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Restaurants & Bars

All Hail Richard Hales' New Black Brick In Tampa

Bon Appétit magazine calls it "America's Best New Restaurant Nominee."

Kimberly McAvoy, Community ContributorVerified User Badge
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Tampa Bay Food Tours has become a big fan of Hales' Black Brick at 4812 N Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa.​​
Tampa Bay Food Tours has become a big fan of Hales' Black Brick at 4812 N Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa.​​ (Tampa Bay Food Tours)

TAMPA, FL — Tampa Bay Food Tours has become a big fan of Hales Black Brick at 4812 N Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa.

This newcomer to Tampa's dining scene, the brainchild of Chef Richard Hales, is located in the old Pop and Son's Diner, but, despite the retro decor, this isn't your typical diner as the menu will attest.

On both of our visits, Chef Richard was greeting customers and happy to talk about his food.

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Hales grew up in Tampa and honed his culinary chops in New York City and throughout Asia, Southeast Asia and Europe.

Hales grew up in Tampa and honed his culinary chops in New York City and throughout Asia, Southeast Asia and Europe.

His culinary range began beyond his formal education and took shape while backpacking through Asia, Europe and South America, learning, eating and discovering. Exotic travel inspired culinary uniqueness as diverse as his own Filipino, Irish and Italian heritage.

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You may have seen Hales on the Food Network's "Tournament of Champions," "Guy's Grocery Games," "Beat Bobby Flay" and "Diners, Drive-ins & Dives," as well as Travel Channel's "The Layover with Anthony Bourdain" in its first season in 2012.

Let's dive into the food. The menu features flavorful appetizers, shared dishes, noodles, creative desserts and a try-them-all option of the chef's tasting menu.

Fungus Stir Fry with shitake, wood ear and pickled long chili.
Papa’s Egg Roll is a recipe from Hales' grandmother. It features shrimp, pork and green beans.
Photos by Tampa Bay Food Tours
The Blackbrick Dumpling Tower includes six pieces of steamed crab and pork bao, shrimp and bamboo siu mai and lamb and cumin siu mai.
Suan la bai cai combines Napa cabbage, chili oil and black rice vinegar.
Take a look at these char siu pork spare ribs.
Young chicken bucatini contains pea tips, garlic chive and sesame. I feasted on the leftovers from this delicious dish for several days.
Chinatown cheesecake with little Italy cherries and key lime pie with butter graham cracker crust and lychee boba are some of the dessert offerings.
The restaurant features a full bar, a nice offering of wines by the glass and lots of choices from draft to craft beers.
The property features a large outdoor patio.

The restaurant seats 98 at its dining tables plus there are 18 seats at the bar available on a first-come, first-served basis. Additionally, the covered patio seats 24 guests.

Hales Black Brick is open for dinner service Tuesday to Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m., Friday from 4 to 10 p.m., Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 4 to 9 p.m.

Click here for reservations.

Tampa Bay Food Tours offers guided walking food tours in downtown Tampa, St. Petersburg and Dunedin. Click here to join a tour.

Check out some of Tampa Bay Food Tours' other restaurant visits:

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