Tampa is a foodie paradise. We have Bib Gourmand Award-winning restaurants, and our culinary scenes in Tampa Heights and Seminole Heights have put the city on the national radar as a delicious destination. Our city is even home to two of the most iconic restaurants in all of Florida.
There’s so much to enjoy, and even more delicacies on the way. Here are the Tampa restaurants that need to be on your radar in 2023. We will continue to update this list as new restaurants open, and others are announced.
Boulon Brasserie
534 Channelside Drive
Boulon Brasserie, a French Bistro by Next Level Brands is going to change the culinary game in Water Street Tampa. The newly-announced restaurant from restaurateur Jeff Gigante, real estate entrepreneur Andrew Wright and attorney/investor Joseph Guggino is slated for an early 2023 debut.
Boulon Brasserie is described as a French bistro and will include a restaurant, café and full bar, with a menu highlighted by fresh-caught seafood and modern interpretations of classic French pastries. You will be able to enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner at this new hot spot.
Union New American
1111 N. Westshore Blvd Annex B
Jeff Gigante, the visionary restaurateur who has delivered some of the most tantalizing and celebrated restaurants in the entire region, is ready to debut the next big thing in Tampa with Union New American at Westshore City Center.
Union New American will be a go-to for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch with globally-inspired fare. Guests can also enjoy a private event space on the second-floor. The space will offer live music and dining in an outdoor terrace lounge.
Ash
1050 Water Street
Ash will offer Italian-inspired cuisine and features an extensive outdoor patio. The new full-service restaurant marks Proper House Group and Alvarez’s third endeavor in the mixed-use district. Ash is slated to open in spring 2023 on the ground floor of Asher, the district’s newest residential development that also features the largest boutique apartment hotel from ROOST.
Encompassing 2,400 square feet of indoor dining space with an additional 1,000 square feet of outdoor dining space, Ash adds to the robust dining scene on Water Street. The restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner seven days a week and will serve brunch in the future. The menu will offer a focused yet fun and playful cuisine with Italian undertones. Ash joins Wagamama and Synovus on the ground floor of Asher.
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Kosen
307 W Palm Ave
Kōsen, a new omakase restaurant, will join the already impressive roster of restaurants in Tampa Heights in the winter of this year. The restaurant will feature menu by renowned Chef Wei Chen. He comes from the Michelin starred restaurant Masa. The 18-course menu curated by Wei Chen will run $250, and will assuredly be worth every penny. Positioned underneath the Pearl at 307 W Palm Avenue, Kosen will privately host 10-seats at the sushi bar and 25 booth seats in the dining room.
Predalina
1001 E Cumberland Avenue
Oxford Exchange lovers rejoice, the team behind the celebrated space for books, brunch and more is opening a new concept on the ground floor of Cora in Water Street. Predalina will offer a seafood-driven menu, with a design that will bring together Tampa’s fishing and port history with the future that Water Street has imagined for the city.
Guests of Predalina will also be able to browse an upscale retail concept similar to that of Oxford Exchange. Once open, the restaurant will include a huge wine cellar, a 2,000 square foot outdoor patio, and a raw bar, according to Strategic Property Partners. This concept is expected to open in early 2023.
Sunda New Asian
3659 Midtown Dr
Chicago founded, modern Southeast Asian restaurant, Sunda New Asian is coming to Midtown Tampa, confirmed Bromley Companies. Sunda brings award-winning, modern Southeast Asian cuisine to Midtown, complementing an impressive array of dining options at the massive $1 billion mixed-used development.
“Sunda New Asian, known for its highly successful Chicago and Nashville locations, offers a modern, world-class dining experience for those who visit, work and live at Midtown Tampa,” said Nicholas Haines, CEO, Bromley Companies. “As Sunda begins a national expansion of its incredible concept, Midtown Tampa is pleased to be home to its only Florida location.”
The restaurant will occupy approximately 6,000 square feet of retail space near The Commons, next to the Aloft and Element Hotel entrance. Anticipated opening is late 2022/early 2023.
Pearl Oyster Room and Bar
815 Water Street
Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, owners of the award-winning Ocean Prime Tampa, are introducing The Pearl to Water Street Tampa. The concept was first announced back in 2021.
A restaurant, tavern and oyster room, The Pearl will introduce an expansive menu of chef-inspired cuisine featuring made-from-scratch entrees, shareable plates and seasonal oysters complemented by handcrafted cocktails, a carefully curated wine list and a rotating selection of ales, lagers and stouts. The Pearl is inspired by vintage, urban design and showcases eclectic décor that is both stylish and nostalgic.
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Bouzy Hyde Park Village
1602 W Swann Avenue
Time for a little bit of the bubbly in Hyde Park Village courtesy of Bouzy, a buzzed about champagne bar from the owners of Cru Cellars. The minds behind the best wine bar in the city are sure to delight those looking to get a little fizzy in one of Tampa’s dreamiest shopping and dining centers.
“Bouzy blends elevated elegance with poppy effervescence to embody the timeless spirit of our favorite drink. Our fizz-first menu features a thoughtfully curated selection of champagnes, pét-nats, craft cocktails, and small plates. Whether you’re a beginner or an enthusiast, our sommelier-trained bartenders will help you find and pop the perfect bottle so that you can toast tonight, any night.”
Wagamama
1050 Water Street
Strategic Property Partners, LLC (“SPP”) is adding Wagamama, an iconic global restaurant brand, to Water Street Tampa’s robust dining scene. Wagamama, with current U.S. locations in New York City and Boston, will bring its Asian-inspired cuisine to 1050 Water Street, a forthcoming residential development in the larger Water Street Tampa neighborhood, in late 2022. The Water Street location marks Wagamama’s first outpost in Florida.
“Water Street Tampa is creating a new neighborhood and an entirely new retail experience with placemaking and thoughtful community experiences programmed into every element,” said Lee Schaffler, Chief Portfolio Officer for SPP. “Wagamama appreciates attention to detail and is a first-to-market retailer with a lively dining experience, which is exactly what we’re pursuing at Water Street Tampa. We are committed to the future of Tampa, and with the addition of Wagamama, we continue our goal of providing residents and visitors with the ultimate lifestyle experience, all in one place.”
Grill Express
514 N Franklin Street
A 100% Kosher restaurant is opening soon on Franklin Street. The news was first brought to our attention by Rachel Lisbon with Tampa Kosher Foodies. The Grill Express team is dedicated to preparing delicious, authentic, and fresh food for its future customers. “With just a little taste of our carefully crafted dishes, you will be transported on a journey to the middle east,” write the owners on the restaurant’s Instagram page.
The owners are excited for the community to try their hummus, shawarma, and endless salad choices. All of their food preparation is done under the supervision of Chabad Florida. Grill Express has been hyping up their grilled veggies platter, wide hummus selection, and delectable falafel platter.
Did we miss your spot? Send an email to [email protected] so we can add it to the list.
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