History of The Floridian
The Original Floridian
TREASURE ISLAND, FLORIDA -- When Val and Ted Dilar moved from Tampa to Treasure Island in 1992 they could not have known that within a year they would be the owners of one of the most popular restaurants in the Tampa Bay area.
Soon after settling in Treasure Island Val began to crave a quality Cuban sandwich made famous in her home town of Tampa. Cuban sandwiches were available at several beach area locations but according to Val’s discriminating taste, “Missed something.” That’s when Val and Ted hit upon the idea of offering the beaches a quality Cuban sandwich and the search for that perfect location began.
An insurance office located in downtown Treasure Island became available and Val and Ted’s big adventure began.
 The summer of 1993 was witness to the transformation of 230 107th Avenue from insurance office to restaurant and the Floridian opened its doors. Armed with a secret recipe and a dedication to quality, the Floridian quickly became a beach favorite for diners craving a great Cuban sandwich.
The Floridian's grand opening was on the 4th of July weekend, 1993. Val and Ted prepared a special Grand Opening Menu which included their now famous "Authentic Cuban Sandwich" and many of the items that today remain a staple of The Floridian.
Shortly after The Floridian opened, rave reviews began to pour in including a December 1993 article in the Beach Life newspaper which called The Floridian "one more little treasure to remind you that when you are in Florida the finest things in life are usually just around the corner."
The Floridian participated in the Taste of Treasure Island celebration in 1994 and was the recipient of a poem that was written by a Treasure Island resident and published in the Island Reporter. Speaking of newspapers, The Floridian was reviewed for a second time by Beach Life in an article that asked "If your taste buds relish the thought of Ybor City, take heart -- it's closer than you think."
 All of the bay area learned just how good The Floridian's food was when in 1997 the St. Petersburg Times proclaimed the Floridian's trademark sandwich to be the "Best Cuban Sandwich in Tampa Bay."
This honor was followed six months later with The Floridian being named by local television channel Fox 13's "Taste of Tampa Bay's Favorite Cuban Sandwich." The Floridian's success was also noted in a Treasure Island Sun article from 1998.
The Floridian underwent a major change in 1998 when Val and Ted decided to remodel their restaurant. A new roof design and covered patio were added to the restaurant giving the Floridian a more tropical flavor. The new Floridian looked so good the City of Treasure Island issued a proclamation of beautification to Val and Ted.
With the new look and the same great food the rave reviews continued including articles in the St. Pete Times, Tropic Views and Tampa Bay News.
Today, The Floridian continues it's tradition of serving the very best Cuban sandwich in the Tampa Bay area. In addition to The Floridian's famous Cuban sandwich, The Floridian offers a variety of other sandwiches and The Floridian's popular Black Bean dishes and soups. |
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Expansion of The Floridian
TAMPA, FLORIDA -- What was once limited by distance to a weekend indulgence, The Floridian restaurant of Treasure Island recently expanded into South Tampa much to the delight of Hillsborough County devotees.
Known across Tampa Bay for their award-winning Cuban sandwich, the new location at 4424 West Kennedy Boulevard boasts an expanded menu featuring additions like breakfast Cubans, homemade fries with spicy dipping sauce and salads; however, the focus remains on what The Floridian has perfected over 15 years.
“Simply put, we craft the finest Cuban sandwich on the planet,” said Harold Seltzer, President of Floridian Restaurants LLC. “We are so confident in this claim that we put it right on the menu.”
Local fans accustomed to dining at the original location in beach wear and flip-flops will be pleased to find their favorite Cuban sandwich available near their workplace. Designed to meet the needs of area businesses and their employees, the West Kennedy Boulevard location offers full catering for meetings and events in addition to delivery of individual menu items including sandwiches; black beans and rice; homemade soups; and café con leche.
“Our customers have been so excited to find The Floridian on the Tampa side of the bay,” said Val Dilar who along with husband, Ted Dilar, founded the original Treasure Island location and partnered with Seltzer on the expansion site. “It’s what they have been asking for, and it’s the right location at the right time.”
With plans for further expansion, The Floridian looks to become synonymous with the Cuban sandwich across the state.
Be sure to call in advance to take advantage of The Floridian's take out service and delivery. Online ordering is now available for your added convenience. View and select from our menu items or click on the Shopping Cart to place your order with just the click of your mouse. |
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