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Review: The Attic Cafe – Downtown Tampa Coffee/Craft Beer

The Attic is located on Kennedy Boulevard in the heart of downtown Tampa, located on the top floor of a 100 year old historic building. The local cafe, established in 2015, serves a wide range of breakfast, lunch, and caffeinated beverages. Not only do they offer coffee and tea beverages, they also have a variety of local beer taps, ciders, wine, and kombucha. 

I started off with a hot Macchiato since I thought it would be fitting for a cool fall day, and all of the fall decor in the cafe gave me that feel. With so many options available for breakfast, I decided to get the Veggie Omelet with toast and hash browns. Max, my co-worker who I brought along, got the Croissant breakfast sandwich and french toast. My omelet had spinach, peppers, onions, mushrooms, and cheddar, a perfect morning combo. 

The french toast came beautifully dusted with powdered sugar and whipped cream- if you have a sweet tooth this is the perfect choice for you. I definitely recommend everything we ordered, and I can’t wait to go back to try out more menu options. 

The overall ambiance of the cafe was relaxed and cheerful. Decked out in Halloween decorations and pumpkins, it gave off a very festive vibe. The porch, where we sat, is lined with Florida-native plants and along the Tampa city line. Max and I noticed when we arrived that there was a tree next to us growing fresh limes. If you are looking for some fresh air and a bit of downtown scenery, this is the place to be. 

Overall, The Attic was a wonderful experience and is spot to be when you need a little break from the office- I will definitely find myself here more often since it is right across the street from our office building. The waitstaff was cheerful and helpful, and the food doesn’t disappoint, whether you’re looking for breakfast or lunch. If you’re looking for a quick getaway from the office or just a nice, calm breakfast- The Attic is the place to be!

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How To Select A Location For Your Restaurant

There is a reason that the most well-known real estate adage is “location, location, location.” Location is absolutely essential for a successful business and is one of the deciding factors in the success of a food service business. So how do restaurant entrepreneurs and operators determine the best location for them? Read on to explore our top tips for selecting a location for your restaurant.

Initial Marketing Research

The initial marketing research helps determine the general area or neighborhood that you need to be searching in. This decision is influenced by the target market and target customers who you are aiming for. For example, a sit-down restaurant for families probably belongs in the suburbs instead of downtown.

Determining Factors

There are three main factors to consider while location hunting. As frustrating as the search may be, do not give in and compromise on a location simply because it is there.

Size

The size of the potential space is a highly important factor to consider. Even smaller food service businesses, like coffee shops, need plenty of space. On the other hand, you do not want to be paying for space that you will not actually use.

Ask for some detailed floor plans of the space and sketch out potential layouts. Always make sure to remember to leave space for people and servers to walk through. Additionally, remember certain rules, such as ADA laws are in place that dictate spacing.

Visibility

Visibility is another consideration that owners and operators must make. While certain businesses can afford a little lower visibility, newer restaurants cannot. Even if the space is tucked back away from the road, something needs to signal to customers that you are there. An ideal site is in a high traffic location for both pedestrians and cars that comes with standout signage.

Previous Tenants

The history of a location tells potential renters quite a bit about the location. Ask questions about the number of tenants at a location. Then find out how long those people stayed there and why they left. If you can, talk to those ex-renters and find out from them what issues they ran into with location.

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The New All-American Bar

Orlando, FL – Imagine all of the fixings of a high class bistro in an inviting sports bar atmosphere; welcome to American Social Bar & Kitchen. The good folks at American Social are intent on elevating the sports bar’s typical ambiance and menu with a hint of class and sophistication all around. The classic pub fare is upgraded with black truffle pizza, goat cheese croquettes, and mahi tacos.

Paul Greenberg, Rick Mijares, Laurie and Tony Mijares Jr. the founders of American Social Bar & Kitchen, share their vision for bringing a world class bistro sports bar experience like none other. The newest location will open in late spring at 7335 W. Sand Lake Road.

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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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{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.

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The Artisans of Chicken – Restaurant Opening

Sarasota, Fl. – The Daily Bird will be the top-spot for all things poultry. Their menu includes everything from scrumptious fried chicken baskets to burgers, salads, and even sandwiches. You can also indulge your sweet tooth with their daily handmade pies containing fresh, seasonal fruit.

All the chicken is locally sourced from Springer Mountain Farms, known for their top quality chicken. They are fed a nutritious diet of pesticide-free, American-grown corn. This ensures that the chickens will not contain any traces of hormones, steroids, or antibiotics.

This will be the newest addition to the successful Caragiulo restaurant family, which has brought us many notable restaurant establishments such as Caragiulo’s Italian American, Veronica Fish & Oyster, and Owen’s Fish Camp. The Daily Bird at 1534 State Street, will be set to open soon!

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The Artist of Sushi

Orlando/Winter Park Fl – Mikado Sushi & Grill is a titan in the restaurant and sushi scene. Executive Chef Liu and his team have a passionate commitment for preparing the highest quality Sashimi, Omakase, and sushi in town. Chef Liu has garnered a following of loyal customers based on his artistry and innovation in seafood. Many ingredients are sourced directly from Tsukiji market in Tokyo, in order to ensure supreme quality.

The Mikado in Metrowest (6417 Raleigh street) was their first debut on the restaurant scene, which has boasted more than 10 years of continued success. Chef Liu plans on premiering a new locale, Boku Sushi & Grill in Winter Park, estimated to begin operations Summer 2019.