Three More Weeks in Tampa

In other news, we only have about three more weeks in Tampa. 

We'll be moving at the end of the month up to Gainesville.  I'm starting work in the fall on a Ph.D in mass communication at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications.  We didn't think we'd be moving until the end of June, but Traci just landed a job that starts in a few weeks so off we go.

If you only had three more weeks in Tampa, where would you go to eat?  What restaurants would you visit one last time?  What would you order? Send me your ideas and we'll try to hit some of them over the next few weeks and of course share our experiences with you. 

I plan to maintain this blog .  All of my archived Tampa Bay restaurant reviews will remain available, and I hope to post on occasion about Gainesville and North Florida restaurants.  If you have any Gainesville restaurant ideas, from upscale to dives and places in between, shoot those my way too, please! 

Thanks for reading!    

Comments

[rob]

was in gainesville 80-89, for pizza this place is good:

http://gainesville.diningguide.com/data/d100155.htm

for spanish this place is good and reasonably priced, pastries are especially good:

http://www.gayot.com/restaurantpages/info.php?tag=GARES040906&code=GA

the original burrito brothers is a famous institution:

http://www.burritobros.com/

only other one I can think of may still be open is "the original pizza palace," but it changed hands and when I was last there five years or so ago it was too expensive and not very good.

will look forward to your reviews as I plan to retire there

[matt]

rob-

Thanks for the suggestions. Haven't tried Leonardo's yet or Emiliano's, but will be looking for good moderate-priced Spanish/Cuban place in particular.

Did enjoy Satchel's for pizza and their house salad on previous visits, although have to be in the right mood for the long wait.

http://local.yahoo.com/details?id=14051560&

Thanks again-

[rob]

Leonardo's 706 seems to have gone upscale since I was there, used to be a pizza joint.

I don't know where college students get the money for that, must be retirees.

[David Jenkins]

Leonardo's Pizza is still Leonardo's Pizza - right by campus. They also have a family style place and a fancier place at different addresses. I HIGHLY recommend the pie at Leo's. The stuffed veggie pizza is num nums. I also second Burrito Bros. - hit it when the fresh guac sign is on.

Bahn Thai is awesome. Try the amazing lunch buffet and also hit it for a regular dinner. There's also a sushi place on the same street as Bahn Thai, witha little bridge in front of it. Name is totally escaping me but it's great. They have a roll with cooked steak and chicken with this incredible sauce on it that I've never had anywhere else.

If I were leaving Tampa I'd have to get yucca frita and vaca frita from Teresita, with a whole cuban and some sugar cookies as take-out for later.

I'd have to go to Mel's Hot Dogs, and get a Chicago.

I'd have to get some barbecue from My House on Columbus.

I'd have sushi fiesta at Ichiban.

Pizza from New World.

The meatloaf and/or a calzone from Tampa Bay Brewing Company.

But that's just me, and a lot of that is comfort-y stuff.

[matt]

David-

Thanks for the list of great suggestions!

I've wondered about Mel's before, maybe this weekend or next for lunch.

so much food, not enough time ;)

[lesa]

i would try The Lime on S. Howard and/or Water for great sushi!

[rob]

Here's Emiliano's website:

http://www.emilianoscafe.com/

Again more expensive than it used to be but what isn't.

Have to get there early as it is pretty small.

[rob]

You may also want to try The Yearling restaurant in Cross Creek, about a 40 minute drive away. It gets its name because it is very near the home of the author of "The Yearling."

When I ate there my impression was they have a very good fry cook. They serve unusual things like gator and turtle. Gator has become more common since then but theirs is probably better than most (it all tastes like chicken anyway).

[matt]

rob:

Thanks for the additional info. I'm not a big fan of gator meat, a little too chewy usually, but the Yearling sounds like an interesting place.

Get ready for the reviews here to change to a Gainesville flavor in about a month :)

[April]

I am a native of Gainesville and have been in Tampa for 4 years now. Leonardo's By the Slice at the corner of University and 13th should be your first stop. If it were me I would order a slice of Florentine and garlic knots with both sauces. I dream about their Florentine...I must move on before I start drooling.
Another restaurant that is worth the drive from Tampa to Gainesville just for one meal is Dragonfly Sushi. It is located downtown at Union Street Station (next to the Hippodrome). I know Traci is not a big fan of sushi but if any place could convert her it would be Dragonfly.
http://www.dragonflysushi.com/
The Wine and Cheese Gallery on Main street is another great spot.
I can't leave out my favorite watering hole- the Salty Dog on University. It is a dive- great beer selection and stiff liquor drinks.
Okay, so now I'm thinking I might have to make a road trip home next weekend.
Congratulations and good luck! I will miss your Tampa restaurant reviews.

[HD]

Best of luck to you in Gainesville! Here are my favorite "can't miss" before you leave Tampa:

1. Brunch at Oystercatcher's--a bit of a splurge, but wonderful food, beautiful view off the deck--and some of the best Bloody Mary's in town.

2. Cerviche in Saint Petersburg for tapas on their outdoor deck--especially the patatas bravas.

3. Kiku sushi in Clearwater--their fish is the best I've ever had outside of Japan.

4. Best burger in town--El Cap in Saint Petersburg on 4th Street. Inexpensive, unpretenious and mmm mmm good.

[rob]

I like the Salty Dog too, spent many a night drinking many beers there. You get a different crowd there than the student places.

To bad the Purple Porpoise has been gone for a while, we used to go there for raw oysters on the half shell. It was more studenty but the prices were right.

[rob]

I can vouch for El Cap's burgers, they excellent.

[dave]

Good luck in Gainesville!

[matt]

Thanks for all the additional best wishes and restaurant ideas before we move.

Hit Salty Dog before a football game this past year and can understand the allure :) April, thanks for the other ideas as well, keeping a list.

I like El Cap, but would take The Chattaway over it. Might try to hit before we go.

Brunch at Oystercatcher's sounds great. Debating between there or the brunches across the bay at the Vinoy and the Don CeSar.

Went to the newly opened CDB Southside on Westshore this weekend, as well as Red Mesa (one of our faves) in St. Pete on 4th Street. Hope to write about this week

Thanks all and I hope you'll keep reading once I shift reviews to Gainesville-