Blue Park Dental, Inside Out Aesthetics & Lightning Orthodontics All Cut Chamber Ribbons! 

At the NTBC ribbon-cutting event at Inside Out Aesthetics on Nov. 2, attendees got to check out the many treatment rooms at Inside Out’s new location north of S.R. 56. (Photos by Charmaine George)

Even as the holidays approach, the North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC) is still helping its new and existing member businesses get the word out with ribbon-cutting ceremonies — and we are proud to partner with the Chamber to help publicize these businesses and events. Here are a couple of those events that have been held since our last issue hit mailboxes four weeks ago: 

Blue Park Dental 
On Oct. 24, Dr. Jordan Brown of Blue Park Dental and his wife Shakirah celebrated the official Grand Opening of the new dental office on Wesley Chapel Blvd. with an NTBC ribbon-cutting event. 

Blue Park Dental, the office of Jordan Brown, DDS, is located at 5470 Post Oak Blvd., Unit 170, in the same plaza off Wesley Chapel Blvd. as the new Moe’s Southwest Grill and Jimmy John’s, in Wesley Chapel. 

Dr. Brown and his wife Shakirah hosted a Grand Opening and NTBC ribbon-cutting event on Oct. 24, attended by at least 50 people, including members of the Browns’ family, friends and of course, NTBC members. 

He told those who were there that he was inspired by the work ethics of both of his parents — Colin and Patricia Brown (who were both in attendance) — and said, “Blue Park Dental is a dental office that advertises comfort, trust and honesty. It emphasizes technology but also makes sure you feel comfort and safety at the same time.” 

Dr. Brown also thanked his wife. “You have no idea how much Shakirah has been in this process. She has helped so much, every step of the way, so thank you for being my rock and my support.” 

For more information about Blue Park Dental, call (813) 742-6227 or visit BlueParkDental.com. 

Inside Out Aesthetics & Wellness 
Family nurse practitioner Tracy Burke (left) and licensed esthetician Amanda McEwan. 

Then, on Nov. 2, it was Board-certified family nurse practitioner Tracy Burke who hosted an NTBC ribbon-cutting event at the new location of her Inside Out Aesthetics & Wellness — at 27613 Cashford Cir., which is located behind Sam’s Club on the north side of S.R. 56 in the Summergate Professional Park. Inside Out previously was located on an outparcel of The Shops at Wiregrass. 

Tracy also thanked the Chamber, as well as all of her friends, clients and her entire family, but especially her son Michael, who recently earned his Florida general contractor’s license and who was instrumental in creating every room in the new med spa to Tracy’s exact specifications. 

“I want to thank all of you for coming,” Tracy said prior to cutting the Chamber ribbon. “I have dreamed about having a location like this and now, that dream has come true.” The event also introduced Inside Out’s new licensed medical esthetician Amanda McEwan, who specializes in skin care and custom facials that blend advanced treatments with a holistic approach. 

Inside Out also offers neuromodulators, injectables, PDO threads, bio-stimulators, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy & semaglutide for weight loss. For info, call (813) 602-6100 or visit insideout-aesthetics.com. 

Lightning Orthodontics 

And finally, on Nov. 7, it was time for Lightning Orthodontics, the office of Isis El Ghannam, DDS, to cut a Chamber ribbon. 

Located in the small strip plaza at 24795 S.R. 54 in Lutz that also includes Fazoli’s, Lightning Orthodontics (which is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Tampa Bay Lightning) is a beautiful, new office equipped with the latest in orthodontic technology and with room to add additional orthodontists if and when the need arises. 

Dr. El Ghannam is Board-certified and says she is especially drawn to challenging cases as she finds it rewarding to make a positive impact on the lives of her patients. She also is a new mom who says the experience has deepened her empathy and enriched her interactions with families. 

The office, which promises that patients will be, “heard, understood and cared for with the speed of lightning,” offers online appointments, virtual consults and remote treatment options. English, Spanish and Arabic are all spoken at the office. 

For more info about Lightning Orthodontics, visit LightningOrthondtics.com or call (813) 733-0007 and please tell them we sent you!

Totally Blu Pool Builders Will Have You Swimming In Your New Pool In 60 Days!

Whether you want a pool with a beach entry and a waterfall (above) or bubbling jets (below left), Savir and Sunil Mohammed of the Blu
Water Pools store, located north of S.R. 54 on Eiland Blvd., and Blu Water Builders is one of few pool builders that have established a great reputation with
customers. (Below right) If you want your pool to also include an outdoor kitchen, Totally Blu Builders uses grills and accessories made by Bull Outdoor Kitchens.

Sunil Mohammed, owner of Totally Blu Pools, has been in the pool servicing business for more than 17 years. Just last year, he and his wife, Rashmi Maharaj, opened a pool supply store by the same name, located at the corner of S.R. 54 and Eiland Blvd. in the Publix- and Home Depot-anchored Summertree Plaza. At that time, he decided to venture into pool building, as well, and established Totally Blu Builders.

The community was suffering from a number of failed builders who left behind unfinished pools, and Sunil saw an opportunity to help.

“We started off by finishing pools that were started by Staycation,” he says, referring to one of the pool companies that went out of business.

“We’ve built more than 100 pools in about 18 months,” Sunil says, “including finishing about 60 Staycation pools. We just do one pool at a time, and we just kept finishing them.”

Sunil hired former Staycation and Olympus Pools installer Doug Griffith and other staff members who have experience in the industry, including at those failed companies.

He says that while Doug’s knowledge of construction is vast, Sunil brings a new approach to managing his company’s finances that will protect Totally Blu’s customers.

“Doug’s knowledge in construction is amazing,” Sunil says. “Now that I’ve dug pools with him for more than a year, I can say he backs it up by also being a good person. He came from two failed companies, but he had no part in the finances of those businesses that went down.”

Sunil explains that there’s not a lot of profit margin in pool construction, so, he says, “you have to manage your finances well.”

With Sunil’s nearly two decades in the industry, he already has established good relationships with vendors and customers.

“We’ve have made a good name for ourselves, which is difficult in this day and age because of the bad reputation of pool builders overall,” Sunil says.

In fact, his fairly new business has a perfect five-star (out of five) rating on Google. While there are only a few ratings, they are all positive.

One of the keys, Sunil explains, is not to overpromise, but instead to over-deliver.

“Once we get county approval, which usually takes about a month,” Sunil says, “we finish pools within six to eight weeks. We also call every customer every Friday while their pool is in process. When someone is spending $75,000 to $125,000 on a pool, it’s a huge investment. We reassure them as constantly as possible that we are not running away with their money. At every stage, we are being careful with what we do, and are always giving our customers what we promised.”

So, why did Sunil even get into the construction business, knowing how nervous customers are to trust a pool company these days and knowing that the profit margins are thin and potentially how hard it can be to please customers making such a large purchase?

He says first, it’s about serving the community and helping people who have been put in a difficult position by other pool builders or who have heard the horror stories? “More pools being built in the community means more customers for our pool service and supply businesses,” he says. “We are servicing nearly all of the pools we’ve built. If we can build the pool and keep the customers happy, then we can also do their pool service, and that’s how we will make our money for the next 10 years.”

In other words, Sunil is in it for the long term, so Totally Blu’s reputation is of the utmost importance to him.

Building That Reputation

As Totally Blu continues to complete pools, the word is spreading and customers are referring their friends.

The Neighborhood News spoke with Ami Rivera while her pool was being filled, just a few hours before it would be ready for swimming.

“Our goal was to have the pool ready for my daughter’s eighth birthday,” Ami says. “It’s in four days and she’s already put her feet in.”

Ami, who lives in the Watergrass community off Curley Rd., says that when she bought her home in 2020, she was content to swim at the community pool, but as it became obvious that she, her husband Lorenzo, and their daughter Anabel would be staying in their home long-term, they wanted to have their own pool.

“Everyone’s heard the horror stories,” she said, referring to lost deposits and unfinished pools, “so we had a lot of questions and concerns.”

As a Realtor, Ami also is a business owner who knows the importance of supporting the local community.

She says she interviewed four companies, and that all four had very similar pricing. But, she says, her conversation with Sunil stood out. Since he also lives in Watergrass, she saw a neighbor and a fellow business owner who expressed his commitment to the people of Wesley Chapel.

“Customers are valuing communication and transparency, and doing a lot more due diligence,” Ami says. “We had such a great conversation and I felt such ownership from him. I love being able to use someone in my own community.”

While Sunil knows his long-term success depends upon his company’s reputation, he’s building his business not only for now, but also because he says Tru Blu will be a legacy for his son, 17-year-old Savir, who is a senior at Wesley Chapel High.

“Savir came to work with me this summer,” says Sunil. “This kid has taken off and really become my right hand. He has even started designing pools, he goes out on the construction sites, and he has increased sales in the store by 20 percent.”

Savir plans to study electrical engineering in college, while living at home. He is already a Certified Pool/Spa Operator (CPO), a national certification by the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) that recognizes expertise in cleaning and servicing pools and spas. Next, he plans to take courses in designing pools.

The Totally Blu Pools store also serves as the Totally Blu Builders showroom.

“I’m teaching him to be ethical in how we deal with people,” Sunil says. “Customers come in here and ask for him by name. He has become an integral part of my business and, for that, I’m very proud.”

While Totally Blu also has offered lawn service in the past, Sunil says he is moving away from that business, although he can still help people who are looking for landscaping services.

With a focus on pool service, supplies and now construction, Sunil believes Totally Blu is in a good position to serve the community and provide for his family for years to come.

And, with Totally Blu’s happy customer list growing, it seems Sunil is on the right track.

“I find it very important to have business owners in our community who you can put your trust and confidence in,” Ami says. “The product is sitting in my back yard and we’re thrilled.”

Totally Blu Pools & Totally Blu Builders are located at 32781 Eiland Blvd. For information about the pool supply store or pool service, call(813)788-7665 or visit TotallyBluH2O.com. To get started with a free digital design for your new pool, call(813)550-2023 or visit TotallyBluBuilders.com.

‘Little Shop Of Horrors’ Was A Horrifying Triumph For The New Tampa Players! 

The first time I saw “Little Shop of Horrors,” the campy, award-winning sci-fi/horror musical (based on an original 1960 film by “The King of Cult” Roger Corman) about a man-(and woman-) eating plant named Audrey II and the bumbling “Skid Row” flower shop employee who earns fame because of the voracious plant, I was sitting about eight rows back in the show’s original Off- Broadway Orpheum Theatre in the Little Ukraine section of Manhattan’s East Village in late 1982 or early 1983, only a few months after the show first opened to rave reviews. 

Sitting directly in front of me were Liza Minelli, Sean Penn and Madonna. Yes, that famous trio (no one called them a “thruple”). We were all among the packed house of nearly 350 people who took in the spectacle of this flytrap-looking plant that grows from a pot on a counter to take up most of Mushnik’s Flower Shop — and plans to take over the entire world. 

Four years later, “Little Shop” was made into a hit 1986 movie starring Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene (who also created the role of Audrey, the love interest of geeky Seymour Krelborn, who also loves “strange and interesting plants”), Steve Martin as Audrey’s sadistic boyfriend Orin Scrivello, DDS, and Vincent Gardenia as the failing flower shop owner, Mr. Mushnik. 

Fast-forward nearly 40 more years and Jannah and I are sitting in a theatre almost as large as the Orpheum — the New Tampa Performing Arts Center — on what turned out to be opening night of the New Tampa Players (NTP)’ production of the show (Oct. 18), because the first weekend of performances got canceled following Hurricane Milton. 

I have to admit that NTP’s “Little Shop” very much rang true to the original version I saw more than 40 years previous. 

Yes, a show where four people are “eaten” by a giant plant is a little disturbing, but an outstanding cast performing great songs (with book and lyrics by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken, the same creative team behind Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Aladdin”), great direction by NTP’s Thomas Pahl, musical direction by Rick Barclay and choreography by Makayla Raines, made NTP’s “Little Shop” an amazing tribute to that Off-Broadway original. (By the way, the Broadway revival production lasted only 372 performances between Oct. 2003 and Aug. 2004.) 

And Away We Go! 

NTP’s “Little Shop” opened with the title theme, sung by “the urchins” — (photo #1, l.- r.) Paige Alter as Crystal, Sara Gutierrez as Chiffon and Patty Smithey (who portrayed Lorrell Robinson in NTP’s “Dreamgirls”) as Ronette. 

We then meet (photo #2, l.-r.) Mushnik (Luis Graham), who is threatening to close his flower shop on Skid Row because he can’t do any business, the oafish, love-sick Seymour (Richard Brown) and Audrey (Madison Pulica, who has the original cartoon-ish speaking voice and mannerisms of the role’s originator down to a “T”). 

Seymour shows Mushnik the “strange and interesting plant” that he found following a recent total solar eclipse and says that maybe displaying the plant will bring in customers — which it immediately does. 

But soon, when Seymour cuts himself on a rose thorn, the plant — which Seymour names the “Audrey II” after his unrequited beloved — first shows its thirst for blood, so Stanley squeezes a few more drops into its open maw (photo #3), after which, Audrey II first begins to grow. Meanwhile, Audrey continues to display the painful results of the “affections” of her dentist boyfriend Orin (portrayed with very much Steve Martin-esque vigor by Tom Bronson), and sings (photo #4) to the urchins about her dream to move to “Somewhere That’s Green.” 

We (and Seymour) then meet Orin for the first time, after Orin sings “(“You’ll Be A) Dentist” to the urchins (photo #5). Seymour also sees Orin “rough up” Audrey for the first time and, realizing that he can’t continue to drain himself of his own blood for Audrey II, also wonders for the first time if maybe Orin should end up “providing” the blood for the now-much-larger plant. 

Mushnik is now so impressed with Seymour (who is revealed early on to be an orphan), that he tells Seymour in the song “Mushnik & Son” (Photo #6) that he will re-name the now-much-more successful flower shop and adopt his now-star employee. 

But next, we find out for the first time that Audrey II can talk — in the booming baritone of Christan McLaurine (at right in photo #9, who also was a scene-stealer as James “Thunder” Early in NTP’s “Dreamgirls”) in the song “Feed Me.” 

Act I ends as Seymour brings a gun to his visit to Orin’s dental office, which is replete with rusty, medieval-style torture appliances. Orin can’t wait to ply his trade inside Seymour’s mouth, so much so that he gets his “special gas mask” (photo #7) — not to sedate Seymour, but so Orin can “enjoy” his work. Seymour now realizes he doesn’t have to shoot Orin, who can’t get the mask off and, without assistance from Seymour, asphyxiates and dies in the most authentic scene of the entire show. 

Act II – “Suddenly, Seymour!” 

With Orin now out of the way (and chopped into pieces by Seymour, so he can feed the dentist to Audrey II), it doesn’t take long for Audrey to realize that Seymour has always loved her and (she thinks) that he’s a good man who shares her dream of moving to the country, despite his newfound (and unwanted) fame, which comes with Life magazine and TV interviews. The duet between Audrey and Seymour — “Suddenly Seymour” is probably the most famous song in “Little Shop.” 

But, of course, everything falls apart quickly from there. Seymour next sacrifices Mushnik, who discovered Orin’s bloody lab coat in the store’s garbage can, to Audrey II, even though Mushnik says he won’t tell the authorities, as Seymour still needs to feed the now-monster-sized plant (photo #8). 

Next, Audrey, who reveals she was an exotic dancer before coming to Mushnik’s, sacrifices herself by having Seymour throw her into Audrey II’s mouth. Then, Seymour, who now realizes that Audrey II’s plan is to take over the world, also jumps into the plant’s maw. With all of the main characters now dead and plans to spread Audrey II seeds all over the country (as the plant planned all along), the show ends on a seriously ominous note. 

Congrats to the Audrey II puppeteers (Joseph Conrad, at left in photo #9), Lily Sanford and Yoanivette Davila Aguiar, as well as to James Cass of Picture This Photography for the scenic art, scenic dressing and props, and Shelly Giles for the great costumes — and everyone else associated with the Players and this show. “Little Shop” was super-creepy but it was also super-fun! 

For more info (including about ticket sales and audition info) about the 2025 New Tampa Players shows “Into the Woods” and “The Music Man,” visit NewTampaPlayers.org. 

2024 Dining Survey & Contest — Your Favorite Pizza Places In New Tampa  


This was fun this year. Instead of grouping all of the pizza places in both of our distribution areas in one category, we gave the pizza places in NT and those in WC their own separate categories this year. And boy, was the voting close. Via Italia was the clear winner, but #s 2-6 below were all separated by just a few votes each. 

1. Via Italia (photo) 

2. Cappy’s Pizzeria 

3. Taste of New York Pizza 

4. Westshore Pizza 

5. Johnny C’s Italian Eatery 

6. Capri Pizza-N-More

 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.