Tampa is a haven for new restaurants and world-class eateries. Every day we see new restaurants popping up around the city for foodies like me to try! For the newest list of restaurants opening in December and a description of what they serve, keep reading! 

Ciccio Cali on South Dale Mabry

Image courtesy of Author. 

The Ciccio Restaurant Group is doing it again! Opening on December 12 is a brand new Ciccio Cali where Pei Wei used to be on South Dale Mabry. CRG aficionados will be happy to hear that they're serving a California-style breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week.

For breakfast, you can stop by this new grab-and-go style restaurant for a slice of breakfast pizza, avocado toast, or a bowl from the build-your-own-breakfast bowl station. Lunch and dinner options make for a mid-day meal to remember with personalized Cali bowls, pressed wraps, pizzas and small snacks called "munchies."

I was excited to see that they added a Gigante chicken bowl to the menu because there’s nothing better than crispy bites of avocado-glazed buffalo chicken!

If you’re looking for a fast-casual dinner, then stop by Ciccio Cali’s happy hour for $2 drip coffee, $4 pressure brew, $3 beers, $4 draft wines, $3 mimosas, and $4 sangrias. Add some relaxation to your afternoon by adding CBD extracts to any drink for just $3 extra. For more CRG magic, head to South Dale Mabry anytime after 9 a.m. on December 12!

Thee Tree House

A new Platt Street restaurant has opened its doors to the public: Thee Tree House! With a fun theme of “treehouse living” and a kitchen that makes everything (but the mayonnaise) from scratch, it’s bound to be a new South Tampa favorite!

Thee Tree House serves something for every picky eater in your friend group with vegetarian options, charcuterie boards, hearty sandwiches, and fine dining entrees for the most bougie of friends! The coolest part about this new hangout spot is the swing-style bar stools and CBD extracts you can add to any drink or cocktail of your choice. Stop by to feel like a kid in your backyard treehouse again!

Soul Food Street Kitchen @ Armature Works

Image courtesy of @ThisBabeEats

Welcome Soul Food to Armature Works as they bring the taste of New Orleans to our backyard! With a small menu of five soulful sandwiches, they have mastered the taste of all-dressed food. Their five sandwiches include the chicken and cornbread waffle-style handheld, the Big Porker, Cletus’s Catfish Sandwich, the Dirty Bird, and the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich. A Southern soul food favorite is their shrimp and sausage gumbo! If you’re looking for comfort food, Soul Food Street Kitchen is a must-try!

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The Hall on Franklin has switched up a lot since we last checked in! The Melt Shoppe has become Fork and Hen, KOFE has become Xilo and Sorellina replaced Heights Fish Camp. However, The Hall on Franklin is only getting better!

Xilo Street Mexican

 

Image courtesy of Xilo

Tampa’s second Mexican street food spot has recently opened inside The Hall on Franklin! All of your favorite Mexican foods made the menu: nachos, elotes, tacos, enchiladas, queso, and guacamole! If you’re up and about early enough, check out their breakfast menu that includes authentic favorites from all over Mexico.

Fork and Hen

Fork and Hen offers Southern comfort food with a twist! They have sandwiches, appetizers, and salads for a quick and easy lunch break meal on the beginning and end portion of their menu.

But it doesn’t stop there! With an array of soul food entrees like Carolina Popcorn Shrimp and Grits, buttermilk-fried chicken wings, and a 48-hour pastrami short rib, they’re bound to attract visitors from the North who are looking to try something new.

If you’re going with a big group, grab a family-style meal like their whole fried chicken and steak platter, each of these feeds up to four people!

Sorellina Handcrafted Italian

Image courtesy of @sorellinaitalian

Sorellina serves up Italian food with flare! Authentic antipasti includes garlic bread, meatballs, and heirloom bruschetta for those wanting for a quick taste of Italy. Looking to fill up on Italian fare? Try their vegetarian pasta, homemade ravioli al Formaggio, or pappardelle bolognese! One thing I look forward to trying is their rucola pizza that’s topped with burrata, heirloom tomato, arugula, shaved Parmigiano, and evoo.

We have more to look forward to than Christmas with these new restaurants coming to Tampa in December. Go on a gastronomic adventure by trying them out and let us know what you think about them in the comments sections below!

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