South Tampa is no stranger to elevated cuisine, and soon another restaurant will join its foodie-loving ranks when District South Kitchen & Craft opens next week at 3301 S Dale Mabry Hwy. in the old La dolce vita space.
Although Monday, Nov. 8 is the first day doors are open, District South Kitchen & Craft will host a grand opening event slated for later this month, so expect that announcement on its Facebook soon. This new South Tampa spot is the sister restaurant to District Tavern, located in the Channelside area.
There are similarities between the two sister restaurants in terms of food, but District South has a slightly smaller menu that focuses on fresh, seasonal dishes—with the ever-changing catch of the day and steak of the week to set it apart from its sibling. There are no typical categories differentiating between appetizers and entrees at District South, instead the menu is separated into “snacks,” “slightly bigger snacks,” “between bread,” and “utensils required.” If you’ve ever wanted to order a literal jar of pickles for the table (or for yourself), District South has your back.
A wide variety of vegetarian options are also featured on the menu, with dishes like bourbon-infused french fries, portabella mushroom polenta, blistered shishito peppers and cheese boards equipped with locally-made breads. But meat lovers might want to get a taste of the duck fat parmesan fries, pork belly & gnocchi or coconut grouper bites instead. Seasonal cocktails, craft beers and globally inspired wines will complement this eclectic menu.
The Executive Chef of District South is Cody Tiner, a chef with years of experience running some of the most popular kitchens throughout Tampa. Last year Tiner revamped District Tavern’s brunch menu, and before that served as the head chef at CW’s Gin Joint and chef de cuisine of Piquant Hyde Park.
“My first endeavor with incredible partners, an insanely cool and challenging process, and the reward of serving YOU TAMPA,” Tiner posted on Instagram last month. Tiner—who’s also a partner of the new restaurant—also stated that much of his inspiration for this menu came from “finding myself wanting to eat really good, straightforward food.”
District South Kitchen & Craft will start its days at 3 p.m., but soon plan sto extend their hours to serve brunch and lunch as well. Take a look at the full menu on their website in preparation for next week’s soft opening.
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