Briefs
Headlines and short briefs from the Tampa Bay Certified editorial desk. 33 published in section: food.
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33 items
FOOD · SOUTH TAMPA
Big Ray's Fish Camp earns its second Michelin nod on Interbay Boulevard
Chef Nick Cruz's South Tampa seafood shack has landed on Michelin's national seafood shack list for the second year running.
Jul 4, 2026
FOOD · TAMPA
Chicago's Baba Saj Mediterranean brings halal shawarma to Cypress Glen Lane
The Chicago Palestinian restaurant founded in 2013 is targeting 13585 Cypress Glen Lane for its first Florida opening.
Jul 3, 2026
FOOD · ST. PETE
Zee's Barbeque soft-opens in St. Pete with Texas and Carolina wood-smoked meats
The new BBQ operation launched July 2 with a 50-percent soft-open discount and is donating all tips to Friends of Strays Animal Shelter through July 7.
Jul 2, 2026
FOOD · PINELLAS PARK
Quaker Steak & Lube closes its Pinellas Park location July 5 after 23 years
Tampa Bay's only Quaker Steak & Lube closes July 5 as JDK Management cuts the national chain to 27 locations.
Jul 2, 2026
FOOD · DOWNTOWN ST. PETE
Rreal Tacos acquires the former Red Mesa Cantina building in Downtown St. Pete
The Atlanta-founded, employee-owned taco brand plans a three-level, 800-seat flagship targeting an early 2027 opening.
Jul 1, 2026
FOOD · YBOR CITY
Laurie and Teresa Rodriguez open Bookends bookstore-wine bar in Ybor City
Tampa natives Laurie and Teresa Rodriguez soft-opened Bookends: Literature and Libations at 2208 in Ybor City on June 25.
Jul 1, 2026
FOOD · UNIVERSITY AREA
Slap Burger opens near USF with halal smashburgers from the Northeast
Northeast smashburger chain Slap Burger has opened near USF with a halal menu of smashed beef, hot chicken, and banana pudding.
Jun 30, 2026
FOOD · PINELLAS PARK
Elsewhere Records opens permanent vinyl shop inside Beerbusters Movie Bar on July 10
The Pinellas Park Blockbuster-style bar is adding a permanent vinyl retail presence through a partnership with Elsewhere Records.
Jun 29, 2026
FOOD · GULFPORT
Mademoiselle Paris opens inside Gulfport's Peninsula Bed & Cocktails
Myriam and Jean Dandonneau's French concept runs as a morning café and full evening bistro on Beach Boulevard South.
Jun 29, 2026
FOOD · MIDTOWN TAMPA
Pura Vida Miami heads to Midtown Tampa for its third Florida location
The 50-location all-day café, founded in 2012, is joining CorePower Yoga in the Midtown Tampa development.
Jun 28, 2026
FOOD · DOWNTOWN TAMPA
Bodega Mini Mart NYC Deli opens in the former Taco Bus on N Franklin
Khalil Mohammad brings a chopped cheese and late-night bodega concept to the former Taco Bus at 505 N Franklin Street in Downtown Tampa.
Jun 26, 2026
FOOD · BRANDON
Two Fold opens at The Garrison House in Brandon, pairing coffee with natural wine
Jason Smith's Two Fold pairs single-origin coffee with natural wine inside Brandon's Garrison House workspace.
Jun 24, 2026
FOOD · WEST RIVER
Supernatural Food & Wine expands to West River, launches sourdoughnut subscription
The Tampa shop is opening a West River production facility and a sourdoughnut subscription with home delivery at $15.
Jun 23, 2026
FOOD · GULFPORT
O'Maddy's opens its long-delayed rooftop on Boca Ciega Bay in Gulfport
The Gulfport waterfront bar debuted its second-story deck the weekend of June 22, completing a project stalled by the 2024 hurricane season.
Jun 23, 2026
FOOD · ST. PETE
Naked Farmer takes over former EVOS space on 4th Street North in St. Pete
The farm-to-table chain's second St. Pete location will be its 4th Tampa Bay outpost and 8th statewide, planned for summer 2026.
Jun 23, 2026
FOOD · NEW TAMPA
Ugly Dumpling opens its Florida debut in New Tampa's former TGI Fridays
The East Coast soup dumpling chain, with 12 locations and 8 more on the way, claims the shuttered TGI Fridays in New Tampa.
Jun 22, 2026
FOOD · HYDE PARK
Rome + Fig Global Bistro closes on S. Hyde Park Ave. after six years
Eric and Kristine Zostant's globally-inspired bistro will end cocktail service June 28, closing out a six-year run on Hyde Park Ave.
Jun 22, 2026
FOOD · DOWNTOWN ST. PETE
Chef Jeremy Duclut opens Marcel in the former Left Bank Bistro space in downtown St. Pete
The French-inspired Marcel takes over the former Left Bank Bistro with a roughly 25-dish menu planned for September.
Jun 19, 2026
FOOD · ST. PETE
Chef Andrew Duncan closes Baba, launches Kaixo and Barra Barra in St. Pete
The seven-year Mediterranean standout is being replaced by two Iberian concepts from the same ownership team under the same roof.
Jun 19, 2026
FOOD
Buddy Brew expands into Sprouts Farmers Market with 10 cafés across Tampa Bay
Tampa's Buddy Brew will open 10 in-store cafés inside Sprouts Farmers Markets, starting in Westchase.
Jun 18, 2026
FOOD · WESTSHORE
The Sourdoughist debuts on Westshore Blvd with a loaf-for-loaf donation model
The German-inspired small-batch bakery donates one loaf for every loaf sold from its Westshore Boulevard location.
Jun 18, 2026
FOOD · TAMPA HEIGHTS
Café Rialto opens inside Tampa Heights' 102-year-old Rialto Theatre
The historic movie palace's ground floor now houses a walk-in café and a reservations-only afternoon tearoom.
Jun 17, 2026
FOOD · ST. PETERSBURG
Atomic Cat Cafe opens on Gandy with retro lounge concept and Tampa-roasted coffee
The St. Pete-owned cafe serves Wuz Here coffee and cat-themed lattes across two vintage-styled rooms on Gandy Boulevard.
Jun 16, 2026
FOOD · ST. PETE
Mark Ferguson and John Delladonna acquire The Chattaway in St. Pete
The founders of Ferg's and Shrimpy's have purchased the 75-year-old St. Pete restaurant after an uncertain period for its future.
Jun 16, 2026
FOOD · ST. PETE
Good Intentions closes in St. Pete after four years as a vegan and community anchor
The plant-based restaurant and LGBTQ+ gathering space cited ongoing economic challenges in its closing announcement.
Jun 15, 2026
FOOD · DOWNTOWN ST. PETE
Forbici Modern Italian opens June 24 at Sundial in the former Sea Salt space
The Tampa Italian concept debuts in a 12,000-square-foot, 350-seat room with daily live music in downtown St. Pete.
Jun 15, 2026
FOOD · YBOR CITY
Victor Lopez and Osyamil Milan debut D'Rose Gastrobar in Ybor City
The Colombian-Cuban gastrobar from chefs Victor Lopez and Osyamil Milan is planned for July in Ybor City.
Jun 15, 2026
FOOD · OLD NORTHEAST
Old Northeast Tavern returns to 7th Avenue North with its first full bar
Wareham and Brindle plan to reopen the St. Pete neighborhood tavern later in 2026 with a full liquor bar and Old Northeast Pizza merged in.
Jun 13, 2026
FOOD · GULFPORT
Sober Bar opens in Gulfport with zero-proof cocktails and kava
The alcohol-free concept debuts June 16 with a menu of non-alcoholic cocktails, kava, coffee, and shareable bites.
Jun 11, 2026
FOOD · SOUTH TAMPA
Ivry. opens on Dale Mabry with pistachio lattes and a Middle Eastern café menu
Areej and Jareer debuted the South Tampa café in May with za'atar flatbreads, crème brûlée donuts, and specialty espresso drinks.
Jun 11, 2026
FOOD · PINELLAS PARK
Sisters Kim Vo and Tammy Lien open Oou Cha on 34th Street North in Pinellas Park
Vo and Lien open Oou Cha at 6251 34th St N in Pinellas Park with overseas-sourced teas and single-cultivar Okumidori matcha.
Jun 11, 2026
FOOD · ST. PETE
Idyll Vice opens a dirty soda bar on Central Avenue in St. Pete
Idyll Vice brings customizable soft drinks, coffee, baked goods, and a rotating wine program to Central Avenue in St. Pete this June.
Jun 8, 2026
FOOD · DOWNTOWN TAMPA
La Victoria takes over the former Melting Pot Social space on Tampa's Riverwalk
The 3,800-square-foot coastal Mexican restaurant is targeting a September opening at Ave Tampa Riverwalk.
Jun 5, 2026