Category: Tampa Bay

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!

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!

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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

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!