We’re 2,000-plus votes and counting in this year’s Best of the Bay Readers’ Poll — deadline Aug. 31 — and there are no hotter races underway than the ones for Best Neighborhood/Hillsborough and Best Neighborhood/Pinellas.
After the jump: Find out if your ‘hood is among the front-runners. Read the rest of this entry »
SoHo Sushi
2.5 stars
3218 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, 813-873-7646 or sohosushi.com
I was taking CL contributor and local food blogger Jenna Weber to lunch and needed a place close to the office. Easy enough, but it also had to be healthy. That’s Jenna’s thing and, despite my devotion to bacon peanut brittle and beef in all its forms, I tend to eat healthy meals as well. Have to justify the occasional binge, after all. Sushi is a safe choice, especially with frequent Best of the Bay winner SoHo Sushi just a mile or two away.
Despite the awards, its popularity and its location in the heart of one of my stomping grounds, I’d never been to SoHo Sushi. I’d tried, on occasion, to visit after the restaurant moved from SoHo proper to Franklin Blvd. after a dispute with its landlords. Problem is, every time I stopped by I’d either find the small parking lot full, or the tables full, or both. Popular place.
Thankfully, this time we quickly found a seat in the restaurant’s pleasant dining room loaded with wood furnishings and the usual Asian decor accents. At lunch, SoHo has the usual array of bento boxes and cooked meat rice bowls which, it turns out, are the way to go despite SoHo Sushi’s name. Read the rest of this entry »
Bust out the sparklers, wear red, white and blue, and celebrate Independence Day in the good ol’ U.S. of A. Aside from the usual parties and explosions in the sky at Channelside in Tampa and around The Pier in downtown St. Petersburg, several other locales host events in honor of the holiday this weekend:
The City of Gulfport 4th of July Celebration features a full day of fun festivities — kid-friendly beach activities like a fishing derby and a sandcastle contest, an auto show for the car lovers, and for those who long for retro tunes and flower power, live classic rock ‘n’ roll by 60sGroove, an abundance of goodies by local artists and crafters, and a community parade and fireworks finale. The Largo 4th of July Festival offers a free day of entertainment that includes a DJ, food and fireworks galore. Check your rowdy hats at the door, though: Largo keeps it simple and safe by prohibiting alcohol, pets and personal fireworks/sparklers. After all, no one likes a drunk wildly waving fire in the air. If you are bursting with love of country and want to celebrate early, Clearwater’s two-day FreedomFest may be just the thing for you. Day one includes live music, family-friendly activities, tasty food and a fireworks show. Day two kicks it up a notch with more live music, a nighttime laser light show and the special “Follow the Flag Tour” hosted by the Post 9/11 Foundation.
Fourth of July events and more after the break:
South Tampa is known as a big party spot, but it’s also home to some interesting restaurants — including the only two Ethiopian joints in town. And then there’s Bern’s, of course. Which restaurant deserves to be at the top of this list? That’s for you to decide. Scroll past the list to the poll and cast your vote!
(And don’t forget to vote in the four other regional top tens.)
Bern’s Steak House, 1208 S. Howard Ave., Tampa, 813-251-2421 or bernssteakhouse.com
Bin 27 Bistro, 2702 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, 813-878-2700 or bin27bistro.com (Reader’s Poll Entrant)
Ceviche, 95 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-209-2302; 1502 S. Howard Ave., Tampa, 813-250-0203
Datz Deli, 2616 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa, 813-831-7000 or datzdeli.com
Paci’s Pizza, 2307 S. Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa, 813-253-2973 or pacispizza.com (Reader’s Poll Entrant)
Pane Rustica, 3225 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa, 813-902-8828 or panerusticabakery.com
Queen of Sheba, 3636 Henderson Blvd., Tampa, 813-872-6000 or ethiopianrestauranttampa.com
Restaurant BT, 1633 W. Snow Ave., Tampa, 813-258-1916 or restaurantbt.com
SideBern’s, 2208 W. Morrison Ave., Tampa, 813-258-2233 or bernssteakhouse.com
Smoke Barbecue & Grill, 901 W. Platt St., Tampa, 813-254-7070 or smokeonplatt.com
VOTE AFTER THE BREAK! Read the rest of this entry »
You’ve stumbled past this tucked away SoHo location hundreds of time, but if kids aren’t part of your world, you probably never noticed it: Practically Pikasso has changed ownership. The founders of this quaint location quietly called it quits mid-October and Kelly Grillone, a Tampa newcomer from the Destin area, stepped in and renamed it Pikasso’s Kiln and Kork.
Although she has no experience in the bar and restaurant business, Grillone wants to make it a wine café in addition to the pottery design studio. She’ll offer 10 wines by the glass ($6-$10) and by the bottle ($28-$34) with labels like Cosentino Cigar Zin and Artesa Pinot Noir, numerous craft beers like Flying Dog Old Scratch and, in a partnership with her neighbor Circles Restaurant, a selection of food. In the works are a deck addition, cigars and a pizza oven.
Pikasso’s Kiln and Kork
2502 West Azeele St., Tampa
813-877-8238
Stopped by the beautiful new Publix Greenwise Market in SoHo for some lunch today. After reading Laura Reiley’s cautious optimism about the massive selection of prepared foods, I thought it might be worth a try now that the market has almost a month under its belt to get the kinks worked out. If anything, it seems like the kinks have taken over.
Get past the confusing system of ordering everything from its own section, the areas delineated only by small, laminated “Order Here” signs that are often hidden by waiting diners and you’ll find a staff that has the haunted look of the harried and fearful. Or the defiant glare of workers pushed past the breaking point, just daring you to comment about the slow service. Or the downcast faces of truly practiced restaurant workers who want to avoid eye contact until they finish the task in front of them. If you’re looking for a quick, healthy lunch during a brief work break, it’s a horrifying experience. Read the rest of this entry »
Charlie’s Wine Cellar, a seven-year-old wine and and nosh spot in SoHo, is closing its doors this weekend. In an email blast owner Glynn Giacone sited the demise of neighboring Whaley’s Market as one of the factors. This Friday marks the last of their many weekly wine and beer tastings.
You can help out Charlie’s — and help yourself — this week by taking advantage of their liquidation sale. Case discounts are massive: 1 case gets you 30% off, 2 gets you 35%, and three will get you the wine at 50% off. There are also discounts on individual bottle purchases and beer is a mere $4 a six-pack. If you want to toast the staff, all beer and wine by the glass is $1 with a food purchase.
Charlie’s will also hold a silent auction all week for a few kick-ass bottles from the cellar, including a bottle of 1975 Mouton, an Imperial of 1970 Markham cab, and a 1982 Cos d’Estournel. You’ll have to be present at Charlie’s blow-out goodbye tasting this Friday night to win, but that’s not much of a hardship.
On Saturday — the final day — Glynn and crew will be selling everything that’s not nailed down. Everything must go, including one of the best spots in South Tampa for a glass of wine with friends.
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