Two new concepts coming to Sparkman Wharf's dining garden
By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Jan 5, 2021

Two new food concepts are coming to Sparkman Wharf's dining garden.

Ybor City restaurant 7th and Grove is planning to take over a shipping container in the dining garden, according to a Jan. 1 Facebook post. SaltBlock Hospitality, which operates Boat Run Oyster Co. in the dining garden, will transition its container to Murph's BBQ. Boat Run closed Monday and will reopen as Murph's in late January.

“Murph’s BBQ is a new way for us to serve Sparkman Wharf and everyone who comes to enjoy the park," Scott Roberts, co-founder of Saltblock Hospitality, said in a statement. "At SaltBlock Hospitality, BBQ is foundational to our beginnings and Murph’s BBQ is a representation of all the things we love. We think it will be a great addition to the park and to our community."

Murph's will feature "nondenominational" barbecue, with items from the best barbecue regions in the U.S. The menu will include 12-hour smoked brisket, tender pulled pork and charcoal roasted chicken along with scratch-made macaroni and cheese, BBQ baked beans, fresh slaw and rotating selection of fresh seasonal sides.