Datz

Datz at 2616 S MacDill Ave in Tampa's South Tampa neighborhood is the city's most beloved comfort food destination — a restaurant that has built its reputation on creative excess applied to sandwiches, grilled cheeses, milkshakes, and craft beer in a format that is simultaneously unpretentious and genuinely ambitious. Opened in 2010, Datz coined the phrase 'gastropub' before it became a cliché and has maintained its relevance by staying genuinely creative rather than coasting on reputation. The grilled cheese program is the kitchen's cornerstone: over twenty variations built on brioche, sourdough, and house-baked breads, incorporating house-brined pickles, house-smoked meats, specialty cheeses, and ingredients that shouldn't work but do — candied bacon with brie and fig jam, short rib with truffle aioli and fontina, spicy kimchi with cheddar and scallions. The Big Fat Fatty sandwich — a behemoth of smoked brisket, pork belly, pulled pork, and coleslaw on a pretzel bun — is the kitchen's most theatrical and indulgent creation. The milkshake program produces towering confections garnished with donuts, cotton candy, and entire slices of pie balanced on the glass. The dessert program is genuinely strong beyond the milkshakes. The craft beer selection spans Florida craft and national offerings across forty taps. The dining room is warm and lively, with an open kitchen and the casual neighborhood energy of South Tampa. Datz does not accept reservations; weekend waits are common but manageable.