Business & Tech

Tia's Serves Up Latin Flavors

Tia's Authentic Latin Food is at 7161 Ulmerton Road in Largo. The establishment prides itself on having a home-style taste.

Hungry for roast pork, crisp Cuban bread, breakfast burritos, plantains, yellow rice?

Head to a new Ulmerton Road eatery and find out what “Tia” is cooking.

The name of Largo’s new Latin restaurant, Tia's Authentic Latin Food, comes from Susan Gonzalez's nieces and nephews asking “Tia, what do you have cooking?” 

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Gonzalez, 61, just loves to cook and entertain.

 “I always wanted a restaurant. It has been my dream. Because of cooking at home so much, people were always asking me, ‘Why don’t you open a restaurant?’” Gonzalez said. “I like cooking for a lot of people and watching them say this is delicious.”

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Born in Puerto Rico, Gonzalez learned to cook from her mother and grandmother. At age 10 she moved to New Jersey and then to Spring Hill in 1988.

The new restaurant, which opened in September, is a birthday present from her son Gabriel who gave her the keys to the Ulmerton Road location as a surprise gift.

Tucked in an unassuming shopping center storefront, Gonzalez cooks and serves breakfast and lunch. Gonzalez operates the restaurant with Gabriel (she also has three more children).

Gabriel Gonzalez moved to Pinellas County in February and felt there was a void for real home-style Latin cooking, he said.

The menu is filled with Latin favorites. The Cuban sandwiches are made with pork, which is slow roasted in garlic, mojo and house seasonings. All of the sandwiches are made on Cuban bread delivered daily from Ybor City. Prefer beef? Try the palomilla, which offers grilled seasoned steak and onions.

If you go, breakfast burritos cost about $6; half Cuban sandwiches are $4.95. Entrees, which come with two sides (black beans, yellow rice, plantains, French fries) cost between $6 and $9.

Tia’s is open for breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday 7 a.m. until 3 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Closed on Sundays.


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