Seed Oil Free Restaurants in Tampa

Cooks in: 100% olive oil, whole chain

Florida fast-casual healthy-bowl chain founded in Tampa in 2014, now 16 locations statewide including Westshore and Howard Ave in Tampa. Their own site states directly, "No seed oils," and "Cooked with 100% olive oil," a chain-wide switch covered by trade press (QSR Magazine) after a year-long recipe rebuild.

Cooks in: Beef tallow (fries)

100-year Tampa family legacy running a whole-animal butcher shop and café at 3255 W Cypress St in West Tampa, featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. The restaurant has no website of its own (Facebook page only, no written cooking-fat statement), so this claim is sourced from LocalFats.com, a community-maintained directory, which lists beef tallow for their beef fat fries specifically, not a kitchen-wide policy.

Cooks in: 100% avocado oil and extra-virgin olive oil

Farm-to-table counter service in Water Street Tampa. Their own site states directly: "We use only 100% Avocado Oil and Extra Virgin Olive Oil." A whole-kitchen claim, though the site doesn't name a formal 'No List' or mention butter or duck fat as the old copy here claimed.

Cooks in: Not specified by name; kitchen-wide seed-oil-free claim

Greek restaurant in Hyde Park. Their own homepage states directly: "WE ARE PROUDLY A SEED OIL FREE ESTABLISHMENT!" a whole-kitchen claim, though the site doesn't name which specific oils or fats replace them.

Cooks in: Avocado oil and olive oil

True Food Kitchen made a chain-wide commitment to 100% seed-oil-free cooking in February 2025, documented in an official press release covering all 46 US locations. They cook exclusively in avocado oil and olive oil. Tampa location at 3645 Midtown Dr.

Cooks in: 100% beef tallow (fryers, chain-wide)

Steakburger chain. Steak 'n Shake switched its fryers to 100% beef tallow chain-wide and publishes a dedicated transparency page documenting it, covering fries, onion rings, and other fried items. Tampa location at E Hillsborough Ave.

Cooks in: Beef shortening/tallow (fryer); most wet sauces contain soybean oil

Wings and sports bar chain. Standard US sit-down locations have fried in beef shortening (100% beef tallow) since 2017, confirmed in the chain's own allergen documentation. The wings themselves come out of the fryer seed-oil-free; most wet sauces (Buffalo, Honey BBQ, Asian Zing) contain soybean oil, so naked or dry-rub orders are the clean choice. Tampa location on S Dale Mabry Hwy (standard sit-down, not the takeout-only BWW Go format on N Dale Mabry, which uses soybean oil).

Cooks in: Extra-virgin olive oil and avocado oil (roasted proteins/vegetables)

Salad and grain bowl chain. Sweetgreen switched to EVOO and avocado oil for roasted proteins and vegetables, per the CEO's public statement and reporting. Sweetgreen's own published Nutrition + Allergens Guide shows several dressings, including Balsamic Vinaigrette and Caesar, list sunflower oil (a seed oil) as an ingredient, not olive oil, so dressings and toppings aren't confirmed under this claim. Multiple locations.

Cooks in: Olive oil (Crazy Feta dip only); falafel/pita chips/pita crisps fried in canola oil

Mediterranean fast-casual chain. Cava's own 2017 statement to the Vegetarian Resource Group confirms falafel, pita chips, and pita crisps are fried in canola oil. The only item Cava's current published ingredients page names olive oil for is the Crazy Feta dip; hummus, harissa, tzatziki, and the grilled proteins aren't broken out by oil type in anything Cava has published. Multiple Tampa Bay area locations.

Cooks in: Avocado oil, butter, olive oil, and beef tallow, whole kitchen

Clearwater bistro that bills itself as "Tampa Bay's first and only 100% certified seed oil-free, full-service restaurant." Their own site states directly: "Our kitchen proudly uses avocado oil, butter, olive oil, and beef tallow, never seed oils," and their menu names beef tallow specifically for the fries. A whole-kitchen policy naming all four fats used, not just an exclusion claim.

Cooks in: Grass-fed beef tallow (proteins), brown butter, whole kitchen

St. Petersburg bistro in the Warehouse Arts District. Their own homepage states directly: "Seed oil free. gluten free. taste full," and "Our kitchen is free from refined and seed oils." Their menu names the replacement fat on specific dishes: salmon "seared in grass fed tallow," ribeye "pan seared in grass fed beef tallow." A whole-kitchen policy with named fats, not just an exclusion claim.