Four months after Salty Nun closed its doors for good at 2501 Central Avenue, a new restaurant has taken over.

Mythos Greek Bistro opened earlier this month, transforming the casual spot with upscale Mediterranean aesthetics.

Yes, the outdoor swings are gone, but now you can get tableside flaming saganaki in the same spot. And the Nun’s old stage is still set for live entertainment.

Mythos’ menu includes classic spreads and small plates, kebab platters, branzino, lamb chops and Scottish salmon.

Chef Konstantinos “Dinos” Chilias, who co-owns the spot with business partner Daniel Marina, told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that he isn’t worried about Baba being just a block away. He said he sees Mythos as being a more casual, family-friendly bistro.

“This is a little bit different,” Chilias told CL. “I’m from Greece…It’s two different things.”

Chilias also runs La Creperia Cafe in Ybor City and previously operated the Crepeway Cafe in St. Pete’s EDGE District.

Mythos Greek Bistro is open Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday 4 p.m.-10 p.m.; 4 p.m.-11 p.m. Thursday; Friday-Saturday 4 p.m.-3 a.m. It’s closed on Mondays. Visit mythosgreekbistro.com or follow @mythosgreekbistro on Instagram for updates.

The restaurant does not yet have its liquor license, but Chilias expects it to be ready in the next two weeks.

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For those missing Goody Goody in Hyde Park, a new diner has emerged with Italian flair.

Giancarlo’s Cafe & Spirits opened Dec. 1 at 1532 W North B St. in Tampa’s Hyde Park neighborhood. It’s literally the sibling spot to Santoro’s Pizzeria, a half-mile walk away. Both are named after the children of owner Travis Kaiser’s children, who’s an alum of the University of Tampa.

Giancarlo’s offers a fast-casual counter, cocktail bar and coffee shop serving Tampa-roasted Wuz Here Coffee, as well as full restaurant service.

The menu includes classic diner breakfasts and New Jersey-style deli sandwiches for lunch, as well as crispy, square-cut tavern-style pizzas. The Italian-American dinner menu features house-made meatballs and marinara, along with Italian rolls imported from a shop in New Jersey.

Giancarlo’s Cafe & Spirits is open Sunday-Thursday 7 a.m.-11 p.m. and Friday-Saturday
7 a.m.-midnight. Visit giancarlostpa.com or follow its Facebook and Instagram @giancarlostpa for updates.

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Fans of breakfast at The Frog Pond are bound to like its predecessor a brunch.

The Copper Kettle celebrated its grand opening on Dec. 6 at 7390 Gulf Blvd. in St. Pete Beach. The Frog Pond moved out of that spot after being destroyed by Hurricane Helene last year, but has since opened two locations in St. Pete Beach and Redington Beach.

The Copper Kettle is owned by Alex Victorero, The Frog Pond’s manager of eleven years. He and his wife and co-owner, Nikki, are keeping the comfort breakfast food tradition alive with an extensive breakfast and brunch menu including seven egg omelets, platters, waffles, bennedicts, quiche, crepes, smashburgers, sandwiches and much more.

The Copper Kettle is open from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sundays. Follow its Facebook and Instagram for updates.

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The Revolution Ice Cream Co. closed both its Brandon and Seminole Heights shops at the end of November.

In a social media post, owners Bill and Leslee Workman attributed the closure to health issues and economic problems.

The original shop opened in Brandon in 2013, followed by Seminole Heights in 2016 and South Tampa in 2020. The South Tampa location closed at some point last year.

Before starting the shop, Bill Workman started making ice cream at home as a hobby while working what he previously called his “square job.” His Ben and Jerry-esque flavors, like Coconut Curry and Drunken Brownie, became so popular that at one point he was making 250 pints a month before opening the shop.

In 2020 and 2022, The Revolution Ice Cream Co. won “Best Ice Cream/Gelato/Frozen Yogurt” in Creative Loafing’s Best of the Bay awards, and was a frequent runner-up in years prior. It was also a staff pick for “Best Ben-and-Jerry’s-better-watch-out ice cream shop” in its first year.

Posts about The Revolution’s closure were filled with comments from community members saying they’ll miss the shop, including the account for Bo’s Ice Cream, less than half a mile down the road.

“We always enjoyed being able to send people your way who were looking for something more creative or that better fit their diet/allergies,” Bo’s commented. “I personally loved sneaking over there and trying out the rotating flavors, they were always awesome. Y’all did great things and will be missed!”

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Flan Factory is bringing the sweetness of Ybor City to Tampa’s Armature Works.

The expansion inside Armature Works’ Heights Market at 1910 N Ola Ave. opened on Dec. 10.

At its flagship location (1718 N Nebraska Ave.), Flan Factory serves about 30 rotating flavors of flan, including original Cuban style, guava, coquito, pistachio and white chocolate raspberry.

The shop is also known for its sandwiches and small bites—including the must-try Timba—and drinks like its classic cafe con leche and horchata iced latte.

Palau started the business in 2016 to honor his abuela, who died two years prior. Using her recipes, he worked as a vendor at weekend markets for four years before opening his brick-and-mortar Flan Factory in 2020.

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Japanese-Peruvian restaurant Fortu welcomed its “little sister,” sushi spot Isu (stylized all caps) in the space below its 97 Central Ave. location last month.

Its izakaya-style (Japanese small plates) menu also features Peruvian flavors, with items like steak and egg maki and wagyu gyozas served with sweet plantain.

Isu is offering a 10-item New Year’s Eve dinner including osetra, king crab, A5 Wagyu, fresh sashimi and Basque cheesecake for $155 per person, with a saki pairing for an extra $80.

Reservations are available on OpenTable. For updates and more information, follow @isu.downtown on Instagram or visit isurestaurants.com

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After eight years on Gulf Blvd., Category 36 Taphouse & Kitchen has a new location.

The pizza and bar food spot was closed for nine months after damage from last year’s hurricanes, per ILoveTheBurg.

Last month marked its debut at 348 Corey Ave., including its first Thanksgiving open in the new spot. Category 36 is known for its massive sausage strombolis, along with pizza and other bar fare like wings and sandwiches. It’s also open for breakfast and coffee starting at 10 a.m. on Sundays, including a breakfast Stromboli.

Its grand opening celebration is Dec. 13, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., with live music and food specials.

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After nearly eight years away, Ceviche is back in Tampa. 

The tapas bar and restaurant closed in June 2018 and reopened in Downtown St. Petersburg in 2021. But Tampa fans of Ceviche’s pollo al ajillo, paella and Spanish wines will soon be able to get them on their side of the Bay again. 

Caldeon Concepts, which also runs Rococo Steak in St. Petersburg, announced its new Ceviche location will open in the summer of 2026 at International Plaza and Bay Street. 

Local architect Brian Wolfe will redesign the former Alma Restaurant & Bar space inside and out with a large open bar area and indoor and outdoor patio seating, per its announcement.

For its new menu, the restaurant’s executive chef, Horasio Salgado, will continue importing ingredients from Spain and tying family recipes into his tapas. And Spanish and international wines will still be the focus of its wine list.

For more information and updates, follow @cevichetaps on Facebook and Instagram or visit ceviche.com.

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Complementing Ybor’s Latin charm, Papi’s, an American restaurant with smashburgers, Latin-inspired cuisine and cocktails, is filling the two-story space at 1708-1710 E. Seventh Ave.—formerly the home of White Lie, which closed in 2023.

The new business intends to be a jack of all trades, operating as a restaurant by day and a lounge until its 3 a.m. close, with a full-service bar and VIP space also open for private events on its second floor.

Papi’s will be owner Robert George’s second eatery. He also owns a Ybor location of the frozen drink franchise Fat Tuesday. While there is no official opening date for the restaurant, George expects Papi’s to open before the new year, per the Tampa Bay Business Journal.

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Steakhouse and fine-dining restaurant Tommy’s Chophouse is preparing to open at the top of the new year, bringing new ways to beef in  Ybor City.

On top of the more popular cuts of steak, Tommy’s menu will include shoulder-filet and hanger-filet cuts, seafood and of course, Wagyu—even offering it as breaded steak.

Tommy’s will occupy the first floor of the Kress Contemporary building at 1622 E. 7th Ave. The restaurant is in the process of transforming an old federal vault from scary to upscale for private dining.

This is the third Ybor City business under Kenneth Emery’s restaurant group. He opened Ocean Ink Raw Bar in September, and Barterhouse just turned six. His flagship, Burwell, in Charleston, South Carolina, is lauded for its unique and modern approach to the steakhouse.

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