Restaurants
Oct 24, 2012
Boca
The day after going to Saturday Morning Market and Z Grille, I checked out the opening day of the Seminole Heights Market Sunday Morning Market. Once again, none of the food venders had anything that I was really in the mood to eat, so I decided to go out for brunch once again. I decided not to stay in Seminole Heights, but to return to my neck of the woods and give Boca a try. Boca has been open quite a few months, and even though I live nearby, this was my first visit there. I arrived shortly after they opened and there was already a line to get in, but most of the people were there for a baby shower. The hostess told me the only place there was room to sit was the bar, which seemed odd because I didn't see anyone sitting outside, and the weather was beautiful once again. I didn't fret and took a seat at the bar.
While normally I would have opted once again for a bloody mary, I figured since I had two the day before I might as well enjoy a beer instead. I decided to try the Terrapin Hopsecutioner IPA on tap. It was enjoyable... I'm not as good of a beer critic as I am a food critic, so I'm having trouble remembering exactly what I liked about it, but I do know I liked it.
Once again in my sandwich mood during brunch, I this time ordered a breakfast BLT and was able to incorporate an egg into the meal as well. A duck egg in particular, along with heirloom tomato, hydro petite romaine, bacon, and avocado mayo. The crisp bacon and runny yolk duck egg were both cooked perfectly. The bread was griddled but still blonde, as if rushed, but this was redeemed by the bread being of very high quality and fresh enough that it would have probably been good even if not griddled at all. The heirloom tomato was underripe, adding good moisture to the sandwich but not much great tomato flavor. Avocado mayo was in no way distinguishable from mayo mayo, and sometimes I wish people would save me the "creativity" and just put a few slices of avocado on my sandwich. The fries were obviously homemade, which also equated to them being limp... but I have admitted this before, limp fries are a huge guilty pleasure of mine (don't tell any of my chef friends though). With a more golden exterior, juicier tomato, and evidence of the existence of avocado somewhere within, this could be an amazing sandwich. As it was, it was still a great sandwich, by far better than a diner BLT (which I don't ever turn down either). For twice the price though, and in a restaurant which markets itself by the ingredients it proclaims to use, I felt I had to be twice as objective in my critique. That being said, I definitely enjoyed it enough to return, and am curious to try the lunch menu and especially the dinner menu.
Boca
901 W. Platt Street
Tampa, FL 33606
813-254-7070
