EAT: Fresh Kitchen, Tampa (Hyde Park/SoHo), FL

If you are in Tampa, FL in the Hyde Park/SoHo area, run, don't walk to Fresh Kitchen. It is a gluten free restaurant that focuses on the Whole Food/Paleo movement and part of the Ciccio Restaurant Group, owner of several restaurants in the area. It is easy to find on South Howard Ave., but the parking can be tricky. The whole area is hip, trendy, up and coming active, and healthy. I spotted Fresh Kitchen one evening during a stay in Tampa and vowed to return the next day for lunch. I was leaving that day and needed to grab lunch early, so I arrived around 10:45am as instructed by one of the staff members the night before. Fresh Kitchen opens at 11am, but she said they usually have everything ready to go by 10:45am. Apparently, many other people had the same idea! We stood in line and the place was packed the whole time I was there. Even the local firemen stopped by for lunch.

How can one go wrong in a restaurant where everything is gluten free?  There were so many options, it was hard to choose. The format of the restaurant is you order at the counter as you walk down the serving line, a la Chipotle. First, you choose your bases, then your veggies, then proteins, and finally sauces. The hardest part is deciding what to order.





Your choices are determined by the bowl you select. The choices are varied and some I had never heard of before. Sweet Potato Pasta (gluten free, of course) was one choice I had to try. The servers were all helpful and more that happy to tell you the ingredients of each item, which is great for those who have other allergies besides gluten.

When complete, my bowl was so full I knew my eyes were bigger than my stomach. The flavors were great of each item. I had the Sweet Potato Pasta and the Coconut Rice as my bases. Brussel sprouts and eggplant were my veggie choices. I decided on the Beef and Pesto Chicken for my proteins. I decided against any sauces with my other food allergies, and the food did not need it. So tasty and filling!

My lunch companion ordered a similar bowl, but tried the Almond Chicken as his protein with a sprinkle of cheese on top. He was very pleased with his bowl as well. He said the Coconut Sriracha sauce was very good.

Fresh Kitchen also has a nice variety of beverage options, from fresh pressed juices to interesting teas. The fresh pressed juices were tasty (grabbed on the evening before to save for breakfast that morning) and the teas were flavorful without being too sweet.

I would highly recommend checking out Fresh Kitchen the next time you are in Tampa. The ease of ordering a safe meal for food allergies and everything being gluten free is a great option for those who struggle to find tasty gluten free meals out. The best part is that your non-gluten free friends will enjoy the flavors and options as well. Wish Fresh Kitchen had more locations!

Fresh Kitchen
1350 South Howard Ave.
Tampa FL 33606
813.280.0515
http://www.eatfreshkitchen.com