Datz Celebrating Fourth Anniversary; Expands at Former Kalupa's Site

Truffle fries. Mac and cheese bites. Roger's Rockin' Reuben.

They're favorites on the menu at Datz, a popular eatery at 2616 S. MacDill Avenue that co-owner Suzanne Perry calls a "gastropub with elevated comfort food."

Today, Datz marks its four year anniversary. Perry, who owns the restaurant with husband Roger, plans to give away free cupcakes to customers to thank them for patronizing the orange and white building near Bay to Bay Boulevard.

Since opening its doors, Datz has received accolades on The Travel Channel and been praised locally for their craft beer selection.

The Perry's recently announced their purchase of Kalupa's Bakery next door. They plan to open a business in April called "Dough" in the old bakery's location that will sell bread, pastry and exotic donuts with flavors such as chocolate chili pepper.

In the meantime, Datz uses the space to make items for the restaurant.

Perry said Datz opened on a whim after she moved to Tampa from Marion County, where she and Roger had horse farms. They weren't big cooks, but figured they could handle running a deli.

"We said, 'We're gonna sell sandwiches,'" she recalled. "How hard can that be?"

The two imagined taking their friends there for dinner, and thought they'd attract the "Palma Ceia business crowd" for meals. They were surprised when the business took off, attracting a demographic Suzanne Perry calls the "young hipster Portlandia crowd."

"It turned into a runaway train of a restaurant," said Suzanne Perry. "We were on a four-hour wait on Sunday."

For now, the Perry's future plans are cut and dry.

"Roger and I will be here and a part of Datz 'til we fall over."

Have you been to Datz? What's your favorite item? Tell us in the comments.