The latest on where I have been eating around town:

• Little Tina: I randomly stumbled into this place in downtown after passing it quite a few times. It’s located next to Toma Spain Bar and is a cafe with a brunch vibe. They are more than a coffee shop though and more like a local meeting space, complete with libations. I feel like there is so much potential here beyond coffee and I hope it is developed more. It has the same ownership as Urban Cantina. It closes a little early, but maybe that could change with more customers. 507 N Tampa St, Tampa, FL 33602.
• Sunda New Asian: It took me awhile to make it to Sunda, but they celebrated their one year anniversary this week and I made a visit last Sunday and was impressed with what I experienced. Sunda is focused on a mixture of Southeast Asian food, Chinese cuisine, and Japanese food (mainly sushi). I was impressed with their Pancit Canton and the Yellowtail Tartare was exquisite. This is elevated Asian cuisine and I love what they are doing there. It is pretty significant to see Filipino cuisine displayed in a gourmet setting as well in Florida. I know its a little pricier than other places, but the quality is definitely there for the food. 3648 Midtown Dr, Tampa, FL 33607.
• Eddie & Sam’s NY Pizza: I know some people could be new to Tampa, but I have recently thought about how much Eddie & Sam’s is an important part of Tampa. The New York to Tampa connection is impossible to avoid today and Eddie & Sam’s has stayed consistent despite so many changes to downtown. It’s always a treat visiting them for a slice or two. 203 E Twiggs St, Tampa, FL 33602.
• Tori Bar: I was not sure how Tori Bar as an izakaya was going to grow when it first appeared in the old Fly Bar location by UT, but the sushi bar and izakaya is definitely making a name for itself now and the word is out. Now they have happy hour twice a day including late at night and let’s face it, Tampa needs more places to go at night if it wants to grow up. Their eel temaki handroll and their spicy salmon are both delicious. Happy hour is a great chance to try their food items at an affordable price. I would like to see some more creative specials to keep it interesting in the future. 442 W Grand Central Ave #190, Tampa, FL 33606.
• Barrio Tacos: This is a new spot in Ybor serving more American-style or fusion cuisine. The interior is what I really like, the owners spared no detail on the artwork on the walls and the vibes are right inside. The ordering experience is a little confusing since they use a build-your-own taco model, but there are some preset options for those of us who hate having options. Staff was friendly and there is potential here. My favorite taco was the short rib taco in a double stack format with hard and soft shell – also tacos are filling! 1822 E 7th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605.