Iconic Restaurant In South Tampa Is Closing

Iconic restaurant in South Tampa is closing.  This news is coming to a shock to most of us in the Tampa Bay area.  Datz and Dough has been around since 2009.  There is always a line out the door and over an hour wait on the weekends, so why would it be closing?

According to Creative Loafing, the owners sold the property and made some pretty good money.  Datz owners Roger and Suzanne Perry recently sold the South Tampa location for $6.1 million dollars.  The building’s new owners will revamp the former Datz space into another restaurant and replace Dough,  the former bakery with a new concept.  July 20, is actually the bakery's last day in operation, and Datz is closing Aug. 29.

The restaurant opened in 2009.  Since then it has been a well known place in the area.   People wait hours for a table on the weekends.  The food is amazing like the breakfast carbonara pasta, Nashville chicken doughnuts and “trash can” nachos.   The creative Todd burger is a favorite because it's a burger between two fried mac and cheese buns.

Dough, Datz's bakery, opened in 2013 and specializes in everything from cakes, brownies and milkshakes to cheesecakes, doughnuts and more.

If you love Datz, no worries.  There are additional locations in downtown St. Pete and Riverview, which will both stay open.  In addition to its Datz locations and Donovan's Meatery in Riverview, the Perry's once owned Dr. BBQ in downtown St. Pete and South Tampa’s New Orleans-inspired Roux.  Both restaurants have closed within the last few years.

Whether you watch these shows or not, it's still pretty cool that local restaurants get national recognition. There have been a lot of Tampa Bay area restaurants featured on the Food Network. From shows like "Diners, Drive-In's, and Dives," to "Man vs Food," and "America's Best." These are are just some of the shows that have featured local restaurants on the national level. TVfoodmaps.com as a whole list of 35 places in the Tampa Bay area that have been on the Food Network. Some of the places are closed now, so we only included the top 15 places.

Being in a melting pot of cultures in Florida means we have so many culinary options to choose from. The food scene in Tampa Bay has always been a focal point in visiting the city. A lot of these places mostly have American food, but you'll find great and authentic Caribbean, Indian, and Greek spots in the list. The Food Network loves to come to the Sunshine State to find hidden gems. TV Food Maps has a list of 292 places that have had a feature on a show. But we're only interested in the ones that are a quick drive away from home.

Shiso Crispy is a Asian fusion food truck that has two permanent spots at Unlimited Games and HOB Brewery. Ronicca was in a 5 week long Food Network Tournament on Guys Grocery Games. The episodes aired this past summer.

Skipper's Smokehouse in Tampa, FL is a popular seafood restaurant known for its delicious smoked fish, which has been featured on Man vs Food Nation and Adam Richman's Best Sandwich

Aguila Sandwich Shop in Tampa, FL is a family owned and operated restaurant specializing in Cuban and Latin cuisine. The shop has been featured on the popular TV show Adam Richman's Best Sandwich in 2012. Find them at 3200 W Hillsborough Ave, Tampa

Columbia Restaurant is known for their 7 locations across Tampa Bay. The Sand Key location was  featured on television shows such as Drinking Made Easy in 2011, and offers a wide array of traditional Spanish dishes in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Datz in Tampa, FL is a popular restaurant serving up comfort food and craft beers. It has been featured on TV shows such as Food Paradise in 2012. The theme of their episode was "meatloaf paradise."

Frenchy's Rockaway Grill in Clearwater, FL is an iconic seafood restaurant right on the beach. It has been featured on several tv shows, including Food Paradise in 2015.

Parkesdale Farm Market in Plant City, FL is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. The farm market serves fresh produce, homemade jams and jellies, and other delicious treats. It was featured on America's Best in 2010 for the Best Drinkable Desert.

Mykonos in Tarpon Springs, FL is a local Greek restaurant that has been featured on the TV show Eden Eats back in 2012. It offers traditional Greek cuisine with a modern flair and was voted best Greek restaurant in Pinellas County.

Nitally's is a Mexican and Thai fusion restaurant located in St. Petersburg, FL. It has become a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, and has even been featured on TV shows such as Food Paradise in 2014.

Tampa Bay Brewing Company is a popular craft brewery with a couple locations in Tampa Bay. It has been featured on the Food Network's TV show, "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" in 2011, and serves a variety of unique craft beers, ciders, sours, and stouts. The brewery also features an outdoor patio and live music.

Mandarin Hide in St. Petersburg, FL is a popular bar and restaurant that has been featured on tv shows such as Drinking Made Easy in 2011. 

Buya Ramen in St. Petersburg, FL is a popular restaurant that has been featured on the tv shows Diners, Drive-ins and Dives in 2017.

Ulele in Tampa, FL is a popular restaurant known for its contemporary take on Florida's native cuisine featuring locally sourced and seasonal ingredients. It has been featured in numerous tv shows such as Best Thing I Ever Ate in 2020.

Everyone in Tampa knows Bern's Steak House for their high quality steaks and wines. It has been featured on several TV shows, including Best Thing I Ever Ate, Drinking Made Easy, Guilty Pleasures, and Food Paradise.

The Original Crabby Bills in Indian Rocks Beach, FL has been featured on the tv shows Heat Seekers and is known for its delicious fresh seafood.