A new European-inspired café has arrived in the Grand Central District, bringing artisan pastries, functional coffee, and a globally influenced menu to Central Avenue.

Crispy Avenue soft-opened last week at 2040 Central Avenue, across from the former Haslam’s Bookstore and next to Trophy Fish.

The 800-square-foot storefront combines a cozy café vibe with a serious culinary approach, led by co-owners Dragan and Martina Pelevic.

Inside, the space features around 12 seats and a large mural depicting European landmarks, including Rome’s Colosseum and Paris’ Eiffel Tower. A large shelf contains a variety of international snacks, truffle and brie-flavored potato chips from France and Oreos from South Korea.

Classical European music plays overhead, giving off the relaxed vibe of neighborhood cafés found throughout Europe.

Orlando-based SoDough Square, known for its Detroit-style square pizza, is expanding into the Tampa Bay area with the debut of a new slice shop in north St. Pete.

Detroit native Robert Bair, who is also the founder of Gringos Locos and Tin & Taco, has been quietly baking pies and fine-tuning recipes ahead of the soft opening of SoDough Square at 6925 4th Street North, formerly home to The Bread Artisans bakery.

The new pizza shop will host a soft opening celebration on Friday, January 23rd.

While dozens of pizzerias and Italian eateries serve thin, New York-style or brick-oven pies, only a handful of local shops offer Detroit-style pizzas, known for its thick, yet crispy crust.

Bair, who years ago traded the hustle and bustle of Motor City to move to “where you vacation,” opened his Orlando flagship shop in 2022. He followed that with two additional locations in the greater Orlando area a year later.

The rise of Detroit-style pizza is widely credited to Gus Guerra, the late owner of Buddy’s Rendezvous Pizzeria on Detroit’s east side. He famously baked his pies in forged blue steel pans sourced from local automotive plants, giving them their signature  square shape and crispy caramelized edge known as “frico.”

Tony D’s Sub Shop, a new old-school Italian sandwich spot serving hot and cold subs made from scratch, has officially opened in downtown St. Pete at 217 Central Avenue.

With green checkerboard tile floors, family photos lining exposed brick and white walls, and a counter stocked with meats and cheeses, Tony D’s aims to recreate the feel of a neighborhood corner deli and Italian family kitchen.

Tony D’s is the latest concept from Ohio-based Forward Hospitality Group, which also owns the neighboring Glamper bar and restaurant and previously operated the seasonal XMas Bar pop-up in the space. The group is also behind Good Night John Boy, Welcome to the Farm, and My Rich Uncle.

The shop opened on January 9th and is currently serving lunch and dinner into the late evening.

A new restaurant bringing a modern twist to traditional Indian cuisine is headed to St. Petersburg.

Florida-based restaurant group Tabla, which operates several concepts throughout Central Florida and beyond, plans to open Tabla Modern Indian Cafe at 10324 Roosevelt Boulevard in the north St. Pete’s Ibis Walk plaza. The new concept will replace the closed Indian eatery, Cafe Masala.

Tabla describes itself as a place where “bold, authentic Indian flavors meet modern favorites,” offering traditional Indian, Indo Chinese, and Thai dishes in addition to fun reinterpretations of familiar American comfort foods like a Indian-inspired pizza and burgers.

In 2008, owners Anshu and Nora Jain opened the first Tabla location in Orlando as a fine dining restaurant, but rapidly expanded with additional fast-casual and fine dining locations in the following years. 

The Indian restaurant became a franchise in 2024, and now has over ten locations throughout Florida, Texas and Illinois. 

An official grand opening date and menu for the St. Petersburg location has not yet been announced.