Savory Dishes at Willa's Neighborhood Restaurant in Tampa
For one of our first back-to-dining-out experiences, we had the pleasure of being hosted at Willa’s, a new restaurant in North Hyde Park that I’ve heard and seen nothing but great things about. Named after one of the co-owner’s great-great grandmother, who was a 19th century Tampa pioneer, Willa’s features a family-friendly vibe and American dishes with French influences.
The menu features both small and large plates that are craveable, perfectly aligning with Willa’s neighborhood restaurant and bar feel. We started off our evening with a trio of snacks, their Shrimp Cocktail, House Pickles and Potato Chips. The snacks were a great way to appease our creeping hunger while perusing the appetizers and plates sections of the menu; the Shrimp Cocktail was tasty, but the House Pickles and Potato Chips were the stars of this trio, delightfully crunchy and with subtle, not overly-done flavors that make a great meal starter.
I couldn’t resist ordering the Fried Cedar Key Oysters; I love oysters in general, but I adore Cedar Key oysters. They are deliciously sweet with a kiss of saltiness for a perfect balance, and these were fried in cornmeal and served with a house remoulade that was simply delicious. We saved the sauce from our Shrimp Cocktail to dip the oysters in, too!
Our selected entrees were not difficult to narrow down: when we saw the Steak Frites and Pork Schnitzel on the menu, we knew they were the dishes to order, and they did not disappoint one bit! I ordered the Steak Frites medium-rare and it was perfectly prepared, with an incredibly tender inside and a lovely sear on the outside. I love that they use a USDA prime culotte cut for this dish; it’s a lean cut of steak that still boasts a superb amount of flavor. The green sauce served with the steak was stunning (ask for extra, I promise you’ll want more!) and the fries were nice and crispy.
The Pork Schnitzel was an impressive portion, and pH ate every last bite. Panko-crusted and fried, it had a delightful crunch and flavor, especially with the schnitzel sauce. The lemony dressed greens served on the side were a great pairing that helped cut the richness of the pork. We also ordered a side of the Broccolini to try, which was perfectly seared and is a delicious option if you’re a lover of lemon like pH is.
I’m already planning our next visit, because our dishes were that good. It’s been almost one week since our visit, and I’m already craving the steak and green sauce! I highly recommend checking out this new spot in Tampa for yourself, you won’t be disappointed.
Willa’s is located at 1700 West Fig Street in Tampa. The restaurant is currently open Wednesday, Thursdays and Sundays from 5-10 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 5-11 p.m. You can also visit their sister cafe, Willa’s Provisions, which serves coffee and pick-up fare Mondays and Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. For the latest updates from Willa’s, follow along on Facebook and Instagram.
*Disclosure: The meal featured in this post was provided by Willa’s for editorial consideration. This post was written on my own accord, and opinions expressed here are my own and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Willa’s.
