Filed Under:Amanda Mole, Catering, Food & Drink, Publix, Target
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Eating kosher can be difficult if you don’t know where to find quality markets and restaurants. Fortunately, the Tampa Bay area has a selection of kosher restaurants that are serving up anything your taste buds might desire, whether it’s a Jewish-style breakfast platter, a simple pastrami sandwich or creamy frozen yogurt. Check out some of these popular Tampa Bay favorites and sample some of the kosher creations.

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Jo-El’s Kosher Deli
2619 23rd Avenue N
St. Petersburg FL 33713
(727) 321-3847
www.joelskosher.com

Hours: Mon – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tues to Thurs – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sun – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Jo-El’s takes kosher seriously – so seriously that the restaurant is under the supervision of the Vaad Hakashrut of Pinellas County. Half restaurant and half butcher shop, this place knows how to deliver high-quality deli meats. In addition to kosher meats and poultry, Jo-El’s also serves hot dogs and an assortment of seafood favorites, including hand sliced nova, whitefish salad and Norwegian salmon. Round off your meal with some fresh rye bread or New York-style potato salad.

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Nosh A Rye
23 Avenue of the Flowers
Longboat Key, FL 34228
(941) 387-9300 

Hours: Mon to Sat – 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sun – 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Nosh A Rye is a New York-style deli that doesn’t scrimp on quality or portion sizes. Mounds of kosher meat are piled high on homemade rye bread, soups are made from scratch and breads and pastries are baked in-house. If you want to try something traditional with a bit of a twist, order the Edward G. Robinson sandwich. Corned beef is piled on a hot, split potato latke and served with applesauce or sour cream. Nosh A Rye also offers a children’s menu that features kid-friendly foods like kosher hotdogs and grilled cheese.

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Nellie’s Deli & Catering
15 S Beneva Road
Sarasota, FL 34232
(941) 924-2705
www.nelliescatering.com

Hours: Mon to Fri – 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Sat – 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Nellie’s Deli is an award-winning restaurant and catering service and has won numerous awards since 1991. The restaurant is open for both breakfast and lunch, and guests can choose anything from a rye bagel with butter to a nova platter for breakfast or a pastrami sandwich to a turkey Goldberg sub for lunch. Nellie’s also offers homemade soups, salads, quiche and desserts. For the health-conscious, vegetarian and gluten-free meals are also available.

Related: Tampa’s Best Vegetarian Restaurants 

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SunniBunni Yogurt & Smoothies
1916 Bay Road
Sarasota, FL 34239
(941) 554-8744
www.sunnibunni.com

Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

Looking for a little something to satisfy your sweet tooth? SunniBunni operates five stores in the Tampa Bay area, serving up some of the freshest and healthiest frozen yogurt and smoothies around. SunniBunni uses real yogurt that is carefully crafted to maintain high levels of beneficial probiotic cultures, including live acidophilus. Organic, fresh, never-frozen fruit, organic fruit juices and sugar-free soy milk or almond milk are blended together with the yogurt to create a delicious, colorful and healthful meal. Protein powder is also available upon request.

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Kosher at Home

If you don’t feel like going out to eat and you want to whip up your own kosher meals at home, there are a variety of markets that offer kosher items. Kosher Kaddy, Bethlehem Market, Publix, Super Target and Whole Foods Market all keep a variety of items on their shelves for the kosher-conscious. Pick up some matzo, charoset, gefilte fish, and some fresh vegetables and create your own meal at home.

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Amanda Mole has been writing since she was old enough to hold a pencil and cooking since she was tall enough to reach the stove. She believes that food provides more than just vital nutrients: it is an irreplaceable part of countless cultural and social activities. As a Tampa Bay resident for the past 21 years, she is well acquainted with the incredibly diverse range of restaurants, bars, and food festivals that the area has to offer. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.