Tampa vs. St. Pete restaurant scene: Who has it better?
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Let's end the week with a little Tampa-St. Petersburg rivalry fun.
State of play: We've crowned Tampa Bay's best downtown and waterfront attraction. And we let ChatGPT bully both cities.
- Now, we're turning to Tampa Bay's restaurant scene.
The big picture: Our dining landscape has come a long way, and the world has taken notice.
- In 2023, coming off its first nod from the prestigious Michelin Guide, the region got its first-ever stars: South Tampa Japanese restaurant Koya, Tampa Heights modern-Italian spot Rocca, and Water Street's Mediterranean eatery Lilac brought us the glory.
- And even if the James Beard Awards keep snubbing us, our nominees from the last few years — Webb's City Cellar and chefs Jeannie Pierola of Edison and Rachel Bennett, formerly of The Library and now with The Stovall House — are still out here slinging deliciousness.
Plus: Awards are great and everything, but there's so much more to love about our food and drink scene.
- From West Tampa's Cuban bakeries to Pinellas Park's Vietnamese and Thai scene to The Deuces' Southern comfort soul food, there's something for every palate. (But let's make sure the shrimp are actually from the Gulf, OK?)
Yes, but: Which side of the bay has it better? Vote below, and we'll reveal the winner in an upcoming newsletter.
💠Yacob's thought bubble: I've eaten around, and from Midtown's Sunda New Asian to Carrollwood's Agave Social, we have a clear edge over St. Pete. Don't just take my word for it — take the Michelin Guide's.
- St. Pete is for beaches; Tampa is for everything else. Don't believe me? Even St. Pete's self-proclaimed evangelist goes to Tampa for dinner.
💠Kathryn's thought bubble: St. Pete's lack of Michelin stars is at least partly about money — per the Tampa Bay Times, Tampa's tourism board paid six figures to get its city in the guide.
- What we do have on this side of the bay: mouth-watering stuffed arepas at 11 Chicks Yummy Creations, tender handmade pasta at Brick & Mortar, and those French tacos at Cybel that I'm still thinking about.
- Throw in proximity to other dining destinations like the beaches, Gulfport (Pia's Trattoria!) and Dunedin, and we're golden.