kids will love the chicken nuggets and fries, which are served with ketchup and savory dipping sauces. 

I also recommend saving room for coffee and dessert at Las Palmas. Try any of the flaky guava or guava and cheese pastries in the display case by the cash register. And, don’t forget to try the Cuban-style vanilla flan and Ana’s homemade tres leches cake — a delicious, light and airy sponge cake soaked in a luxurious blend of three milks. And, definitely enjoy any of these desserts with an authentic café con leché. 

Catering also is available from Las Palmas, which has an extensive catering menu, with many more available options than what’s on the restaurant menu, including a gourmet mixed seafood paella (minimum of 20 servings per order). 

Las Palmas Latin Grill (6431 E. County Line Rd., Suite 104) is open every day except Sunday for lunch and dinner. The hours are Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., and 11 a.m.- 9 p.m. on Friday & Saturday. For more info, visit LasPalmasLatinGrill.com, or follow them on Facebook or Instagram and please tell Ramses, Ana and their crew I sent you!


The award-winning Tampa Cuban. 

The “crumbed” pan-fried chicken fillet. All entrées at Las Palmas are served with your choice of two sides. 

When you taste his food, you’ll be smiling along with Las Palmas owner & chef Ramses Garcia. 

Gary’s 2023 Favorite Latin Restaurants In New Tampa & Wesley Chapel 

For me, this was one of the toughest of all categories, as virtually every place on the list has multiple dishes among my favorites. But, Lima’s ceviche and tallarin saltado de pollo (photo) keep it ahead of the merluza at Las Palmas, the ceviche at Pisco, the chicharrons at Rice N Beans and the cachapas at Chamo Bites. 

1. Lima Peruvian Cuisine 

2. Las Palmas Latin Grill 

3. Pisco Express 

4. Rice n Beans Puerto Rico

5. Chamo Bites 

6. Rice n Beans Express

7. Mojo Grill 

8. La Creacion Xpress 

9. Latin Twist Café 

10. Arepa Mia 

Check Out The Completely Redesigned Las Palmas Latin Grill! 

Ramses & Ana Garcia invite you to sample their authentic Cuban and Latin specialties, including the flaky guava-filled pastry shown below. 

Although we told you last issue that Las Palmas Latin Grill had reopened in the same brick-&-mortar space as it was previously, at 6431 County Line Rd. (south of Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in the same plaza as LA Fitness and Five Guys), the new Las Palmas hadn’t actually reopened when we went to press with that issue, so we couldn’t show you any pictures of the place or the food. 

Well, the beautiful, new Las Palmas did open as planned on Oct. 24 (a little more than two years after a kitchen fire shuttered the place) with a small ribbon-cutting ceremony and a few close friends and family getting to enjoy the full menu that had to be greatly reduced when owners Ramses and Ana Garcia had their food truck in the same parking lot following the fire. 

If you’ve never had Ana’s picadillo (minced beef with olives, potatoes and tomato sauce), Ramses’

The full menu is back and available at the newly reopened Las Palmas Latin Grill, including (above) merluza a la Rusa and(below left) the pressed Tampa Cuban sandwich. 

merluza a la Rusa (fried flaky white fish filet topped with egg, tomatoes and spices), vaca frita (crispy shredded beef with garlic-lemon mojo sauce), the award-winning pressed Tampa Cuban (with ham, roasted pork, salami and Swiss Cheese, mustard, mayo & pickles) or the big variety of empanadas, croquettes and Latin pastries, you need to visit Las Palmas — which will hopefully soon have its beer and wine license, too. 

And, with the holidays coming up fast, don’t forget to check out Las Palmas and its outstanding catering menu for a holiday party you and your guests won’t soon forget! 

Las Palmas Latin Grill is open Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on Friday & Saturday (it’s closed on Sunday). For more information, call (813) 991-5500 or visit LasPalmasLatinGrill.com — and don’t forget to tell Ramses & Ana we sent you! — GN