Tampa's Oldest Restaurant

Las Novedades was founded on this site when Ybor City was a tiny village. Its proprietor was Manuel (Canuto ) Menendez. The coffee shop was a favorite rendezvous for the pioneer cigarmakers of Sanchez y Haya Cigar Factory located across the street. In November 1891 Las Novedades was destroyed by fire. It reopened in 1892.<br><br> During the Spanish - American War the Rough Riders gained local fame when they gayly galloped into the small restaurant, and the Latin inhabitants termed the escapade "The Charge Of The Yellow Rice Brigade."