Ground Foods Cafe Offers Healthy Take On Italian Favorites

SEMINOLE HEIGHTS, FL — Just in time for the holiday season, Tampa's newest vegetarian cafe is now open in Seminole Heights and is receiving high marks from diners including Tampa Mayor Jane Castor.

Castor joined the owners of Ground Foods Cafe, Greg and Krissi Koodish, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony in November.

"This was one of my favorite celebrations this year - the opening of Ground Foods Cafe, a new foodie addition to Seminole Heights," said Castor in a Facebook post. "In this season of gratitude and giving thanks, I'm thankful for our local businesses that make our thriving city so unique."

Grounds Food Cafe is a fast casual vegetarian restaurant serving organic Italian food, beer and wine. The concept focuses on plant-based, Italian food and imported, Old World Italian wines and beer, served in a welcoming atmosphere with laid-back vibes.

"Our goal is to create entrees that are hearty and healthy; nutritious without lacking in a multitude of flavor," said Greg Koodish, who worked as a chef for 10 years before opening the restaurant with his wife. "We strive to create satisfying dishes without sacrificing taste."

Born and raised in central New Jersey, the Koodishes said they grew up eating "the best Italian-American food the country has to offer." Their diets consisted of generous portions of pizza and pasta, which satisfied their taste buds but took a toll on their health. That's when they began cooking at home, finding healthier ways to prepare their favorite foods.

Now the Koodishes are excited to share their creative, healthy recipes with friends and neighbors.

The menu is entirely vegan and plant based, with the option to add hard aged cheese from a locally sourced small family farm in Tuscany, Italy.

"Our vegan nut-based cheeses are made in house from scratch. We also offer a nut-free vegan cheese as well," said Koodish. "We use as many organic ingredients as possible. For this reason, we present a smaller, rotating menu with weekly specials."

Those specials are earning rave reviews from diners.

After trying the restaurant's garlic and funghi pasta over the weekend, Anna Oliver said she couldn't stop thinking about it the next day.

The dish features fresh garlic and lemon sauce over linguine with sautéed oyster mushrooms.

"The almond ricotta toast is the bomb," said Greg Barnhill after trying the pasta marinara with strozzapreti, served with a house salad and almond ricotta toast.

Other favorites include pumpkin risotto made with creamy organic pumpkin, white wine, garlic and truffle risotto topped with a dollop of almond ricotta and cashew parm; the Panelle Frittata made with chickpea flour, cashew cream, zucchini, tomatoes and herbs served with a side of vodka sauce, cashew cream and arugula; and the Autumn Bowl featuring quinoa, roasted butternut squash, pickled red onion, roasted tomatoes, garlic white bean hummus with a maple mustard vinaigrette over a bed of arugula.

Ground Foods Cafe is open Tuesday through Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.