After almost two years prospering at Sparkman Wharf, farm-to-table restaurant The Naked Farmer has opened a new pick-up/delivery location only at 4306 W. Gandy Blvd.
The Naked Farmer quickly became a staple in Tampa, being known for its seasonal and locally sourced food. It’s so refreshing to see healthy options being made more easily accessible. The restaurant offers three options for ordering. You can place a curbside pick-up order, place an order online for delivery, or order inside the restaurant via one of their self-ordering tablets. I opted to order inside the restaurant and was pleasantly surprised by the short wait.
I ordered two of their build-your-own plates and two drinks and waited for no longer than five minutes before my order was brought to the window connecting the kitchen to the ordering area. The traditional bowls are comprised of a base/grain, a main, two sides, and your choice of dressing. My first bowl consisted of farro as the base, charred chicken as the main, roasted sweet potatoes and marinated cucumbers as the side, and cilantro avocado dressing.
This bowl was the perfect combination of flavor and refreshment. The chicken was moist and perfectly seasoned, and to my surprise resembled Chipotle chicken. This was my first time trying farro and it was different than what I expected but pretty good. It was slightly chewy and tasted faintly like cinnamon but was good when paired with the other toppings. The marinated cucumbers and cilantro avocado dressing added a refreshing touch that perfectly combated the other elements of the bowl, but the star of the show was the roasted sweet potato. It was cooked to soft perfection, and the flaky salt sprinkled on top paired perfectly with the sweet taste.
The second bowl had mac and cheese, brown rice, charred chicken, broccoli, and garlic aioli. The brown rice was average but good and was a good base to accompany the toppings. The charred chicken tasted the same as the first bowl, but I will say it paired better with the farro. The mac and cheese wasn’t bad but could’ve used more flavor and more variety in the types of cheese used. The garlic aioli was a nice dressing to pair with the chicken and definitely made the rice more enjoyable. The best part of this bowl by far was the broccoli. Seasoned to perfection, it was refreshing and flavorful.
The bowl portions were pretty good, and the options were very filling but do be warned, it leans on the pricy side. Two bowls and two drinks totaled to $41.43.
I walked into this restaurant with low expectations because of the stigma that healthier fast food tends to be under seasoned and overhyped, but was pleasantly surprised. If you’re looking for a quick but healthy meal for when you’re on-the-go in Tampa, I’d recommend The Naked Farmer.
