Rays return to Tropicana Field: Where to eat
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Bavaro's yummmm. Photo: Kathryn Varn/Axios
Air-conditioning has to be the biggest perk of returning to Tropicana Field.
- But a close second is all of the food and drink options within walking distance of the ballpark.
State of play: The Tampa Bay Times published a great restaurant round-up to mark the occasion.
- Here are our faves from the list to check out if you're going to a home game this season — or if you just want to experience the Trop buzz.
👋 Kathryn here. As the resident St. Pete head, I can't recommend just one.
- The *chef's kiss* spread pictured above is from Bavaro's Pizza Napoletana & Pastaria, which is a great stop if you want to feel a little fancy. Bonus: It has a half-off-beer-and-wine happy hour that starts at 3pm.
- If you're looking for something more casual, The Burg Bar & Grill and Engine No. 9 are perfect hole-in-the-wall burger spots. The Burg's black & blue burger with house-made chips... I die every time.
And finally, grabbing Cuban food from Bodega and walking it over to Green Bench for a cold one is a superior combo.
- Bodega's Cuban is famously delicious, but don't sleep on the tempeh sandwich or plato, even if you eat meat.
👋 Editor Jeff here. Living in Orlando, I rarely (but not never! RIP, Sesh) get to share a food-and-drink rec with y'all in Tampa Bay.
- Yes, but: Skimming the list of Trop-area eateries, I was pleased to spot a favorite: Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine.
Catch up quick: Bosphorous has been a mainstay of Park Avenue in Winter Park since 2004 and has since spread across, and now beyond, greater Orlando.
The draw: For me, it's the smell — walking into Bosphorous means being embraced by rich Mediterranean flavors even before we order.
- If you don't know Turkish food, expect a variety of marinated and grilled meats (aka kebap) and plenty of olive oil, rice, herbs and feta cheese.
- Lamb lovers rejoice: This is your spot.
Caveat: None of us has tried the St. Pete location (yet), but it has great Google reviews.
👋 Yacob here. I've only visited two of the restaurants listed, and by far, my favorite was Poppo's Taqueria.
- Serving up mouth-watering Mexican street food at low prices, Poppo's satiates your taste buds and your budget. No small feat in this economy, amirite?
- A fiend for all things spicy, I ordered the bee-sting burrito ($10.95), which came stuffed with rice, beans and cheese rolled with ancho chicken and topped with pineapple hot sauce.