Mr. & Mrs. Crab

Mr. & Mrs. Crab is a restaurant we have driven past countless times in Brandon, Florida. Each time we considered stopping in to check it out, there was either a long wait or a line that stretched out of the front door and onto the sidewalk – so we assumed the place had to be good. Our expectations were exceeded by the menu and by the friendly and welcoming staff from the moment we walked in the doors.

According to their website, Mr. & Mrs. Crab is a relatively new restaurant. It was founded in 2017 and has already expanded to fourteen locations – yes, they were even able to expand throughout the COVID pandemic! The restaurant is decorated in amusing and creative décor, such as wooden pirates, sharks, and fish suspended from the ceiling. And, of course, a giant red crab serves as the centerpiece.

Mr. & Mrs. Crab’s menu is best described as Cajun food with an Asian twist. The founders were inspired by food they encountered while In New Orleans and wanted to bring it back to their home state of Florida but adding their own flair. The result is a menu full of all you would expect from a Cajun restaurant, but with the delicious addition of blended Szechuan spices.

We were welcomed by the host immediately when we entered the door who promptly showed us to our table. Our server was eager to explain any questions we had about the menu. She kept our drinks filled and checked on us regularly. The manager stopped by our table to check on our experience, then spoke with us for a while about the restaurant. Everyone was very friendly and easy-going. They seemed to genuinely enjoy being there.

We ordered a coconut shrimp appetizer, a “Get Your Hands Dirty” shrimp combo, and a “Something Fried” combo with shrimp, scallops, and clam strips. The “Get Your Hands Dirty” combos are their unique take on traditional Cajun seafood boils (the order is delivered to the table in a large, clear plastic bag). It was probably funny to see the look on our faces as our server also brought out plastic gloves to de-shell the shrimp, a giant bucket for the shells, a giant bib to protect our shirts, and hand wipes for the cleanup. The boiled shrimp tasted amazing! The fried food was delicious as well. We were a little hesitant to try the coconut shrimp, because coconut flavors are not our favorite – and shrimp with coconut is easy to mess up – but we really enjoyed their take on the mixture of flavors and seasonings.

If you are thinking to yourself, “I would love this food, but so-and-so is not quite as adventurous,” then you are in luck! Mr. & Mrs. Crab also offers more traditional menu items. Chicken wings, onion rings, cheese sticks, salad, chicken tenders, and fries are all available for those who would like to enjoy the fun environment but may not be that big on Cajun food.

Mr. & Mrs. Crab is busy for a reason. We really enjoyed our experience and will be returning. We recommend this restaurant to everyone, but especially those who may be bored with eating at the same places that offer generic food choices. It is a fun place you can go with your friends, children, or significant other, and have fun conversations in a relaxed environment (oh, there’s also fun music playing in the background) as you enjoy something new. Now that COVID restrictions have been relaxed in Florida, this may be a good time for you to plan your first visit to Mr. & Mrs. Crab!

Salon 705

I know it’s still quarantine out there, so a trip to the salon is kind of like … what’s the point? The only people who can see me are my family and maybe the odd work colleague via Zoom or WebEx. Well, there are few things that can make you feel better than a color refresh and a trim, so I made an appoint at Salon 705 in Brandon yesterday (Facebook: @salon705, Instagram: @salon705brandon).

I’ve been going to Salon 705 for the last year, ever since I moved to Tampa (my stylist is Seta and she’s fantastic – you can see her work and follow her on Instagram: @hair_by_seta). Yesterday, I got a half a head of highlights, a deep conditioning treatment, and a trim, and my hair looks and feels amazing.

They are taking plenty of COVID-19-related precautions – you can’t just walk in and sit in the waiting area; someone will come and let you in the door to ensure there’s enough space for social distancing for everyone inside. Once you’re in, you’ll be asked to wash your hands. All of the stylists are wearing masks, and you must do so as well throughout your service. I was leery of this at first – I assumed when it got to the blowout phase it might be difficult to breathe, but I was totally fine. There is also hand sanitizer throughout, and of course, all of the tools are already clean thanks to OSHA cosmetology rules.

The salon does take walk-ins, but it’s better to call and make an appointment, since they may not be able to get you in right away depending on how busy they are if you just walk in off the street. 

Salons in general are struggling for business right now – it’s a luxury, and people still don’t feel safe enough to spend that much time in such close proximity to someone. But with the proper precautions, you can enjoy this service and help out a local business in the process.

Salon 705: 125 W. Bloomingdale Ave. Brandon, FL 33511 813.993.9705

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Asiatic Street Food & Noodle Bar

Asiatic Street Food & Noodle Bar describes themself as a restaurant offering casual cuisine inspired by the streets of Southeast Asia. Before COVID-19 hit, we would frequent Asiatic at least once or twice a month on our Tuesday/Thursday date nights. Ybor City tends to be pretty slow during the week and we love to wander the streets and stop in to our favorite places. When everything closed, our routine got shaken up a bit. Last night, we were able to, once again, enjoy dinner at Asiatic. We were not disappointed.

We ordered the Firecracker Shrimp as an appetizer. The shrimp is fried, crispy, and tossed in their special Thai spicy mayo. It was delicious (while writing this, I asked Kacie about it and all she said was “Yeah… that was REALLY good.”). Kacie ordered Phad Basil for her main dish and I stuck with one of my favorite Thai dishes, Green Curry Chicken – extra spicy.

  • Phad Basil
  • Green Curry – Chicken

Asiatic’s menu describes the Phad Basil as “Fragrant fresh basil leaves, green bell pepper, long bean, and ground chicken, stir-fried with our signature Asiatic sauce. Topped with a ‘sunny side up’ egg.” Kacie loved the Phad Basil. My green curry chicken was amazing. I’ve ordered this dish at other places in the area that make the curry too watery or bland. Asiatic has figured out how to cook it perfectly. We’ve tried many of their other menu items as well, and have never been unhappy with our order.

Asiatic is located in Centro Ybor plaza, directly across the street from Tampa Bay Brewing Company’s outdoor seating/bar. Here is a map of Ybor City, if you need to get your bearings. We always park in the HCC Visitor parking garage at the corner of Nuccio Parkway and East 8th Ave. The walk down East 8th toward Centro Ybor offers fun interactions with the notorious Ybor Chickens, as well as a view of the historic buildings of Ybor – and provides a little physical activity as well.

  • Asiatic
  • Across the Street
  • Sideview of Asiatic

We called ahead earlier in the day to check on availability – it’s a good practice to call before visiting any restaurant right now, due to social distancing guidelines limiting space. When I called, they reminded me that all of their tables are typically six-feet apart anyway – yet another reason we enjoy frequenting this place. It is a nice alternative to the overcrowding that many restaurants seem to practice.

Asiatic is a great place for a date night or to take the whole family. Literally, every time we walk past, Kacie says “Oh, man, I love that place.” Needless to say, we recommend you try Asiatic.

You may order online or access their menu HERE. They’ve also recently introduced a Family Style Menu.

1600 E. 8th Avenue, #D101, Centro Ybor (Tampa), FL 33605

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Visit Cuba at Jose Marti Park

If you are tired of being trapped in the house and looking for an outdoor activity, take a trip to Cuba! You can step foot on Cuban soil without ever leaving Tampa at Jose Marti Park in Ybor City. The park has been legally owned by the Republic of Cuba since 1956. A statue of Jose Marti, who was known as the “Cuban Liberator,” stands as the centerpiece of the park dedicated to his legacy. Marti was a Cuban revolutionary who instigated the movement that ultimately led to Cuban independence from the Spanish Empire in 1902.

Jose Marti Park offers a fun educational outing for children and adults alike. Take a photo or selfie on the bench with the mural of Cuba behind you.

The park itself is maintained by volunteers. The gate for the park is open from 8a-1:30p, so plan accordingly.

You can read about the fascinating life of Jose Marti HERE

Dinner at Jackson’s Bistro

Jackson’s Bistro is a locally owned restaurant located on Harbour Island (Tampa). It was the location of our first date in Tampa, and has been one of our favorite places to return to whenever we want to dress up a little and grab some sushi. Whether you are dressed for a night out or just casually strolling, you will not feel out of place at Jackson’s. The restaurant offers an upscale feel without the stuffiness of many upscale venues. The views of the city are inspiring, whether you are stopping by during the day or after the sun goes down. Any time the weather permits, we ask to sit on the balcony so we can take in the view as we’re eating. We were celebrating a birthday, so there seemed like no better place to take a break from social distancing and head down to the balcony at Jackson’s.

We were seated out on the balcony, but before long it started to storm. The staff asked if we wanted to move inside, but we thought we’d be okay under the shelter of the balcony. We were wrong – the rain started to blow in all over us and we quickly changed our minds. The staff were amazing. They immediately replaced our drinks, bread, and the appetizer we had already started eating. It is this kind of service that keeps us coming back. 

As usual, our servers were friendly and conversational, making the evening even more enjoyable. Over the course of our COVID-19 quarantine we had been ordering sushi from a few places and, thanks to a couple of painfully slow Door Dash experiences, we lost our desire for it. The sushi at Jackson’s is amazing, but we took a break from our usual order of sushi and decided to try some of their other offerings. For our appetizer we ordered the Deviled Eggs, which turned out to be amazing. Our main course was the Seafood Linguini Alfredo and the Jackson’s Salad with shrimp. We were not disappointed. You may download their menus HERE.

After dinner, the storm had cleared, so we took advantage of the abnormally empty streets (thank you coronavirus) and walked along the water for a while before returning home. We found this little guy swimming around by the dock.

Jackson’s is the perfect place for a celebration or just to have a nice evening out. We love this place and recommend that anyone give it a try! Their inside seating can be a nice break from the heat, but be sure to make your way out to the balcony for a romantic picture!

If you enjoy reading about local businesses and attractions in the Tampa Bay area, please consider following this blog and sharing it on social media for continued updates! Thanks!

Lunch at TBD@301

Today, we stopped into TBD@301 for a quick lunch. TBD@301 is a café specializing in Teas, Bowls, and Desserts. We ordered the Beef Kaldereta and Pork Humba bowls. Both were amazing! The meat was tender and flavorful without being overly seasoned. We chose to eat in the dining room, but it would also be the perfect place to pick up a meal to-go if you’re in a rush. We received our order within a few minutes of ordering.

TBD@301 has a cool vibe. It reminded us a bit of some of our favorite lunch places in New York City, but more friendly. They offer free WiFi, and it would be a great place for those seeking a quite, comfortable place to work or study. They are located in right off the Riverview exit on I-75, just a few minutes south of Brandon.

Their menu consists of some well-known favorites, such as Tacos, but also offers Filipino and Korean inspired flavors. Vegan and gluten-free options are available as well, which should put the health conscious among you at ease. They also serve Edamame, which is one of our favorite snacks. We didn’t try the desserts on this visit, but they looked delicious. Their menu may be accessed HERE.

The café is celebrating its second year anniversary this weekend! July 17-20 they are promoting a “20% OFF Everything” sale for all orders placed, if you use the code: LOYAL2TEA

Preventative measures are being observed due to COVID-19, and they offer free masks to customers. Additionally, they provide hand-sanitizer and they also have the floor marked clearly to comply with social-distancing recommendations.

Overall, we would recommend TBD@301 to anyone who is tired of grabbing lunch or dinner at the same fast food chain restaurants, and would rather support locally owned establishments. The food is amazing, they have a health-conscious menu, and it will not cost you any more than eating from a drive-thru value menu. They’ve created a relaxing environment, and even have Jenga games available for a fun meal with children. Take advantage of their sale this weekend and try TBD@301!

TBD@301 | 3840 US Hwy 301 S, Riverview, FL 33578 | 813-420-0013

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Cool Down at The Blind Tiger

The summer heat of Florida can be brutal. We were out photographing some of our favorite locations in Ybor City for an upcoming series we’re writing on the history behind some of the landmarks in Tampa. Since we like to avoid the national chains and shop local, we decided to stop into The Blind Tiger Cafe in Ybor City to escape the nearly 100-degree heat and enjoy a cold coffee. 

The Blind Tiger is a laid-back coffee house environment that is normally full of folks meeting, studying, working, reading, or those just wanting to take a break from the bustle of their day. The theme of the coffee house is inspired by the speakeasy establishments from the United States’ prohibition days. Blind Tiger is another name given to a “speakeasy,” whose name refers to the demand that patrons participating in the illegal activity of drinking alcohol were not to make too much noise and alert others to the illegal existence of the location. The coffee shop was started in Ybor City (Tampa) by local entrepreneur, Roberto Torres, and has grown to six locations around the Tampa Bay area. The Blind Tiger serves food as well as coffee. A menu for each of its locations can be accessed HERE.

Every time I have visited the Blind Tiger, I’ve found the employees to be very friendly. After speaking with the crew for a while, we continued our walk around Ybor City enjoying a Vanilla Latte and a Nitro Cold Brew. It was a nice cooldown from the humid sauna-like weather of Florida in July. They are taking precautionary measures, due to COVID-19, in order to ensure the safety of their guests. A mask must be worn to enter the establishment and social-distancing guidelines must be observed.

Next time you’re in the Tampa Bay area and looking for a place to meet, relax, or just grab a cup of coffee and go, we recommend you drive right past the green circle labeled chain store and support a local business: The Blind Tiger Café.

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Ice Cream at Snobachi

We recently visited Snobachi Handcrafted Ice Cream in Ybor City (Tampa, FL). Located one block East of the historic Columbia Restaurant, Snobachi is a locally owned business that offers a family-friendly, laid back environment with all the offerings you’d expect from an ice cream shop and more.

We enjoyed the Cookies & Cream Milkshake and an order of the liquid nitrogen infused Dragon Ballz. The milkshake was one of the best we’ve tasted, and the smoke pouring out of our mouths as we ate the Dragon Ballz added fun to their flavor.

The shop is taking some social distancing precautions, due to COVID-19, but it did not negatively impact our experience.

We’d recommend anyone stop into Snobachi when seeking a cold break from the Florida heat. Whether you enjoy classics, such as hand-scooped ice cream and a Root Beer float, or would like to have a slice of cheesecake and try some Dragon Ballz; this place will not disappoint. Children and adults alike are sure to get a blast out of experiencing the liquid-nitrogen infused offerings.

Support a locally-owned business next time you are in the Ybor area of Tampa and stop by Snobachi Handcrafted Ice Cream!

Snobachi is open Monday-Thursday 2p-9p, Fri/Sat 12p-10p, and Sunday 12p-9p.

Snobachi is located at 2206 E 7th ave. Tampa, Florida 33605

St. Pete Pier

The St. Pete Pier opened to the public on Monday, July 6, 2020. 

The St. Pete Pier provides fun for those seeking a casual stroll, children needing to release their energy, fisherman wanting to cast their line, or couples seeking a romantic evening. We visited the newly opened pier to see what it had to offer.

One convenient feature is the St. Pete Pier Tram for those wishing to explore the new pier, but would rather not walk the length on foot. The trams offered wheelchair accessible options as well.

The Pier Plaza features both the Spa Beach Bistro and the Stone Fired Pizza restaurants. A bar sits in front offering adult drinks. The Pier offers an educational experience for those who visit the Discovery Center and Wet Classroom, operated by the environmental organization Tampa Bay Watch.

Level 1 of the main structure featured a gear and gift shop, as well as a tackle store. Driftwood Café is located on level 2, and on level 4 is the Pier Teaki.

The Pier Teaki Bar & Restaurant is located at the top level of the structure at the end of the St. Pete Pier. This is where we decided to take a break and have a snack and some drinks. It has tables along the outside of the top balcony that allow for lovely views of the water, boats, surrounding parks, and downtown St. Pete. It also has couch seating areas throughout. There is a full bar and a menu of light –  even somewhat healthy – bar food (including a tuna bowl and a blackened grouper sandwich). The waitresses wear masks and the menus are scannable (you scan the QR code on the waitress’s device and view the menu on your own phone). The service was rather slow, but if you’re just there to relax it’s not a big deal. There were kids present when we were there at around 2pm, but the waitress said that after 8pm, it’s strictly 21 and over.

Adding to the amazing views of the skyline was being able to watch the planes take off and land at the Albert Whitted Airport near the pier.

Google says that the Pier is only open from 9am-5pm, but that’s not the actual hours of the bars and restaurants. Pier Teaki, for example, serves food until midnight and drinks until 2am.

COVID-19 Concerns: There were clean bathrooms everywhere with staff limiting the number of people allowed to enter at once. We also saw multiple hand sanitizer stations with foot pedals, so you don’t even have to touch them. Pier staff all wore facemasks.

Visiting Busch Gardens Tampa Bay During COVID-19

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has managed to provide an excellent experience that puts health and safety at the forefront when it comes to concerns over COVID-19. They’ve even managed to have some fun with the inconvenience of needing to wear face masks right now, by placing one on their lion sculpture at the main entrance. 

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is an amusement park located on the north side of the City of Tampa. It is known for its thrill rides and animal advocacy. It’s kind of like a zoo with rollercoasters. After hopping off your favorite ride, you can wander around the park observing and learning about giraffes, cheetahs, lions, tigers, elephants, penguins, and many other species.

My six-year-old was excited that he was finally tall enough to ride Cheetah Hunt for the first-time. He provided entertainment for all of our fellow passengers when the ride launched and he started screaming, “God, help me!!” – but that quickly melted into enthusiastic cries of, “This is the best ride ever!” It was hard to catch my breath on the ride from laughing so hard.

The final verdict: He loved it! If your child is not a roller-coaster enthusiast, though, there are plenty of rides that appeal to all ages.

Let’s address the first question that is probably on the mind of parents considering a visit with their family: Is it safe to visit Busch Gardens right now with COVID-19 being a concern?

COVID-19 Precautions: Busch Gardens is taking COVID-19 seriously! We were really impressed with the precautions that have been put in place. The park is limiting admission to those who have made a reservation for the specific attendance date. Newly purchased Busch Gardens tickets are now date-specific. Passholders and existing ticket holders will only be permitted admission by reservation. Hours vary by day, and the park is no longer open every day of the week. You can check the schedule HERE.

Your temperature will be taken before proceeding to the entrance and face masks are required once inside the park. If you don’t have a face mask, the park has them available for purchase. Designated “Mask Relaxation Zone” areas are marked for visitors to remove their masks to cool down and get some fresh air. Social distancing is also encouraged. Ride lines are clearly marked with six-foot markers. Hand sanitizer and hand washing stations are placed at regular intervals throughout the park, with additional locations placed when entering and leaving a ride. Additional information may be found on their Health and Safety page and their Health and Safety FAQ page.

We found most of the park’s COVID precautions made the visit even more enjoyable than the typical amusement park experience. Waiting in line with six feet between our party and the next was a welcome departure from the normal expectation of fellow visitors being crowded against each other in the heat. Everyone seemed to be respectful of each other and the enhanced rules.

We’ve decided to err on the side of caution regarding public spaces and COVID concerns, but Busch Gardens has done an excellent job of providing as safe an environment as possible. 

One drawback is that their playground areas and carnival games are closed. There are additionally none of the typical amusement park things available like face painting. In addition, indoor shows have been temporarily canceled. If you plan on attending, just be aware that you’re going to be limited to riding rides, looking at animals, eating, or shopping for souvenirs.

If you are able to take a day off and go during the week, we highly recommend it! Our most recent visit was on a Tuesday, and the longest line we waited in was around 45 minutes. Most of the lines were 20 minutes or less. However, with the reservation requirement, weekends aren’t overly crowded either. 

Overall, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay offers a fun and safe escape for those parents and children who are going stir-crazy from months of sheltering in place and social distancing.

Visit https://buschgardens.com/tampa/ to schedule your visit!