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From upscale spots to suit the rich to pizza joints for the average Joe, there's an eclectic flavor about the culture -- and the appetizing cuisine -- in Tampa's Soho to appease all taste buds.
By ADRIENNE HOLLAND and SHANNON BREEN
© St. Petersburg Times, published December 7, 2000
You don't have to go all the way to New York City to stroll down a Restaurant Row called SoHo.
We have our very own: South Howard Avenue. The north/south artery runs between the juicy demographics of Hyde Park and Palma Ceia and terminates where the roller bladers roll, the bicyclists cycle: Bayshore Boulevard.
With some 35 restaurants ranging from pizzerias to elegant steak houses, Tampa's Restaurant Row has something for everyone. Regardless of the occasion, your budget, state of dress or political standing on the use of animals as food, Soho can accommodate. Bon appetit!
2202 W Platt St.; cq(813) 259-1168
Lunch 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Tues.-Fri.; dinner 5-10 p.m. Tues.-Sat.
Lofted ceiling and antique wine press accents cozy interior, which evokes a Tuscan farm house, with some outdoor tables. Italian staples with eclectic twists. $$
6 p.m.-midnight Mon.-Tues.; 6 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Wed.-Sat
Most of the dishes are geared toward nibblers. White tablecloth dining tailored to yuppies who enjoy Asian dishes such as yakitori (pork tenderloin), negimaki (steak wrapped around green onions), and myriad sushi dishes. $$$
1413 S Howard Ave.; cq(813) 254-3355
11:30 a.m.-midnight Mon.-Tues.; 11:30 a.m.-1 a.m. Wed.-Thur.; 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m. Fri.; 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Sat.; 4 p.m.-midnight Sun.
Perennial favorite of SoHo night-owls. Wood-fired pizzas, pasta. $$
1208 S Howard Ave.; cq(813) 251-2421
5 p.m.-11 p.m. nightly
Tampa's first name in top-of-the-line steakhouses for four decades. World-renowned wine selection, popular second-floor dessert room, neo-bordello decor now in transition. $$$
1350 S Howard Ave.; cq(813) 251-6659
Dinner 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Thurs.-Sat. Breakfast and lunch 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Sun.
Cozy, converted house gives you fresh light fare for lunch, sophisticated Continental for dinner. Lunch $, dinner $$
2307 Azeele St. W.; cq(813) 251-0999
11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tues.-Sat.; Sun. 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; Closed Mondays.
Wood-accented decor with Old World knickknacks. Pristine, white doilies and tableclothes, small, intimate tables. Light alternatives to sauerkraut and Bratwurst make it a great place for a bite while strolling around SoHo. $$
309 S Howard Ave.; cq(813) 254-4948
Opens at 5 p.m. daily, with no set closing time (usually between 9:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.)
Dark, northern, urban atmosphere with a straightforward, come-as-you-are vibe. Crowds tend to skew on the younger side, but kid-friendly. Offering both Chicago and New York styles, the menu plainly states, "Eat Cappy's pizza. It's good!" $
2109 Bayshore Blvd.; cq(813) 250-0203
5 p.m.-11 p.m. Tues.-Thur.; 5 p.m.-3 a.m. Fri.-Sat.
What are tapas? All together, for those who haven't heard: "They're the little dishes of Spain!" Authentic, appetizer-size dishes from Seville, Granada, Catalonia, Salamanca and other corners of the Iberian peninsula. Small, nightclubby room full of big flavors and popular pitchers of sangria. $$
709 S Howard Ave.; cq(813) 251-3628
4 p.m.-3 a.m. Mon.-Sun.
SoHo's saloon offering a full bar, pool tables, and video games. $
1015 S Howard Ave.; cq(813) 251-8406
Lunch 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 12 p.m.-3 p.m. Sat.; Dinner 6-10 p.m. Mon.-Thur.; 5:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Sun.
A lively, bustling place where young professionals go to be seen. Menu has Mediterranean flavor with Italian, Asian, and Polynesian dishes. $$
2500 W Azeele St.; cq(813) 879-5228
Lunch 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Tue.-Fri.; 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sun.; dinner 5-10 p.m. Sun.-Thur., 5-11 p.m. Fri.-Sat.
They call it "casual metropolitan dining": Thai spice-rubbed steak, shrimp Diane, Tournedos au Poivre, Hunan chicken with peanuts, 120 wines. Set inside a refurbished 1920s bungalow. $$
609 S Howard Ave.; cq(813) 258-3867
11 a.m.- 10 p.m. daily
Fast food gone healthy. No cattle have been slaughtered to keep this healthful place up and running. Soy burgers, soy tacos, and even soy chili are on the menu in addition to oven-roasted chicken breast, salmon patties, and airfries. Drink a fresh fruit smoothy to wash the health down. $
516 S Howard Ave.; (813) 253-0042
5 p.m.-10 p.m. Sun.; 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Mon.; 11:30 a.m.-midnight Tues.-Wed.; 11:30 a.m.-1 a.m. Thurs.-Sat.
New York-style '40s bistro, with smoke-free side cafe and live entertainment three nights a week. Traditional fare with a non-traditional twist. $$
610 S Armenia Ave.; (813) 258-1999
11 a.m. -- 10 p.m. daily
Red cabbage, center-cut ribeye and crawfish tails -- on your pizza? $
533 S Howard Ave.; (813) 254-9557
11:30 a.m.-9:45 p.m. Mon.-Thur.; 11:30 a.m.-10:45 p.m. Fri.; 4 p.m.-10:45 p.m. Sat.; 4 p.m.-9:45 a.m. Sun.
The SoHo staple has moved south a few blocks, occupying the old Howard's spot. The atmosphere is now more contemporary, but you can expect the old staples: Cantonese, Mandarin and Szechuan familiars, lunch buffet. $
931 S Howard Ave.; (813) 251-2842
11 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Sat.
SoHo's enduring outpost for Cuban sandwiches, beans and rice, and other Spanish/Cuban/Italian comfort foods more common in West Tampa and Ybor City. Serves a variety of wine. $
720 S Howard Ave.; (813) 254-5540
3:30 p.m.- 3 a.m. Mon.- Sat.
A quirky little bar adjacent to Bacchus. Has a red tiger pattern pool table, dart board, and plenty of alcohol. $
717 S Howard Ave.; (813) 250-1661
11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun.-Thur. 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Fri.-Sat.
A newcomer to the Howard strip, with a varied menu, baby-back to chicken liver mousse and seared tuna. Amenities include an airy modern atmosphere, an ample bar and a respectable wine selection. $$
1502 S Howard Ave.; (813) 254-4387
5:30 p.m.-10 p.m. daily
SoHo perennial with a country French menu that changes nightly on the chalk board. This converted low-slung house comes complete with a patio and adjoining jazz lounge. Romantic. Expect your waiter to have an accent. $$$
533 S Howard Ave.; (813) 253-3929.
11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun.-Thurs; 11-11 Fri.-Sat.
Done up like a Noo Yawk subway, this pizzeria/bakery makes liberal use of the word "Yo!" in its flyers and, in spite of its name, doesn't serve textbook New York style pizza. With creations like "Pablo's Westside Chicken Dijon" and "Vinny's Garbage Pie," they're clearly not trying to bore your taste buds. Subs, pasta, and calzones, too. $
208 S Howard Ave.; (813) 258-3302
Lunch 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Tues.-Fri. Dinner and bar 5 p.m.-3 a.m. daily
Works on two levels. Upstairs: white tablecloth dining. Downstairs: bar equipped with plenty of alcoholic beverages. But just the decor will give you an eyeful: a challenging, art-deco-meets-old-Tampa mishmash, plus lighted terrazzo bar. $$
808 S Howard Ave.; (813) 250-9809
Lunch 11:15 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Mon.-Thur.; noon-4 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Dinner 5 p.m.-11 p.m. Sat.; 12 p.m.- 10 p.m. Sun.
Opened less than a year ago, the restaurant shares kitchen and owner (Tom McHale) with Tuscan Oven, but don't expect a Tuscan Oven II. The menu offers barbecue styles ranging from St. Louis pork ribs to duck chili. All sides are made from scratch. $$
410 N Howard Ave.; (813) 251-6244
10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat.
Also off the beaten path, being hard to see from the road. A deli that specializes in New Jersey style subs and pork rolls. $
901 S Howard Ave.; (813) 251-1754
Breakfast 7 a.m.-11 a.m. Mon.-Sat.; 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Sun.; lunch and dinner 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Mon.-Thur.; 11 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; 1:30-10:30 p.m. Sun.
Truman was president when this South Tampa landmark first served homemade ice cream, malts from the fountain and thick, honest burgers. Though recently refurbished, little has changed the Rockwellian atmosphere of this diner or its proud notion that your buck will go farther here than most places on Restaurant Row. $
405 S Howard Ave.; (813) 258-0501
2:30 p.m.-2:30 a.m. (last call) Mon.-Sun.
Typical sports bar includes two large TV screens with games always on, dartboard, Foosball. The menu offers chicken wings, burgers and oysters in a half-shell. $
915 S Howard Ave.; (813) 258-3358
Lunch 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. daily; dinner 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m. nightly
Designed like a provincial country home with vines over head. You will feel like your in Italy. Elegant, pan-Italian menu. $$
811 S Howard Ave.; (813) 258-5893
Lunch 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Brunch 12 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Sun.; Dinner 4:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Mon.-Sun.
Traditional Thai cuisine served in a royal setting. If you did not get enough of frog legs in high school, they are served here in red curry sauce instead of formaldehyde. Thai at last, Thai at last, Thank God all mighty, we have Thai at last. This is the first and only Thai restaurant to debut on Howard Avenue. $$
1009 S Rome Ave.; (813) 251-0220
11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sun.-Mon.
Bakery style pizza. Small tables for a quick dining experience. They also deliver. $
2208 W Morrison Ave.; (813) 258-2233
6 p.m.-10 p.m. Sun., Tues.-Thur.; 6 p.m.-11 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; closed Monday.
Don't show up just for dessert. Chef Jeanie Pierola, once the creative force at Ybor's defunct nuevo Latino outpost Boca, has revamped this former dessert-oriented Bern's adjunct into a full-fledged bistro. The highly eclectic menu will disorient your taste buds before the food arrives. Pierola calls it "one world cuisine." $$$
2205 Swann Ave.; (813) 250-3888
7 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 9 a.m.- 8 p.m. Sat.; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sun.
Vitamins, supplements and fruit smoothies. GNC meets Orange Julius.$
711 S Howard Ave.; (813) 250-9223
6a.m.-11p.m. Mon.-Thur.; 7 a.m.-12 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Sun.
The corporate coffee mogul has moved in on Soho. Eloquently marketed through strategic in-store displays, the menu offers pastries, teas, and, of course, a wide selection of coffee. $
402 S Howard Ave.; (813) 259-9982
11 a.m.-11 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun.
Hyde Park hipsters wear this small taco stand well. Creatively spiced American-Mexican hybrids offered with standards, like giant burritos that are "big as your head." $
2105 Morrison Ave. W.; (813) 258-5212
7 a.m.-3 a.m. everyday
Gas station turned bar about 40 years ago offers an eclectic crew and plenty to do. Foosball, an over stocked jukebox, $2 import bottles and pool tables with a path worn through the tile surrounding them. Every walk of life congregates at this tiny watering hole.$
808 S Howard Ave.; (813) 251-0619
Lunch 11:15 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Sun.-Thurs.; 5 p.m.-11 p.m. Fri.-Sat.
Hearty, Italian fare, with Tuscan farmhouse decor. Stare at the farmer's bedroom vignette over the fire-belching grills, and you can envision Aldo turning in after a hard day in the vineyard. $$
927 S Howard Ave., (813) 251-2020
11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun.-Thur.; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Fri.-Sat.
Bring Philadelphia-style pizza home without going to Pennsylvania. Offers casual family dining in the restaurant or at home via delivery. The menu also offers calzones, stromboli, sandwiches, and grinders. $
- Times Staff Writers Michael Canning and Amy Abbott contributed to this report.
Prices are based on a meal for two.
$ Inexpensive, less than $25
$$ Moderate, $25-$50
$$$ Expensive, $50 and up