Spend any amount of time on Davis Islands and you’ll see clear as day that the makeup of the storied Tampa neighborhood has changed (thanks, Tom Brady). Something that’s always stayed the same is perhaps the tiniest small business in Tampa, Fit Bowl Co., tucked into a veritable closet that still pumps out some of the healthiest bowls, smoothings, coffee and soft serve in town. Founded by Trent McAree and his brother Kyle seven years ago, the company has expanded to Sparkman Wharf and Armature Works but maintains its first location that is a reminder of a time before TMZ landed in the 813. fitbowlco.com —Ray Roa

We know, we know, $100 could feed some families for a week—but if you’re gonna splurge, do it with a midday menagerie at this Michelin-approved Greek hotspot from Chef Christina Theofilos. All-day breakfast is fun, but start with a dip (the airy, fresh, favosalata or trio if you’re feisty), then fill up on the hearty horiatiki salad topped with a brick of feta and a crusty baguette (baked in-house, of course). Split a lamb pita or smashburger to round things out. All that, combined with a wine and/or cortado (the latter Elais’ way with a splash of EVOO), your take home dessert and tip will easily leave a Benjamin Franklin-sized hole in your bank account, but you’re guaranteed to walk out knowing it was one of the best meals of the year. eatpsomi.com —Ray Roa

Growing up, Seminole used to have a lone Rita’s Italian Ice and a crappy mall (shoutout Cloud 9 arcade). Now, there are options galore for stuff to do in Seminole, which is weird if you were raised near here. One of the tremendous new advents? Locally owned coffee and kava bar, Driftwood, on Seminole Boulevard and Park Street. Folks in St. Pete might know the sister location already on Central Avenue, but the Seminole spot is the perfect place to get some work done or have a coffee date. The best part? Driftwood is open early and closes late, a rarity for coffee shops today (not even Starbucks or Dunkin does that anymore). We haven’t tried the kava yet, but the in-house roasted coffee is top-tier, and the folks at Driftwood are some of the kindest in town. driftwoodkavacoffeecafe.com —Arielle Stevenson

In an August episode of “Beat Bobby Flay” on the Food Network, the executive chef of Wild Child in St. Pete first dispensed with another chef in a battle over mahi mahi, then took on celeb chef Flay using Reinsmith’s chosen dish, corn empanadas. The show is edited to heighten tension, so of course the cook-off seemed neck-in-neck. In the end, the judges of the blind taste test chose Reinsmith’s version. If you’re not familiar with the show, Flay wins a lot of these contests, so taking him down was no small feat. Reinsmith also acquitted himself well during the brief interview segments. He did St. Pete (OK, Tampa Bay) proud. And he did himself and his restaurants (and future restaurants) a lot of good. @rreinsmith on Instagram —Eric Snider

Oldsmar’s Craft Street Kitchen once did a damn good job replicating this sandwich, and there’s a difference between this beauty and the monstrosity that Krusty the Clown begrudgingly promoted in 2007. But the last remaining location of the “flavor-crusading” eatery (which used to have three establishments open) captured national foodie attention a few years ago with The Cheesy Todd, a burger made with a three-meat patty, American cheese, and for the buns, two slabs of deep-fried, bacon-and-jalapeno mac and cheese. It’s $17, which is considerably cheaper than some local artisan burgers, and it’s definitely not a “pick it up like a sandwich” ordeal; you’ll need a fork and knife. You can head to Krusty Burger in Universal Studios and get the greasy “Clogger Burger” itself, yes, but you and Plopper the Pig both know that those buns are plain AF compared to this all-American beast. However, if you’re gonna chow down on one before heading across the street to Jannus Live, just be ready to lose your ultra-close spot when that poop starts a-bubbling. datztampa.com —Josh Bradley

If a little BBQ truck is parked near a church, and it’s been there a long time and always smells good, you should probably try it. C & J’s Bar-B-Que is a food truck parked on 117th Street and Ulmerton Road in Largo, and it’s some of the best ‘que in town. As the sign says, “Ribs/Chicken/Pulled Pork” are available, along with sides like the collard greens (in the most heavenly potlikker known to man), baked mac & cheese (as it should be), and more. It’s cash only, so come prepared and come hungry. —Arielle Stevenson

The shopping plaza on East Bay Drive in Largo doesn’t look like much from the road. If you live in Pinellas, you’ve probably driven by it a million times and never noticed. But El Milagro Mexican Store is a portal into another world filled with the most perfect birria tacos served on homemade tortillas from a bodega that does it all. Piñatas fill the ceiling like a paper mache Milky Way inside El Milagro’s part grocer, part take-out cantina. On Sunday, a cooler is filled with still-warm tamales and wax-paper-wrapped homemade tortillas from Milagro’s on-site Tortilleria. To be fair, everything El Milagro makes is delicious. But the Birria tacos take one far from the traffic and grind of East Bay Drive to some little town in Mexico, where meats are still slow-roasted, and tortillas are still made from scratch. Yes, they’re on uber eats, too.
@elmilagrotiendamexicana on Facebook —Arielle Stevenson

Let’s say you've got the urge to splurge. And let’s say you’ve got a hankering for fish. We got you. The branzino—aka Mediterranean or European sea bass—at Allelo is terrific. Flaky but also moist. The restaurant is a worthy addition to St. Pete’s upscale Beach Drive. The fine-dining establishment’s vibe is not stuffy or pretentious, although you can pay nine bucks for “bread service,” which is what restaurants call it when they charge for bread. As of June, it cost $47 for a “half branzino,” which is kind of misleading because it’s actually an ample portion. Eat slowly. Savor.
allelostpete.com —Eric Snider

It’s been a hell of a year for Big Storm Brewing Co. Over the summer, the 22-year-old project dealt with a lawsuit over ties to a troubled nonprofit. Then in mid June, Big Storm was evicted from its Ybor City location. The company has also closed locations in Odessa and Cape Coral, and Orlando. But it’s poised to bounce back after confidentially settling the lawsuit, and only time will tell if it’s clear skies in ‘25.
bigstormbrewery.com —Ray Roa

Most fast-casual burger restaurants offer a non-meat option—usually Beyond or Impossible—and they’re usually a waste of time and stomach space, with a flavor and texture that comes off as fake. That’s why eating the Impossible Burger at Burger Monger on 4th Street in St. Petersburg was such a delightful surprise. It had the pebbly feel of cooked ground beef, a char on the outside, and tasted … like meat. It held together like meat. One night at least, the restaurant’s Impossible Burger was better than its signature Steakhouse Monger. burgermonger.com—Eric Snider