Da'Shrine: An African Caribbean Restaurant

  T he building has been sitting for a while. Lets explore what finally took over.  Da'Shrine, 2023 L et me start this one off by stating that I am in no means an expert on Africa, their cuisine, or their culture. Da'Shrine claims to be a mixture of African and Caribbean cuisine. They are sporting a restaurant with a rooftop bar. If you had been to The Refinery prior to coming here, you'll know how the rooftop bar was set up. Unfortunately, the bar wasn't open when we went due to some maintenance that needed to be done before they could open. They did manage to use the space well, though, given how small the building actually is. They also have music playing from the TV, which is fine, but you can't hear the bartender over the bass. But that's not why you're here. Old Fashioned, 2023 T he bar is a square bar sitting against the back wall when you walk in. They have a decent selection with six beer taps as well. The bartender was telling us about some unique
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New World Brewing: A Drinking Staple

 No longer in Ybor, but no less funky. How has New World adapted to a change in scenery?

New World Brewery, 2023

First off, I would like to explain my absence. This is a year that I have been taking care of some much needed medical issues. I thank everyone who has reached out. I will be disappearing again the first half of next year and then we should be in a good place. But you didn't come here for all that noise. 

New World Brewery is not a brewery. It's a dive bar by every sense of the word. They were settled in Ybor before Darryl Shaw decided that Ybor needed to be "cleaned up" (just wait for the community Applebee's) and were a long standing establishment out there. Since the property was bought out from under them (while we eagerly await more overpriced housing), New World was able to find a new spot in an unexpected location. Now right off of Busch and Nebraska (AKA: My second least favorite traffic light in the city) in a building that used to have a pretty crazy Bob Marley mural on the side. While there's now a fence around the back to try to keep traffic sounds out, you can still see the strange reddish paint sticking out from the top, calling you to come in and drink. New World does also have a food menu, but that's not typically why you're there. Lets get to it!


Mule and an Electric Lemonade, 2023

New World's bread and butter, so to speak, is their drink menu. They have a solid selection of beers on tap, from local favorites to some harder to find specials. While there, I did have myself a Hiya Gourdie from Motorworks out of Sarasota (it is the season!). You can check out what they have on tap right now by clicking here. If beer isn't your thing, no worries. They also have a solid cocktail lineup. Stormy settled on a blueberry mule (which she said she enjoyed, because it had a nice tang to it with the ginger beer) and I got myself a strawberry mango lightning lemonade. Both beverages had the fruit as the main flavor, which can be very dangerous in alcoholic drinks. I would suggest drinking these slow, especially if you have to drive home. I also would not go in expecting their bartenders to have a specialty drink. Most of them didn't seem to. 


Pizza, 2023

The main food group that New World offers is their pizza. The pizza is actually pretty good, minus the crust. It kind of tastes like they bought premade crust and then added their fresh ingredients on top. The crust was especially disappointing because every other aspect of the pizza was so good. The crust was even cooked well. Stormy ordered the fish sandwich, which in itself was an experience as they have it listed on the menu, but the bartender claimed they don't usually have a fish sandwich. Stormy did state that the fish would've been better as fish & chips as opposed to the sandwich. She did state that the fish itself was really good, but the rest of the sandwich brought it down. Stormy, who likes sauces with everything, ordered a side of honey mustard with her fries and she was not impressed. It was an interesting experience as they mixed honey and spicy mustard together. I ain't mad at it, but it was weird and I figured you should know. If there were one thing I'd change about New World, it would be the food and I only say that because the food is so close to being good. It wouldn't take much at all. But, for the price, I'm not going to complain. It is an affordable night out. 


Stage, 2023

New World also hosts a lot of local bands. They have two very different experiences as well. Their free area (pictured above) usually has acoustic acts playing and entertaining those of us there to eat and drink. You can find some local talent who is practicing a solo set, or songwriters who are trying something new. The other side of the venue is where bands and artists can book their own shows. It's a separate entry with its own bar. Really tight, intimate space. It would be a good club for a band that has a solid following in the area, but there's always something going on. New World is a really solid date night spot. 


Inside, 2023

Things to know before you go:
- The parking lot is across the street in a field. There is plenty of parking.
- If you're coming for a separately ticketed concert event, the stage will be to the left of the entrance.
- The bathrooms are located outside. Just figured I'd get this out of the way now. 
- Most of the outdoor area isn't covered. If it's raining, you'll most likely get wet.

What is your favorite pumpkin beer? Do you like New World's pizza crust? Leave a comment below. If you'd like more information on Tampa, check out my YouTube Channel and if you'd like to support my efforts, don't hesitate to buy a shirt from our Spreadshirt. Also, don't be afraid to click subscribe and you'll instantly be notified whenever a new entry is posted. If you'd like to meet other people who love Tampa, consider joining our Facebook Group. Thank you all and I will see you next time!
Location: 810 E Skagway Ave, Tampa, FL 33604, USA

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