Daily Loaf

Teatro on 7th (1600 E. 8th. Ave., Ybor, 813-248-9400) has been open for about six weeks, but there’s been little fanfare so I thought I’d give its menu a shout-out. Owners Philip Zeltsar and Bill Haines have a long history in the restaurant business in and out of Tampa, most recently at Bernini where Zeltsar was chef and Haines was GM.

The menu looks modern American with some international influence — which means you’ll never know how good it is without sitting down and eating — although a few interesting ingredients pop up, like green papaya and cucumber dill raita. Blue cheese with poached lobster? They’ll have to sell me on that one.

Get info on Bin 27 Bistro, Cupcakes! Cupcakes, and gossip about The Independent after the break:

Bin 27 Bistro (2702 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, 813-878-2700) is still a work in progress, but owner Mike Wulinger says that the restaurant is a few weeks away. Bin chef Jason Cline cut his teeth with an internship at Bern’s during cooking school at Johnson & Wales, then worked a few high-end spots throughout Florida before heading to Hollywood, CA to helm a Cuban-influenced restaurant called Paladar (here’s his paella recipe from there) and a Mexican joint.

Some of that Cuban bent has found it’s way onto Bin 27’s menu in dishes like ropa vieja and latin-spiced tuna, but most of it looks like nicely-worded modern American. We’ll let you know when you can go and try it out for yourself.

Cupcake! Cupcakes (12219 W. Linebaugh Ave., Tampa, 813-855-8424) is open in the Westchase area with a full line of boutique cupcakes.

The Independent — downtown St. Petersburg’s fancy-pants beer bar — might be taking over an abandoned gas station in Tampa Heights for a second location, to open in early 2009. (New Heights Magazine)

Have news about restaurant openings and closings, or want to pimp your own new spot? Drop us a line at brian.ries@cln.com.

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