It’s been a busy winter! As we figure out what it means to have two kids in tow, we haven’t let that stop us from trying new restaurants and locations. We found a lot of new eats while we were at Disney Springs last month, but these are our highlights from around Tampa Bay:
The Pearl
Located on Water Street, The Pearl Tampa was a last-minute find that we ended up loving! They have two other locations in Ohio, but this is their only one in Florida. We took my in-laws out to lunch as a thank you for babysitting, and everyone was very pleased with their dishes. I got this grilled cheese, which was seriously delicious. Parking can be tricky – know the restrictions on the nearby Publix garage!
Grillsmith
Tyler and I went out to Grillsmith Wesley Chapel, which has five total locations in Central Florida, for a brunch date. We liked it so much, we ended up coming back with the whole family! I haven’t figured out which dish is my favorite yet, but Tyler seems to have found a new love in their cajun shrimp and chicken pasta. He suggested that my father-in-law get it on our last visit, and it also won him over.
Social Roost
We no longer live in St. Pete, but I had good reason to make the trip down for brunch at Social Roost – it was a surprise celebration for Megan’s 30th birthday! They have a really expansive menu, but I loved how they had different savory and sweet options. It’s worth noting that they do not have changing tables in their bathrooms (ask me how I found out), but their staff was so nice and accommodating as we figured out a solution for that.
Crumbl
So, I’ve shared my love of Crumbl in the past, and we have somewhat regularly picked up cookies from our nearby location in Lutz. However, we recently snagged cookies from the Crumbl USF location for the first time, which was our second week in a row ordering – Gideon’s has nothing on some of these recent rollouts! Especially with some of their new products (hello, cinnamon squares), this is one to keep an eye on.
Sucré Table
Sara’s recommendation got me to Sucré Table last week, located on Kennedy in Tampa, and I’ve got to say – I’m a fan! While the prices are a little higher than I’d like to spend on pastries and coffee or tea, I think it’s a great option for a girls’ outing or a date. I got an extra large pistachio croissant, as well as a London fog. Seating is limited both inside and out, so know that you may need to stake out a table.
Shake Shack
While it was hardly my first time in a Shake Shack, a free burger deal brought me to their Midtown location for the first time a few weeks back. This is the only Shake Shack in Tampa, with their next closest restaurants over in the Orlando area. I think this is a strong anchor for Midtown as a whole, which has more to offer than I’d realized in terms of restaurants and shops. Their fries are some of my favorite fast food ones!
Other Recommendations
While none of these was a new location or restaurant, I have visited some old favorites as well! If you’re looking for somewhere great to eat in Tampa Bay, you can’t go wrong with The Fat Rabbit Pub in Tampa Palms; Psomi in Hyde Park; Chuck Lager in Wesley Chapel; and Armature Works in Tampa Heights.