Ella’s was established in 2009 in Tampa’s historic Seminole Heights district. The website says it’s a place where “blue hairs hang out with blue hair.” I found that to be true. Officially old enough to be a blue hair, I had a young couple with their dachshund, Pippin, sitting right behind me in the outdoor garden section. So yes, it’s appealing to all ages. And if you don’t want to be outdoors, the inside is just as inviting.
My waitress, Hannah, was personable and knowledgeable. She made great recommendations and checked back with me often enough to make sure everything was okay but not enough to drive me crazy (you know those establishments where they check in every 10 seconds and always when you’re chewing something or in the middle of a serious conversation, right?).
According to Hannah, Ella’s makes everything from scratch. I could tell the bread was homemade, likewise the soup, and I think maybe even my hamburger bun. I’m pretty sure no one was out back churning the butter but I took her statement to mean they weren’t opening cans for the tomato soup or ripping open packages of pre-washed lettuce for the salad.
The soup was fantastic and the homemade bread was perfect for dipping and sopping up the last teeny bits of juice in the bottom of the bowl.
The menu is just as eclectic as the decor and has some great titles for the dishes. Their appetizers offer things like “Viva La Chimi!” (chimichanga), “Spread the Love” (hummus) and “Wingin’ It” (chicken wings). There is a soup of the day and a couple of salads. Entrees include “Kiss My Grits” (fresh catch or shrimp over cheese grits), “Ole Mole” (mojo chicken thigh), a bacon-wrapped meatloaf, beef tenderloin, pork chop or a curry that one of my friend’s tried (asking for level “mild”). He said it was delicious but he could also attest to the fact that his insides were now squeaky clean. I love curry but, based on his description of the aftermath, I passed.
There are pizzas that you can also get as a calzone – “Chili Mango Tango,” “El Diablo,” “The Hippy,” and “The DON!”. I took Hannah’s recommendation and went with “The Wino” burger. It had bacon apple jam, gorgonzola, arugula and red onion. I love burgers but I wasn’t sure about putting a sweet jam on it, so she put that in a little dish on the side. I needn’t have worried; it was delicious.
I finished off my meal with coffee and a freshly-made piece of key lime pie. I know – it looks wonderful, doesn’t it? Oddly, it was my least favorite thing. I would’ve like a tad bit more lime flavor. That said, you can rest assured I ate it. And don’t take that to mean it ruined my dinner. I’d go back. It was great.
My only suggestion would be that if you eat early in the evening, you might want to eat inside. As lovely as the garden area is, and in spite of the sun-blocking “triangles” they have overhead, once the sun starts to set, you will have it right in your eyes and will be sorry you didn’t bring your sunscreen.
You know how you walk into a new place and it just has that great vibe, that je ne sais quoi? Ella’s is that place. It’s warm, inviting and ever so slightly offbeat with its sculptures and parking lot murals.
- 5119 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa, Florida
- 813-234-1000
- ellasforkartcafe.com
- Wheelchair accessible
- Monday – Closed / Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM / Friday & Saturday 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM / Sunday 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Lisa Browder 
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