Some of the best meals in Florida hide behind plain storefronts you could drive past a hundred times. You expect a quick bite and maybe a decent sandwich, then a plate lands in front of you that makes you stop talking mid-sentence.
That is the feeling waiting at one South Tampa spot where fried chicken sits on doughnuts, bacon sneaks into the vegetables, and meatloaf hides a cheesy surprise. If you love comfort food with a wild streak, keep reading, because your next cheat day just found its address.
A South Tampa Corner on MacDill Avenue
Tucked along 2616 S MacDill Ave in the 33629 zip code, Datz sits in the heart of South Tampa, a neighborhood better known for leafy streets and quick commutes than food pilgrimages. The building does not shout for attention.
Yet inside, the kitchen turns out some of the most playful comfort food on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Officially, it is an American restaurant, part gastropub and part gourmet grocery. The menu leans into updated classics, the kind of dishes your grandmother made, only dressed up with a bold twist.
Think meatloaf with a hidden layer of mac and cheese, or crispy chicken resting on a sweet doughnut.
Plenty of places across the state have tried borrowing that over-the-top style. Copycats pile food high and give dishes funny names, but the originals still draw the crowds.
Out-of-town friends often get steered here by locals who want to show off something away from the tourist strips.
Getting oriented is simple. MacDill Avenue runs north and south through South Tampa, making the spot an easy stop on the way toward the beaches, too.
Some diners even swing by on their way out to Indian Rocks Beach, which says a lot about how worthwhile the detour feels.
The Modest Look That Fools First-Timers
Appearances can be sneaky. From the sidewalk, Datz looks like it might be a simple burger joint, maybe a neighborhood hangout with greasy fries and not much else.
Visitors regularly admit they expected exactly that. Then the food arrives, and the mood changes fast.
One common reaction is that the restaurant takes ordinary dishes and somehow makes them extraordinary, which is a big claim for a place with such a quiet outside.
That gap between expectation and reality is part of the fun. There is no fancy entrance or velvet rope.
You walk in, the energy hits you, and suddenly the menu feels like a dare written by someone who really loves breakfast, fried chicken, and cheese.
For Florida food hunters, this is the sweet spot. Places that overdeliver without trying to look important tend to become the spots you tell friends about first.
Datz fits that pattern well, earning its reputation one oversized plate at a time instead of through flashy decor out front.
So if the building seems a little plain as you pull up, do not turn around. The real show starts at the table.
Two Floors, a Patio, and a Lively Buzz
Lively is the word most people land on. Inside, the room hums with conversation, clinking plates, and servers weaving between tables with platters that turn heads.
There is more space than the outside suggests. A second floor offers extra seating, and guests who end up upstairs often mention friendly, attentive service there.
Families have been led up the stairs on busy nights and found it a relaxed spot to settle in.
Then there is the patio. Diners describe the outdoor area as cute and pleasant, a nice choice during Florida’s long stretch of warm weather.
On crowded weekend mornings, the patio can also be your shortcut, since outdoor tables sometimes open up with no wait while indoor seating takes longer.
Decor gets compliments too, adding to an overall chilled and cool vibe. It feels casual enough for flip-flops yet fun enough for a birthday brunch.
Choosing between inside and out mostly depends on your mood. Want the buzz?
Grab a table indoors. Prefer sunshine and a breeze with your biscuits?
Head outside and let the South Tampa afternoon do the rest.
Hot Chicken Piled on a Doughnut
Sweet meets spicy in the dish that sums up the whole restaurant. The Nashville chicken doughnut stacks crispy hot chicken right on top of a doughnut, and yes, people order it just to say they tried it.
Is it a meal or a dessert? Honestly, a bit of both.
Diners who share it at the table seem happiest, since it is rich and filling. One visitor noted it was tasty but better as a shared experiment than a solo entree, which is smart advice for first-timers.
Here is where the copycat talk comes in. Lots of Florida spots have jumped on the chicken-and-doughnut trend, but Datz leans all the way into indulgence.
Bacon shows up across the menu, from breakfast plates to the vegetables, so the whole kitchen has a smoky, salty personality that pairs naturally with that sweet dough.
Fun fact: the restaurant jokes that it tries to win #CheatDay. After one bite of this creation, that mission makes perfect sense.
Order it as a starter for the group, take photos, and save room. The rest of the menu is just as bold.
Meatloaf With a Cheesy Secret
Meatloaf rarely gets people excited. At Datz, it might be the most talked-about item on the entire menu.
The twist is simple and brilliant. The kitchen stuffs the meatloaf with mac and cheese, so every slice reveals a creamy, golden center.
Diners call it amazing, and it shows up in conversations about this place more often than almost anything else.
Why does it work? Meatloaf already feels like a warm hug from childhood.
Adding mac and cheese doubles that nostalgia, turning a weeknight staple into something you would happily drive across Hillsborough County for.
Portions here tend to be generous, so expect leftovers. Many visitors point out how huge servings are compared to the price, which makes a hearty dish like this a real value for anyone watching their budget.
If you only order one classic entree on your first visit, this is a strong candidate. It captures everything Datz does well: familiar flavors, a surprise inside, and a plate big enough to share if you are feeling generous.
Then again, you might not want to.
Chicken and Waffles, Plus the Colonel Bowl
Crispy, fluffy, and a little sweet, chicken and waffles is one of the dishes diners mention most at Datz. On the menu, it goes by a cheeky name, Waffles N Tweet, which fits the restaurant’s playful attitude.
The waffles earn steady praise for their texture. Feedback on the chicken can vary, with one visitor wishing for more seasoning, so it may be worth asking your server for a hot sauce or extra kick if you like bolder flavor.
Then comes the Kentucky Colonel chicken bowl, a sleeper hit. Guests rave about flaky chicken and mashed potatoes that some call outright amazing.
Several people have ordered it on their first trip and planned their return before the check even arrived.
Both dishes follow the same theme: Southern comfort, served big. The Colonel Bowl in particular seems to hit the spot for anyone wanting something filling without the sugar rush of a waffle.
Trying to choose? Grab the waffles for brunch and the bowl for dinner.
Or bring a friend, order both, and trade halfway through like a true food explorer.
Shrimp and Grits With Firecracker Flair
Gulf Coast diners take shrimp and grits seriously. Datz clearly knows that, because this dish ranks among the most mentioned plates on the menu.
What sets it apart is the sauce. Visitors single out the firecracker sauce as extremely good, adding a spicy, zippy edge to the creamy grits underneath.
It brings just enough heat to wake up your taste buds without overpowering the shrimp.
The grits themselves get love too. Even diners who had mixed feelings about other dishes on their table have described the cheese grits as tasty, which tells you the kitchen has this Southern staple dialed in.
It makes a great brunch order, especially paired with something sweet for the table. Shrimp and grits plus a side of monkey bread?
That is a well-balanced morning by Florida standards.
For anyone visiting from out of state, this is a smart way to taste a regional favorite done with a twist. For locals, it is the kind of reliable bowl you crave on a lazy Sunday when cooking at home sounds like far too much effort.
Monkey Bread and Mac and Cheese Bites
Starters at Datz are not an afterthought. Two of them, monkey bread and mac and cheese bites, have built their own fan clubs.
Monkey bread is warm, sticky, and made for pulling apart with your fingers. It shows up again and again in conversations about the restaurant, often as the first thing a table orders.
Even better, it has been offered at half price during certain discounted hours, so ask your server about current deals.
Mac and cheese bites take a beloved side dish and fry it into crunchy, poppable pieces. First-timers who had never tried them before say they would happily order them again.
Kids and grown-ups tend to agree on these, which is rare.
Both work best when shared. Order one sweet and one savory, set them in the middle of the table, and watch them vanish.
Quick tip: these starters are filling. Since entrees here run large, splitting appetizers among a group keeps you from tapping out before the main event arrives.
Pace yourself, because dessert is still waiting next door.
Grilled Cheese Buns and Hand-Shaved Chips
Burger lovers, brace yourselves. One of the signature moves here is using grilled cheese sandwiches as the buns, creating a buttery, melty tower that diners call one of the best burgers they have ever eaten.
The burger menu goes beyond that, with names like the Double D and Darth’s Burger. Opinions vary from burger to burger, but the grilled cheese version gets especially glowing praise for flavorful meat and perfectly cooked, buttery bread.
Do not overlook the sides. Homemade chips are hand-shaved and often finished with a blue cheese drizzle, and visitors call them a great match for sandwiches.
Some say the fries are among the best they have tasted, and truffle fries also earn compliments.
Sandwich fans have more to explore, too. The XXX grilled cheese, a hearty Reuben, and a sandwich called Paris in Spring all appear in diner favorites.
Whatever you pick, get the chips. They are the quiet hero of the table, crunchy and salty, and they make every sandwich feel like a small celebration.
Weekend Brunch Worth Planning Around
Sunday mornings bring out the crowds, and for good reason. Brunch at Datz is big, bold, and full of options you will not find at the average diner.
Eggs Barbacoa is a standout that guests mention by name, often ordering it twice at one table. There is also a BBQ breakfast, breakfast tacos, an omelet with gouda cheese, steak frites, and a dish called Biscuits Crazy.
A vivid purple ube waffle adds color for anyone craving something different.
Pancakes get described as light and fluffy. One clever detail people love: mac and cheese prepared to look like toast, a little visual joke that delights first-timers.
Drinks round things out, and nondrinkers have plenty of fun mocktail options. Iced coffee is popular too.
Brunch-goers praise the variety and the generous portions. Locals often bring visiting friends here for an over-the-top weekend spread, which makes sense.
It is hard to leave hungry, and even harder to choose just one dish when the menu reads like a list of happy surprises.
Dough, the Sweet Shop Next Door
Saving room for dessert pays off big here. Right next door sits Dough, a bakery owned by the same team behind Datz.
Many diners do not realize the connection at first. They spot a dessert shop beside the restaurant, wander over, and later learn it is part of the same family.
Some even buy treats at Dough and carry them back to their table at Datz to finish the meal.
Inside the restaurant, desserts hold their own too. The Outrageous Peanut Butter Pie is a crowd favorite, and diners love sharing before-and-after photos showing how quickly it disappears.
Carrot cake also appears on the menu. If you have ingredient questions, it is smart to double check with your server.
Having a bakery next door adds to the doughnut story in a big way. That sweet, fluffy base under the hot chicken makes even more sense when you know there is a whole shop devoted to dough a few steps away.
Plan a little walk between the two. It turns a simple lunch into a mini food tour, all on one South Tampa block.
Who Feels Right at Home Here
Families, brunch crews, beach-bound road trippers, and curious tourists all find a seat at Datz. The appeal is wide because the menu is wide.
Parents appreciate a kids menu with meals around $10. Chicken tenders come with fruit, a cookie, and a drink, and families say the tenders are large and tasty.
Servers have also been praised for being playful and engaging with children.
Vegetarians are not left out. Staff have happily swapped bacon for mushrooms on breakfast tacos, and salads like Thai One On or the salmon-topped Salmon Hayek give lighter eaters something to enjoy.
Travelers love it as a break from tourist zones. Visitors from up north have been sent here by friends specifically to experience something local, and many plan to return on their next Tampa trip.
And for anyone who believes vegetables can be exciting, try the Brussels sprouts. One diner described them as a delicious bacony delight, proof that the bacon obsession runs straight through the side dishes.
Whoever you bring, there is a plate waiting with their name on it.
Prices, Waits, and Smart Planning
Budget-minded Floridians will like the numbers. Most meals fall in the $10 to $20 range per person, and the huge portions stretch that value even further.
Not every dish wins on price, though. One diner felt a $20 fried shrimp and chicken basket called Surfs Up was underwhelming for the cost, and a pancake kids meal seemed light on sides.
Reading descriptions carefully helps you get the most bang for your buck.
Timing matters. Weekend brunch is peak hour, and indoor waits of 20 to 30 minutes have been reported around noon on Saturdays.
The patio sometimes offers immediate seating, so ask if you are flexible.
Reservations and call-ahead seating are the secret weapons of regulars. People who phoned ahead for Sunday brunch say they were seated right away.
Others called last minute on a busy night and were still squeezed in kindly.
To plan, call +1 813-831-7000 or check datztampa.com for current hours and menus. Parking and traffic on MacDill can vary, so giving yourself a few extra minutes keeps the morning relaxed.
A Friendly Verdict on This South Tampa Favorite
So, does Datz live up to the hype? For most people, the answer leans toward a hearty yes.
The kitchen takes risks, and that means not every plate will be everyone’s favorite. A few diners have found certain burgers dry or some chicken under-seasoned, and service can feel uneven on very busy shifts.
Still, the overall picture is of a fun, generous restaurant with staff who often go above and beyond.
What keeps people coming back is personality. Hot chicken on a doughnut, meatloaf hiding mac and cheese, Brussels sprouts loaded with bacon, and a bakery next door all add up to a place that refuses to be boring.
Copycats can borrow the ideas, but they cannot copy the full package. The two floors, the cute patio, the over-the-top brunch, and the sense that someone in the kitchen is having a blast make this spot hard to duplicate.
Bring an appetite, bring friends who like to share, and maybe skip breakfast beforehand. Datz is the kind of Florida find that turns a quick meal into a story you will retell for weeks.
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