• In the same plaza as Blue Water Dental on S.R. 54 near Saddlebrook Resort, two restaurants are significantly closer to opening the second Wesley Chapel location for each.
Jersey Mike’s Subs (photo right), which already has a location in the Shoppes at New Tampa plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. south of S.R. 56, is nearing completion, and is now hiring, with an anticipated opening sometime in early April.
First Watch, which also already has its first location in the same plaza as Wesley Chapel’s original Jersey Mike’s, should be open later this month, possibly as early as April 24. We’ll keep you posted.
• We also have an update on The Living Room, the popular Dunedin restaurant and live music venue that is coming to the former location of Ciao! in the Shops at Wiregrass.
Co-owner Zach Feinstein says that supply chain issues have delayed the opening of The Living Room (photo above) here and that it looks like the fully gutted and revamped eatery likely won’t open before sometime in June of this year.Â
• And finally, although it’s not located in the KRATE Container Park, we wanted to congratulate Victoria and Dan Watson, the husband-and-wife team that has owned The Acting Studio since 2009 without a formal space to call their own, for the Grand Opening and North Tampa Bay Chamber ribbon cutting (photo, above) of their new studio and theater in The Village at The Grove (at 6027 Wesley Grove Blvd., Suite 204).Â
The extracurricular theater program offers opportunities for everyone from middle schoolers through adults, with a primary focus on high school-aged kids.
For more information, visit TheActingStudioTampa.com or call (813) 679-4810. — GN
Owner Regina McColl is a truly authentic Australian, from Melbourne, but we’re fortunate that she has brought the flavors of her home country to within 10-15 minutes of most New Tampa residents.
The bakery goods are truly unlike anything I’ve had in the Tampa Bay area. There’s a square one that looked like it could be chocolate and peanut butter, but is actually caramel inside and it’s absolutely addictive. Sorry that I neglected to take a picture of it, but there’s no doubt I’ll be back.
Regina McColl
Walkabout, which celebrated its Grand Opening with a May 2 North Tampa Bay Chamber ribbon cutting, also serves great food, like the thick-cut prime rib, with mashed potatoes and broccoli shown left. Regina also put out finger foods like yummy traditional meat pies (similar to empanadas), and spinach ricotta feta triangles for the Chamber event. Oh, and of course, there’s beer and wine, too, mate!
For more info, visit AussieBakeryCafe.com or call (813) 953-1085, and please tell Regina I sent you!
The Man Cave’s Grand Opening
Another great locally-owned business that recently cut a ribbon was The Man Cave Haircuts for Men, which actually celebrated its one-year anniversary on April 1 with a North Tampa Bay Chamber ribbon cutting.
For more info, call (813) 574-8405, or visit the-man-cave-haircuts-for-men.business.site and tell Katie and her crew the New Tampa Neighborhood News sent you!
Spicy chicken pasta with fresh veggies at Omari’s Bar & Grill.
Have You Tried Omari’s Grill At Lexington Oaks Golf Club?
Although I didn’t include the all-new Omari’s Bar & Grill at the recently revamped Lexington Oaks Golf Club inside the Lexington Oaks community on my list of favorite new local dining experiences for 2018, that’s probably only because all I’ve sampled at owner/chef Anass El Omari’s new eatery was the delicious spicy chicken pasta with fresh veggies shown above and a couple of buffet-style items when I’ve visited the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Noon, which meets every Wednesday at noon at Lexington Oaks. But, so far, so good. And yes, the fully redecorated dining area at Omari’s Grille is available for catering and private parties.
Look for a full-length dining review of Omari’s Bar & Grill (26133 Lexington Oaks Blvd.) in a future issue.
For more info visit LexingtonOaksGolf.com or call (813) 907-2440. And please, tell Anass and his wife Susana I sent you!
Fratelli’s Opens In Woody’s Village Market Space!
The NYC Fratelli’s was featured on the Food Network, the Travel Channel and other TV stations in New York many times and was named one of NYC’s best several times.
I haven’t been able to order a whole pizza from Fratelli’s yet, but based on how delicious the pasta was, I look forward to bringing my staff there soon.
For more info about Fratelli’s (5327 Village Market), visit FratellisPizzaPasco.com or call (813) 991-1118.
But Wait, There’s More!
F.J Express Sushi & Hibachi Grill’s hibachi chicken is a must-try.
• I like the new F.J Express Sushi & Hibachi Grill (1832 BBD), which is located in the Shoppes at New Tampa plaza on S.R. 56 at BBD, between Bealls and Publix.
Similar in concept to (but smaller than) Hibachi Express in the Village Market, I haven’t yet sampled the sushi, but the hibachi chicken is a must-try. For more info or take-out orders, call (813) 991-1500.
• I was saddened when the Wok Chi restaurant in the Shops at Wiregrass closed on Dec. 10. I will miss the freshly made Chinese fare, especially the fresh, crisp veggies, Sichuan sauce and especially, general manager Robin Scovotti and her friendly, outstanding crew. I hope that whatever opens in the space will keep those great folks around.
• Congratulations to our local Culver’s franchise owners, Marty and Ann Roeske, on the opening of their second location (the first is near the Tampa Premium Outlets) on S.R. 56 in the Wiregrass Ranch area (near Audi Wesley Chapel). — GN
