Fast-casual restaurants gobbling up Tampa Bay market
They don’t serve food in a sack from a drive-through window.
They also don’t have waiters taking orders and delivering dishes tableside.
“Fast-casual” restaurants fill a niche between fast-food and casual dining. Customers order at a counter, and an employee brings their meals to a table. Guests aren’t expected to leave tips.
Nationwide, fast-casual restaurants reflect the fast-growing segment of the food service industry, generating $27 billion in sales last year. Here in the Tampa Bay area, a well-established testing ground for chains, diners eat them up.
“That’s where all the action is right now,” said Nick Vojnovic, president of Little Greek Restaurant chain… Continue reading
Orlando barbecue restaurant eyeing Tampa for expansion
4 Rivers Smokehouse is planning to expand to Jacksonville. The popular Orlando-based restaurant has a cult following and the owner is planning to open new restaurants in Jacksonville, Gainesville, Tampa and east Orlando, the Orlando Business Journal reports… Continue reading
Sophie’s French Bakery & Cafe in Hyde Park Village closes
Sophie’s French Bakery & Café in Hyde Park Village’s open-air mall has closed, according to the Tampa Tribune.
Just one year ago, five new restaurants or cafes were set to open in the upscale dining area, but only the gastro pub Irish 31 on Swann Avenue survived.
The café was successful during the day, said owner Carole Binkowski, but its plan to sell wine and beer to support dinner service did not work out… Continue reading
Chef Jeannie Pierola opens new South Tampa
TAMPA — Jeannie Pierola is one of the Tampa Bay area’s most celebrated chefs, but it’s been some time since she parlayed that into a restaurant of her own. That will change next week when she unveils her newest creation: edison: food+drink lab, a lower-case restaurant by an upper-case chef.
Edison opens Aug. 7 in the space occupied briefly by Knife & Co. at 912 W Kennedy Blvd., near Edison Avenue, which partly inspired the name…Continue Reading
Tampa Bay Restaurant Bulletin
Fast-casual restaurants gobbling up Tampa Bay market
They don’t serve food in a sack from a drive-through window.
They also don’t have waiters taking orders and delivering dishes tableside.
“Fast-casual” restaurants fill a niche between fast-food and casual dining. Customers order at a counter, and an employee brings their meals to a table. Guests aren’t expected to leave tips.
Nationwide, fast-casual restaurants reflect the fast-growing segment of the food service industry, generating $27 billion in sales last year. Here in the Tampa Bay area, a well-established testing ground for chains, diners eat them up.
“That’s where all the action is right now,” said Nick Vojnovic, president of Little Greek Restaurant chain… Continue reading
Orlando barbecue restaurant eyeing Tampa for expansion
4 Rivers Smokehouse is planning to expand to Jacksonville. The popular Orlando-based restaurant has a cult following and the owner is planning to open new restaurants in Jacksonville, Gainesville, Tampa and east Orlando, the Orlando Business Journal reports… Continue reading
Sophie’s French Bakery & Cafe in Hyde Park Village closes
Sophie’s French Bakery & Café in Hyde Park Village’s open-air mall has closed, according to the Tampa Tribune.
Just one year ago, five new restaurants or cafes were set to open in the upscale dining area, but only the gastro pub Irish 31 on Swann Avenue survived.
The café was successful during the day, said owner Carole Binkowski, but its plan to sell wine and beer to support dinner service did not work out… Continue reading
Chef Jeannie Pierola opens new South Tampa
TAMPA — Jeannie Pierola is one of the Tampa Bay area’s most celebrated chefs, but it’s been some time since she parlayed that into a restaurant of her own. That will change next week when she unveils her newest creation: edison: food+drink lab, a lower-case restaurant by an upper-case chef.
Edison opens Aug. 7 in the space occupied briefly by Knife & Co. at 912 W Kennedy Blvd., near Edison Avenue, which partly inspired the name…Continue Reading