Looking for tasty Halal Food in Tampa Bay. This cozy café located just north of the Tampa Bay core in Temple Terrace is a trendy spot to meet up with a few friends and family for a quick bite to eat. While rooted in Turkish traditions, the décor and menu are as they describe on their site, “eclectic”. They do have some outdoor seating as well to enjoy the warm Florida Sun.

NOTE: This review was created prior to the COVID pandemic and experience is likely have changed.

The Location

Located near the University of South Florida campus and Museum of Science and Industry it is a vibrant spot where students gather for socializing. It is also not too far from Busch Gardens for those looking for a Halal bite to eat after spending the day hurled through the air.

The restaurant is in a small strip plaza and can be a little hard to see from the road as it is very close to the intersection. For reference, there is an Einstein Bagel shop in the same plaza which is more visible from the road.  There is free parking, but it can be limited when the plaza is busy.

It is small space with very limited seating. Even the tables are spaced very close together but are perfect for parties of 2-4. There is also outdoor seating if you that is your preference.

The design and décor is rather “eclectic” with artifacts and paintings depicting various scenes from the Mediterranean region. It can be overwhelming to take in given the small space. However, it does provide something to focus on while you wait your food, or you can just eavesdrop on the next table next to you.

tazza steak burrito

The Service

Given the small space, there isn’t much room to move around. There was only one member for the front end tending to all the customers in the restaurant, while the owner was in the back preparing all the orders. It took some time for the meal to come, but it was well worth the wait. I assume the kitchen is also a small space making it difficult to fulfill multiple orders simultaneously.

The Food

The owner/chef prepares all the meals in the back kitchen. A lot of the reviews online highlight how tasty and fresh the food is. The menu is also very “eclectic” with some traditional dishes from Turkey, the Middle-East, America and Mexico. They seem to specialize in creating wraps, sandwiches and salads.  We tried the steak burrito and kabob rice platter. We later overhead one of the other tables with some regulars suggesting the Cajun Peanut Chicken sandwich and Lamb burger to other guests that were also new.  Those also seem to be popular choices on reviews from online. The food was very flavorful and fresh. There are other spots with Middle-Eastern foods and American classics, but not all under one roof.

Kabob and Rice

The Verdict

The food did impress and it sounds like the owner has a loyal following of customers. While the space is small, the menu is rather expansive. It makes for a great spot to grab a bite to eat after a long day at school or in the theme parks. The vast number of sandwiches to choose from alone makes for an overwhelming menu, but on top of that there are salads and rice platters to choose from. Definitely check them out if you are in the area.

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