Tampa Bay's first True Food Kitchen to open in February
By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Jan 18, 2022

True Food Kitchen, an Oprah Winfrey-backed chain of health food restaurants, is opening its first location in the Tampa Bay area in Midtown Tampa.

The Phoenix-based restaurant chain says the opening date of its Midtown store will be Feb. 28. It occupies a 5,000-square-foot standalone building in the heart of Midtown, overlooking the development's central park. The menu follows founder Dr. Andrew Weil's anti-inflammatory food pyramid and is meant to appeal to everyone, with a selection that includes salads and bowls, pizzas, burgers and sandwiches.

Midtown spans more than 20 acres at North Dale Mabry Highway and Interstate 275. The development is also home to office buildings, apartments, hotel rooms, retailers and restaurants. True Food is the second national name Midtown is bringing to the Tampa Bay market; the region's first Shake Shack opened there in summer 2021.

The indoor dining room seats 127; the covered patio seats 88. True Food Kitchen will also offer pickup and delivery orders. It's open for dinner and lunch and serves breakfast on weekends.

The restaurant said in a news release it is hiring 130 people, including servers, hosts, bartenders, chefs, cooks and more.

There are 40 True Food locations in 17 states, according to the company.