One of my goals for my Tampa Bay Project is to visit 10 non-chain restaurants in the Tampa Bay area. I mentioned this in the original post, but for someone who has grown up in the area, I am embarrassingly unfamiliar with Tampa’s points of interest. And when it comes to restaurants, I tend to stick to my old favorites (which are usually chains). So, this is a way for me to step a bit outside my comfort zone, try some Tampa area staples, and maybe find a new favorite restaurant.
One such restaurant I visited was Dachshund’s Bar & Grill. My mom had mentioned this restaurant in passing a while back, and I thought it would be fun to go there but pushed it to the back of my mind. Then, as I was trying to find something fun to do this weekend, I saw Dachshund’s was running a Groupon – $12 for $20 worth of food! I was sold.
So we went and it was fabulous. Dachshund’s Bar & Grill is nestled in an unassuming shopping center in the Town n Country area of Tampa. It’s a brand-spankin’-new restaurant that just opened in August. There is a good amount of outdoor seating, which is nice for those who bring their pets. On the inside, dachshund prints line the walls and I could maybe live here. Yes. They are also incredibly dog-friendly, which makes sense with their namesake, but it was nice that Dutch wasn’t an annoyance, but that they loved him being there.
When my mom and I went on Saturday afternoon, we were told we could bring Dutch inside. So we did, but I could tell Dutch is a little too neurotic for that. He wanted to explore! Annnnd then he almost peed on a wall, so I hustled him outside to do his business. After that, we decided to sit outside. Luckily, it was a nice day (low 70s – don’t hate!)
My mom and I both ordered the same thing: the Chicago Shepard, a 1/4 pound Black Angus hot dog served on a poppyseed bun and topped with raw onions, relish, mustard, tomato slices, peppers, and a dash of celery salt. It was delicious! I am not a big fan of hot dogs (well, the animal version, yes. The food version, not so much.), but this place has sold me. I am already thinking about the next time I can go back!
Dutch was also a fan. He ate his fair share of french fries (even stole one off my plate!) and a tiny bite of the wiener. We’ll definitely be back!
Of course, Dachshund’s Bar & Grill isn’t the only Tampa Bay area restaurant I’ve visited since making my list. I’ve visited three other restaurants:
- Harvey’s 4th Street Grill – A restaurant located in St. Pete, not too far from me. I went here with my mom a few months ago. It’s small, dark, and folksy. I went simple and ordered a burger and fries. They were good. Not life-changing, but good. I think breakfast would have been a better choice. Live and learn, right?
- Datz – This is a Tampa staple, or so I am told. I went for Ladies’ Happy Hour with work friends, and I really, really want to go back! I ordered a sandwich, the Hansel & Gretel, which was ham, swiss cheese, and beer cheese fondue on a pretzel bun. It was good, but I’m not a huge fan of ham and, at the risk of tomatoes being thrown at me, too much cheese on my sandwich. (I would opt for no cheese, in most cases.) But, for those who like ham & cheese? You’d love it.
- Nicki’s Omelette & Grill – I went here with some work friends last week. It’s a cute little diner in Tampa, and I was told they make the best breakfast anywhere. I ordered French toast, which was made on their homemade bread, and I will say it was very, very good. I want to try an omelet next time! I’m not very picky with breakfast, so I don’t know if it’s the best I’ve ever had (I’d venture to say I would rather go for Ciccio’s brunch, if I had to make a decision), but it was very good and I want to go back soon!
If I came to visit your city, what is a must-visit restaurant you would recommend and why?
That Dachshunds place sounds so cute! I am glad you guys were happy with your food.
Minneapolis has a really strong food culture so there are so many places to choose from. Phil and I are both anti-chain so we have never actually gone out to dinner at a chain restaurant, besides Chipotle. But that’s easy for us to do as there are not really many chain restaurants around us since we live in an urban area. My favorite place in Minneapolis is Brasa which is sort of a BBQ place but not like what I had in the south. I also love this place called Victor’s which is a Cuban place. But the list could go on and on!
Love the name of the place and that you can take your dog! How fun.
The most visited restaurant? Let’s see… it would probably be Blueberry Hill which is a lot of fun. It’s where Chuck Berry plays to this day, they have all sorts of kitschy stuff on the walls, tons of collections to display and etc. Good food, too ranging from salads, soups, sandwiches to pastas, burgers, wraps. I would also say that we would have to go to Hodak’s if you like fried chicken or chicken tenders. There’s just something about that place. It’s one of our most favorites, ever. I haven’t been in a long time and need to go back!
I love businesses that are pet friendly!
Winnipeg has a healthy food culture, which I just began to explore in earnest a few years ago. Now I can’t bring myself to visit a chain restaurant because there are too many locally owned gems to choose from. My neighbourhood is a bit of a hipster paradise as well (haha) so there are tons of delicious, inexpensive options practically on my doorstep. I love it!
Oooh, I want to go there! I love that they let you bring your animals and hot dogs are one of my favorite foods! Yum!
I love this! I love that you got a hot dog at the dog restaurant, teehee 🙂
My town is very small (8,000 people) so we don’t have much in the way of fine dining. We do have an adorable little diner called Sarah’s on Main that uses lots of local foods and awesome specials, so I would take you there. I just got a super awesome Brussels sprouts hash + butternut squash hash there over the weekend. So good!
what a fun bar & sign, too perfect for you!
That place sounds absolutely amazing! Hot dogs are my weakness and I can’t not have one if I see a stand or something like that.
I haven’t been out for a meal here in a while, but the best place for breakfast is Scott’s Inn. It’s just a little diner affiliated with a motel, but they make the best greasy breakfast in town, IMHO 😉
That place seems really fun! It’s great that you can take pets there as well.
I grew up in a small town with no chains and then moved to San Francisco, where there aren’t really a lot of chains, so I actually go to eat in non-chains most of the time. If you came here, we would have a plethora of choices! My favorites are generally brunch places OR ethnic foods, such as Korean BBQ, Pho, or yummy (and cheap) burritos.
That is a super cool restaurant idea! Love it! There are so many places I would take someone visiting me but the top two would be Ploughmans, an awesome and quirky little lunch spot which also happens to be right across from my office, and The Noble Pig, an amazing craft brewery with great food and beer.
I have been trying to do this more in Jacksonville. I’m swearing off chains and trying out some of the local guys. We have A TON of great restaurants in town. And I’ve already been impressed with a lot of them. My favorite as of late is Maple Street Biscuit Company which is a great stop for breakfast or lunch. The first time I went I had The Loaded Goat – a flaky biscuit with fried chicken and a slab of goat cheese. When I went this week, I got the Blues Biscuit since it was more lunchtime – a biscuit with pulled pork, slaw, and BBQ sauce. It was REALLY good. And the Hash-Ups (hashbrowns) make a great side.
PS That hot dog looks DELICIOUS. I don’t think I ate enough lunch today. I’m making myself hungry.
If you ever came to Mainz, Germany (and travelling Europe is on your to-do-list, right? ;-)), I’d tell you to go to Hafeneck. It’s a very laid-back pub famous for their fried potatoes. They have many more tempting dishes on their changing menu, but I never had anything but fried potatoes there. They are just that good!
Mainz also has many wine taverns to try the local wines and good home-style German food.
Another beauty is Heiliggeist. The building used to be a hospital during the Middle Ages and you dine in a large room underneath a vaulted ceiling.