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{Restaurant Review} THE MILL Works

The Mill opens Tampa location

A recent visit to The Mill in Tampa exposed a new and worthy dining experience in south Tampa. The Mill is housed in the space previously occupied by Ceviche and after a lengthy renovation the space is large and open, full of texture and décor drawn from nature. They have kept the large, covered dining patio but they’ve put their own stamp on it with the installation of a large, functioning water wheel where the fountain used to be.

Open for dinner and weekend brunch, The Mill offers a menu of imaginative delights that you won’t find at many other Tampa restaurants. There is a distinctive southern flair (sweet pickle brined fried chicken and apple cider sorghum braised pork belly) as well as European-inspired fare (grilled avocado panzanella, bourbon ajo dulce triggerfish and a succulent charcuterie offering). The Vegetable Charcuterie has an impressive list of delights including pastrami cauliflower and roasted turnip gratin dauphinoise to name a few.

There are many dishes that I have put on my “must try” list including the fork tender Rib-eye (grilled or Pittsburgh finished with blue cheese butter), the Dueling Duck, Diver Scallops and the cider-braised Mussels. They also offer less-obvious cuts such as ostrich and bison. Oh, yes. Please.

The Meatloaf Wellington was more of a miss than a hit due to the soggy crust and bland cheese sauce. Seemed to be a case of trying too hard. However, the Heirloom Watercress salad was fabulously satisfying and the careful preparation was spot on.

A strong craft cocktail list and half a dozen intriguing desserts round out a menu that clearly reveals a creative team with a sound instinct for unusual pairings and inventive reimaginings.

Service was attentive and our “to-go” bag was gifted with a couple of perfect oatmeal raison cookies. Aaahhh…sweet!

Find The Mill at 2500 W. Azeele St, Tampa, 33609

813.603.8786

www.themillrestaurants.com

themillst@themillrestaurants.com

Elizabeth Fendrick

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{Restaurant Review} Lucky Dill – Tampa, FL

Lucky Dill - Westshore

Noah’s Eat – Lucky Dill – Get (Over) Stuffed

So, I developed my taste for deli food as a youngster being I spent my early years on the south shore of Long Island, a stones throw from The Big Apple.  To say the food was authentic would be a colossal understatement. I make my home in northern Florida now, and I’m still astonished that there isn’t even a semi-authentic deli within 100 miles! Fortunately I travel quite a bit and recently even made the pilgrimage back to NYC where I took in all my favorite cuisines….one being Ben’s Kosher Deli on 38th St. This is relevant because you need to know my standards are pretty high! I also recently took one of my frequent trips to the Tampa Bay area, slipped off of I-275 in the Westshore area and came upon The Lucky Dill Deli. Perhaps the pastrami was wafting my way! They bill themselves as “Home of the Sandwich That Ate Brooklyn,” and let me tell you the size of this sandwich did not disappoint…. every bit the three fisted size of a Katz or Carnegie Deli! The menu is very extensive, with many more items “coming soon.” It goes far beyond the usual deli fare, including burgers, wraps, chickwiches, wings and more.  More importantly, they have the core menu items that any real deli should have… giant sandwiches, noshes, soups, salads, and even the staple, Dr. Brown’s Soda!

I dug in on a straight up, hot corned beef on rye, with mustard only. With Ben’s still fresh on my mind, the competition was high, and this baby was up to the challenge. First it was massive, but more importantly it was delicious, just the right combination of lean and fat. My buddy opted for The Rachel, and The Dill has an extensive list of Reuben’s as well, even one that pays homage to the local Cuban. The Reuben was every bit as good (and big) as my corned beef.  Capped off with a Dr. Brown, this LI kid was feeling pretty satisfied!

It may not have the sights, sounds and smells of NYC deli, but The Lucky Dill puts out a mean deli sandwich!

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{New Restaurant} Brass Bowl – St Petersburg, FL

St Petersburg, FL – The highly anticipated grand opening of the Brass Bowl Kitchen & Juicery at 656 Central ave, premiered on April 17 to a clamoring public. The Brass Bowl aims to bring gourmet, flavorful and healthy dishes to the community in a no-fuss take out setting. There’s also a huge emphasis on using locally sourced ingredients for their seasonal menu items. The Brass Bowl offers a creative menu full of innovative fusions such as the unrolled sushi bowl, pad thai with zucchini noodles, and 24 hr sous vide hanger steak.

The owner Robert Newhart and executive chef Jason Gordon, shared a vision to bring a high class gourmet experience with a health conscious frame of mind. Owner Newhart has had a long struggle with weight in the past and chef Gordon has specialized in crafting healthy, delicious cuisine throughout his career. These two brains are behind the vision and success at the Brass Bowl Kitchen & Juicery.