Tampa’s Black-owned restaurant scene can teach the world so much about Black culture. For starters, Black restaurant owners show that Black food is not a monolith, as evidenced by the variety of cuisine.
For example, the brothers behind Copa combine their Haitian and French backgrounds with what they learned living in Latin America to create irresistible tapas. Meanwhile, Gabby Duncan is a self-taught baker who grew up in a Jamaican vegan household. She’s known throughout Tampa for having the tastiest sweet treats, often designed with beautiful colors.
The next time you’re in Tampa, be sure to visit one of these Black-owned restaurants.
7th + Grove
7th + Grove is on a mission to be a culturally immersive space that nourishes the soul and nurtures the spirit.
Located in the heart of Tampa, in the Ybor City Historic District, the restaurant and lounge serve an elevated southern menu for people craving comfort food.
The team is keen on creating unforgettable moments with authentic tasting food that has a down-home flair.
- Location: Ybor City
- Owners: Vondalyn Crawford, Dr. Jamaris Glenn, and Khalilaa McDuffie
- Type of Cuisine: Southern
- Menu Spotlight: Catfish, Gouda Grits, Deviled Eggs, Oxtails and Grits, All-you-can-eat brunch, Degreez Shrimp PO’ Boy, and Watermelon Sangria
- Before you go: Sunday brunches are first come, first serve, but reservations can be made for other times. While the restaurant is open to all ages, the lounge is reserved for 21 and older only.
Al’s Finger Licking Good Bar-B-Que
As one of Florida’s top barbecue joints, the food here at Al’s Finger Licking Good Bar-B-Que lives up to its name.
Al started the concept in 2003 out of a concession stand. His Tennessee-style barbecue was a hit, and eventually, the concession stand turned into a sit-in restaurant in 2009. The secret behind the restaurant being so good is in the preparation. Ribs and chicken are smoked for at least two hours, pork butts are smoked anywhere between six and eight hours, and beef for four hours.
- Location: Two locations in Ybor City
- Owner: Al and Jaqueline Reynolds
- Type of Cuisine: Tennessee-style Barbecue
- Menu Spotlight: Pulled Pork Plate, Jean Ann’s Lip-Smacking Baked, Aunt Nita’s Black Eyed Peas, Triple Meat with Sausage, and the Brisket.
- Before you go: The location on Angel Olivia Sr Street (Al’s Finger Licking Good Bar-B-Que) is closed Sunday through Tuesday, and E 7th Avenue (Al’s Finger Licking Good Soul Food) is closed Monday through Thursday.
Coasis
Popular Tampa chef Melissa Gardner and her business partner, Brandi Gergle, formed Coasis, a unique, upscale dining experience.
The brunch menu includes elevated items like fried lobster and a seafood omelet with lump blue crab cajun cream sauce. Meanwhile, the dinner menu features dishes like crispy whole snapper off the bone cut into nuggets garnished with fried citrus okra.
- Location: Old Seminole Heights
- Owners: Chef Melissa Gardner and Brandi Gergle
- Type of Cuisine: Southern Fusion
- Menu Spotlight: Smoked Salmon Avocado Toast, Truffle Chimichurri Lambchop and Eggs or Grits, Seafood Omelet – Fried Lobster
- Before you go: Coasis features four uniquely themed private dining rooms that are available upon request for a more intimate setting. Reservations can be made online. Vegan and Vegetarian options are available.
Copa
Authentic flavors of Latin America and the Caribbean with a tapas-style twist are served inside of Copa.
Located in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg’s Edge District, it’s perfect for wine and beer lovers.
Brothers Sebastien Thuriere, a former international soccer player, and Maxim Thuriere, a local entrepreneur, opened COPA in 2019 to curate a unique experience that reflects their Haitian and French backgrounds and the Central American influences they experienced while growing up.
- Location: St. Petersburg’s Edge District
- Owners: Brothers Sebastien Thuriere and Maxim Thuriere
- Type of Cuisine: Haitian
- Menu Spotlight: Conch Fritters, Jerk Tofu Spring Rolls, Argentinian Empanadas
- Before you go: The restaurant opens at 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 3 p.m. Sundays.
Gabby Bakes
The popular bakery, Gabby Bakes, is the brainchild of Gabby Duncan. Everything about Duncan and the bakery is beautiful. She grew up in a vegan and Jamaican household in the Midwest, where some of her early memories are cooking items from scratch. The self-taught baker began sharing her delights with friends, but it soon became a beloved pop-up throughout the Tampa area.
Duncan now has a brick-and-mortar in Seminole Heights to satisfy your sweet tooth.
- Locations: Seminole Heights and various pop-ups
- Owner: Gabby Duncan
- Type of Cuisine: Vegan Bakery
- Menu Spotlight: Funfetti Vanilla Cookie Dough, Red Velvet Cookies and Cream, Smoky Black Cocoa White Chocolate
- Before you go: Visiting the store in person is by appointment only.
Jerk Hut
If there’s one place in the U.S. to try jerk chicken, it’s Jerk Hut. Andrew Ashmeade has owned and operated the restaurant since 1993, and he takes pride in serving people food with recipes rooted in tradition.
Before traveling to the U.S. for school, he and his four other siblings, along with cousins, his parents, and his grandma, spent days learning about Jamaican cuisine and complex dishes. He also learned the importance of tradition and rituals of cooking, including the intricate details that go into making Jamaica’s distinguished Jerk seasoning. He’s keeping traditions alive, which is why his restaurant is ranked as the top spot for jerk chicken.
- Locations: Downtown, Seminole Heights, South Tampa, University
- Owner: Andrew Ashmeade
- Type of Cuisine: Jamaican
- Menu Spotlight: Ashmeade Family’s BBQ Jerk Chicken, Jerk Platter, Jerk Pork
- Before you go: Guests can request reservations online.
Mama’s Soul Food Restaurant
Chef Reaves and Katrina have served Southern-style cooking at Mama’s Soul Food Restaurant for over a decade. The owners have served everyone from world travelers to celebrities, families, and more.
Food at Mama’s Southern Soul Food is made from scratch with true Southern flair before it’s served with genuine Southern hospitality.
What makes it even more special is that its iconic “secret recipes” have been passed down, collected, and prepared today as they have been for many years.
- Locations: Brandon, Lakeland, Tampa
- Owners: Chef Reaves and Katrina
- Type of Cuisine: Southern
- Menu Spotlight: Mama’s Que Ribs, Mama’s Oxtail, Baked Turkey Wings, Cube Steak with Mama’s Secret Gravy, Peach Cobbler, Sweet Potato Pie
- Before you go: The Tampa location is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, while the other two are only closed on Mondays.
Mangos Café
Founded by visionaries Nadege “Dee” and David Andre, Mangos started as a catering service that grew into a popular culinary destination in Tampa. The restaurant takes inspiration from Nadege’s island roots and her love for soulful comfort food.
Mangos is more than a place to eat. It’s also a cultural experience, thanks to its vibrant décor. Inspired by island life, the interior takes guests straight to the sun-kissed shores.
- Location: Temple Terrace
- Owners: Nadege “Dee” and David Andre,
- Type of Cuisine: Jamaican
- Menu Spotlight: Oxtail Meal, Dirty Rice, Candied Yams, Brown Stew Chicken
- Before you go: The restaurant is closed on Mondays.
Pepper’s Island Restaurant
Pepper’s Island is Tampa’s newest Trinidadian restaurant. Located in the heart of Ybor City, Rodney Dhanraj opened the restaurant in 2022. Born in Trinidad, he moved to the U.S. as a young kid. Opening the restaurant means his lifelong dream of bringing the vibrant flavors of his home to your plate has been realized.
Guests can expect to indulge in popular Trinidadian dishes, including savory curries, roti, irresistible doubles, and delectable jerk dishes.
- Location: Ybor City
- Owner: Rodney Dhanraj
- Type of Cuisine: Trinidadian
- Menu Spotlight: Curry Chicken, Boneless Stew Chicken, Curry Shrimp
- Before you go: Vegetarian options are available.
Steaming Pots
Steaming Pots takes guests on a flavorful journey through West Africa. As one of the only restaurants in Tampa serving West African cuisines, the owners are on a mission to share the heart, soul, and culture of the motherland.
From the earthy yams and plantains to the exotic spices and aromatic herbs, Steaming Pot’s owners have curated a menu to showcase the richness and diversity of the region’s culinary traditions.
- Location: Lowry Park North
- Owner: Laura
- Type of Cuisine: West African
- Menu Spotlight: Fufu, Jollof Rice, Peanut Soup, Pepper Soup
- Before you go: The restaurant accepts online orders
While some of these restaurants have been mainstays within the Black community, many new restaurants and cafes are popping up in Tampa. This signals a community that not only supports Black-owned restaurants but is also welcoming enough to make room for new concepts like Gabby Bakes and Coasis.
