To each his own. Last time I was there it bordered on inedible. It was a large party, so I am willing to cut them some slack there. I still think its best left to the tourists.

Flamenco show = cheese/more tourist junk. :)

I'll never understand why people recommend the Columbia. Its a tourist joint. I don't even think it rises to the level of mediocre, but to each his own. They do make a good Cuban. Get it and get out.

Ceviche is just ok too.

how far north are you going?

That is awesome. I've always been a little afraid of that place. Good info!

Confused by this too.

I love Lightsey's! Frogs legs and those little catfish... sign me up!

I like the place. I'm never blown away, but the food is solid. I like the vibe and its good with the kid. Good beer selection, which is 90% of what matters to me these days.

Todd - going to agree with that entire post.

I.C. Sharks, on the St. Pete side of the Gandy Bridge sells them all day long.

Good news. That is walkable for me... which comes in handy when I want to drink too much. Especially if they have a good beer selection (which is a large part of how I pick my restaurants these days).

I think that a cuban place that was/is across the road on Armenia is opening in the old NOHO spot.

Its tough to find fresh heads on. I know I.C. Sharks usually has pinks, heads on, but they are frozen. They are very good, and I would probably recommend going this route.
I have been down to the shrimp docks and they sell them frozen there. Only time I have been able to get them fresh is trading beer for shrimp with the shrimpers about 30 miles off shore. Rough bunch.

There used to be a guy down in Boca Grande that you could buy them from, but only on certain days.

I have been, and I like it, despite its limited menu. Everything I have had was good, including the latte's

I overheard a customer at Buddy Brew the other day saying how bad the coffee at Sophies was. I did not share that opinion, and was surprised to hear that.

Chalk it up to different strokes???

I thought Oceanic carried them.

my comments are meant to be more generalized. Apply to tacos, sushi, cheese steaks... doesn't matter. I don't believe anything is "authentic." I think it is a made up term or concept that can never be proven. One guys authentic is another guys not authentic. Perhaps I'm just not making sense, or simply, no one agrees. Sorry for beating a dead horse.

What about Cubans who come here and make a sandwich, that they have beem making for 50 years, just like their mother's sandwich, but it is different than your concept of a Cuban sandwich... which one is MORE authentic.

Historians are now the purveyors of Authenticity? I bet they would be unable to give you a specific recipe that was the mother of all recipes. Everything went through some sort of evolution.

My point is, the term authenticity is an intangible. Each interpretation is no more or less authentic than the next.

I think it becomes impossible to define authentic, or to define something AS authentic. What makes one person's interpretation less authentic than another's? Who knows what was done when and by whom in the past? My 2 cents... thereby allowing interpretation to be authentic.

We always just called them Florida onions. They are great. use the tops just like you would green onion and the bottoms, raw is best (salads sandwiches, etc...), but you can cook them too.

Outrageous prices? Mediocre food? Welcome to Boca Grande. Temp has outrageous prices, but I love that food.

I've always felt the food at the Columbia was "so, so," at best. But recently (last couple of years) they re-formulated their cuban, and it is now damn good. I'm not going to guess at who's is the best, but the Columbia's are now up there.

Castellano's are hit and miss, for me. I've had some that wowed me then other times I was unimpressed. I don't know why.

Brocato's is always good too.

Used to be a place on Gandy, near Bayshore, that had what I considered the best, but its been closed for a while now. Too bad.

Wrights is definitely good, but the price of the thing is outrageous, compared to everyone else in town. Maybe that's what you have to pay for quality ingredients.

I always loved the old Silver Ring in Ybor. I loved that the old guy would get pissed if you asked for it pressed. They had no press, just a toaster or small oven. I think he claimed that the press was a new fangled invention, and the original way to do it was to toast it

Todd, you are slipping. :)

PR does make good croissants. Amelie's is a nice addition to Hyde park, but their selection is very limited at this time. Huge space, tiny "menu."

Head up to Ella's for their "soul food sundays." looks like tons of fun and good food. Maybe not as close to downtown as you were looking for, but worth the extra couple minutes of driving.

I have no answer to your question, but thanks for the article. I have driven by that truck 100 times, and have always been curious.

That is common in commercial leases. I have been trying to make it to the Pour house, but just haven't been able to get in there. I will make it a priority.

In specific order:
1. The refinery - just love it... even the coke machine.
2. Datz - love the beer selection, food is good and interesting (not perfect), and I can walk home.
3 Paci's - still my favorite for pizza in town. I need to try wood fired but as mentioned BFE.
4. Cigar City Brewing - Beer is food, isn't it?
5. Bern's - hard to go wrong. Especially a drink an dinner in the bar.

Todd - what's up with the wood fired? is he opening another?

Tom: Make a reservation. Never had to wait.

A friend just told me about a place called Pubbelly. I have never been, but I'm dying to go.
http://pubbelly.com/

Redfish62 - Are you a native or did you move here in 1968? BIG difference.

See EdC's post. There are several exceptional breweries in FL now. St. Somewhere is another (located in Tarpon Springs). They concentrate mainly on Belgian style beers and, if I'm not mistaken, mainly farmhouse and saisons.

I agree Hyde Park's management is a disaster. Shame. It could be and used to be really great. They are shooting themselves in the foot.

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Hyde Park Cafe
1806 W Platt St, Tampa, FL 33606

Oh no. BT was so good. Too bad she couldn't work it out w/ the landlord.

Without boring everyone to death.. typically the Bankruptcy (chapt. 11) process gives you options for working with leases. Too bad they couldn't get it done.

Where is it?