Category: Restaurant Review | Restaurant Rentals & Sales Archive

December 19, 2019

Review: Bake’n Babes – Indulge Your Sweet Tooth

Bake’n Babes is tucked in the back corner of Tampa Bay’s oldest food hall, The Hall on Franklin. The local bakery, established 2013, serves a wide range of including milkshakes, liège waffles, light lunch items, charcuterie boards, as well as cakes, pies, and cookies. The menu boasts a sizable amount of vegan and gluten free options for a bakery.

Trying to pick a sample with such a wide-ranging menu is difficult, but I finally land on a Nutella liège waffle and a flourless chocolate torte. The torte is a gluten free torte made with Belgian chocolate. It is topped with chocolate ganache and a small dab of edible gold, accompanied by raspberry champagne coulis.

The waffle is made like a traditional Belgian waffle. The dough is yeast-based, almost like a brioche bread and pressed in a cast-iron waffle press. My Nutella waffle comes topped with imported pearl sugar, Nutella spread, and bruleed banana slices. There is even a little Belgian flag stuck in the top, following the Belgian tradition. Bake’n Babes founder, Julie Curry, told the Tampa Bay Times that a trip to Belgium inspired the unique menu item.

The smiley employee at the counter hands me a pager with a smile and warns me of the wait, “the waffles take a little while, because we make them from a scratch.” While I’m waiting, another customer gets one of the Bake’n Babes daunting Freak Shakes – an over-the-top milkshake that rotates monthly. December’s shake is blue, stacked sky-high with a slice of cake, popcorn, cotton candy, an iced cookie, a light-up snowflake, and a sparkler.

When my own treats arrive, they look beautiful, and taste even better than they look. The flourless chocolate torte is rich and velvety. The accompanying raspberry champagne coulis balances the deep flavor of Belgian chocolate with a naturally brightening tang. This torte feels luxuriant and indulgent. A feeling helped along by the 24k gold dabbed on the top of each slice.

The Belgian waffle is very authentic. The Nutella and banana flavor combination is popular for a reason, and works well on top of the thick waffle. The amount of toppings balance perfectly with the size of the waffle.

Overall, Bake’n Babes is an excellent experience. The physical location is not big, but the top-notch customer service, indulgent treats, and ambiance at the hall leave a great impression. Whether you’re looking for a post-workday treat or the perfect place for date night, head to Bake’n Babes in The Hall on Franklin.

October 23, 2019November 5, 2019

Review: Brightside Café – Brighten Your Day

As you walk into Brightside Café on North Morgan Street, the first impression is that it is aptly named; from the high ceilings painted white to the smiling employees, everything seems bright. The counter service restaurant has been run by Lisa Monk for a little over a year now.

“It used to be a club, and everything was dark – the ceiling was painted black.” Monk grimaces a little at the memory. The space that the café inhabits is tall, but there is almost no natural light. The white opens it up though, and it is peppered with green and orange accents. Monk has been in the restaurant business for 20 years and cites Chef Scot Hill – a 30 year food service veteran – as one of the main reasons for the café’s success. “He’s one of those creative chefs…what I’m saying is he’s crazy passionate,” she laughs “he comes up with great stuff.”

Brightside is open 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, serving breakfast and lunch. The menu has plenty of options for everyone, without being overwhelming, a specific goal of Monk’s. For breakfast, one of the employees enthusiastically recommends “La Cubanita”, the little Cuban sandwich. “It’s the best” she gushes. Tampa is the home base of Cuban sandwiches, and if someone is staking claim to “the best” title, it’s worth a try. To go along with the sandwich, she recommends one of their smoothies; I chose the “Pro-Berry-otic”.

The smoothie comes out first. The Pro-Berry-otic contains mixed berries, blueberry kefir, vanilla whey protein, and ice. All of the Brightside smoothies contain protein, which I was wary of. Protein smoothies tend to have a powdery, bitter aftertaste. Happily, this is not the case with the Pro-Berry-otic. It is amazingly smooth thanks to the kefir, and the whey protein is balanced well by the natural sweetness of the berries. The bases for the smoothies are all mixed in house, rather than the pre-made mixes many places purchase. The smoothie is healthy without tasting healthy – a small miracle.

Next comes La Cubanita. At first glance, La Cubanita looks like any other pressed Cuban sandwich, the toasted Cuban bread and melted cheese look delicious, but does it stand up to the long legacy of Cuban sandwiches in Tampa? Yes, yes it does. In addition to the usual smoked ham, swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard, Chef Scot Hill adds his “magic Mojo pork”. It manages to elevate the sandwich while sticking true to its roots. The mojo pork works with the pickles to balance out the sweetness of the Swiss cheese and is so delicious that I can’t argue with the “magic” moniker. The “Little” Cuban is the perfect breakfast serving, big enough to keep you full until lunch, without being so much that you need to take a carb nap afterward.

Brightside is also great value. Even with a tip, my meal barely hit the ten-dollar mark, and the lunch pricing is similar. It is hard to believe that such fresh and healthy options are so reasonable.

It is fairly common knowledge that the food service industry is a competitive career, but that doesn’t seem to slow Lisa Monk down. “We love coming to work. Our whole mission here is optimism and brightness,” she says “that’s where Brightside comes from.” The café accomplishes that mission, in its setting, food, and service. If you are looking for a way to step up your morning, or need a lunch pick me up, stop by the Brightside Café.

July 26, 2019July 15, 2019

{Noah’s Eat} Review: Cena – Tampa

Cena – Authentically Unique!

One thing that chefs struggle with is how do they stay true to their culinary heritage while still innovating? How far do they push the envelope, yet not lose the essence of a dish? This can be even more problematic with Italian food as many of the dishes and recipes are sacred! Well, Chef Michael Buttacavoli has found the sweet spot in this conundrum, and I don’t mean with just the delicious gelato! I visited Cena with my wife upon the recommendation of a friend, and the experience was extraordinary. From our host Joe (from Comack), to our server Marissa, all the way to speaking with Michael, who is not only a great chef, but a great guy!

Cena has a great vibe, a bit old school, but also a bit industrial. Our meals were amazing, the menu is rotational, and always features in season ingredients; starting with the Antipasti and Insalata. I had the Octopus salad, which was spiced up with some Calabrian hot sauce and fried cauliflower. Now I’m a bit of an authority on octopus, having eaten my way across the Iberian Peninsula, where they hand out awards to the tapas bar that serves the best pulpo. The Cena version of this was fantastic, with some innovative surprises in flavor and texture. My wife had the baby kale Cesar; the chickpea croutons were an awesome touch! And Michael is not afraid to use anchovies to keep it authentic. We had the gnocchi for a pasta course, which was equally inventive as the octopus. The tomato sauce included braised oxtail, again a combination you’ll not find almost anywhere! The gnocchi had a finishing touch of being lightly braised in the skillet, which gave it an even deeper flavor and texture. Absolutely delicious. My secondi was the Parmesan crusted halibut, which was seared to perfection with a fabulous faro and risotto. Again, another twist on a theme, but next level in flavor! This superb meal was finished off with gelato and of course, some house made limoncello!

In addition to my Iberian escapade, my wife and I recently made a trip to Sicily, where needless to say food is a way of life. I would put the meal at Cena on this level of the best cuisine we sampled. Plus not only is the food exceptional, it is an exceptional value! They are transitioning to a new menu as I type this so get to Cena and have the best of the old AND new world!

June 28, 2019June 28, 2019

{Noah’s Eat} 4Rivers Smokehouse – Bounty of Brisket

To many, anything to do with barbecue (BBQ) is sacred. There are even entire TV shows and week long festivals dedicated to the subject! The arguments about who has the best BBQ invokes the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s….Eastern vs. Western North Carolina, North vs. South Carolina, mustard based vs. vinegar based, chopped vs. pulled, beef vs. pork. And it’s not lost on me that in some parts of the US the term barbecue is a verb, and in other parts it’s a noun! Pity some of the folks in the north who thought a Sloppy Joe was BBQ. I’ve eaten at countless BBQ joints all through the south, in Texas and even in California (where there are very few!).

Which brings me to 4Rivers, where I have a long and even personal history with, dating back to the first location on Fairbanks Ave in Orlando. John Rivers opened this location as a “Barbecue Ministry” in 2009, around the time we met. I was working on the Cheerwine soft drink brand, the official soft drink of Carolina BBQ. John was buying and bootlegging the nectar of the Carolinas down to Florida from our plant in South Carolina, before Cheerwine was available in the state. He was so dedicated to the BBQ experience; he even brought down the original formula, made with real cane sugar and in an old school glass bottle. This was also a big differentiator in a state packed with BBQ restaurants. The other aspect of 4Rivers that makes it unique is the amazing brisket, as virtually all BBQ joints in FLA are pork centric! Simply stated, 4Rivers has the best brisket I’ve had in all of Florida.

The 4Rivers experience is a delight. It is cafeteria like, where you order off the overhead menu. The sides are equally amazing, many of these recipes from the mind of the owner, and all delicious. On this trip I had the brisket sandwich, collard greens and green beans. Love. The brisket is moist, the collards are seasoned and the beans are perfect. Oh, did I mention the on site Sweet Shop? Two words: Red Velvet. Seriously, everything in a 4Rivers location is made with care and the employees are genuinely glad to be there! You will be glad to be there too.

May 13, 2019May 1, 2019

{Restaurant Review} THE MILL Works

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

May 10, 2019April 29, 2019

{Restaurant Review} Lucky Dill – Tampa, FL

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 38^th 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!

April 12, 2019April 29, 2019

Fresh Kitchen {Restaurant Review}

Noah’s Eat Review- Fresh Kitchen- Great. Food. Fast.

Being that local and national restaurant icons Hugo’s and Bern’s Steak House are located on Howard Ave in Tampa, when you choose to open your first restaurant on this same hallowed street, you better have your food act together! And when you aspire to healthy food, that tastes great, and is served fast? Well usually you pick two of those three! When Fresh Kitchen bought that hip building on Howard in 2012 and set up shop, they got all three right.

For starters, the building itself is very cool! The ordering process is cafeteria like, but most cafeterias don’t have food approaching this level of variety or flavor with a staff that’s totally engaged. You order your bowl, depending on size and how hungry you are, starting with Bases, which range from varieties of rice all the way to kale slaw. Next are the Roasted Veggies, from a local seasonal veggie to sesame green beans. Then, choose you protein (including tofu!), all hormone and anti-biotic free, varieties of chicken, tuna, steak. Lastly, Sauce It Up, from creamy white ginger to coconut sriracha. There is also an amazing variety of Add-Ons like bean and corn salsa and pesto tomato salad, along with a great selection of homemade teas and pressed juices.

I had a Six Bowl, 2 bases, 2 proteins, 2 veggies and one sauce. Going the lower carb route, I got the spinach salad, kale slaw, basil mushrooms, and bean and corn salsa. These all added to an amazingly complex flavor together in that bowl. The marinated herb grilled steak was both tender and delicious, and the grilled chicken had just the right amount braised BBQ flavor, complemented with the coconut sriracha sauce! My wife switched out the spinach for the Parmesan broccoli and the steak for the baked almond chicken. Halfway through we swapped bowls because they were both so off the chain delicious!

Lucky for everyone, Fresh Kitchen is now expanding through out Florida, reaching as far south as Boca now. FK really delivers on a promise of fresh, delicious, nutritious, imaginative and fast. Truly fast food re-imagined.

March 18, 2019February 28, 2019

{Review} Noah’s Eat: La Teresita – Legendary Cuban

Around the time CB radios were reaching their peak of fame, the Capdevila family founded this taste of home from which they emigrated during the rise of Fidel Castro. Not far from “Malfunction Junction”, as CB chatter called the Intersection of 1-4 and 1-275, La Terisita was born in 1972 as a grocery store on Columbus Drive in “Cigar City,” also a reference to Tampa’s heritage with the Cuban culture. The thread of political significance has endured as the restaurant has hosted the likes of George W. Bush and Al Gore!

Politics and trucker lingo aside, La Terisita is as authentic and delicious as any restaurant can be, Cuban or otherwise. There are three distinct aspects to the place; the full sit down experience, an old school lunch counter and even a take-out wing in the back. Full disclosure, I love Cuban food and I’ve been eating it in Tampa even before La Teresita opened, but LT does it with a real family feel. This is why I always pick up a Cuban sandwich from LT and bring it to my Mom any time I visit Tampa! Their ropa vieja and palomilla are absolutely amazing, especially when accompanied with a bowl of the Spanish bean soup and some plantains. Made even more divine when topped off with some flan and café con leche. Oh, and did I mention the prices? Well, it reminds me of traveling in the Asturias region of Spain (who populated much of Cuba!), where the cost of the amazingly prepared meal seems to be the same as the cost of the actual ingredients! From Havana, to Miami, to Tampa, nobody does it better than the restaurant La Teresita. Do yourself a favor and take a trip to a place where tradition and flavor live.

March 4, 2019February 25, 2019

Noah’s Eats {Review}: El Cap – Baseball & Burgers

How much more can be written about El Cap restaurant in St. Pete? An institution to when JFK was president and an anchor on 4^th Street, just north of Sunken Gardens, another shrine that welcomed pre-Interstate travel to the Sunshine City.

It’s roots are traced to the family of Augie Donatelli, the famous (or infamous) umpire who called Willie Mays out at home plate in the 1973 World Series, sparking a charge from the dugout from Yogi Berra, then the manager of the New York Mets. Coincidentally, I frequented Augie’s Dugout in the mid ‘70s, a quaint little bar located even further north on 4^th street. Controversy aside, Augie is forever captured on the first cover of Sports Illustrated. The restaurant is adorned with some pictures of him, along with other eclectic paraphernalia.

With this pedigree, you’d expect the place to deliver, and it does. For me it’s all about the burger. Look no further, beef ground on premise every day. Juicy and delicious with pickle and onion, served with a side of steaming fries overflowing from their red basket! The Daily Double (whose name pays homage to races at Derby Lane, the local greyhound track) is my go to. Double the meat and perfect for recharging after racing the St. Anthony’s Triathlon, exactly my routine for about 15 years straight! These days El Cap is also a bit of a sports bar, where you can grab an affordable drink or beer, and catch whatever game’s in season. The servers are as authentic as the place, so pull up a concrete patio bench outside, take in some history and the best burger in the Tampa Bay Area, and possibly the state! From a guy that’s lived all over the US, I’d put the El Cap burger in my top three all time, anywhere, which is why visitors and locals alike will be enjoying this gem for another 50 years.

December 5, 2018

{Review} 4 RIVERS SMOKEHOUSE is SMOKIN’!!

The owners and crew at 4 Rivers have created a place where BBQ is king but this court is full of many different delights including a surprisingly impressive array of well-crafted desserts. 4R is on it’s way to becoming a south Tampa institution.

Your order is taken in a cafeteria-style line and served on metal trays lined with butcher paper. No frills, just good food. Rolls of paper towels are on the family style tables and you’re going to need them. The meat is the star with deep flavored long smoked Brisket, Pulled or Sliced Pork, Pulled Chicken, Smoked Turkey, Sausage and, of course, the prized Burnt Ends. They also serve up perfectly cooked Tri-Tip and Prime Rib. I highly recommend the sausage. It’s a juicy, leaner combination of beef and port – a real Texas-style link. All the meats are available as full dinners or as a stacked sandwich. Smoked Chicken and Ribs round out the menu.

Beyond the carving stations 4 Rivers offers 18 sides so you’ll have no trouble doubling down on your appetite. While the Collards were under seasoned, there is a large array of sauces to spice things up. I love the house Hot BBQ sauce that is a perfect blend of sweet and heat. The Baked Cheese Grits are a shout out to corn pudding cut into squares of luxurious cheesy goodness. If you are adventurous try the Smoked Jalapenos or Fried Pickles.

There are also 5 offerings “From the Garden” including a Smoked Portobello sandwich and a substantial list of “Lil’Bites” meals for the little ones.

There are grab-n-go drinks available as well as fountain drinks but if beer is your handle this is not your place as there is only small selection of bottled beer. Convenient call-ahead take out is available and there is a large covered patio for outdoor seating. While 4 Rivers is casual enough to be relaxing it is also well appointed enough to make dining there a real pleasure. Huge portions of carefully crafted smoked meats and sides, house made desserts, dressings and sauces will make you feel right at home in this smoke house kingdom.

More info is available at 4RSMOKEHOUSE.COM