National Bubble Tea Day: Where to Celebrate in Tampa

TAMPA, FL – National Bubble Tea Day is April 30. Wondering where to enjoy a delicious tea in the Tampa Bay area? The holiday was apparently created by Kung Fu Tea in 2018, according to National Day Calendar. My favorite shop today is actually in Orlando at Royal Tea. Here are some places that I personally enjoy in town.

One Zo Handcrafted Boba: One Zo is newer to the Tampa Bay area than some other shops. The tea shop has a number of green teas as well as some classics. Personally my favorite thing to get there is the Thai Tea or the Brown Sugar Milk Tea. It reminds me of popular spots in New York. Prices are pretty expensive, I can only afford to visit every once in awhile but One Zo is a treat. 10268 Causeway Blvd. Brandon, FL 33619

Green Island: The OG for people who live in the Brandon area. Green Island has withstood the test of time and although it might be more artificial like older bubble tea concepts, it does satisfy the sweet tooth. I like a number of their smoothies and am partial to their Thai Tea as well. It was originally a fun hangout spot with friends when I was in high school, but today is more of a spot where I take things to go and enjoy at home. 10047 E Adamo Dr. Tampa, FL 33619

Naga Tea: Naga Tea was once the new kid on the block, but is also now over 10 years old. The menu has also grown quite significantly since it opened, away from its original tea and fruit focused menu and more into a number of trends. I am still partial to Lemon Black Tea there though. It is just as refreshing as always. Multiple locations.

Annie Tea House: There really is no shortage of boba shops in the Brandon area and Annie Tea is one of my favorite places to go and hangout with a friend and enjoy some tea while catching up. The owner recently sold the concept, so I can’t say exactly how it is today but I like what they were doing. 1924 W Brandon Blvd, Brandon, FL 33511

Where do you like to drink boba? I know that there are so many places now that I have not tried.

Stone Soup Co. in Ybor City abruptly shuts down, joining growing number of business closures

TAMPA, FL – Stone Soup Co. located in Ybor City at 1919 E 7th Ave. has abruptly shut down, according to a post made on Instagram. The restaurants joins a number of recent closures impacting Ybor City and Water Street. Former Stone Soup owner and CEO Ilya Benjamin Goldberg retired in December 2022 and made the company partially employee-owned working with a company called Teamshares, according to Creative Loafing. Employees retained 10% of the company while the rest was transferred to Teamshares.

No reason was given for the closure.

The announcement reads: “Effective immediately, @StoneSoupCompany will cease operations. We would like to thank all the current and past employees, the Ybor and Tampa community, and our guests who have supported us over the last 13 years. We appreciated the opportunity to serve you all! Thank you!”

Breakaway Music Festival kicks off this weekend in Tampa

TAMPA, FL – Breakaway Music Festival is kicking off this weekend in Tampa at Raymond James Stadium. The festival will travel the country and make its way to San Francisco in October 2024. 22 nationally recognized artists and 3 local acts will perform across two nights of festivities along with a Silent Disco featuring local talent, activations, and onsite fan experiences. 

Performers include Illenium, Kaskade, Zedd, Sofi Tukker (DJ Set), ACRAZE, CRANKDAT, Deerock, Dion Timmer b2b Calcium, Gudfella, Ian Asher, It’s Murph, Matroda, Moore Kismet, Night Tales, Ravenscoon, Rossy, Said The Sky, Sara Benyo, Troyboi, and Zuezeu.

Tickets start at $65 with special pricing for college students. Buy tickets online at universe.com.

Breakaway was founded in Columbus, Ohio in 2016. The festival has expanded into multiple cities and grown into a two-day, multi-stage event since then. Breakaway has successfully reached music fans in cities that have traditionally been overlooked by other festivals, bringing superstar performances to diverse local communities. With over 100,000 attendees in 2023, Breakaway is promising a great time for music lovers across the U.S.A.

“Florida has been a market we’ve always wanted to tap into so we couldn’t be more excited to expand to Tampa as one of our newest 2024 festival locations. Partnering with a national venue such as Raymond James Stadium will give us the local awareness and exposure we’ll need for success. In addition to global talent Illenium, Kaskade, Zedd, Sofi Tukker, and other artists, we’re thrilled to be supporting the community by adding three talented Tampa natives to our opening acts as well as a full Silent Disco stage of local DJs. Our mission is to bring globally recognized experiences to underserved markets who don’t typically have these opportunities, and I think Tampa is the perfect place to recognize,” said Adam Lynn, Co-founder Breakaway.

Tour schedule:

Ciro’s Speakeasy and Supper Club in South Tampa has shuttered

TAMPA, FL – Ciro’s Speakeasy and Supper Club in South Tampa has permanently closed, according to an announcement posted by the bar and restaurant to Instagram. The restaurant was a popular speakeasy for locals and visitors alike with craft cocktails and a dedication to quality service and food. It will be missed.

The statement reads: “Today, we sadly announce the permanent closure of Ciro’s. Since 2009, Ciro’s has been a cherished spot for locals and visitors alike. Due to structural issues at The Bayshore Royale, we are forced to close our doors. Thank you for our loyal guests, staff, and the Tampa community for your support and memories shared over the years. As they say, this isn’t goodbye, it’s see you later. -Ciro’s”

Crisp & Green closes Water Street Tampa location with little notice

Update: The restaurant has sent a statement over messenger: “After much consideration, we’ve decided to close our Tampa location. We are thankful for the hard work and dedication of the team and for the opportunity to serve our amazing customers in TPA. We do hope to be back one day.”

TAMPA, FL – Crisp & Green has shuttered its Water Street Tampa location, according to a news report from Tampa Bay Business Journal. The closure happened with little notice. The location was hardly open for a year with a ribbon cutting ceremony held back in April 2023. There have been a huge influx of salad and healthy food concepts to Water Street and the surrounding area with at least 4-6 opening around downtown and Midtown in the past year. When the concept was announced the owners said they would have an aggressive expansion across the Tampa Bay area.

No statement has been posted to the company website or social media channels. The Crisp & Green landing page page has vanished from the Water Street Tampa website as well with the page still appearing on Google search. The Water Street Tampa location has also been scrubbed from the official restaurant website.

Ten Rooms opening April 27 in Ybor City, now taking reservations

TAMPA, FL – Ten Rooms will open its doors in Ybor City on Saturday, April 27. The concept is being led by Ro Patel, a Tampa Bay food & beverage veteran known for Ciro’s Speakeasy, Anise Global Gastro Bar and more, and Zach Pace, an experienced restaurant operator and sommelier. Reservations are now being accepted for Bar Martinez.

Menu items are already up on their website including Duck Confit, Stuffed Eggplant, Pink Shrimp, Dry-Aged Ribeye, and more. The Executive Chef for Bar Martinez is Parker Brown and Chef de Cuisine is Vincent Brisotti. Cocktails range from $12 to $14. Drinks include a Classic Margarita, Mai Tai, Kentucky Mule, Espresso Martini made with Mr. Black, Bramble Royale, and mroe. There is also craft beer and wine on the list.

Happy Hour will be Monday to Friday from noon to 4 p.m. with cocktails for $10.

Reservations are available via Resy.

Minano Ramen celebrating Grand Opening in Tampa on April 24

TAMPA, FL – Minano Ramen located at 11909 Sheldon Rd. near Citrus Park is celebrating its grand opening on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. The restaurant has been in soft opening for about a month. The ramen shop is also rolling out a happy hour and lunch menu.

Guests who attend the grand opening will enjoy free sake or Minano original bubble tea when spending $50 or more. The offer will run from April 24 to April 30 while supplies last.

The menu includes appetizers such as gyoza, takoyaki, mentaiko fries, haru maki, yakitori, bao buns, and more izakaya-style food. Ramen choices include Shoyu, Miso, Curry Chicken, Spicy Tonkotsu, Tonkotsu, and more. The ramen shop joins a vacuum after the closing of other ramen shops in town such as Ichicoro Ramen. The interior looks sleek.

Find more information about the restaurant at minanorestaurant.com.

Lingr restaurant in St. Petersburg closing down April 27

ST. PETERSBURG, FL: Lingr restaurant in St. Petersburg is shutting down on Saturday, April 27 so that Chef Jeffrey Jew can care for his mother, according to an announcement posted to Instagram and to the website of the restaurant. Chef Jeffrey Jew carries plenty of recognition from television and is one of the most acclaimed chefs in St. Petersburg. The restaurant originally opened in the summer of 2020. The statement reads:

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the upcoming closure of Lingr, our beloved Norwegian/Asian fusion restaurant in St. Petersburg. Our final service will be April 27, 2024. Chef Jeffrey Jew, an alumnus of Bravo’s “Top Chef” and winner of Food Network’s “Guy’s Grocery Games,” has decided to prioritize family as they navigate the challenges of his mother’s Lewy body dementia.

In his words: “After almost 3 years of serving our community, it’s time for me to follow the advice I’ve always given my team—put family and health first.”

We invite you to join us in celebrating the wonderful journey and the memories we’ve created together until our doors close. If you’ve enjoyed Lingr’s unique blend of culinary traditions, we also encourage supporting a cause close to our hearts by donating to the Alzheimer’s Association at https://act.alz.org.

Thank you to everyone—our amazing staff and fabulous customers who have made this journey possible. While we prepare to say goodbye to our space on 6th Street South, we look forward to keeping the spirit of Lingr alive through our continued connection with all of you in the community. Here’s to making the most of the time we have left together and cherishing every moment.”

Wishing the chef the best of luck during this difficult time.

Heritage Fire food experience coming to Tampa April 21

TAMPA, FL – Heritage Fire is bringing its food experience to Tampa on Sunday, April 21. Tickets include unlimited food and drinks as well as live entertainment. The experience will be held at Tabellas at Delaney Creek located at 5818 Causeway Blvd. Tampa is the first stop on the tour which will also visit Atlanta, Austin, Nashville, Napa (California), Los Angeles, Miami, and Charleston.

Tickets start at $125 for General Admission and $175 for VIP. VIP gives visitors 45 minutes of early access as well as a welcome drink and everything included in General Admission. Tickets can be purchased online at heritagefiretour.com. Event is rain or shine. All Heritage Fire destinations are 21 and older. A valid ID is required for admission. Anyone under the age of 21 will be refused entry and tickets will not be refunded.

The line-up of chefs and restaurants includes a wide-range of different chefs from around Tampa Bay that carry awards and recognition around the city. Participating chefs and restaurants:

  • Alexandre Gosselin – 1592 Wood Fired Kitchen & Cocktails
  • Joi Watson – 7th + Grove
  • Nick Ocando – Allelo
  • Phuoc Vo – CBK Catering & Events
  • Maria Lola Sierra – CW’s Gin Joint
  • Daniel Almodovar – Chef Almodovar – Private Dining and Hospitality Services
  • Drew Dimitrovski – Juno & The Peacock
  • Sean Brasel – Meat Market
  • Kadean and Laures Dockery – Our Noire Kitchen
  • Cameron Capri – Q Southern BBQ
  • Arturo Lo – Rusty Pelican
  • Rod Scott – Smokin’ Oak Wood Fired Pizza
  • Bryan Jacobs – The Liberty Smokehouse
  • Carlos Betancourth – Timpano Hyde Park
  • Jennifer Daskevich – Turn Bar and Grill

About me: Hello my name is Carlos Hernandez and I am a writer and journalist with over 10 years of experience. I write the food and travel blog Carlos Eats (https://www.carloseats.com) and also contribute to several newspapers and magazines on numerous topics. Follow me on X @CarlosEats, Threads @CarlosEats, and Instagram @CarlosEats.

KAIYÅŒ Restaurant & Bar opens new ground floor location at San Francisco’s Hyatt Place hotel

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – KAIYÅŒ Restaurant & Bar has opened a new location in San Francisco following successful openings in Cow Hollow (the flagship location) and a rooftop bar at Hyatt Place. The new restaurant is located on the ground floor of the Hyatt Place Hotel in the same building as the rooftop just minutes from Oracle Park at 701 3rd St. Other concepts from owner John Park and Brick Hospitality Group in San Francisco include Cavana, Whitechapel, and Novela.

The new concept comes as Nikkei concepts continue to rise in popularity across the country. Nikkei celebrates the fusion between Japanese and Peruvian cuisine and was created by the diaspora living in South America. Guests will find delicious sauces that utilize Peruvian and Japanese flavors as well as plenty of meat, seafood, and vegan options to enjoy.

New Nikkei menu highlights include Anticucho de Lomo Fino, an A5 Wagyu Sando with Caviar made with Tonkatsu A5 miyazaki wagyu, toasted Japanese milk bread, caramelized onions, rocoto aioli, Kaluga caviar, and house-made pickles. Other dining options include a Scallop Mentaiko Udon, Ginger Pork Chop, and Churrasco Bone-in Ribeye. The menu will offer premium and gourmet options as well as affordable items.

“For the first time since the restaurant’s debut in 2018, I’m excited to share the complete KAIYÅŒ experience, with a new ground floor restaurant added to the beautiful rooftop bar, and an all-new menu that truly captures the essence of Peruvian Nikkei dining experience.” -Managing Partner John Park.

Food & Beverage Photos Credit: Anthony Parks

The new location also features an intimate sushi bar with Executive Sushi Chef Kenji Sawada (previously Sous Chef of Sushi at PABU Izakaya and Chef de Cuisine at Ozumo) featuring a la carte sashimi and nigiri options.

Photo Credit: Travis Mocker

Libations will also be important to the concept as with other locations. The bar menu is being curated by bar a new director, Danny Louie. The menu will include 6 new specialty house cocktails with a focus on Japanese whisky, rum, gin, and Pisco. There is also a selection of sake, wine and domestic and Japanese beers.

KAIYŌ in Cow Hollow will also transition later this spring to a Nikkei hand roll concept.

Reservations are available online at Resy and are recommended during busy hours. Find more information about KAIYŌ at kaiyosf.com.