If you love great food at very fair prices and you haven’t yet visited the new Tarek’s Café & Grill, located actually at our former address in the Shoppes at Amberly plaza in Tampa Palms, it’s definitely worth a visit no matter which meal of the day you’re eating.
Although his restaurant is a newcomer to the Tampa Palms dining scene, Tarek is no stranger to a lot of New Tampa residents — his original Tarek’s Café has been a fixture on the University of South Florida’s Tampa campus, just south of Fletcher Ave. off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., for 25 years.
“I’ve actually been in this business 40 years,” says Tarek Elsayed, the owner of the two local Tarek’s Cafés, which are two totally different types of places.
The USF Café is geared to busy college students and faculty members, but Tarek warns that it is still “much more than just a sandwich shop.”
Even so, the Tampa Palms Tarek’s is spacious, with room for 140-150 seats (there’s a little more than 100 inside right now) and attractive wood booths.
But, the menu is significantly more geared towards the sit-down audience — local residents who want a truly delicious breakfast, lunch or dinner in a casual setting.
“We have all of the local proms and graduations happening now,” Tarek says. “Bring those parties over here. We want and can handle your group.”
I’ve only enjoyed breakfast at the Tampa Palms Tarek’s twice so far, but I didn’t post a pic of my favorite breakfast to date — the cinnamon French toast with crusty white bread — because I didn’t think my pics did it justice. Tarek says that virtually everyone who has tried his corned beef hash has raved about it.
“I hear it’s the best in this area…anywhere…all the time,” Tarek says proudly. “If it’s not, I’ll finish it for you.”
As for lunch and dinner, my favorite dishes so far are the braised (“for seven hours,” Tarek says) beef short ribs and 
smashed potatoes, the “Ooey-Gooey Ragout” (ask Tarek to describe it for you), the blackened (or grilled) grouper with buttery rice and perfect French-style green beans, the uniquely spicy Israeli-style couscous (available as a side), the turkey bacon cheeseburger, and the totally decadent, indescribable Oreo “balls” covered with rich white chocolate. They’re like the chewiest, most delicious brownie bites ever.
I also love the mini-baklavas Tarek is holding in the picture above and he usually has other great desserts,too.
There’s no alcohol served at Tarek’s Cafe (15345 Amberly Dr.), but it is open Tues.-Sat., 7 a.m.-7 p.m., and 7 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sunday. Call 252-3238 or visit
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