Grab Ethnic Eats for Lunch In Downtown Tampa

Jan 19th 2011 11:30AM / by Nanette Wiser

Lunch in downtown Tampa is like a whirlwind world tour. Amazing ethnic cuisine means you don't have to settle for a sandwich or hot dog. Get some takeout for dinner and share the global love with your home team.

Bamboozle Café: This cafe offers hip Thai-Vietnamese cuisine that is healthy and tantalizing. We love the pork, beef and prawn rolls wrapped in rice paper with vermicelli noodles, green leaf lettuce, and your choice of veggies, Asian noodle salads, sandwiches and traditional pho, as well as the five-alarm chicken curry and five-spice barbecue pork sandwich.
516 N. Tampa St.; 813-223-7320
Fly Bar & Restaurant: If you love the one in San Francisco, run (don't walk) to Fly Bar & Restaurant! It offers global cuisine, an artsy atmosphere, and a chic crowd that trickles in when it opens at 4pm. Between the rooftop bar and nightly specials, after-work crowds like to gather here, especially for half-bottle wine Monday and $5 signature cocktail Tuesday. They also like to stay for the 10pm live music. Appetizers include shredded braised beef with green olives, panko-crusted goat cheese, authentic nachos, fish tacos, roasted garlic fries and Kobe beef sliders. Need we say more?
1202 N. Franklin St.; 813-275-5000
Jerk Hut: With one location downtown and another on East Fowler Avenue, the hottie Jamaican favorite been serving curry goat, chicken and shrimp for 20 years. Jerk Hut's zesty jerk sauce is mmm mmm good, and its secret ingredient (nutmeg? rum?) is much debated. Sample the pepper shrimp, beef and veggie patties, curried veggies with roti or savory oxtail stew. Enjoy live reggae on Fridays and Saturdays, and an all-you-can-eat Sunday brunch at Jerk Hut Jamaican Grille and Rhum Bar (Fowler).
207 E. Twiggs St.; 813-223-4473
Paninoteca Mediterranean Café: Savory homemade Greek dishes star at this cafe. Enjoy the hummus, roasted garlic and Greek feta spread, tzatziki served with homemade warm pita bread, Greek salad, tomato salad and a wide variety of panini, including salami, prosciutto, Calabrese, roasted lamb and more.
519 N. Franklin St., Tampa; 813-341-2525
Pizzaiolo Bavaro: Pizzaiolo Bavaro offers authentic regional cuisine, such as wood-fired sandwiches and pizzas, plus calzones. Don't miss the carne, uovo, arugula, cipolla or al crudo pizza dripped in fresh veggies and shaved aromatic Italian cheeses, or the penna alla vodka. Nap later, eat now.
514 N. Franklin St.; 813-868-4440
Rojo Taco: Make your own burritos, tacos and taco salad from the array of grilled antibiotic-free meats and chicken mixed up with organic veggies. There's limited indoor and patio seating at Rojo Taco, so plan on taking your healthy fun Mex treat back to the office or over to the park.
309 E. Twiggs St., Tampa; 813-307-9000