TAMPA, FL — Three Tampa brothers who spent years building careers in commercial real estate and other family businesses are now focusing on a new venture: creating what they hope becomes Tampa's next homegrown burger brand.
Brothers and self-described foodies Ahmed, Ali and Matt Mansour are hoping to grab the attention and appetites of local diners by building Byte Burger’s menu around the popular lacy-edged smashburger, the type of burger they’re hoping people will crave.
"We're looking to be a Tampa staple," Ali told Patch.
The brand's location at 10935 N. 56th Street is currently open, and several other Tampa-area Byte locations are under construction.
Byte’s concept grew from years of traveling with his brothers, Ali said.
"We all like to travel, and throughout our travels we'd always find delicious burgers," he said. "It was something that we thought was lacking in Tampa."
The family spent the past two years developing recipes, branding and the restaurant's identity before bringing on Tampa chef Adam Polisei, who has led high-end kitchens including Ocean Prime and UNION.
The goal isn't simply another quick-service burger restaurant, Ali said.
Byte specializes in traditional smashburgers featuring paper-thin patties with crispy, caramelized edges while remaining juicy in the center. The restaurant uses 100 percent Angus beef sourced from a local supplier, freshly roasted and ground spices, house-made cookies, and custom sodas produced by a boutique beverage maker.
"We're not here looking to just push out a product," he said. "We're here to give people something we're proud of."
The brothers' backgrounds may not be in restaurants, but food has always been central to their family. Raised in Tampa, they grew up cooking Lebanese and West African dishes at home, reflecting their family's heritage.
While those flavors haven't made it onto Byte's menu yet, Ali said customers can expect Middle Eastern-inspired burgers in the future.
The family's experience in commercial real estate has also helped shape Byte's initial footprint and expansion plans. Rather than opening a single restaurant, the brothers envisioned multiple locations from the start, often using properties that are already in their portfolio.
Each restaurant might have a slightly different audience, depending on its location, Ali added. One planned restaurant near the University of South Florida targets students and the surrounding college community, while future sites are intended to serve downtown professionals and other Tampa neighborhoods.
Even before opening their first brick-and-mortar restaurant in Tampa, the brothers are already thinking beyond the city.
The company is close to securing its first out-of-state location and has received interest from several other markets, Ali said, though he declined to identify them.
In the meantime, customers can get their first taste of Byte from a food truck the brothers will roll out soon while construction continues on its permanent locations.
"It's just the beginning for Byte," Ali said. "We have a lot of interesting ideas coming to our menu."
See Also:
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Tampa, FL Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.