If you’re like me, you miss breaking bread with your family and friends right now. I was always a homebody but still enjoyed my freedom and always looked forward to meeting up with friends and family for a great meal, at one of our favorite local restaurants.

Of course I’m sensible and want everything to open back up when it is safe to do so. But it doesn’t stop me from missing out on one of the few things I enjoyed doing outside of my house.

So I went through myphones camera roll and found several pictures that put a smile on my face! I thought it would be a great idea to share them with all of you and tell you about my favorite meal or uniqueness of my dining experience that I shared with my special friends and well loved family!

My all time favorite salad, hands down, is the 1905 salad at the Columbia! I can’t even tell you how much I miss this salad! Seriously who misses a salad?! It’s made tableside and served with warm the locally-made Cuban bread and soft butter! My 14-year old loves their bacon wrapped shrimp!!! The ambiance is second to none! You feel as if you’re dining in a prominent restaurant on a busy calle in Barcelona. The Columbia Restaurant has been locally owned by the well known Gozmart family for decades and is a quintessential Tampa dining experience that you should not miss out on.

My monthly girls-night-out buddy, Star, had asked me to try Circles Waterfront Dining in Apollo Beach for several months. We finally ate there, in the beginning of the year, and I loved the ambience. The outside dining patio highlighted the phenomenal sunset view over the water! I highly recommend this restaurant solely for that view!!!

I love my local Mexican restaurant, Sabor a Mexico, in Brandon, for their tacos! I have no problem going there on my own for lunch when I have a day off and everybody else is at school or work but I more so enjoy it when I get some girlfriends together. What I love most is the $9.99 all-you-can-eat night (every Wednesday), this special includes tacos, quesadillas, flautas, to name a few!

My middle son and I enjoy going to Pizza Rock, in Brandon, for special lunch dates, just the two of us. His favorite is the garlic cheesy bread, we both share a pepperoni pizza (with leftovers for lunch the next day) and Mom’s favorite is the Marty salad. You cannot go to Pizza Rock and NOT get the Marty salad…. it is phenomenal!

A few years ago I discovered the very popular Sunday Morning Thai Food Fair @ Wat Mongkolratanaram in Palm River. Seeing is truly believing in this case! Who would think that a beautiful Buddhist temple in the middle of a well known neighborhood in Tampa would provide such a culinary hidden treasure? You can get at various Thai curries, elaborately decorated gelatin desserts, popular noodle bowls and even well curated orchid plants!

I’ve made it known several times, I’m not a chain restaurant fan, but Tijuana Flats was started in Florida so I’m going to count this as a locally owned restaurant. Last baseball season, they supported the Tampa Bay Rays by giving all fans a free taco lunch (as seen here being eaten by my friends and I) so it’s definitely a win-win. Support your local MLB team and a local restaurant chain at the same time.

I miss congregating at any coffee shop or tea house with my boys! They’re always great company and happy to jump up and go with me when the mood strikes, even if it’s 8 on a Tuesday night!!

One of my husband’s favorites is barbecue … Any BBQ. I think what he most enjoys is a simple and satisfying smoked turkey or pulled pork sandwich, between two pieces of thick garlic toast, and a heaping side of beans!

Bahama Buck’s opened near us, in Brandon, a little less than two years ago and has been our family’s favorite spot to grab an ice cold, refreshing, sweet treat! they have excellent customer service and the kids behind the counter are happy to let you sample the enormous variety of flavors they offer. They provide several board and card games to enjoy while you nibble on your sweet treat and make family memories! I am a cherry fan with vanilla ice cream on the bottom and sweetened condensed milk on top! To order it you’ll want to let the counter person know you want a Bahama Mama Rama!

If you love Berns Steakhouse and their amazing dessert room, you must try their affordable and trendy dessert ice cream shop, the Little Midway. It’s easy to find across the street (Howard Ave) from their flagship restaurant. This quaint dessert shop carries Burn’s famous macadamia nut ice cream and their banana cheese pie. It’s an extremely affordable version of Bern’s dessert room and a must-see when in Tampa!

No matter where I eat, as long as it brings me joy whether I’m there with my family or friends or whether I’m watching another table full of happy diners celebrating laughter and life with good food, community and love, I’m happy!

Don’t forget to call your local favorite restaurant to see if they offer curbside pick-up or delivery, so you can still support their business right now! It’s very important, at a time like this, that we support our community!

Bon Appetit

Rachel