Foodie Mob

06/08/2026

🏆 FOODIE MOB REVIEW: Toula's Trailside Cafe

After nearly 19 years of serving the Tarpon Springs community, Toula's Trailside Cafe has become the first recipient of the Foodie Mob Local Legend Award.

I recently stopped in to see what makes this longtime local favorite so special.

Read my full review below! 🍽️

🔗 https://localfoodiemob.com/foodie-mob-review-toulas-trailside-cafe-a-place-that-feels-like-home/

Keep It Local. Keep It Mob.

06/07/2026

🏆 LOCAL LEGEND REVIEW 🏆

After nearly 19 years of serving the Tarpon Springs community, Toula's Trailside Cafe has earned the distinction of becoming the first recipient of the Foodie Mob Local Legend Award.

From the welcoming atmosphere to the quality food and dedication to the community, it's easy to see why so many locals have made Toula's a favorite for years.

Read my full review below and discover why this longtime local favorite earned this special recognition.

https://localfoodiemob.com/foodie-mob-review-toulas-trailside-cafe-a-place-that-feels-like-home/

Have you been to Toula's? What's your favorite menu item?

Keep It Local Keep It Mob

06/06/2026

🏆 Foodie Mob Local Legend Award 🏆

Today, I am honored to present the very first Foodie Mob Local Legend Award to Toula's Trailside Cafe

For nearly 18 years, Toula's has been a gathering place for locals and visitors alike, serving quality food and creating lasting memories for the Tarpon Springs community.

The Foodie Mob Local Legend Award is reserved for restaurants that have demonstrated longevity, consistency, and a lasting impact on the local dining scene. These are the places that have stood the test of time and become part of the fabric of our community.

Congratulations to Toula's Trailside Cafe on becoming the first recipient of this special recognition.

Thank you for your years of dedication and for continuing to serve Tarpon Springs with pride.

A full Foodie Mob review of Toula's Trailside Cafe will be posted shortly, where I'll share my dining experience and explain why this local favorite earned the very first Local Legend Award. Stay tuned!

🍽️

06/04/2026

Having lunch Toula's Trailside Cafe time for some good eats!

06/04/2026

Share Your Plate

SHOW US WHAT YOU'RE EATING!

Drop a photo of your lunch, dinner, dessert, or snack in the comments.

Let's see what our local foodies are enjoying today!

Keep it Local Keep It Mob

05/31/2026

Just dropped my latest Foodie Mob review on Salty Soul Island Kitchen Island Kitchen in Dunedin 👀

I went with the Sunburst BLT, and honestly, it might be one of the best BLTs I've had.

The combination of goat cheese and orange honey spread took it to another level. Add in the cozy beach-house atmosphere and friendly service, and this one turned into a memorable dining experience.

👉 Full review: https://localfoodiemob.com/salty-soul-island-kitchen-serves-up-more-than-just-a-great-blt/

Have you been to Salty Soul? What's your go-to order?

05/31/2026

Why a Health Department score doesn’t tell the whole story.

When looking at a health department numerical score, it’s often seen by the public as an end all-be all of a food service establishment’s operation.

Here’s how AND why it’s skewed:

The Health Department treats scoring like a school teacher starting at 100 and working their way down, and while the reduction in points can be anything from an employee drink stored in the wrong place to improper food handling or visible rodents, you have to remember that many minor or seemingly “silly” violations can quickly lead to a score that is no longer an “A.”

Also, remember these inspectors are assigned an area and most restaurants are inspected 2-4 times a year (most are 2) depending on what they sell and past violations, so if there are 150 restaurants in their area, they need to perform up to 300-400 inspections by the end of a fiscal or licensing year.

So, besides immediately and emotionally reacting like many do nowadays, download Life Kitchen (no, this isn’t sponsored).

It’s a free phone app for both IOS and Android that lists every Florida food service operator’s score from the previous five (2.5 - 3 years) inspections with full descriptions of each violation.

Remember, people make mistakes - even you - and no one does anything perfect, but you can make up your own mind and decide for yourself what would’ve been acceptable at that exact moment of that exact day the health department decided to show up.

If you’re liking what we’re doing and want more information, history, and reviews of your favorite recommendations in Tarpon Springs and around Pinellas County, follow along by liking the page!

05/30/2026

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬?

Well, it depends on who ya ask and where ya look.

if you travel down South Pinellas Avenue, you may find yourself reminiscing back to the 1980’s when the Manatee Village Shopping Center was built.

But, before that, Peter and Angeline Retsos, who registered “Rodie’s” with the state division of corporate filings on October 5, 1982 had operated Rodie’s Country Cook’n at 914 South Pinellas Avenue.

Then came the strip malls, and WE ALL thought they were the best thing since sliced bread, didn’t we?! Haha The perfect hang out spot to cruise and meet up with your friends back in high school! (The memories are flowin’ for some of ya, ain’t they?)

But, Rodie’s was smart. They didn’t go INTO the strip mall. They chose that spot right on the corner of South Pinellas and Meres Boulevard around November of 1989 where it still stands today - 1097 South Pinellas Avenue - an absolute prime location.

When the Retsos’ corporate entity was dissolved on September 22, 2000, Penny and George Lairkos took over and changed the name to Rodie’s Restaurant and Pancake House.

Practically raising a family inside the restaurant including their son, John, who learned to cook and operate the day to day inside Rodie’s, Patty and George continue to be the anchor that hold Rodie’s bow intact while John is a successful professional after operating a few food establishments.

Open 7:30 am - 2:30 pm daily, one of the longest running brands in the city has continued their skillet style breakfast and pancake menu while incorporating a Midwest lunch vibe with sandwiches, wraps and soups around 11 am.

So, depending on who ya ask and where ya look, Rodie’s is still named Rodie’s Country Cook’n on some well known travel sites while others have adapted the current Rodie’s Restaurant and Pancake House.

No matter what ya call it, Rodie’s is always packed, and if you don’t like crowds, avoid weekend breakfasts like the plague, but if you’re brave and it’s a nice day, there’s even outdoor seating to make it a little more bearable.

Sean Kelly

05/30/2026

Meet Our Newest Foodie Mob Contributor!

I'm excited to officially welcome Sean Kelly to the Foodie Mob team!

Sean brings decades of food industry experience and a passion for great food, local restaurants, and community conversation. If you've been following our recent content, you've probably already seen his first article and the great discussions it has sparked.

Together, Sean and I bring more than 60 years of food industry experience to Foodie Mob, and we're looking forward to sharing more restaurant features, food stories, and local discoveries with all of you.

Please join me in welcoming Sean to Foodie Mob! Be sure to say hello and let us know what local restaurants, food trucks, and hidden gems you'd like us to feature.

Welcome aboard, Sean! 🍔🍕🌮

Tony

05/29/2026

What a great deal!

Introducing our new $8 Happy Hour & Sunset Specials! Come enjoy 8 of our favorite items for just $8 each. Great food, refreshing drinks, friendly service and fun atmosphere await you. Come get happy with us!