Bailey’s Makes a Big Impression
By Vanessa Daniel
Not Formal, Not Fussy, Not Fusion: So states the sign that hangs outside on the walls of an old 1920s style bungalow in the heart of Old Hyde Park village. With that motto in mind, Bailey’s Catering & Restaurant is out to please diners in an extremely welcoming environment with high-quality, perfected home style cooking.
Unlike some restaurants that brag of healthy options or small servings, chef and owner Kim Bailey’s dining options complement his diet craze: The North Beach Diet. If you are unfamiliar with this latest idea, just read the title of the book to get a good idea of what he is talking about: “The North Beach Diet: Add Belly and Hip Fat Instantly with Batter Fried Twinkies and More.”
This is not your typical restaurant.
When dining at Baileys, expect the owner to personally welcome you at your table, and be prepared to enlighten him with the dessert selection you plan on devouring that evening, as it is a requirement when indulging at the “big yellow house” on Rome Ave.
The vast menu changes weekly, but will always evoke inner childhood memories with options such as pot roast and meatloaf to fried shrimp and mac and cheese.
On our most recent visit, we started with the Bailey’s AWESOME Corn Fritters ($6.95). Calling them an appetizer is an understatement; the dinner sized portion of fritters were served in a large basket, sprinkled in powdered sugar and served with orange blossom honey. This, in addition to the complimentary black bean humus and pita chips brought immediately to the table after being seated, had me full before I was even able to decide on my main entrée.
Somehow I found enough willpower to opt for the incredible homemade chicken and dumplings for two ($16.95). OK, so it’s not really made to be shared by two people, but the filled platter might as well have been split! The dish came served in a large bowl with a generous amount of shredded chicken, perfectly prepared dumplings and served with 2 sides. My side preferences that evening were the mashed potatoes and the cauliflower / broccoli mash – a must at this place!
If deciding on a menu selection is too hard for you though, don’t worry about deciding on the wrong option – everything on the menu is made fresh from scratch daily, using only the finest ingredients all the way down to Kim’s homemade Madagascar vanilla ice cream.
And don’t forget to wash down your dinner with a reasonably priced bottle of wine or beer. You may say to yourself, no restaurant offers a reasonable priced wine and/or alcohol menu and you’re right – Baileys is BYOB with no corkage fee and therefore YOU choose what price you are paying for your evening’s beverages. No Fuss, indeed!
The only downfall of Bailey’s is that they are only open from Tuesday through Thursday evenings, 5:30pm – 8:30pm. You will crave its tantalizing menu much more often than that.
If you simply can’t live without the food on those nights they are not open, you can always call upon Baileys for your catering needs. Baileys specializes in offering its clients with “delectable food from around the globe” for your corporate meeting or personal gathering at your home.
Bailey’s Catering
815 South Rome Avenue
Tampa, Florida 33606
(813) 254-8018
(800) 977-9423
www.BaileyCatering.com
