I love traveling pretty much anywhere that can get me out of New York City for a minute, so when I had a chance to explore Florida’s Gulf Coast of course I had to make it to BOCA: a perfectly located farm-to-table joint close to downtown Tampa.
There was no time wasted within arriving; you will be drinking from a creative list of craft cocktails and local beers, flatbreads of all the colors of the rainbow will appear and you’ll want to ‘gram them (that is: unless you eat them, first).
Menu choices range anywhere from shrimp and grits to meatloaf for a hearty dinner of flavors. Check it:
Pre-dinner cocktail “Bramble” / Broker’s gin, creme de mure, lemon, sugar, and fresh blackberry (main photo)
Tuna Poke / wontons, avocado, togarashi, heirloom tomatoes, micro cilantro, sweet soy:
Heritage and Swine Flatbread / Boca Bacon, white barbecue sauce, caramelized onions, heritage tomatoes, manchego and arugula:
Brie and Apple Flatbread / granny smith apples, pickled red onions, sweet aïoli, roasted air-chilled chicken:
Fried Green Tomatoes / Pimento cheese, tomato jam, Boca Bacon:
Meatloaf / smashed potatoes, maple glazed Brussels sprouts, Boca sausage gravy:
Florida Pink Shrimp and Grits / Creole style with mushrooms, tomatoes, scallions, saffron, smoked gouda grits:
OMG Burger / oak grilled 100% USDA prime beef, bibb lettuce, aged white cheddar, pickled onions, tomato, sweet relish aïoli, Parmesan truffle fries:
Prime Skirt Steak / oak wood grilled market vegetables, potatoes bravas, crushed chimichurri:
The feel of the restaurant and service was absolutely amazing, giving me a taste literally of Florida with that rare organic homegrown appreciation of quality that is irreplaceable.
If you haven’t already, please book your ticket and head south to Tampa for some Boca.
