Carmel Café Comes to University Park

So there’s a new restaurant, Carmel Café & Wine Bar, coming to University Park.

They already have two locations – one up in the Clearwater/Countryside area and one in Tampa/Carrollwood.  If you haven’t been, you should definitely visit when they open at 8433 Cooper Creek Blvd., Bradenton, on Monday, June 11.  

Mod Med” is the theme - what you can expect is new take on Mediterranean coast classics from Italy, Spain, France, and Greece.  Small plates make up most of their dinner menu, and they have a huge variety – from vegetarian, seafood to specialty pasta and signature meat dishes.  A few things you should try – the shrimp romesco, fresh and vibrantly flavorful; steak frites, Angus beef and béarnaise aioli; and their sliders.  They also have other dishes – salads, flatbreads, etc., but the small plates are a must have. 

The food is top-notch – delicious and full of flavor.  One really cool thing is you can order with an iPad! That totally wowed me. It even suggests the wine pairings to go with your meal. Very high-tech! 

It’s a great place to hang out with friends - nice and comfortable and they offer alfresco dining. It’ll be THE cool place to relax and enjoy flavorful plates and 3-, 6- or 9-ounce pours. 

They open Monday, June 11 for dinner in the corner spot across the
parking lot from Lee Roy Selmon’s. 

They are open Monday through Thursday 5-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 5 -11 p.m. and Sunday from 5-9 p.m.

Opening for lunch beginning July 9 and opening for Sunday brunch beginning July 14.

Check out their site for the menu – carmelcafe.com