Wait, You Guys Are From New York? That Explains Everything.

Review: Water + Flour (South Tampa)

I’ve been running around Tampa for a week now, eating at all these places—Taco Dirty, Green Lemon, Jay Luigi. And every time, I’ve been scratching my head, thinking, "Why is this actually decent? Florida food isn't supposed to have this much hustle."

I finally found the answer on the back of a menu at Water + Flour on South Howard.

It started in New York City.

I knew it. I knew it. My tastebuds don’t lie. You can take the restaurant out of New York, but you can’t take the New York out of the restaurant.

The Origin Story

Apparently, this whole "Ciccio Restaurant Group" empire began in NYC over 25 years ago with James Lanza. It’s named after his father, Frank "Ciccio" Lanza.

Then, the classic betrayal happened: James came down to Tampa for a visit, saw the sun, saw that people here actually care about "healthy mindsets" (which I assume is code for "fitting into swimwear in December"), and decided to stay.

He opened Ciccio & Tony’s, which is now Water + Flour. This isn't just another spot; this is the Mothership. This is where the New York attitude met the Florida avocado supply.

The Vibe: The Godfather of SoHo

Located at 1015 South Howard Ave, this place feels like the elder statesman of the block. While the other spots are loud and partying, Water + Flour feels like the cool uncle who has seen it all.

They’re open late-ish (until 10 PM on the weekends), and they do the brunch thing on Saturdays and Sundays starting at 11 AM. In New York, brunch is a religion. It’s nice to see they brought the liturgy with them.

The "New York" Factor

Finding out this place has NYC DNA vindicates everything I’ve been saying.

  • The reason the pizza crust at Jay Luigi was fermented properly? New York roots.

  • The reason the service is fast and efficient at Taco Dirty? New York hustle.

  • The reason they aren't afraid of seasoning at Green Lemon? New York standards.

They claim they measure success by "repeat customers." That’s a very old-school, neighborhood mentality. In the City, if you treat a regular wrong, you’re dead to them. It seems they kept that philosophy alive down here.

The Verdict

I feel a little better about liking all these "healthy" Florida restaurants now. It turns out, I was just liking expatriate New York food the whole time.

Water + Flour is the bridge. It’s got the history, it’s got the respect for the ingredients, and it’s got the legacy of Frank Lanza. If you’re a transplant like me and you’re feeling homesick, come here. It’s not exactly Little Italy, but it’s got the soul of the City, just with a much better tan.

Rating: 9.5/10 (Automatic bonus points for the NYC heritage. Traitors for leaving, but I forgive you because the food is good).

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