Hello again, Michelin Bay. There is a swath of new eateries opening up around town, and we thought we’d take a swan dive into the offerings. Here’s a tasty breakdown of what’s coming to town and shutting down.
Lona
What’s new on Water Street? Lona, a Mexican restaurant, opens on the ground floor of the Tampa Marriott Water Street next Tuesday, July 18 . The restaurant serves faves like ahi tuna tostadas, street corn, queso fundido, and has a fully stocked bar. Fun fact: The spot also has a Ft. Lauderdale location.
Cala Italian Kitchen
The Warehouse Arts District boasts a new dining experience. Cala Italian Kitchen just started serving customers in St. Petersburg Distillery’s (800 31st St. S.) new shipping container setup, according to I Love the Burg. The menu features Sicilian cuisine with modern touches like fra diavolo, prosciutto pizza, and calamari.
The massive new Red Mesa Mercado location will have 250 seats.
Rendering via Place Architecture
Red Mesa Mercado
Calling all Red Mesa fans. The brand is opening a new Red Mesa Mercado in Pasadena in 2024 in the old Two Graces location (6001 Central Ave.) — complete with a full bar. The new eatery will feature the signature Cali-Mex cuisine, with faves like filet mignon tacos and birria platters. The brand also hopes to add additional locations throughout the county.
Caddy’s
Caddy’s Gulfport has closed its doors. The beach bum bar and grill is now listed as permanently closed on Google.
Parasol
The Vinoy Golf Club & Resort unveiled its luxe new porch, lobby, and ballroom under its new Autograph Collection flag earlier this spring. Now, the hotel just opened a new Latin restaurant, Parasol, according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal. The spot sits beside the rooftop pool + serves refreshing dishes like grouper ceviche, watermelon jicama ensalada, and crafted drinks like passionfruit margaritas.
Vela
And finally, local fave Cru Cellars plans to close its Armature Works location + revamp its Westshore Marina District spot. The site will transform into an Italian Mediterranean tavern named Vela Tampa. The brand hopes to open the South Tampa spot later this summer. Follow Vela on Instagram for updates.