Help South Tampa Restaurants Recover During Restaurant Week – Tampa, FL Patch
TAMPA, FL — The South Tampa Chamber of Commerce wants to remind diners that there’s no shortage of eateries to share a meal or enjoy take-out and delivery during Taste of South Tampa Restaurant Week 2020 in South Tampa this week.
To lure diners back to South Tampa residents following the coronavirus pandemic closures, dozens of restaurants in South Tampa are offering customers discounts on food and drinks this week.
“We’re just excited to continue to support local businesses and promote South Tampa as open for business,” said Kelly Flannery, president and CEO of the South Tampa Chamber of Commerce. “This is our call to action opportunity for us to say come into South Tampa, come experience our restaurants.”
Following mandatory restaurant closures and then limits on diners, restaurant owners, along with laid-off and furloughed restaurant workers, are struggling to recover from the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Flannery said restaurant week is not only a good opportunity to promote South Tampa’s eclectic selection of restaurants but will help drive the area’s economic recovery, allowing restaurants to rehire staff workers who have been out of work for months.
Already, small businesses in South Tampa have received thousands of dollars in grants and loans thanks to programs ranging from federal loans to community fundraising efforts.
Among the programs allowing this recovery was the city of Tampa’s One Tampa: Rise Now, Rise Together program, a three-phase funding effort in which checks were delivered to businesses facing possible closure including $4,000 for rent and mortgage payments, $2,000 for business expenses and $1,000 for business-related utilities.
To make up for the loss of indoor dining, the city also permitted restaurants to expand outdoor dining into the streets and parking lots.
In addition to One Tampa, Hillsborough County provided more than $100 million in relief grants through its Rapid Response Recovery Program using funds from the federal CARES Act funding.
Grassroots efforts to help keep restaurants, bars and breweries afloat included Tampa Bay Takeout Bingo in which takeout customers had a chance to win prizes for supporting local restaurants, Virtual Tip Jars for furloughed and laid-off servers, discounted and free food delivery services and the South Tampa Chamber of Commerce’s Open for Business Toolkit, offering restaurants and other businesses help in reopening.
Throughout the Taste of South Tampa Restaurant Week, foodies receive dining passports available at all participating restaurants. By share of photo of a stamped restaurant week passport on Instagram, foodies get a chance to win a $25 gift card to a restaurant.
Step 1: Eat at a Participating Restaurant
Step 2: Have the Server Stamp your Passport
Step 3: Snap a Picture and Tag @TasteofSouthTampa & use the hashtags #TasteWeek2020.
Step 4: Share your photo on Instagram or Facebook to be automatically entered to win.
Participating restaurants and deals include:
One free drink with any purchase from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. through Oct. 18.
20 percent off your purchase.
Special: Momo bowl with Ahi tuna, crab salad, edamame, bell peppers, cucumbers over glass noodles with sesame soy and spicy mayo.
Complimentary cocktail or appetizer with purchase of an entree
Complimentary bang shrimp with purchase of two entrees and 15 percent off the total bill (excludes alcohol)
15 percent off a food item of your choice when you present your Restaurant Week passport
Taste of Tampa Bowl with white and brown rice base with spicy pork, ginger beef, crispy Brussel sprouts, pickled red onions and a side of bull sauce
Lunch Monday through Friday includes a three-course pre-fix menu for $18.95 and dinner Sunday through Saturday includes a three-course pre-fix menu $30.
Buy-one-get-one-free entrée when you dine in.
Cask Signature Sampler for $15 including Nashville Hot Chicken Slider, Buffalo Cauliflower, Truffle Deviled Eggs, Candied Bacon, and Mini Chicken and Waffles.
Half off a Cigar City Burger ($16) or Tampa Honey Cuban ($12). Available for dine in or take out. Reservations are required and business attire is strictly enforced. Available through Oct. 16 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Purchase a Chick Special and drink and receive a free scoop/sandwich and a drink (Cannot be combined with any other offer).
Buy any chicken sandwich, get the second sandwich free.
15 percent off a food item of your choice when you present your Restaurant Week passport.
15 percent off a food item of your choice when you present your Restaurant Week passport.
Free unlimited house wine with dinner.
15 percent off a food item of your choice when you present your Restaurant Week passport.
15 percent off all dine in or take out
Specials on Vodka Cheese-Stuffed Tortellini with San Marzano tomato, stracciatella and chili threads and “The Green Machine” 72-hour fermented pizza dough, pesto, stracciatella, spinach and roasted tomatoes.
Free i31 whiskey shot, cocktail or signature drink with any purchase.
Buy one pint of ice cream, get one free.
20 percent off entire bill or BOGO Superfood Oats
Buy one bundtlet, get one free – offer valid for up to two free bundtlets.
10 off entire order. Special menu item: Sushi Corndog.
Large three-topping gourmet pizza and a 32-ounce growlers of craft beer for $30.
20 percent off total order. Spend $20 or more and be entered to win a Sarge’s T-Shirt. (Names drawn at the end of the week).
Free milkshake with the purchase of an entrée.
20 percent off (retail excluded) a free 4-ounce sample of cold brew or heights cold brew.
Buy one pizza, get a free pizza of the same size.
$5 chicken and specialty sandwiches and fries.
A free meatball appetizer with the purchase of two entrees.