Hanks – Tampa, FL
When Chica 1 saw the Hanks sign
on Dale Mabry, she was surprised a restaurant was coming to this location in Carrollwood
advertising catfish. This area is better
known for Asian and Spanish fare. But
much to the 2 Chicas surprise, this place was cooking up some good old southern
foods!
The restaurant has basic décor,
pretty much wooden chairs and wooden tables. There is a little corn pone humor
everywhere, but 2 Chicas have to give them credit on having a steady crowd on
every visit. It is pretty obvious that visitors aren’t coming for the humor or
the décor. Except for Chica 2 who threatens to bring her fishing pole and go in
the kitchen and catch her own catfish. Just a little off as usual Chica 2.
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| Fried Catfish |
Let’s talk about their big dish
Fried catfish. Hank’s prepares this dish
perfectly. It is nicely seasoned and
fried to taste bud satisfaction! 2 Chicas have tried this dish time after time
and it is always consistently well prepared.
Chica 2 has a thing for beef
brisket, and Hank’s does not disappoint.
Occasionally, it is a little too dry for Chica 1’s taste, but Chica 2
poo pooed that concern and munched on! In the middle of the meal, Chica 1 was
totally embarrassed by Chica 2 yelling “Run Chica 1 Run” in her most country
voice.
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| BBQ Beef Brisket |
The burgers are sizeable and are
delicious! 2 Chicas have never tried the chowder or the Brunswick Stew, but maybe you'll let us know if it is good.. 2
Chicas strongly recommend you stop by Hank’s for some good old down home
cooking! Yahooo!
Love’s Artifacts Bar and Grill - Tampa, FL
The burger was
outstanding. It had a wonderful crust coated with blackened seasoning balanced
the flavor with the bite of the blue cheese. Chica 1 had sautéed vegetables instead of fries with the burger. Someone in your party has to try one of the
burgers! In a word Outstanding!
Chica 2’s Philly steak
was so good, she could barely sit still in her chair. She said the rib eye was
tender and seasoned to perfection! It was juicy and the onions were grilled
nicely. Of course all of this was shared with juicy bits of sandwich falling
from her mouth. Chica 2 was repeatedly offered a napkin. A few times Chica 1
and Lil’ Diva Chica had to deflect the flying food juices and crumbs. Could we
have the toddler chair please? Chica 2 did make one healthy adult choice as she
substituted a salad for the fries.
Urban Cantina - Tampa, FL
2 Chicas were on the move again, looking for some good Mexican food. Urban Cantiina is a small restaurant in Tampa's Soho district. When you enter the restaurant, you are greeted with upbeat Mexican music and a few tables and chairs. There are a handful of booths so pick your seat and sit down!
The waitress warmly greeted us and took our drink order. As we reviewed the menu, we discussed the different food items and thought we were in for an average Mexican ride. Chica 1 ordered a Mango Margarita, Chica 2 ordered a coke, and Lil' Diva Chica ordered a Fanta Orange. The sodas were served in the old fashioned type bottle; cold and delicious.
Maybe this wasn't going to be so average after all. Chica 1 ordered the Nachos as an appetizer and we sat having typical Chica chatter. The nachos arrived not long after, all warm and inviting. When Chica 2 took her first bite, she said with a mouth full of food, "tisss guod"!
I believe that translates into English - this is good! She would be right. The chicken on the nachos was seasoned and the white cheese was a little zesty. The guacamole piled high on top of the nachos had a very light and clean appeal. The beans were extremely fresh!
After such a wonderful beginning, 2 Chicas went all in ordering. Chica 1 had the Steak Fajita taco and Chica 2 had the Gringo taco. Both dishes were served with rice and refried beans, but these weren't your average rice and beans. The rice was nice and fluffy and the beans were seasoned and very fresh. Chica 2 commented that these were not your average canned beans.
The Steak Fajita was an interesting dish as the steak was served with fried onion rings. There was a special sauce drizzled over the top of the taco. Very tasty! Chica 2 had a chicken and a steak Gringo taco. The Gringo had shredded cheese, chopped tomato, and lettuce on top.
Chica 2 said they were both incredible and really liked that the soft shell held together for each and every bite. Lil' Diva Chica had her normal chicken tenders that were served with french fries. She gave the dish her seal of approval, but was so disappointed that they didn't have honey mustard. Oh well, everything else was perfect.
2 Chicas were so pleased with this wonderful find! A rousing uh, no toro, Aztec high five for Urban Cantina! A wonderful excursion into flavorful Mexican cooking.
Burger 21
Somehow the gourmet burger has become the new “thing”. Burger 21 offers so many different types that Chica 2 could not resist saying with her deepest southern drawl: “they have a Cheesy Burger, and BBQ Bacon Burger, and a Black & Blue Burger, and a Tuna Burger, and a Chicken Marsala Burger, and a Mediterranean Burger, and a Skinny Burger, and a Black Bean Burger….” Ok, Ok, Chica Bubba we get the picture! This place has quite a selection.
Back to the food,
everything is fresh and delicious! The restaurant offers gourmet sauces – Thai Ketchup,
Toasted Marshmallow, Chipotle Mayonnaise, etc. There are salads, chicken
fingers, and sliders on the menu as well as sundaes. Bring the little one s
along and let them try the items on the Kids Menu.
Love’s Artifacts Bar and Grill - Tampa, FL
Once you open the door,
you quickly understand the name Artifacts because this place is filled with
antiques. But then you are quickly seated by an older gentleman who looks like
he was a member of the mob. Chica 2 started puffing up her cheeks and talking
in a muffled voice. I think she said “I
hope your first child is a masculine child.”
The menu is very eclectic
with food ranging from Brie Quesadillas to Fried Chicken. As Chica 1 and Chica
2 and her kids snuggled into the booth, Chica 2 wanted to hop back up and go through
the restaurant and fondle the antiques. Luckily, she saw her reflection in an
old, warped mirror and became slightly disoriented. A little weird Chica
2. Sit down and look at the menu!
Chica 1 ordered the
Amelia Martini, which was strong enough to make Samson snap out of it and think
twice about that Delilah. So it was easily a one drink night!
Chica 1 ordered the
Southern MacDill fried chicken platter and Chica 2 had the Rib meal deal. Chica 1 said $12 worth of fried chicken
better be good! The meal comes with two sides so Chica1 selected the spinach
and potato salad. Both sides were pretty
darn average. Chica 2 had the greens,
which she said tasted like a sauté, rather than slow cooked, and mashed
potatoes.
The kids had the Chicken
Lips and a Pulled Pork Plate with macaroni and cheese and green beans. They both were pleased with their dinners.
The name alone, Chicken Lips, sold the youngest child, but it was really just chicken
strips and French fries.
There’s also live music
and Chica 2 had to be quieted a few times as she shouted out yee haw! This is
not a country western bar Chica 2. Needless to say, we did have a great time!
The food was just ok but
it was pricey. This place is known for
its fried chicken, but it seems the other items were tastier. It is a very fun, funky little place, so be
prepared to spend about $100 if you have appetizers and drinks.
Eats American Grill, Tampa,
FL
Eats is a small
restaurant in South Tampa. It is almost
too easy to miss if you are headed south on Dale Mabry. Chica 1 saw her life flash before her eyes
when Chica 2 whipped a pimpette U turn to go back to the eatery. Luckily, we made it safe into the parking
lot.
The restaurant is small
and has a little bar. There are large screen televisions on the wall and
overall it is simply decorated. We were
warmly greeted when we entered and invited to sit anywhere we liked. We quickly took a seat and within a minute
were given menus and asked for our drink order.
 |
| Chips |
Chica 2 went on her
normal routine to the bathroom to wash her hands after making such a dirty,
nasty turn. Within minutes she returned to the table ready to eat. Remember Chica 2, you have to order
first.
While reviewing the menu, the waitress brought a basket of chips and a tasty sauce to the table. The chips were freshly made, crisp and salty. The sauce was a perfect complement to the chips, balancing the salty and savory.
While reviewing the menu, the waitress brought a basket of chips and a tasty sauce to the table. The chips were freshly made, crisp and salty. The sauce was a perfect complement to the chips, balancing the salty and savory.
Chica 1 ordered Bite Me Back
Shrimp as an appetizer. The shrimp were
crispy and spicy; a great combination! The spicy secret dip sauce really packed
a powerful punch of flavor! Not too spicy, but just enough to get that little
tickle in the back of your throat. Chica
2, that just may be post nasal drip – Tee hee he!
As an aside, the shrimp are served over a bed
of romaine lettuce so you can use the greens as a base to cut the spiciness of
the shrimp if you so desire.
 |
| Bite Me Back Shrimp |
Chica 1 ordered the Classic
Black and Blue Burger and Chica 2 ordered the Philly Cheesesteak. Chica 2 substituted Swiss cheese for the
Cheez Whiz cheese sauce. Lil’ Diva Chica
(Chica 2’s daughter) ordered the Kids Chicken tenders.
 |
| Burger |
Lil’ Diva Chica had two
big chicken breasts for tenders. She said they were juicy! The tenders are served with French fries and
honey mustard sauce. So Lil’ Diva Chica was
in hog heaven or should we say chicken heaven. As a healthier choice, children
can have apple sauce instead of the fries.
 |
| Philly Steak Sandwich |
All three of the Chica
clan were quite satisfied with the meal. A sick smile covered our faces. We
left with a half hamburger, a few shrimp, a half a cheesesteak, and one and a
half chicken tenders. \We were too full
to eat dessert, but we did get a pineapple upside down cake to go.
The owner is right, it is
just like momma used to make. And to prove the point, Chica 1 took a piece back
to her mother and she just grinned and shook her head. That was some good eats!
She even confessed it was a tad bit better than her pineapple upside down cake
– now that’s really really good1
Eats American Grill provides
high quality comfort food. The entrée list was even more enticing with baby
back ribs, crab cakes and more. The menu also has interesting stories about the
origins of certain food items like hamburgers, potato chips, etc. 2 Chicas will certainly be back for more!
Eats gets an around the world snap of approval!
Simply Good Restaurant – Tampa, FL
When you enter this strip
mall restaurant, you will definitely see humble furnishings and
accessories. The place is sparse, which
is not a bad thing, especially because if you come to Simply Good it is to
eat. There are tables and chairs, a
countertop, and usually, a single person to take your order.
The most important thing
is that the food is simply good, tasty, delicious, ummm. On three trips at different times and on
different days, 2 Chicas totally loved the food!
The beef brisket is
outstanding. Tender, well seasoned and
the BBQ sauce was a perfect compliment. The portion size was wonderful for
sharing, if you’re eating with a generous person. The pork chop
The catfish is absolutely
phenomenal! The sides were so good, we
got extras to go. The chicken and
waffles are great! Real waffles with tender,
perfectly seasoned fried chicken. Simply succulent!
The restaurant is
inexpensively priced with no item on the menu being over $10. The dress is casual unless you’re here after
Sunday church Service! Then you will see more sequence, shiny shoes, and
glitter than during a Broadway show! Enough already…
The best thing about
Simply Good is they have what is on their menu.
2 Chicas can’t tell you how many times we have visited small restaurants
that don’t have the items listed on their menus. There is nothing more frustrating than to
order beef stew and they don’t have it. Ok, I’ll have the baked chicken, “Oh, we
didn’t make that today”. UGGGG What’s wrong with you restaurateurs? Take it off the menu!
You have the 2 Chicas Seal of Approval on Simply Good. Google them real soon now, ya hear?
Colonnade Restaurant – Tampa, FL
The Colonnade is old
fashioned Tampa goodness. This restaurant has been around over 75 years! That’s
a really long in Tampa time. When you
enter the restaurant, you will be greeted by a hostess who will usually pretty
quickly whisk you back to the dining room.
There are large expansive views of Tampa Bay and the waiters are always
very helpful.
The décor is
sailor/nautical basic, but 2 Chicas say – LOOK AT THE B AY! The view of Tampa Bay is outstanding! Chica 2 please eat dinner before dessert! Now
on to the food…
The menu has a variety of
seafood goodies, Chica 1 always recommends a sampling of Florida gator, but if
that is a little too wild for you, grab some fried green tomatoes. Chica 2 is partial to the Buffalo shrimp and
potato skins. Chica 2 is so distracting; she’s sitting here imaging the great
flood has come and her favorite fish are floating up the street. Now, she’s
making bubble fish noises. She even picked up her fork as if one had jumped,
all battered and fried onto her plate!
Chica 1 had to remind her to focus and no, that is not a shark!
The fish is always fresh
and prepared to perfection. If something
is not to your liking, they will gladly accommodate you. Try the Baked stuffed flounder, Gulf Grouper,
Grouper Oscar or the Rainbow Trout – all great fish dishes. If you are a shrimp fan, grab the Shrimp
Sampler gives you a little bit of everything, Coconut Fried, Charbroiled,
Stuffed, and Golden Fried.
Chica 1’s mother loves
the Angler’s Platter which has grouper, scallops, oysters, shrimp and
clams. We always substitute more
scallops for clams. If you really want
to splurge, grab the Captain’s Platter.
It has so much seafood, you can eat from this dish for a couple of days.
Chica 1 always gets an order of the chicken livers – delicious!
Chica 2 tried to hurt
herself eating so many different dishes from seafood as described above, to
pasta. Just make sure to leave room for
dessert. They have a mean Key Lime
pie. Eat up and be sure to take a stroll
down Bayshore Blvd. after you eat to help burn off the delicious calories!
Chica 2, come back, we haven’t paid the bill yet!
Urban Cantina - Tampa, FL
2 Chicas were on the move again, looking for some good Mexican food. Urban Cantiina is a small restaurant in Tampa's Soho district. When you enter the restaurant, you are greeted with upbeat Mexican music and a few tables and chairs. There are a handful of booths so pick your seat and sit down!
The waitress warmly greeted us and took our drink order. As we reviewed the menu, we discussed the different food items and thought we were in for an average Mexican ride. Chica 1 ordered a Mango Margarita, Chica 2 ordered a coke, and Lil' Diva Chica ordered a Fanta Orange. The sodas were served in the old fashioned type bottle; cold and delicious.
 |
| Nachos |
I believe that translates into English - this is good! She would be right. The chicken on the nachos was seasoned and the white cheese was a little zesty. The guacamole piled high on top of the nachos had a very light and clean appeal. The beans were extremely fresh!
 |
| Steak Fajita |
The Steak Fajita was an interesting dish as the steak was served with fried onion rings. There was a special sauce drizzled over the top of the taco. Very tasty! Chica 2 had a chicken and a steak Gringo taco. The Gringo had shredded cheese, chopped tomato, and lettuce on top.
 |
| Kids Chicken Tenders |
Chica 2 said they were both incredible and really liked that the soft shell held together for each and every bite. Lil' Diva Chica had her normal chicken tenders that were served with french fries. She gave the dish her seal of approval, but was so disappointed that they didn't have honey mustard. Oh well, everything else was perfect.
2 Chicas were so pleased with this wonderful find! A rousing uh, no toro, Aztec high five for Urban Cantina! A wonderful excursion into flavorful Mexican cooking.
Burger 21
Somehow the gourmet burger has become the new “thing”. Burger 21 offers so many different types that Chica 2 could not resist saying with her deepest southern drawl: “they have a Cheesy Burger, and BBQ Bacon Burger, and a Black & Blue Burger, and a Tuna Burger, and a Chicken Marsala Burger, and a Mediterranean Burger, and a Skinny Burger, and a Black Bean Burger….” Ok, Ok, Chica Bubba we get the picture! This place has quite a selection.
 |
| Cheesy Burger |
Burger 21 doesn’t skimp
on the hot dogs either! While they don’t have the same large range of choices,
they do have high quality, deliciously prepared dogs. Now the deal here at
Burger 21 is that everything is served ala carte. So you get ya burger, then add
sweet potato or regular fries, and a drink. You can also get a combination of
sweet potato and fries. The good thing is the fries are always a crispy perfection.
 |
| Strawberry Shortcake and Key Lime Shakes |
The shakes and floats are
more delectable than the burgers! As a matter of fact, their signature shakes
are just decadent! Chica 2 always faints with the Strawberry Short Cake shake
that she says is better than Fats Domino doing his best twist!
She screams and
falls back in the chair. Chica 1 reassures everyone in the restaurant that everything
is alright – that Chica 2 is just a little on the dramatic side. Chica 1 can
vouch for that shake as well as the perfect Key Lime Shake. Yummy!
 |
| Shrimp Burger |
On different visits,
Chica 1 has tried the Philly Cheese, The Black & Bleu, The Shroom’, and the
Po’Boy and Spicy Thai Shrimp Burgers. Each one is unique and extremely tasty.
If you are in the mood for a great experience, stop by Burger 21 for a scrumptious indulgence. Tell them 2 Chicas said that’s one good burger!
If you are in the mood for a great experience, stop by Burger 21 for a scrumptious indulgence. Tell them 2 Chicas said that’s one good burger!
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