/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/GT7JXRR6EFEG3OMHLQ7ITYAT3Y.png "Chicken Salad Chick, which has opened its latest location in Brandon, tops the chicken salad BLT with your choice of chicken salad, crispy bacon, lettuce and sliced tomato.")
NOW OPEN
Chicken Salad Chick
Brandon has officially welcomed the latest Chicken Salad Chick location. Southern inspired and fast casual, the Alabama-based chicken salad chain observed its grand opening last week, celebrating with various specials and giveaways. A dozen chicken salad flavors and items like sandwiches, side salads, soups and desserts are up for grabs at the new restaurant, led by wife-and-husband duo Tammy and Brad Cochran. The Cochrans, who are longtime franchise owners, also operate the Chicken Salad Chicks on E Fowler Avenue and in Lutz and South Tampa. Tampa Bay’s other locations are found in Seminole, Palm Harbor and Bradenton. “We’ve loved growing Chicken Salad Chick’s presence in the Tampa area and are so excited to be expanding to Brandon,” Brad Cochran said in a news release. Founder Stacy Brown started Chicken Salad Chick more than a decade ago. Since then, the chain has expanded to 135-plus restaurants across 16 states. 965 E Bloomingdale Ave., Brandon. chickensaladchick.com.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/UWSU5F2RLRCH3GBCSUHC6ZMXSM.jpg "Yes, Brandon newbie Chicken Salad Chick specializes in chicken salad. But it also offers dishes like broccoli salad.")
Lonni’s Sandwiches
Fans of this perennial downtown St. Petersburg lunch place will find its popular Sunny Bird sandwich in a different location on the 400 block. Lonni’s Sandwiches recently moved from 425 Central Ave. to the space next door and reopened on Dec. 10. The fork-free chicken and waffles franchise Chick’nCone is slated to take over the sandwich shop’s previous location. Lonni’s has served the area with house-made soups, salads and generously stacked sandwiches for more than 30 years. The signature Sunny Bird layers turkey, cream cheese, sunflower seeds, sprouts, mayo and honey French dressing on wild rice bread. 429 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. lonnisdowntownstpete.com.
Crafty Crab
Replacing Florida seafood restaurant Pinchers, the still-growing Crafty Crab chain formally launched last month at Carrollwood’s Grand Plaza. The menu lists seafood boils built upon crab, lobster, shrimp, clams, mussels and crawfish with your desired seasoning and heat level, along with items such as oysters, fried catfish and wings. Tampa Bay first got a taste of Crafty Crab when it arrived in Brandon earlier this year. According to the chain’s website, a third local outpost is coming to the former St. Pete home of Hamburger Mary’s at 2901 Tyrone Blvd. N. 14391 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. (813) 533-6033. craftycrabrestaurant.com.
Boil Spot
Need another hot pot or Korean barbecue joint in your life? Head for Boil Spot, where the two dining options drive the restaurant’s communal, interactive experience. Hot pot is essentially a simmering pot of broth that you use to cook an array of ingredients at your table. In this case, Boil Spot guests can order the all-you-can-eat hot pot buffet, which includes their choice of soup, access to the sauce bar and then everything from beef brisket and taro to udon noodles and shrimp. (Some of them even go around on a conveyor belt.) Add unlimited Korean barbecue, which of course you grill yourself, for a few dollars more. Be aware of the sign that says the restaurant reserves the right to charge $13.99 per pound for wasted food. 1120 E Fowler Ave., Tampa. (813) 374-9947.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/67QG34JSMNC6FNCZXNWNBDJ7VM.png "Dig in to Tampa Bay’s food and drink scenes")
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Explore all your optionsPapa’s Cafe
This low-key eatery has been slinging Cuban bites inside a Chevron gas station for a few months. The lineup at Papa’s Cafe is different every day but spotlights a number of favorites: ropa vieja, pollo asado, garbanzo bean soup, Cuban sandwiches and deviled crab, to name a few. Cuban espresso and cafe con leche are available, too. Whether you visit during breakfast or lunch, there are a few tables to accommodate any on-site chow-downs. 901 W Busch Blvd., Tampa. (813) 713-7721.
Thomas P’s Sports Bar and Patio
Thomas P’s Sports Bar and Patio caters to the sports-loving crowd with indoor and outdoor seating, more than 40 TVs and a menu of grub fit for sopping up beer, cocktails and wine. Appetizers like pickle chips and buffalo shrimp, burgers, wings, tacos and five Chicago-style thin-crust pizzas are among the crowd-pleasing eats, while others such as shepherd’s pie with Guinness gravy incorporate a little Irish flair. Live music is also a highlight of the neighborhood hangout. 12836 Henderson Road, Tampa. (813) 803-9464. thomaspsportsbarandpatio.com.
Other openings: BarrieHaus Beer Co. (Ybor City), the Blend (downtown St. Petersburg), La La’s Sangria Bar (Tampa), Parlor House Bistro (Dunedin), Rocket Fizz (downtown St. Petersburg), Sugar Factory (Tampa)
RELATED: Rocket Fizz, a candy and soda shop, is opening in the former Daddy Kool space in St. Petersburg
COMING SOON
Esposito Pizza Vino & More
Get ready for some more pizza. Esposito Pizza Vino & More’s Napoli-style pies are headed for the Ozona area. According to its Facebook page, this pizzeria also plans to offer appetizers, salads and sandwiches, as well as craft beer and a robust wine selection. 191 Orange St., Unit 403, Palm Harbor. (727) 303-3375.
Pacific Counter
Downtown St. Petersburg’s Pacific Counter has announced an expansion across the Sunshine Skyway bridge. The fast-casual poke bowl and burrito spot will bring its customizable menu to a new development in Lakewood Ranch, with an anticipated launch sometime in April. Construction on the restaurant, which is in the design and permitting stages, should begin in early January. Lakewood Ranch serves as the second location for Pacific Counter, opened last year by founders Tanner Loebel, Eric Bialik and Chitthasack Noythanongsay. “We knew from the beginning that we would like to open multiple locations, but didn’t realize we would be fortunate enough to have it happen so quickly,” Bialik said in a news release. The place puts an emphasis on fresh, quality ingredients like fish, featuring predesigned house creations that can be worked into a burrito or bowl alongside the build-your-own alternative. In addition to its headquarters on St. Pete’s 600 block, Pacific Counter is the official caterer for the Tampa Bay Rowdies and was a vendor at Tropicana Field during the 2019 Tampa Bay Rays season. “It instantly felt like a great fit for us down there,” Noythanongsay said of Lakewood Ranch in the release. “It is a fast-growing, family-friendly community, that we can’t wait to be a part of!” The Green at Lakewood Ranch, 11615 E State Road 70, Lakewood Ranch. pacificcounter.com.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/PERVPGWLQNCMRM5O6ZIWJTM43M.JPG "Pacific Counter employee Josh Johnson prepares a bowl at the St. Petersburg restaurant's original location.")
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