South Tampa Restaurants A Hit With Best of the Bay Awards

If it wasn't before, it's official now. Tampa loves Taco Bus.

The famous 24 hour taco stand in Seminole Heights has expanded to downtown, St. Pete and North Tampa over the last year and took top honors in Creative Loafing's 2012 edition of Best of the Bay in three categories: Best Mexican/Tex Mex Restaurant, Best Late-Night Restaurant and Best Bargain Restaurant.

"We're very honored because it's all about our customers," Taco Bus' director of marketing Aviva Bowman said. "We are all about the customer and we definitely feel when we get an award like this that we're doing the right things. I think our growth has a lot to do with the recognition because we're in St. Pete, north Tampa and downtown now and through that we've got a lot of new fans."

For the second straight year, Chef Chad Johnson of Sidebern's took the Critic's Choice for Best Chef. Elsewhere, SOHO Sushi won the coveted Best Sushi award, thanking its fans in a statement on Facebook.

"We are thrilled and honored to be chosen by the people," the statement read. "Thank you fans."

Rounding out the South Tampa Critics Picks were:

Best Fish Dish: The Edison: Food and Drink Lab

Best Charcuterie Plate: Mis en Place

Best New Restaurant: Samba Room

Best Degustation Menu: Sidebern's

Best Tiramisu: Jackson's Bistro

Best Cup of Coffee on Kennedy: Buddy Brew

Best Eco-Friendly Pizza: Pizza Fusion

Best Portobello Burger: Square One Burgers and Bar

Best Eatery Where You Can Take the Family Dog: The Sail Pavillion

Reader's Picks:

Best Cocktails: Ciro's Speakeasy

Best Coffee Shop: Kahwa Coffee

Best Draft Selection: World of Beer

Best Happy Hour: MacDinton's Irish Pub

Best Italian Restaurant: Bella's Italian Cafe

Best Middle Eastern Restaurant: Byblos Cafe

Best New Restaurant: Boca

Best Splurge Restaurant: Bern's Steakhouse

Best Steakhouse: Bern's

Best Sushi: SOHO Sushi

Best Wine Bar: Cru Cellars