About Us

When Val and Ted Dilar moved from Tampa to Treasure Island in 1992 they could not have known that within a year they would be the owners of one of the most popular restaurants in the Tampa Bay area.

Soon after settling in Treasure Island Val began to crave a quality Cuban sandwich made famous in her hometown of Tampa.  Cuban sandwiches were available at several beach area locations but according to Val’s discriminating taste, “Missed something.”   That’s when Val and Ted hit upon the idea of offering the beaches a quality Cuban sandwich and the search for that perfect location began.

An insurance office located in downtown Treasure Island became available and Val and Ted’s big adventure began.

The summer of 1993 was witness to the transformation of 230 107th Avenue from insurance office to restaurant and the Floridian opened its doors.  Armed with a secret recipe and a dedication to quality, the Floridian quickly became a beach favorite for diners craving a great Cuban sandwich.
The Floridian's grand opening was on the 4th of July weekend, 1993. Val and Ted prepared a special Grand Opening Menu which included their now famous "Authentic Cuban Sandwich" and many of the items that today remain a staple of The Floridian.
Shortly after The Floridian opened, rave reviews began to pour in including a December 1993 article in the Beach Life newspaper which called The Floridian "one more little treasure to remind you that when you are in Florida the finest things in life are usually just around the corner."

The Floridian participated in the Taste of Treasure Island celebration in 1994 and was the recipient of a poem that was written by a Treasure Island resident and published in the Island Reporter. Speaking of newspapers, The Floridian was reviewed for a second time by Beach Life in an article that asked "If your taste buds relish the thought of Ybor City, take heart -- it's closer than you think."

All of the bay area learned just how good The Floridian's food was when in 1997 the St. Petersburg Times proclaimed the Floridian's trademark sandwich to be the
"Best Cuban Sandwich in Tampa Bay."

This honor was followed six months later with The Floridian being named by local television channel Fox 13's "Taste of Tampa Bay's Favorite Cuban Sandwich." The Floridian's success was also noted in a Treasure Island Sun article from 1998.

The Floridian underwent a major change in 1998 when Val and Ted decided to remodel their restaurant. A new roof design and covered patio were added to the restaurant giving the Floridian a more tropical flavor. The new Floridian looked so good the City of Treasure Island issued a proclamation of beatification to Val and Ted.

With the new look and the same great food, the rave reviews continued including articles in the St. Pete Times, Tropic Views, and Tampa Bay News.
Today, The Floridian continues its tradition of serving the very best Cuban sandwich in the Tampa Bay area. In addition to The Floridian's famous Cuban sandwich, The Floridian offers a variety of other sandwiches and The Floridian's popular Black Beans dishes and soups. The Floridian also offers a variety of drinks including the coldest draft beer on the beach.

If you are in a hurry be sure to call in advance to take advantage of The Floridian's take-out service. You can contact the Floridian at 367-6662.

If you are spending the day on the beach, having a party, picnic, business meeting, or going to the big game and tailgating it, The Floridian offers party trays made with their famous Cuban sandwiches.

The Floridian is located in Treasure Island's downtown district at 230 Treasure Island Causeway and is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Stop in and find out for yourself why The Floridian is "Tampa Bay's Favorite Cuban Sandwich".