Coming to Tampa: A HEALTHY Drive Thru?

OK this is a little weird. When you hit the drive thru, you're probably grabbing a quick burger, fries and a milkshake. You're probably not thinking of calories or carbs. You want quick and cheap. A Tampa restaurant wants to change that.

Greenlane will be opening soon on Gandy near Hooters. Remember where "Jerk Hut" used to be? That's the spot. It's 4495 West Gandy Blvd if you want to pull it up on your GPS. But don't expect the deep-fried treasures like fries or onion rings that you find on most drive thru menu boards.

Instead of burgers and fries, Greenlane will offer salads like the Bunny Hop Chop with carrots, feta, almonds and sunflower seeds. There's also a Creamy Caesar with grape tomatoes and Ginger Sesame Crunch salad with edamame. The Tuscan Sun has pepperoncini peppers and marinated mozzarella. Or go with the Mexicali with tortilla strips and a chipotle ranch dressing.

According to their website, they say they'll still strive to be as quick, convenient and affordable as the drive thru you're used to. Since you might be eating in the car, you can opt to have your salad stuffed inside a tortilla.

The idea for Greenlane has been quite some time in the making. Their first Facebook post was made back in 2021. But it looks like the opening date is near. They're hiring now and say they'll be open soon... but no specific date has been announced. The website only says "Opening Spring 2023" (which ends in June).

Happy National Bacon Day people! The New Year's resolutions are a couple days away so indulge. These are 10 of my favorite places to get some goooood bacon in Tampa Bay. Nothing irritates me more than when restaurants get lazy or cheap with bacon. If it's crunchy, too thin or burned, my morning is ruined. These places do bacon right.

Hands down my favorite bacon in Tampa Bay is the sweet candy bacon at First Watch.  Pricy but worth it.

Rise and Himes! Their sugar cured smokehouse bacon is phenomenal.

I mean pig is in their name.  Their meats are out of this world.  Try their Cuban too!

The bacon egg croissant sandwich is the thing to get here.

I love this place not so much for their bacon but their burgers... but get bacon on your burger for sure.

Those donuts at Datz are dazzling with bacon on top.

I usually stay away from chains on my lists, but this place is worthy.

They put an enormous amount of delicious perfectly-prepared bacon on their BLT.

There's always a big line Sunday mornings for breakfast but it's worth the wait.

I have to label this as an honorable mention because unfortunately you can't get it anymore.  Mama Jane retired this classic a couple years ago so sadly you won't find it in Plant City this year.