Travel Reference
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peppercorn honey, or smoked shimeji and oyster mushrooms with tart green tomato and
Point Reyes blue cheese.
There's a wallet-friendly three-tier wine list with bottles at $25, $45 and $65.
Refinery
MODERN AMERICAN
(
813-237-2000;
www.thetamparefinery.com
; 5137 N Florida Ave; mains $9-24;
5-10pm Sun-Thu,
to 11pm Fri & Sat, brunch 11am-2:30pm Sun; )
This blue-collar gourmet joint promises chipped plates and no pretensions, just playful, de-
licious hyperlocal cuisine that cleverly mixes a sustainability ethic with a punk attitude.
Owners Michelle and Greg Baker are among a tiny number of Florida restaurateurs who
are known outside the area, thanks no doubt to Greg's three James Beard nominations.
From 5pm to 7pm there are $5 chef plates.
Keep an eye out for the couple's next venture,
Fodder & Shine
, offering old Cracker
cuisine influenced by the state's African American, Native American and Spanish roots.
Ella's Americana Folk Art Cafe
AMERICAN
5-11pm Tue-Thu, to midnight Fri & Sat, 11am-8pm Sun)
After one too many Boozy Suzys the visionary outsider art on Ella's walls starts to make a
lot of sense. But it's not just the eccentric art and cocktails that keep locals loyal, it's the
cozy vibe, the heartwarming soul food and the weekly roster of events from live music to
doughnut and beer tasting evenings.
South Tampa
Wright's Gourmet House
SANDWICHES
7am-6pm Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm Sat)
From the outside this place looks like it could be a paint store. The inside isn't much better;
green vinyl tablecloths and bare white walls. But the red velvet cake, pecan pie and mon-
ster sandwiches (try the beef martini with roast beef, wine-marinated mushrooms and ba-
con), well, these explain what all the fuss is about.
