Daily Loaf

A couple high-end restaurants are bucking trends by opening in the middle of the deepest economic slump in recent memory. Unsurprisingly, both are chains, albeit small ones. There’s also a cool cabaret and bistro kicking off in GaYbor this weekend. Here’s the rundown:

AquaKnox
Westin Tampa Bay Airport, 7627 Courtney Campbell Causeway, Tampa, 813-675-8700; opens Thursday, Jan. 22

Located in the newly constructed Westin Hotel Tampa Airport, this restaurant is the third outpost of the expanding AquaKnox mini-empire. It’s owned by E-Brand Restaurants, which oversees a handfull of similarly small chains, including Hyde Park’s Timpano.

AquaKnox, though, got its start at the Venetian in Las Vegas and, according to early reports from CL’s own Taylor Eason, the decor is modeled on the restaurant’s flagship — luxurious, modern, and loaded with blue notes that mesh with the “Global Water Cuisine” theme.

Understandably, the dinner menu is overwhelmingly geared towards seafood, with just a few land-based entrees to cover its bases. Prices are very, very dear, with most entrees solidly in the mid-$20 range or higher. Expect a rundown of the wine list from Taylor sometime tommorrow.

Ocean Prime
International Plaza, 2205 N. West Shore Blvd., Tampa, 813-490-5288; opens Friday, Jan. 23

Ocean Prime is another small chain (with 5 outlets) owned by Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, another small chain specialist. Maybe these mid-range operators can weather the economy better than the big guys?

Ocean’s menu is straightforward big-city steakhouse excess, with hunks of meat clocking in between $31-$48. Sides will run you another $8 or $9, so a meal here will easily dent your wallet to the tune of $80 or more, before you even take a sip from a cocktail or glass of wine. (Check out Taylor’s dissection of the wine list.)

Did Tampa need another steakhouse? Nope. Did Tampa need another steakhouse that rivals Bern’s prices? Nope. Will anyone shell out the cash for a meal at Ocean Prime? If it’s going to happen, it’ll be during Super Bowl week.

L’Olivier Restaurant and Cabaret
Centro Ybor, 813-247-5307; opens Saturday, Jan. 24

I wrote about this cabaret and dining spot opening in Centro Ybor — from Olivier Cuevas of L’Olivier Bistro — a couple of months ago. Looks like it’s going to meet Cuevas’ pre-Super Bowl deadline.

Think crushed velvet, champagne bar, dancing girls and live shows and you’ve got the gist. Cuevas plans on maintaining a menu of affordable, classic French bistro fare, every entree under $20. Should be  nice option for people who want a more lively — and less pricey — alternative to AquaKnox and Ocean Prime.

(AquaKnox photo courtesy Cyprien/Flickr)

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