12 new restaurants open or coming soon to Tampa Bay

Keep reading for a roundup of newly opened and announced restaurants around the bay.

• And don't forget: It's been a tough summer for local restaurants, so show some love to your old standbys.

Largo fills key storefronts: St. Pete dive Dead Bob's Bar & Restaurant is set to launch its fourth location in Horizon West Bay, the downtown district's $85 million retail complex anchored by City Hall.

• It's expected to open next year as Live at Dead Bob's in a 2,000-square-foot space next to Horizon's outdoor stage, where owner Chris Scherlis told St. Pete Rising he'll program regular live music.
• A 6,400-square-foot space facing West Bay Drive will be home to South Tampa restaurant Bocelli Modern Italian's second location, the city announced.

Tastes of the Northeast: Just down the road, a golf-themed "Northeast-inspired" pub called Bogey's Tavern opened last week across from Largo Central Park.

• And grab a taste of Philly with Big Dave's Cheesesteaks at the University Square Mall in Tampa, which held its grand opening over the weekend.

Downtown Clearwater's momentum continues: Ukrainian bakery Nubo Café opened in mid-August on Cleveland Street as part of a wave of development ushered in by a Church of Scientology-tied group.

• It'll eventually be joined by Streetlight Taco and Rippers, two concepts under the Michelin-adjacent Tastes Pretty Good umbrella.

Tampa transformation: 20-year South Tampa staple diner Daily Eats reopened as Meeting House, offering lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.

Upscale in St. Pete: Mei, a French-Nordic Japanese kitchen that opened over the summer in the old Bento spot, "has stepped up [St. Pete's] fine-dining game," wrote Tampa Bay Times food critic Helen Freund.

• European bistro Marcel is set to bring elevated dining to the former Left Bank Bistro bungalow, with reservations now open for Sept. 11 onward, per OpenTable.

… and Tampa: Naree, an eight-seat Thai kaiseki (a multi-course Japanese meal) counter, opened next to Ebbe with a 14-course menu starting at $225 per person.

And soul food, too: Mrs. Thelma's Southern Cuisine just opened in St. Pete billing "the world's best mac & cheese" and quick sell-outs just a few days in.

• On the Deuces, chef Melissa Gardner of Three Generations food truck recently launched Love22, which offers takeout breakfast, lunch and Soul Food Sundays.

Dessert in Dunedin: Finish it all off with a chocolate-dipped frozen banana from Monkey Mike's, which held its grand opening over the weekend.

Go deeper: Tampa Bay gets in on Yemeni cafe trend