Water Street Tampa's Dining Scene Comes Alive with Boulon and Wagamama

The long-awaited street-level dining experience of Water Street Tampa is finally coming to life with the arrival of two new restaurants in the coming weeks. Boulon Brasserie, a French restaurant by Tampa restaurateur Jeff Gigante, is set to open its doors on January 24th and promises to offer a culinary journey through the streets of France. Asian restaurant Wagamama will also be joining the scene on February 11th, bringing a taste of authentic Asian cuisine to the district.

These two new additions mark the first full-service dining concepts to open within Water Street, though there are several other dining options within Sparkman Wharf, the mixed-use development that acts as the district's southern anchor. Food and beverage concepts are an integral part of Water Street's vision, and occupy the majority of the retail space in the first phase.

Water Street has hardly been desolate since its first residents moved into apartment tower Heron in 2021. Publix GreenWise Market opened in August 2021, apartment towers Cora and Asher have opened their doors, as well as the luxurious Edition hotel, which includes 38 luxury condos on its upper floors. Office tower Thousand & One is home to the corporate headquarters of Tampa cybersecurity firm ReliaQuest.

But the pedestrian level experience, which developer Strategic Property Partners has long touted as Water Street's differentiator, has lagged behind the arrival of residents, office workers and hotel guests. A few storefronts were illuminated with Tampa-grown ice cream brand Chill Bros., fast-casual Naked Farmer, and an Orangetheory fitness studio that relocated across the street from the Channel district. However, most storefronts were dark, with interior construction hidden from public view by marketing wraps.

But now, with the opening of Boulon, on the ground floor of Thousand & One, and Wagamama, on the ground floor of Asher, the district is finally set to come to life. The regular foot traffic that these restaurants will attract will mark the beginning of a new era for Water Street.

Other restaurants that will open in Water Street this year include Predalina, a seafood-forward Mediterranean restaurant from the parent company of Oxford Exchange, Ash, an Italian restaurant from chef Ferrell Alvarez and partners, 3 Corners, a pizza restaurant from Ichicoro owner Noel Lane, The Pearl, an oyster restaurant from Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, and Small Giant, an "Ohio-style pizza" restaurant from the owner of Cru Cellars. With these new restaurants, Water Street is set to become a culinary destination and a must-visit for foodies in Tampa.