Two More Weeks in Tampa

We're now down to less than two weeks before we make the move up to Gainesville.  So instead of reviewing one restaurant this week, I thought I'd provide brief summaries of the places we've eaten at the past two weeks.  Thanks again to everyone who posted suggestions of Tampa Bay restaurants to visit one last time before we move, as well as an unexpected number of places to try out in Gainesville.

Two weekends ago we checked out the recently-opened CDB's Southside Italian Restaurant on S.Westshore Blvd (in the same spot as the old Cafe Anna).  We were told by our server that this new location is more upscale than the CDB's near USF and in Lakeland (we haven't been to either).  While the place felt cramped and prices were on the high side, we enjoyed the deep dish pizza and the roasted eggplant appetizer that we ordered.

We also made a return visit to La Teresita one evening and again ate like champs for a bargain price.  Thanks to David Jenkins, I enjoyed a delicious vaca frita. Another evening, some friends took us out to Red Mesa in St. Pete.  This remains my favorite local restaurant for Southwest-style cuisine. 

This past weekend, with my parents and younger brother and his girlfriend in town visiting, we hit Castellano & Pizzo for lunch with Cuban sandwiches all around.  We had originally planned on Wright's, but after pulling up and seeing the line snaking out the door, I knew a change of plans was in store.  We were looking for a place Friday night that was close by and on the water so we went to RattleFish Raw Bar & Grill.  We knew we'd be paying up for the view of the bay.  My fish tacos were okay and everyone in our group was generally happy, but Traci's burger was undercooked.  This place continues to slip.    

On Saturday evening, we headed out to Clearwater  Beach with plans of having dinner at Frenchy's Rockaway Grill.  The place was understandably packed ahead of sunset, and knowing that my family hates to wait, we decided to try the much smaller "The Original" Frenchy's Cafe just a few blocks away.  The food wasn't award-winning, but the prices were good, and there wasn't a wait.  We were able to walk right up and grab one of the handful of tables outside.  My steamed mussels were good, but my cup of gumbo was lukewarm.

Before we go, we still plan to check out Mel's Hot Dogs, which is a clear reader favorite, and make a return visit to The Chattaway in St. Pete.  A stop at El Taconazo is another possibility. Finally, doing a fancy Sunday brunch as a going away treat is also on our list - either Oystercatchers, the Don CeSar or the Vinoy.  Thanks again to everyone for all of the comments and ideas over the past year.
 

Comments

[rob]

Tampa is weird as far as Cuban sandwiches go. I grew up eating them from a place that made them right, fresh mojo sauce (primarily garlic and olive oil) every day, and the sandwich pressed right before it was served.

Now all I get is "Tampa Style Cuban Sandwich" which is not pressed and has mayo in it. Even if you do get it pressed there is no mojo. This may be a perfectly good sandwich but it was not what I was expecting.

There is a place for the "Tampa Style Cuban Sandwich," but it is not a true Cuban Sandwich.

Give me the mojo.

[april]

If you make it to the Taco Bus (El Taconazo) before you go- and I highly recommend that you do- make sure to try the Barbacoa taco. On my first visit I ordered a chicken taco which is probably the worst thing on the menu. The Cochinita (sp?) Pavil is also yummy.

[matt]

Hi rob-

Where did you grow up? I'm not familiar with mojo on a Cuban, but it sounds good.

Everyone seems to have their own variation, and a traditional Cuban doesn't have mayo, lettuce, tomato etc. My take on a classic tampa Cuban is pork, ham, salami, pickles and mustard on cuban bread. From my experience, the bread is different in Miami (more of a yellow soft bread) and no salami (that's the Italian influence here in Tampa).

[matt]

april-

I've had the barbacoa tacos at the taco bus. They are indeed good. May stop in for lunch one day next week. So many places so little time ;)

[rob]

I grew up in west palm beach, my family is from cuba.

This is the best recipe for the sandwich I've found on the net:

http://icuban.com/food/cuban_sandwich.html

An authentic cuban uses a sauce like they describe (called "mojo"), which adds to the fat content but is delicious. It gives it more of a roast pork flavor.

[rob]

here's a good recipe for mojo:

Ingredients

3 heads garlic
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
1 1/2 cups sour orange juice
(In a pinch, use two parts orange to one part lemon and one part lime)
1 cup minced onion
2 teaspoons oregano
1 cup Spanish olive oil

Mash garlic, salt, and peppercorns into a paste, using a mortar and pestle. Stir in sour orange juice, onion, and oregano. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes or longer.

In a saucepan, heat olive oil to medium hot (approximately 280 degrees F) and remove from heat. Carefully whisk in the garlic-orange juice mixture (prepared above) until well blended.

http://icuban.com/terms/index.html