Helen Freund

For this year's Top Restaurants list, I went big. Big, as in 50 restaurants compared to last year's 30. This would be easier to do, I told myself.

Rooster & The Till alum Ty Rodriguez will open the Peppermint Lounge this fall. By

What do Jimi Hendrix, the Beach Boys and the Ronette's have in common? They all once played at New York City's legendary Peppermint Lounge.

What, exactly, is going on at Noble Tavern? I asked myself that the first few times I sat down for a meal at the perpetually packed new St.

Ebbe Vollmer’s high-end downtown Tampa restaurant netted a star within one year. Then employees walked out.

Xiao Long Bao are the star at Tampa’s Shanghai Dumpling House.

The Food Hub went to the Trop and tried some signature stadium items. Here’s what we thought.

For the second year in a row, not a single Pinellas restaurant received a star from the prestigious guide.

On May 28, the latest round of accolades were announced. By Helen Freund is the senior food and dining critic, reporting on and reviewing restaurants throughout Tampa Bay.

For the second year in a row, no new Tampa Bay restaurants received a star or Bib Gourmand.