Paninoteca Mediterranean Cafe

Editor's pick

519 N Franklin St., Tampa, FL 33602

(813) 341-2525

Categories: Restaurant

Cuisine: Casual Dining, Mediterranean

Features: Outdoor seating, Takeout

Cost range: 1.0-10.0

Payment options: Credit cards accepted

More in this neighborhood: Downtown Tampa

Paninoteca has taken the plunge and gone from businessperson grab-and-go lunch spot to dinner house. Downtown definitely benefits from dinners of such punchy, flavorful Mediterranean mezze, salads and warm panini. Italian bread and rosemary onion focaccia are freshly made, spreading out on wide stainless steel counters to assemble the lush building blocks like prosciutto, fresh artichokes, caponata, hummus and roasted eggplant. Surrounding the bustle at these steel counters, a marble bar is crowded with downtown workers seated on backless stools; beyond them a handful of tables teem with diners, the sounds of lively conversation mixing with the clacking of plates being stacked and a soundtrack of frenetic techno. It is adorable but with big-city feeling.