Tampa Waterfront Restaurant Named One Of The Best In America

We are so lucky to have our pick of so many great places to eat in our area.   A Tampa waterfront restaurant named one of the best in America.  That's a pretty big deal when you think about it.   The New York Times just put out its list of the 50 restaurants and one of our favorite places in Tampa made the list.

Among the favorites this year are upscale Thai restaurant Prik Hom in San Francisco, Chicago’s comfort food destination Thattu, and Portland’s Mexican restaurant  Lilia Comedor.

Tampa’s own Salt Shack On The Bay was one of three restaurants named in Florida. The other two restaurants in Florida were Maty's in Miami and Smoke and Dough in Miami.  The only Tampa restaurant named was Salt Shack.

Salt Shack is located at 5415 W Tyson Ave, which is near the Gandy Bridge in South Tampa.  The restaurant is located right on the water so the view is amazing.  There are no walls, so no view is obstructed.  Salt Shack hasn't been around for that long, it opened in May of 2019.   If you love seafood then you need to dine at this high rated place.  Everything from shrimp, crab, the fresh catch to chicken and steak and yummy salads.  Plus a full bar with all your favorite drinks.  Live music and a dock for your boat make this a favorite in the Tampa area.

The land that Salt Shack sits on has an interesting back story.  It is called Rattlesnake Point.

During the early 20th century, the Interbay peninsula was full of rattlesnakes, so the land became known as Rattlesnake, Florida.  In 1937, a man named George End made an industry selling the rattlesnake meat. He moved to an abandoned gas station just south of Gandy Boulevard and opened a canning plant for rattlesnake meat, coining the catchy appetizer name “SnakeSnaks.”  He later added a novelty shop and bar.  It was used by lots of soldiers from MacDill Army Air Base.   George passed in 1944, ironically by a rattlesnake bite.

Follow Salt Shack on the Bay on Facebook and Instagram to learn more about the restaurant.

Are you having a hard time keeping up with all of the new bars and restaurants opening in Tampa? So were we! We kept hearing about all of the things coming to Tampa in 2023 but was hard to keep track of each grand opening. We've rounded up the 7 most anticipated restaurants that opened in Tampa in 2023. From fancy dining to grab-and-go options, there are so many new things to try in Tampa Bay. We can't wait to see what else opens up this year.

Because each of these places are new to the area, it's very likely that they'll be slammed when you go to visit. That's why we always recommend making a reservation. If you've been to one or all of these places already, you're ahead of the game! Let us know your favorite or what you're most excited to try on social media!

There's still so many things in the works for Tampa. We're still excited for Predalina's grand opening this summer along with a new karaoke bar in Tampa. Hopefully the new Yard House will be finished before the next hockey season. We've been dying for a replacement for the old Ferg's and we think Yard House will be the perfect place to pregame before any Lightning game. We got our inspiration for this list from Creative Loafing. They have a list of 20 new restaurants that opened in Tampa this year, we just added a few of our own favorites. Check out their list here.

The most obvious addition to Tampa is Boulon Brasserie. This new high-dining French concept restaurant is the new go-to date night spot. It's the perfect place to celebrate an anniversary or huge milestone.

2D themed restaurants seem to be popping up all over Tampa Bay. The newest addition is Doodle Noodle in Westchase. This place is the perfect spot for that instagrammable backdrop for any photo. The menu has everything from spicy ramen, pho, spring rolls, poke bowls and even fresh fruit lemonades!

Melting Pot Social, or MeltSO is one of the newest additions to Downtown Tampa. This location opened up in the heart of the Tampa Riverwalk. Think exactly like the Melting Pot concept, but more laid back. Their menu will consist of customizable cheese and chocolate fondue, flatbreads, and even burgers. They’ll have weekday brunch starting Tuesday, May 23, and weekend brunch starting Saturday, May 27.

Cane & Barrel is the newest rooftop bar that opened across the bridge in St. Pete. This Cuban-inspired cocktail and tapas menu will keep having you come back for more! They also just started a new boozy brunch available every Saturday and Sunday!

The newest healthy option in Tampa! Make your own bowls or try one of their specialty creations! They also have smoothies and acai bowls.

This new concept is something Tampa hasn't seen before. This 1920's and New Orleans themed restaurant lives inside the Floridan Palace Hotel. They will soon be offering brunch on Saturday's and Sunday's.

Little Tina is a new coffee shop that opened in Downtown Tampa. The vibe here looks like the perfect place to relax with a cup of Joe. They also recently launched a breakfast/lunch menu!