Throwdown: Chipotle Burrito Bowl vs. Taco Bell Cantina ...: breakfast

Mangroves Restaurant in Tampa recently added Sunday brunch to their lineup. The new brunch menu joins hands with a dinner menu, full bar, and nightlife scene to make Mangroves a go-to spot in the Tampa SoHo area. I recently had the pleasure of trying some of the new brunch items. Mangroves does a great job of putting a new twist on some traditional brunch items.

Let's start with the cocktails - Bloody Mary's and mimosa's are available along with the regular bar menu. I had a couple of mimosa's (my favorite) and the Bloody Mary's get a thumbs up as well. We all need our daily dose of fruit and veggies, right?

Chicken and Bacon Waffles - a bacon infused waffle topped with crispy fried chicken and maple syrup. The fried chicken tender had a great flavor and crispiness to it. The bacon flavor was not overpowering in the waffle.

Eggs Benedict and Eggs Florentine - poached egg on a brioche roll, topped with hollandaise sauce. The Benedict has Canadian Bacon and the Florentine has creamed spinach. I really enjoyed the flavor and crunch of the crispy brioche roll.

Truffled Scrambled Eggs - scrambled eggs infused with truffle, in a phyllo cup and topped with tobiko. Definitely not your mama's scrambled eggs! The eggs were fluffy and great, but I would have enjoyed this just the same without the tobiko on top.

Grilled Cheese Sandwich and Cobb Salad - The sandwich had bacon, mango, and brie on a toasted brioche bun. The Cobb salad had avocado, bacon, blue cheese, red onions, tomato, and mixed baby greens. This was my 2nd favorite dish. I am a recent convert to brie cheese, so this was fantastic for me! The brie was perfectly melted and pairs well with the mango. You really can't go wrong with this option!

Grand Marnier French Toast - this was my favorite dish on the brunch menu! Perfectly tender french toast with a hint of sweetness, it was almost like a dessert. I felt the only thing the french toast was missing was a little whipped cream and/or some fresh berries on top. It was a heavenly dish and I would gladly eat it again and again. I have been thinking about it since Sunday!

All brunch dishes are served with sweet potato hash - diced sweet potato and bell peppers.

Brunch at Mangroves also features live music. The singer of the day was good. She played a lot of female lead songs from the 90s, like The Cranberry's and Sixpence None the Richer. Check out this cool disco ball!

Outdoor seating is available

Cool interior design

Mangroves new brunch menu features everything you could want on a Sunday morning. Prices are reasonable between $9-$14. The next time you are in Tampa's SoHo neighborhood, be sure to check out Mangroves - for brunch, dinner, or a hip night spot.

Which brunch dish at Mangrove's would you most like to try?

Check out what others are saying about Mangroves on UrbanSpoon:

Ciccio's California Cuisine is St. Pete's member of the Ciccio's restaurant family. The Ciccio's restaurant group includes Tampa restaurants Water, Daily Eats, and Green Lemon (formerly known as The Lime). The St. Pete location features fresh and healthy brunch, lunch, and dinner options.

Ciccio's California is located in the Northeast Shopping Center with Publix, across from Gold's Gym near 4th Street and 38th Avenue. Many diners stop by for a healthy dinner after the gym. The menu of Ciccio's California features bowls, wraps, and salads. They also offer thin pizzas (whole and half sizes) and "fit" entrees. Many items on the menu are gluten free and easily identifiable as such. They also serve beer and wine. Happy hour is from 5-7 daily - featuring $2 draft beers and $3 glasses of wine.

My favorite time to visit Ciccio's is on Tuesday nights. $2 Tuesdays features $2 Cali-Flats, and $2 sangria (served in a champagne flute). Cali Flats are a good way to sample the flavors in the Ciccio bowls. The bowl ingredients are served on a warm tortilla. There are 9 to choose from. My favorite is the Mexican - chicken, black beans, tomatoes, avocado, sour cream, cheddar cheese, and lettuce. For $6 you can have 2 tacos and a glass of sangria. Or, 2 sangria and 1 taco... Depends on what kind of day you had at work! $2 Tuesdays are very popular, so expect to wait for seating if you come at a peak dinner hour.

Ciccio's California is also open for brunch on the weekends. Breakfast wraps, bowls, omelettes, and more are served from 10-3. The best part about stopping by for brunch is the $3 mimosas! Bring your pooch and sit outside on a gorgeous Sunday morning - St. Pete style!.

The servers are Ciccio's are all extremely friendly. One standout is a server named Chris, who often works the outside tables. Ciccio's has healthy dining options, reasonable prices, and great service. What more can you ask for? Stop by Ciccio's California Cuisine today and tell them Sweet! Tampa Bay sent you!