Tampa Bay Foodie News to Know
As a resident Tampa Bay foodie, there’s always something new happening in this area: new menu items, openings (and closings), and there’s always BRUNCH. Here’s a roundup featuring some new stuff so y’all know what’s popping right now:
CAVA
CAVA has a few new fall specials when you need a Mediterranean fix: Balsamic Date Vinaigrette, Sweet + Spicy Chicken Pita, and Balsamic Date Chicken Bowl. The star of the show is the Deglet Noor Date blended with white balsamic vinegar for a sweet/tart combo.
Address: Various locations
Days & Hours: Varies by location
Church’s Texas Chicken
https://www.instagram.com/p/CkHTytXj1Ql/
Purchase the Church’s Party Pack for any gatherings you have coming up. The pack includes an assortment of their classic fried chicken: bone-in, dark meat, mixed, or tenders.
“Launching this new large order option as a permanent menu item is exciting for Church’s Texas Chicken® as we love to see our bold, Texas flavors being enjoyed at family gatherings and large celebrations for any occasion,” said Bill Mitchell, VP Company Restaurants, Company Operations. “We want our new Church’s® Party Packs to give guests another reason to get together, because there is nothing better than enjoying delicious food with friends and family at an affordable price.”
The party pack is available at participating restaurants and online ordering starting at $40 with sides sold separately.
Address: Various locations
Day & Hours: Varies by location
American Social
https://www.instagram.com/p/CkBTMIyrSJ9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
American Social introduces their $12 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Highball cocktails. Guests can experience the drinks named “Bay Orange”, “Fire the Cannons”, and “The #12 Special” made in a specialty Highball machine that blends ice-cold whisky and soda. Other football season specials include $20 buckets of Budweiser, Bud Light, or Coors Light; and $30 buckets of High Noon or Truly.
Address: 601 S Harbour Island Blvd. #107, Tampa, (813) 605-3333
Days & Hours: Sunday 11 a.m.-midnight, Monday-Wednesday 11:30 a.m.-midnight, Thursday 11:30 a.m.-1 a.m., Friday 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-2 a.m.
Willa’s
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Celebrate the cooler weather with new seasonal cocktails! Willa’s added a few cool ones to the menu:
- Sign of the Thymes: a mezcal cocktail crafted with 400 conejos mezcal, select, lemon, rosemary, thyme & Herradura Blanco Tequila.
- Café Siempre: agave de cortes, KS espresso, red hoodoo & cinnamon.
- IYKYK: A house classic rum daiquiri…IYKYK.
- Black Manhattan: features Jack Daniel’s triple mash, aged three weeks in the restaurant’s own barrel, plus china-china adding a layer of complexity to this classic cocktail.
- EspressoNo Martini: The latest addition to the zero-proofer menu, the EspressoNo Martini is made with Seedlip spice 94, King State espresso, oat milk & nutmeg.
Besides new dranks, they’ve launched dinner and brunch menu updates with items like Shrimp Cocktail, Spaghetti Pesto, and Nate’s Plate.
Address: 1700 W Fig St., Tampa, 813-519-4552
Days/Hours: Sunday 10 a.m.-9 p.m, Wednesday-Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-11 p.m.
Oak & Stone
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The restaurant made some changes to their weekend brunch menu featuring “unique twists on classic favorites” and expanded brunch hours. Brunch now includes sweet and savory dishes like Peach Old Fashioned French Toast, Chick’n Waffles, Avocado Breakfast Biscuit, Shrimp & Grits, Strawberry Waffles, and The Hangover Pizza. Pair your entrees with some of their appetizers, specialty pizzas, salads, and $18 Bottomless Mimosas and Bloody Marys.
Weekend brunch now starts at 10 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday.
Address: 199 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-565-4064
Days/Hours: Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-midnight
Mighty Quinn’s BBQ
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The Brooklyn, NY-founded restaurant is opening their first franchise here in Florida on Oct. 22. It’ll include all of Mighty Quinn‘s iconic dishes, a selection of bottled and craft beers, indoor/outdoor seating, and the brand’s first drive-thru.
“As Mighty Quinn’s continues its national franchise expansion, we are thrilled to open in Tampa Bay with our first drive-thru location in what will be the first of many restaurants in Florida,” said Mighty Quinn’s Co-CEO Micha Magid. “Drive thru lanes have become a valuable attribute to fast casual real estate and we are fortunate our franchisees were able to secure this premium location in the fast-growing Tampa market.”
Mighty Quinn invites customers to visit opening weekend for a chance to win home game tix to a Bucs game. One lucky winner goes home with two tix and a $100 tailgating gift card.
Mighty Quinn’s Co-CEO Christos Gourmos added, “With community being an important pillar of the brand, Mighty Quinn’s will be donating 10% of grand opening sales to Metropolitan Ministries, an emergency impact fund that helps provide cool shelter, water, food, and life-changing services to those in need in the Tampa Bay area.” The charity is closely associated with the TBBQ Group family.
Address: 202 N Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa, 813-575-0580
Days/Hours: Daily 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Huey Magoo’s
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The newest “Filet Mignon of Chicken” celebrated it’s newest franchise opening in Brooksville last week, making it the 2nd of 10-20 locations to open in the Greater Tampa Bay, Lakeland, and The Villages areas. HG Brooksville offers dine-in, takeout, catering and delivery via DoorDash and UberEats.
“We’re really excited to serve the Brooksville/Spring Hill area communities America’s greatest tasting chicken tenders and continue growing this incredible brand all throughout West Central Florida,” says partners James Connolly, Bryan Pagan, David Lambo and Jeremy Kral.
President/CEO Andy Howard continues, “It’s always a special celebration to congratulate multi-unit Huey Magoo’s operators, and we are happy for the Brooksville team to join that outstanding group. We wish Jamie, Bryan, David and Jeremy much success on their newest Huey Magoo’s and vast development of the brand across the region.”
Address: 12380 Cortez Blvd.
Day/Hours: Daily 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. (lobby) and 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. (drive-thru).
DalMoros Fresh Pasta
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DalMoros Fresh Pasta is Armature Works’ newest vendor at Heights Public Market. The menu features four kinds of scratch-made pasta and nine toppings. Don’t leave without some of their alcohol-free homemade tiramisu.
“Armature Works and their Heights Public Market is truly a destination for great food and socializing,” says DalMoros Franchisee, David Caruso. “DalMoros attracts everyone from professionals to foodies on the go to families and we couldn’t be more excited about bringing the brand over the bridge from St. Pete to Tampa and inviting everyone to taste our fresh pasta and homemade sauces!”
Address: 1910 N Ola Ave., Tampa, 813-250-3725
Days/Hours: Sunday 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m.-midnight, Saturday 8 a.m.-midnight
Fuzzy’s Taco Shop
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A new addition to the menu is the Saucy Brisket Poblano Taco for a limited time. The taco is made with shredded brisket, a special Butt Burnin’/Dr. Pepper sauce drizzle and topped with roasted poblanos, house pickled red onions, avocado slices, Fuzzy’s signature garlic sauce, feta, and cilantro. Guests can enjoy the taco dine-in, takeout, or delivery where available until Nov. 20.
“Brisket is one of our most popular proteins, so we are excited to introduce it in a new and unique way to our fans with the Saucy Brisket Poblano Taco,” says Chef Josh Diekman, Director of Culinary and Executive Chef at Fuzzy’s Taco Shop. “For the first time Fuzzy’s is using pickled red onions on a taco, which will be pickled in-house and offer an added complexity to each bite. The tanginess of the pickled red onions wonderfully complements the sweet and spiciness of the house-made sauce featuring our famous Butt Burnin’ sauce and iconic Dr Pepper.”
Address: Multiple locations
Days/Hours: Vary by location
Oronzo Italian
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Guests can indulge in the flavors of Italia while still meeting health and wellness goals with healthier options on the menu. Here are the new options:
- Gluten-free penne – Oronzo’s pasta menu includes housemade, imported and gluten-free pastas for a healthy take on any classic Italian dish.
- Keto and Protein bowls – Indulge in a fresh and healthy lifestyle bowl that fits a variety of diets. With four mouth-watering options, the flavor combinations are endless.
- “You Pick Two” – In a hurry? Want to share? Oronzo’s new “you pick two” option features combinations of pizzas, pastas, soups and salads to satisfy all your cravings.
In addition to the healthy stuff, Oronzo still features updated versions of their most popular items including:
- Italian Burritos – Oronzo’s signature dish! Enjoy a classic parm flavor profile, or switch it up with kale, burrata, broccoli rabe and more.
- Artisan Pizza – Fill your cravings with a hand tossed, sizzling pizza! Choose from Oronzo’s new artisan pizza menu or build your own pizza pie.
Address: Multiple locations
Days/Hours: Vary by location
Charleys Philly Steaks
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For National Apple Day this Friday, stop by Charley’s for their Apple Pie Milkshakes and Sundaes, both made with vanilla ice cream topped (or blended) with cinnamon and ginger-spiced apples. Also, they’re bringing back their Blueberry Lemonade made with lemons, blueberries, water, and cane sugar.
Address: Multiple locations
Days/Hours: Vary by locations
What’s some other Tampa Bay foodie news to know?
Photo c/o Oronzo Italian
