You’ve heard many restaurants being called authentic. Sometimes, it’s because the owners hail from the same region of the world as the food, and sometimes, because you leave feeling as though you experienced the ethnic soul of the place. At Streetlight Tacos, Chef-partner Michael Brannock, who has long wanted to open a Mexican restaurant, visited Mexico eight times in two years to learn the food, ingredients and processes unique to that country

Books and Records opened in September 2023 and has quickly established a following. It has a good social vibe, with an active bar, live music, and top-notch food

Boulon Brasserie and Bakery, a stunning location taking up the northeast corner of Water Street and Channelside Drive. It offers a menu of French classics most with an American twist.

I ventured out on my annual Florida State Fair food junket on opening day, but this year, Tampa Bay Times Events and Travel reporter Sharon Kennedy Wynne and Video Producer Aya Diab joined me this time. The intent was to find the best, possible, most outlandish fair food for 2024.

When I first heard of the opening of the Flan Factory, I figured it was another dessert place. I mean… Flan Factory. Boy was I surprised. It's a funky, beautiful old building on Nebraska Avenue

We spent New Year's Eve in the care of the kitchen at Rooster and the Till, a modern American neighborhood-type restaurant with world-flavor wisdom. R&T just celebrated its tenth anniversary, and there’s a reason it has persevered while so many others have failed. It’s the same reason it remains toward the top of my Tampa favorites list.

Gordon Ramsay's foray into the world of burgers was a must-visit in Boston. I mean, it's Gordon Ramsay. It's burgers. We had to go

Union Oyster House calls itself America’s Oldest Restaurant, beginning service in 1826. Nestled along the cobblestone streets of Boston along the Freedom Trail in the heart of downtown

There’s a newish kid on the fine-dining block in Tampa. Union New American restaurant opened in April under the leadership of Next Level Brands and has made its debut as a new destination for good food, craft cocktails, and event space on Westshore Blvd.

Over 50 restaurants are participating in this year's Tampa Bay Burger Week, sponsored by Creative Loafing, and I was rarin’ for something unique. Being kind of a burger snob, I was hoping to find a place that would kick some taste bud ass.

Olivia Italian Restaurant opened in 2019 amid delays, the pandemic, and fanfare. Owner, Chef Chris Ponte and family are a known quantity in the area for fine food and restaurant design. It quickly received remarkable reviews. Not being a trend follower (usually), we waited. It was worth it. Here’s why

JB3 DoughJoe, an unassuming bakery along Nebraska Avenue close to Ybor City is a small block building tucked between two residential-looking properties. Also known as Jamison B. Breadhouse, it was named the best bread shop in Florida by Food and Wine in 2022. It is owned and run by former Bern’s Steakhouse executive pastry chef Jason Laukhuf and his wife, Blue.

As we enter Bev’s Diner, Johnny Cash sings over the house speakers at a moderate volume, setting the tone for this hometown eatery. We are immediately greeted and seated. Mid-century music dominated the entire visit, and the whole place is a throwback to the 50s. Old vinyl records with their jackets line the walls, along with a jukebox mural covering one wall. Red seated booths and a checkerboard ceiling round out the Happy Days vibe.

Recently Michelin-starred Rocca in Tampa Heights offers a Chef’s Table and we got in {after a two month wait). Her’e what we found

The South Tampa Jerk Hut recently relocated to the Mobile gas station at the northeast corner of Dale Mabry and Gandy Blvd. It is an unconventional location for such delicious food.. It’s an unconventional location, but worth a visit, mon!

Jotoro Kitchen & Tequila Bar describes itself as a friendly neighborhood taco joint that happens to have a Michelin-starred chef. That pretty much sums it up! Located in Sparkman Wharf close to Water Street, the Mexican eatery takes up a corner spot where Hooters once served their wings.

I recently had the pleasure of shooting a national magazine assignment in Channelside. It’s hard to pick a top quality from the list at the new Azure restaurant in the Edition Hotel. The view? A spectacular vista of Channelside and downtown sites. The hotel is situated in the middle of the $3.5 billion, 56-acre Water Street Tampa development and opened in 2022.

It is late Sunday afternoon, and we had a mood for seafood. Trophy Fish, a St. Petersburg fave for several years, opened its Tampa store in mid-2022 at 5901 Florida Ave., the former home of Bodega. I am constantly confounded in trying to find great local seafood, especially since Tampa is so close to the gulf.

James Beard nominated Chef Chris Ponte opened his highly anticipated Ponte Modern American restaurant in late December 2022 at the new 23-acre Midtown Tampa development near Interstate 275 and N Dale Mabry Highway. We visited recently.

Beccofino is the most unassuming place we've seen on our GOAT restaurant tour so far. It's in a small house on the south end of MacDill Ave. but packs a wallop when it comes to traditional Italian food