The Ultimate Guide to Fine Dining Tampa: Why Hyde Park's Hidden Gem Is Changing Chinese Cuisine
Tampa's fine dining scene just got a serious upgrade, and it's happening in the most unexpected way. In Hyde Park, a modern Chinese restaurant is quietly rewriting the rules of what big city Asian dining can look like in Florida.
Hales Blackbrick delivers a big city Asian dining experience—precise technique, seasonal sourcing, and a menu built for people who track chefs, follow flavors, and notice the details. National attention, Tampa roots.
"asia’s pantry with a florida soul"
Chef Richard Hales describes the food as "asia’s pantry with a florida soul." Chinese techniques stay sharp. Ingredients stay seasonal. The point is clarity: flavors from across Asia, built around what Florida does best.
Built on technique: what Chef Hales mastered traveling through Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Bali, Hong Kong, Korea, and Tokyo—then applied to a Chinese pantry to create something entirely unique. big city Asian dining, Hyde Park. if you know, you know.
Cantonese precision with local produce. The menu keeps expanding, now including authentic Thai curries.
Not fusion as a gimmick. Technique-first cooking with a Florida finish.
A Tampa Native Returns Home
Richard Hales left Tampa 25 years ago to train in kitchens across Asia: Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea, Indonesia. He worked under Jean-Georges Vongerichten in New York, learning from one of the world's most celebrated chefs. In 2013, he opened hales blackbrick in Miami—so Tampa isn’t his first restaurant.
That quarter-century away wasn't just about collecting techniques. It was about understanding how Chinese cuisine adapts, evolves, and thrives in different environments while maintaining its soul. Now Tampa gets the benefit of that education.
The restaurant opened in 2024 at 1809 W Platt St, and the response has been immediate.
Awards That Actually Matter
2024 Best New Restaurant - Tampa Magazine
2024 Best Chinese Restaurant - Tampa Magazine
2014 Best New Restaurant in America (nominee) - Bon Appétit
4.9 stars on OpenTable from 430+ reviews.
These aren't participation trophies. Bon Appetit doesn't hand out "Best New Restaurant" honors to places that are just good for their neighborhood. Tampa Magazine doesn't name you best Chinese restaurant in a city this size unless you're legitimately changing the game.
The recognition confirms what diners already know: this is the best Chinese restaurant Tampa has seen, and one of the most exciting additions to the city's fine dining scene in years.
What Makes Hyde Park Tampa Restaurants Different
Hyde Park gets a big city Asian dining address: modern Chinese cuisine with range, precision, and a point of view—built for nights that feel like an occasion, even when they’re not.
The location itself reflects the philosophy. It's approachable but elevated. Eclectic ambiance that feels special without being stuffy. You can come here for a celebration dinner or just because it's Tuesday and you want something exceptional.
The service matches the food: attentive and knowledgeable without being pretentious. The staff actually understands what they're serving, which matters when you're navigating a menu that spans multiple Chinese regional cuisines.
The Dining Experience
Walk in and you immediately understand this does not look like a traditional Chinese restaurant. It’s the complete opposite: edgy, modern, highly stylized—"NY meets LA with a Tampa vibe," personally designed by Chef Hales with artwork curated from his own private collection.
Check out the current menu and you'll see the range: Sichuan-style dan dan noodles with pork and peanut sauce that bring legitimate heat and numbing spice. Cantonese-style char siu (barbecued pork) with that perfect balance of sweet and savory. Dishes that showcase technique honed over decades.
The menu changes seasonally because that's what serious restaurants do when they care about ingredient quality. Asian techniques applied to what's fresh and available locally means you're getting the best of both worlds: authentic cooking methods meeting Florida's incredible seafood and produce.
Why This Matters for Fine Dining Tampa
Big city Asian dining, Hyde Park. Chef-driven modern Chinese cuisine. Seasonal menus. Elevated service.
Bon Appétit — 2014 Best New Restaurant in America (nominee)
Tampa Magazine — 2024 Best New Restaurant
Tampa Magazine — 2024 Best Chinese Restaurant
Planning Your Visit
Hours:
Tuesday-Thursday: 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Friday-Saturday: 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Sunday: 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Closed Monday
Reservations are recommended, especially for weekend dinner service. This isn't a massive space, and word is definitely out about what's happening here.
The restaurant is located in the heart of Hyde Park at 1809 W Platt St, making it easy to build a full evening in one of Tampa's most walkable neighborhoods.
The Bottom Line
Big city Asian dining in Hyde Park. Modern Chinese cuisine with a Florida edge.
Chef Richard Hales spent 25 years preparing for this: training across Asia, learning from the best, then returning home to Tampa to build something special. "asia’s pantry with a florida soul" is the frame: Asia-forward technique and flavor, finished with Florida’s best ingredients.
The awards confirm it. The reviews back it up. But really, you just need to experience it yourself. Make a reservation and discover why this Hyde Park spot is changing how Tampa thinks about Chinese cuisine.