Food & Drink | Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Margarita Wars is coming – Get your tickets here!

Openings & Closings

Tijuana Flats closes four Tampa Bay locations following bankruptcy filing

There are still more than a dozen still in operation locally.

By Suzanne Townsend

Apr 22, 2024

If you’re wondering what happened to your favorite Tijuana Flats, the chain’s parent company recently spilled the beans. On April 19, Tijuana Flats announced that it has closed 11 stores in the past week, including four Tampa Bay locations...

Tampa Bay is still home to at least a dozen Tijuana Flats that are still open.

Tampa restaurants earn more Michelin stars, Sweetwater Farm’s annual fundraiser returns, and more local food news

Plus, the return of Tampa Bay Taco Week.

By Kyla Fields

Tampa's Ebbe at 1202 N Franklin St. was one of the two local restaurants that earned their first Michelin star this week.

Kahwa opens long-awaited drive-thru shop in St. Pete

The local coffee brand just celebrated its 18th anniversary.

By Kyla Fields

Kahwa opens long-awaited drive-thru shop in St. Pete

Events

Gimme Gimme: A Tribute to ABBA at The Birchwood

@ The Birchwood

Wed., April 24, 6-9:30 p.m.

or

Browse all Film Times

Submit an Event

The Latest

Food News

Michelin's 2024 Florida guide ceremony happened at Tampa Edition in Tampa, Florida on April 18, 2024.

Apr 18, 2024

Five Tampa restaurants earn Michelin stars in 2024 guide

Streetlight's brisket tacos on homemade tortillas.

Apr 11, 2024

South Tampa’s Streetlight Taco earns Bib Gourmand in 2024 Michelin Guide

Openings & Closings

New cheesesteak spot Little Philly opens in downtown St. Pete

Apr 18, 2024

New cheesesteak spot Little Philly opens in downtown St. Pete

New concepts debut at Water Street Tampa, ‘painfully delicious’ Pinellas Pepper Fest returns, and more local food news

Apr 12, 2024

New concepts debut at Water Street Tampa, ‘painfully delicious’ Pinellas Pepper Fest returns, and more local food news

More Openings & Closings

Food & Drink Events

On 4/20, Tampa’s Sweetwater Organic Farm celebrates a different herb—basil

Apr 17, 2024

On 4/20, Tampa’s Sweetwater Organic Farm celebrates a different herb—basil

Taste at Straz Center 2019

By Suzanne Townsend

Apr 15, 2024

The Straz Center's big 'Taste' food festival fundraiser returns to Tampa this month

More Food & Drink Events

Food & Drink Slideshows

Alter Ego
420 S Nebraska Ave. Suite 103, Tampa
Proper House Group took on the Herculean effort of opening TWO concepts in April. Besides their modern Italian-focused Ash, the restaurant group also debuted Alter Ego, a music-forward hotspot featuring a vast beverage menu of traditional cocktails with modern twists, utilizing top shelf spirits and seasonal ingredients. The lounge also features "live DJ sets in an intimate and inviting setting."
Photo via Water Street Tampa

The 20 hottest new Tampa Bay restaurants and bars to open so far in 2024

Red Mesa Restaurant
4912 4th St. N, St. Petersburg

Street Tacos: Chicken, Brisket or Sirloin. Chile guajillo, encurtido, pickled red onion, cilantro, corn tortillas. $16

Tampa Bay Taco Week 2024: Here are some of the exclusive specials happening at the best Bay area restaurants

Britton Plaza
Plaza Roster Highlights: Play it Again Sports, Tapper Pub, Burlington, Publix, Tampa Buffett
Though it's a shell of its former self, Britton Plaza is still one of Tampa's most iconic shopping centers. Sure, the Plaza 8 movie theater was converted into a mega church, and Big Lots, Stein Mart, and Tuesday Morning have all packed up and left. But the 30-acre plaza still has some worthy tenants like Tapper Pub, a decent BCF and the area's best Taco Bell.
3802-3950 S. Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa

Tampa Bay is flush with strip malls, but which ones have the best lineup of stores?

Tarpon Springs Castle Winery is now for sale

Tarpon Springs Castle Winery is now for sale

Best of The Bay

Best of Tampa

Tampa Bay Guides

Cannabis Issue

Music Issue

View More Guides

Digital Issue

April 18, 2024

View more issues