As you know, we try to support small businesses and eat local. This was easy to do when we lived in St. Pete, as it has a very local-driven culture. Now that we’re solidly in the ‘burbs of Wesley Chapel, we have had to work a little harder!
In honor of Valentine’s Day, these are five Tampa Bay restaurants I’ve tried in the last two months that I loved – and I know you will too! ♥️
Shelly’s Cafe, near USF, is so good that we’ve actually gone twice! It’s proven to be the perfect “middle” spot from South Tampa, so a great option for us to meet friends for brunch. We’ve gone for brunch, and it gets busy – I’d definitely recommend getting there around 10am to ensure you get a seat. Otherwise, the French toast (and fresh fruit) are worth waiting for a table.
Early Bird in Pinellas Park is close to our old house, so of course, we only found it after we moved out. 😅 That being said, if you find yourself in the St. Pete area, this is a solid breakfast option with really reasonable prices. I got the chicken fried steak, and Tyler got the breakfast burger, which we were both very happy with. Important note: they do close at 2:30.
The Fat Rabbit Pub in Tampa Palms is a super laid back bar, perfect for watching a game or catching up with friends. Tyler and I ended up grabbing seats at the bar for a late lunch, and the bartender was super attentive – one time, I didn’t even see her refill my drink. Their menu has a wide variety of options, though I’d highly recommend my Key West grilled chicken sandwich.
Macondo Coffee Roasters in Wesley Chapel is another one I’ve managed to hit up twice! In full transparency, it’s also the closest of these options to our house, but it’s the caramel frappe that had me coming back for more. If you’re looking to get your caffeine hit and/or work from a cool cafe space for an hour or two, this is definitely the spot. Tables inside will go early!
Yummy House South China Bistro in South Tampa came highly recommended by my in-laws, so we joined them for dinner there over the weekend. We typically do Chinese takeout by us, but the food was so fresh (and portions so large) that I may have to reconsider my stance! I’d definitely come back during lunch time to try their dim sum, but the dinner was worth a visit.
Bonus: while it wasn’t my first time at The C House (Seminole Heights) or Ginger Beard Coffee (Channelside), I did visit these local favorites over the last couple months as well.
Looking for other great local eats?