Tag: New Tampa

New Tampa Dining Survey Results: The Best Latin Restaurants!

*Camila Jaramillo (left), Maria Burbano and Melissa Acosta serving up chips and salsa, the popular chicken fajitas and a steak burrito during lunch at Cantina Mexican Grill & Bar*.

1. Cantina
10032 Cross Creek Blvd
(813) 406-4856

Owner Yecid Cardenas opened Cantina Mexican Grill & Bar six years ago with the idea of filling what he saw as a hole in New Tampa’s dining options with a fusion of old Mexican cuisine with what he says is “new era” Mexican cuisine. After some mixed results when he first opened, Cardenas now has achieved one of his goals:

Cantina is this year’s top choice with our readers in the Latin category of our annual survey.

Cantina rose to the top of the charts this year with an improved and packed menu, and the consistency also was much improved. Cardenas also says many more people were exposed to the restaurant (which is tucked away behind a Shell station on the corner of Cross Creek Blvd. and Kinnan St.) due to a pandemic-influenced increase in to-go orders, and more customers equaled more votes.

“We try to do the same thing every day,” he says. “We want to be consistent. These are ‘Grandma’ flavors here, with new era fusion.”

The menu is extensive and varied. One of the stars of the menu is the 12 oz. ribeye served up a handful of different ways — you can get it topped with ranchero chile sauce or chorizo and fries, for example. The carne asada steak is another of the most popular dishes, along with the fajitas, and of course, the tacos and burritos. There are a host a seafood choices available, as well.

A bar with 12 different Mexican beers and, of course, tasty margaritas, complement your meal, which according to our readers, is the best Latin choice around. — JCC

2. Las Palmas
6431 E County Line Rd #104
(813) 803-3903
LasPalmasLatinGrill.com

Las Palmas has now had two locations in New Tampa — three if you count the food truck it currently is operating out of after a fire late in late 2021 damaged its County Line Rd. store — and it has always remained something of an under-the-radar local favorite, thanks to its award-winning Cuban sandwiches and a variety of delicious Latin-infused pork and chicken dishes.

The roasted pork entrée is a favorite, and you can try the vaca frita, or crispy beef (although “fried cow” is the literal translation) as an entrée or in a taco. And, while owner/chef Ramses Garcia says the menu at the truck is being expanded, the sides — yellow rice, black beans, plantains, etc. — are still the perfect complements to whatever meaty dish you choose, and don’t forget a Tres Leches dessert.—JCC

3. Tijuana Flats
17501 Preserve Walk Ln #103
(813) 975-0483
TijuanaFlats.com

For a large chain, Tijuana Flats has a pretty simple recipe but is regarded for having some pretty good food. The regular burritos and dos tacos (hard or soft shell) are good, the nachos are enough for two and the chicken tinga burritios and tacos have a little extra kick.

Speaking of a little kick, one of the fun things about Tijuana Flats is the wide variety of different salsas, which are always worth trying out and comparing.

Locals also are raving about Tijuana Flats’ new wings, available with red chili rub, “bangin’” sauce, chipotle BBQ and smack jalapeño lime varieties.

Although tucked away off Bruce B. Downs Blvd., just north of I-75 in Highwoods Preserve, Tijuana Flats continues to draw a good local crowd, and is always a fun spot to be on Cinco de Mayo. — JCC

The rest of the 2021 Latin Favorites with our readers:
(4) Chipotle
(5) Lima
(6) Don Julio
(7) Moe’s
(8) Chili’s
(9) Cross Creek Deli

New Tampa Dining Survey Results: Top 25!

1. Stonewood Grill
17050 Palm Pointe Dr.
(813) 978-0388
Stonewoodgrill.com

Based on the results of our Annual Reader Dining Survey every year since 2011, it doesn’t matter how many new restaurants — chain or otherwise — open in New Tampa, the nearly unbeaten (it “only” finished second once, in 2015) champion is Stonewood Grill & Tavern in Tampa Palms.

After winning by a comfortable margin again this year with its third managing partner in as many years, Stonewood has shown that it doesn’t matter who’s in charge, its combination of delicious American cuisine, great drinks and outstanding service continue to make it top-of-mind with our readers — despite the fact it always has been one of the most expensive eateries located in zip code 33647.

Stonewood’s extensive menu includes everything from fresh seafood to great steaks and chops (photo, right), plus big salads, pasta dishes and more, and it likely has become even more popular with our readers since it began opening for lunch (with a smaller, and less pricey, lunch menu, although the dinner menu also is available at lunch time).

Among the favorite starters at Stonewood are the tasty and ever-popular bruschetta (served with a delicious balsamic dressing) and sesame-seed-seared ahi tuna served with wasabi cream and sesame ginger dressing.

Salad lovers definitely go for the Asian chicken salad (with ginger lime-marinated chicken, chilled sesame noodles and sesame ginger dressing) and the Stonewood salad (with blue cheese crumbles, dried cranberries, blackened walnuts and blue cheese vinaigrette).

Handheld favorites include the oak-grilled cheeseburger, two-hand chicken club and the veggie quesadilla.

And, with great steaks like two sizes of filet mignon and prime rib, a unique sweet tea brined pork chop and blackened chicken pasta. Market Fresh Fish options include ever-changing favorites like Chilean sea bass, grouper and the menu options like Atlantic salmon and yellowfin tuna.

Stonewood also has New Tampa’s second favorite bar with our readers this year and a great Sunday brunch with bottomless bubbles and unique menu items like creme brulée French toast, shrimp and grits and crab cake and prime rib Bennies. — GN

2. Mr. Dunderbak’s
14929 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.
(813) 977-4104
Dunderbaks.com

J.B. Ellis bought Mr. Dunderbak’s with the intention of owning a bar, but over the years, he says the place has shifted from being 66% bar and 33% restaurant to 33% bar and 66% restaurant.

Ellis has only himself to blame. A combination of old-time classics (the sandwich board has barely changed in 50 years) to derivations of old family recipes Ellis has tweaked just a little keeps the crowds coming back for seconds. The food (like the Venison sausage platter pictured) must be getting better every year. After a No. 4 finish in 2019, and No. 3 in 2020, Mr. Dunderbak’s inches up another spot in our 2021 Reader Survey., its highest-ever finish.

Mr. Dunderbak’s is an experience. It also boasts this year’s No. 1 bar with our readers, featuring a seemingly unlimited variety of beer, a gift shop, a deli, and atmosphere that is pure Oktoberfest, with the best German dishes around. Choose from authentic favorites like schnitzel, Spaetzle, Kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes) and Sauerbraten, to name a few, and wash it all down with a delicious Hefeweizen. — JCC

3. Liang’s Bistro
17515 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.
(813) 978-1225
LiangsBistroTampa.com

Like Stonewood and Mr. Dunderbak’s, Liang’s Bistro is another perennial favorite with our readers.

Although it is more of an Asian fusion restaurant — which also includes Japanese- and Thai-style options — than a classic New York-style Chinese place, Liang’s has been the favorite Chinese or Asian (depending upon which of those options have been offered in the Survey each year) place in New Tampa pretty much every year it’s been open and has never finished lower than sixth Favorite Restaurant overall.

Although I love it for menu items like the crispy pork egg rolls, Liang’s BBQ ribs, sautéed string beans (I order them spicy) and sizzling Shanghai steak, our readers always mention Liang’s signature dishes — like General Tso’s, sesame, orange, pineapple or tropical chicken — as their favorites.

Liang’s also offers lunch specials and currently is the only sit-down Chinese place in New Tampa, where you can enjoy a variety of wines and bottled beers. — GN

4. VIA ITALIA
Outstanding pizzas and pasta, and the charcuterie is a treat.

5. ACROPOLIS
New Tampa’s favorite Mediterranean returns to the top-5.

6. FIRST WATCH
New location, same old results for bougie breakfast fans.

7. CALI
Tampa Palms staple drops after 4 straight years at No. 2.

8. SUSHI CAFE
The best sushi in New Tampa, according to our readers.

9. GLORY DAYS
The place to go for good food, football & beer. Nice patio, too.

10. FRESH KITCHEN
Another newcomer bowls into our Top 10, for good reason.

11. FAT RABBIT
Tampa Palms hangout has all the ingredients of a perfect bar.

T12. KOBE JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE
New Tampa’s only teppanyaki tables moves south on BBD

T12. LAS PALMAS
Fabulous pork and Cubans sold from a food truck, for now.

14. BRUNCHERY
Super specials for breakfast & lunch, tasty skillets and more.

T15. CANTINA REAL MEXICAN RESTAURANT
Has built a loyal following on Cross Creek Blvd.

T15. CRACKER BARREL
Still attracting attention & votes despite more competition.

T17. BURGER 21
The last to finish No. 1 ahead of Stonewood, back in 2015.

T17. FRAMMI
Area is flush with delish Italian food, don’t sleep on Frammi.

T19. CAPPY’s
The Chicago- and New York-style pizzas are reader favorites.

T19. RED LOBSTER
In an area lacking seafood, Red Lobster remains popular.

21. PANERA
Fast & healthy breakfast & lunch options. Pastries, too!

T22. CHIPOTLE
Hit or miss, but folks like their big bowls & big burritos.

T22. LITTLE GREEK
Falafel pita, hummus, gyros & Greek salad popular choices.

T24. OLIVE GARDEN
The Garden is always packed & not just for the breadsticks.

T24. CHILI’S
Not a great location, but folks like what they like.

25. MICHI RAMEN
New Tampa’s first ramen place also has great appetizers.

bruce b. downs blvd. food New Tampa Nibbles & Bytes Wesley Chapel

Mahana Fresh To Offer Free Bowls On June 12 — Don’t Miss It!

The fact that restaurants serving a variety of bowls have taken over the collective consciousness (and appetites) of the local community hasn’t been lost on Ryan Mortti, now the co-owner of Mahana Fresh, located just north of I-75 off Doña Michelle Dr. and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in New Tampa.

Ryan, who also owns his own construction company, recognized the need to do more to capture more customers, especially with multiple new bowl-oriented restaurants either having opened recently or getting ready to open within a couple of miles of his Mahana Fresh location — which is one of three in the Bradenton-based mini-chain.

To that end, Ryan has brought in an experienced partner, Chris Courtney-James, who was responsible the last several years for making sure that Dunkin’ Donuts locations that hadn’t been meeting company expectations were brought up to speed. More important, however, is that Chris also spent years in the kitchens of restaurants across the Tampa Bay area and, in his words, “isn’t afraid to spend a lot of time cooking at a hot grill.”

In addition, Ryan and Chris have a special offer that they hope will bring in plenty of locals — two hours of free Mahana-sized bowls on Saturday, June 12, from noon-1 p.m. and from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. You can pick a bowl, any bowl — one per person, for dine-in only.

Photographer Charmaine George and I spent some time recently at the local Mahana Fresh and even though both of us already loved the food, we were impressed with the incredible precision with which the bowl-oriented eatery prepared for a large catering order — as well as with the delicious aromas that emanated from those grills while tender steaks and marinated chicken breasts and thighs were cooked over the open flame.

An Amazing Selection!

For those who have never tried Mahana Fresh, you shouldn’t wait until June 12 to check it out. Here’s how it works. You choose from three sizes — Kids (with 1 base, 1 veggie, 1 protein & your choice of sauce), Mahana (1 base, 2 veggies, 1 protein & sauce) and the Big Mahana (2 bases, 2 veggies, 2 proteins & sauce).

The bases include coconut or cauliflower rice, a basmati rice blend, sesame noodles, spinach or my favorite, the kale crunch salad.

Your proteins include marinated ahi tuna, plus Key West, BBQ or (Jannah’s favorite) teriyaki chicken, plus spicy grilled tofu and tender, grilled-to-order steak (my favorite).

The incredible veggies (above photo) include roasted mushrooms, roasted sweet potatoes, Buffalo cauliflower, garlicky cilantro green beans and my two favorites, the sesame ginger broccoli and the honey sriracha Brussels sprouts.

Available sauces include coconut sweet potato, creamy wasabi and mine and Jannah’s two favorites, the cilantro vinaigrette and the citrus ginger.

For a small extra charge, add roasted almonds, avocado smash, parmesan cheese, Jannah’s favorite feta cheese and my fave, the Mediterranean tomatoes.

Honestly, you really can’t go wrong with any of them, but if you have any trouble deciding, Mahana Fresh has now introduced “Signature Bowls,” including everything from a “Keto Surfer Bowl” (cauliflower rice, sesame ginger broccoli, roasted mush-rooms, grilled steak & cilantro vinaigrette) to a “Veggie Vacay Bowl” (coconut rice, sesame ginger broccoli, roasted mushrooms, sesame garlic tofu and coconut sweet potato sauce) and The Big Kahuna Bowl (basmati rice blend, spinach, Buffalo cauliflower, garlicky cilantro green beans, BBQ chicken, grilled steak and cilantro lime vinaigrette).

And, all of Mahana Fresh’s house-made desserts are pretty tasty, especially for gluten-free — and include chocolate chip cookies, zucchini brownies and snickerdoodle cookies.

As for beverages, Mahana Fresh has done away with its unique beer taps, but still has fountain sodas, Pure Leaf sweet and unsweet tea, regular and strawberry lemonade, a variety of Bubly flavored sparkling waters and Bai flavored antioxidant infusion drinks.

Mahana Fresh is located at 17512 Doña Michelle Dr. and is open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. every day. For more information, call (727) 238-9967 or visit MahanaFresh.com.

Bringing Mini-Golf To The Grove!

As mentioned earlier, Ryan also owns his own construction company and has been busy working on not only completing many of the repurposed shipping containers at the KRATE container park at The Grove, but also on bringing a cool mini-golf course to the area near The Grove theater, with his brother Matt Mortti and his sister Melissa Schachtner and her husband Andrew Schachtner.

“It won’t have windmills but it will have a mountain with waterfalls and fire, plus cool trick shots,” Ryan says, adding that the tropical-themed course also will have a tiki hut restaurant that serves beer and wine.

bowls Mahana Fresh New Tampa

College Students Host ‘Zoomhall’ For New Tampa Study

New Tampa is at its best when it comes together to fight for important additions to the community, like the 2017 budget battle that led to an expansion of the New Tampa Rec Center.

Three Master of Social Work (MSW) students at Southeastern University in Lakeland hosted a New Tampa Town Hall meeting on Zoom, hoping to discuss the community’s potential for growth.

The final verdict? To grow, you need to connect.

During the 40-minute Zoom call on May 4, presenters Darlene Starrette, Kyrin Backlund and Melissa Rice (a 20-year resident of New Tampa and the only member of her group that lives here) discussed the opportunities that New Tampa could partake in to increase community engagement. In addition, they held an open forum to hear from the 17 attendees present, including District 7 Tampa City Council member Luis Viera.

“While New Tampa can feel like a disconnected place, residents have voices that matter and we would like to hear your voices,” Starrette said.

The Zoom call was part of a final project in the course “Generalist Practice with Groups, Communities and Organizations.” The three students completed their first year in the Master’s program and are currently beginning their summer internships. Next year, the students will start their final clinical year to earn their MSW degrees.

Rice was the one who suggested focusing on New Tampa for their final project. She described herself not as a social butterfly, but as someone who was interested in hearing from the people of her community.

“New Tampa just isn’t talked about much at all,” Rice said. “Living here, I was very interested in other people’s perceptions of the community.”

One of the main issues discussed during the meeting was the lack of interaction between New Tampa neighborhoods. Viera, who has long argued the same thing, said that New Tampa needed a better collective community identity.

“We see ourselves as Tampa Palms, Hunter’s Green, Richmond Place, Cory Lake Isles, K-Bar Ranch, Grand Hampton, etc. and we don’t see ourselves as New Tampa collectively,” Viera said.

During the Zoom call, a link was shared to a 42-page community engagement tool kit that covers the demographics of New Tampa, benefits of community engagement and survey results posted on the app Nextdoor. From the responses of 21 residents who took the survey, the lack of social and cultural events in New Tampa was highlighted as a priority.

“In terms of its cohesiveness and community spirit, it’s not a town — it’s just a zip code,” said Priscilla Stephenson, a Tampa resident who participated in the meeting.

The New Tampa Performing Arts Center (PAC), which has been 17 years in the making, also was a hot topic during the meeting. The team encouraged the Zoom call participants to email and voice their support for the vote occurring the next day. On May 5, the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners approved the construction contract of the PAC.

“In our research, we found that there are a lot of benefits to engaging the community,” Backlund said, “including overall health, sense of belonging and social connectedness.”

Rice talked about how some members of the community wanted better transportation and more affordable housing. From her notes, she recorded that New Tampa residents also wanted to fill some of the open store fronts, build cultural bridges and have more restaurants in the area.

Although two of the three MSW students aren’t residents of New Tampa, each member has worked towards a common goal of establishing New Tampa’s sense of community. Backlund suggested creating a Facebook page for the New Tampa area to keep the community discussion going.

While nearby Wesley Chapel has three robust community Facebook pages with nearly 60,000 total combined members, New Tampa’s busiest Facebook page, New Tampa Online Yardsale!, is mostly for selling household items.

“I’m just hoping that this isn’t the end,” Backlund said. “Our goal is to get people on board and start to actually make some significant changes.”

The three MSW students want the residents of New Tampa to take pride in their community and to keep engaging through community events.

“It’s really up to the community to decide that this is a good thing for them and it’s something that they really want to do,” Starrette said.

New Tampa Townhall

Court Ruling Puts Kink In New Tampa Plans

A gathering of roughly 30 mostly Tampa Palms residents showed up at Compton Park on Feb. 24 for an outdoor meeting with City of Tampa officials to discuss speeding along Tampa Palms Blvd., but the conversation turned to plans to repave the road and add some traffic-calming measures — perhaps two roundabouts or some traffic lights — with money collected from a 1-cent tax amendment passed in 2018.

Most of those in attendance seemed pleased with the plans for safety improvements for Tampa Palms Blvd.

But, before their coffee even had time to cool off the following morning, those plans had come to a screeching halt because the money to pay for them is now in limbo.

On Feb. 25, the Florida Supreme Court voted 4-1 that the 1-cent transportation tax amendment, which passed with 57% of voter support, was unconstitutional because it restricted where and how the money could be spent. District 4 Hillsborough County Commissioner Stacy White, who filed the lawsuit, argued that All For Transportation (AFT), the group that led the fight to pass the amendment, dictated how local governments could spend the money, usurping the authority of the county commission.

The transportation tax already has raised $500 million intended to fix many of Hillsborough’s transportation woes, as well as improve the City of Tampa’s bus service.

More than $50 million of that amount was earmarked for City of Tampa projects, including the Tampa Palms Blvd. improvements, as well as enhancements like the much-needed repaving of New Tampa Blvd. in West Meadows.

“The ruling is a big hit to our community,” said District 7 Tampa City Council member Luis Viera. “When it comes to the most pressing issue of traffic and congestion, we are running so far behind. This is just devastating.”

Viera says he will support putting a replacement tax on the ballot in 2022. He has also scheduled a town hall with Tampa Mayor Jane Castor for April 21 from 6-7 p.m. at the New Tampa Recreation Center, for those who want to ask what’s next for the needed roaded improvements in New Tampa.

Cal Hardie, a transportation engineer for the City of Tampa, told the Compton Park gathering that the design of the changes for Tampa Palms Blvd., which cost $600,000, was already paid for and under way. But, the actual construction, which would cost $3-$4 million and include restoration of the road’s surface from the Wellington subdivision to Bruce B. Downs Blvd., bike lanes, safer crosswalks and traffic-calming mechanisms, was reliant on the transportation tax monies.

Similar work would be completed on New Tampa Blvd. as well, perhaps at the same time, Hardie added.

Without that money, Hardie said the City of Tampa would have to look into finding federal funds, which can take longer, or multi-modal transportation impact fees, but suggested “the coffers are pretty dry.”

Hardie said the traffic calming on Tampa Palms Blvd. could come in the form of two roundabouts at the north intersection of Tampa Palms Blvd. and Compton Dr., with another roundabout another closer to Tampa Palms Elementary.

The cost of a roundabout is roughly $450,000-$500,000, Hardie said, which is not that much more than the price tag for a traffic signal, which is around $350,000.

“A roundabout reduces accidents 60 percent more than a traffic light,” Hardie said. “It also reduced accidents 80 percent more than a stop sign.”

But, that is up to the designers and the public, who will get their say in public meetings once the plans are completed.

And by then, maybe the money to complete the construction will materialize.

Viera assured everyone at the meeting that if the Supreme Court knocked down the tax, he would pursue other funding.

New Tampa tampa palms