Quaint Oldsmar, situated between the bustling cities of Clearwater and Tampa, has a small-town feel that draws locals for its city celebrations, Old Florida folks and just honest-to-goodness charm. I can say that because I am an Oldsmar resident, and those qualities make me fall in love with Oldsmar over and over again.
But there’s more to Oldsmar than just that: We are also a culinary destination. Take a look at City Fish Seafood Grill & Chop House, found right off Tampa Road in the middle of Oldsmar’s downtown district.
It’s been a decade since City Fish opened its doors, and it’s still as popular as ever. City Fish serves the Tampa area’s finest seafood and sushi in a unique, tropical ambiance. Every dish is created using only the freshest, finest ingredients. In fact, you’ll find seafood items on City Fish’s constantly changing market fresh menu that you won’t find anywhere else: Wahoo, thresher shark, mutton snapper, blue crab claws and so much more.
Executive Chef and General Manager Nicholas Pastis elaborates, “We always serve the freshest fish, and I have the flexibility to change the menu two or three times a week depending on what’s the freshest.”
His coastal regional-style menu isn’t the only perk drawing a crowd. City Fish recently started “Wine Down Wednesdays,” hosted every Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. with a $25 flat rate for bottomless wine and appetizers. Pastis typically pours 9-14 different styles of wine for tasting and complements that with an appetizer buffet and DJ-style music.
“This is really a social event, a great time to meet people or reconnect with old friends. Plus, you can try wines from all over the world,” Pastis says.
If you can’t make it out on a Wednesday evening, City Fish has you covered with another special event: Sunday brunch buffet. This is an event not only for your taste buds but for your eyes as well with more than 110 items.
“Our Sunday brunch is pretty massive,” Pastis explains. “And I take great pride in our assortment.” Choose selections from all tasty stations such as: Mimosas, sangria, mojitos and make-your-own bloody mary bar, omelet, carving, seafood on ice, pasta and dessert stations along with breakfast and lunch items. If you can’t make it on Sunday, patrons can get some made-to-order brunch items on Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. Plus, the establishment also offers its same favorites from the dinner menu for lunchtime patrons. Some options even offer smaller portions for speed and ease to accommodate lunch time crunches.
Overall, Pastis is excited to be part of the growth of Oldsmar, having held culinary positions with Walt Disney World and the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino among others before coming to CityFish this past January.
“Oldsmar, like any other town, as it grows, it attracts different demographics to come in. Now, we are seeing more foodies and wine aficionados. And as Oldsmar grows, I truly believe more and more people will be looking for things that no one else has on their menus. For us, seafood is our number one item with everything else secondary. After all, our name is “CityFish.”
