Daily Loaf

The Table Restaurant in St. Pete, which has flirted with two new names recently — The Place and St. Pete Brasserie — as well as different culinary themes, will begin serving its French-inspired menu this weekend, according to GM Andrew Wilkins. Almost all the prices, excepting a ribeye and bigger portions of lamb and filet mignon, are decidedly under $16. Wilkins is also planning to offer a free cocktail with the purchase of an entree, as well as a 4-course prix fixe menu from 5-7 p.m. for $19.

The menu lists the name of the restaurant as The Table Brasserie, so that back-and-forth saga is obviously still ongoing. Wilkins says that his funding still hasn’t come through, so he’s just moving ahead with the changes he can make in the short term. Hence, the new menu. Check it out.

Full menu after the break (be aware that details may change before this weekend): Read the rest of this entry »

Gratzzi’s not dead yet! CineBistro ups the ante on beer and fries theaters! The Table will not be The Spot, or will it? Primi changes owners, but not much else!

Read on for all the details!

Gratzzi closed up shop in Baywatch a few weeks back, right around the same time that Pacific Wave closed on the other side of Downtown St. Pete. For Pacific Wave, the closure was about revenue, and the economy, and being tired of struggling in an industry that’s tough in the best of times. For Gratzzi, though, it was more about the fact that Baywalk is on life-support, with relatives eager to pull the plug and divide its meager posessions. Don’t count Gratzzi out. The Italian restaurant is planning to re-open in the former home of Pacific Wave before the end of the year, if things go well. Owner Domenic D’Angelo will scale back his upscale menu to concentrate on homier dishes that cater to diners’ reduced budgets, with the smaller space a better match for the more casual fare. Read the rest of this entry »

St. Pete’s The Table has ridden a rollercoaster of ups and (mostly) downs since it opened just two years ago. (The long tale, in chronological order: here, here, here, and here.) The original owners walked away from the place, then a new team of owners stepped in, chefs came and went, then the ownership shifted again.

It looks like more change is on the way. According to newish operating partner Andrew “Wilko” Wilkins, the restaurant will cease using The Table as its moniker after tomorrow night, and will close for approximately one week before re-opening as a “new restaurant tentatively named ‘THE’ Place, along side its new companion ‘THE’ Place To Go.”

Chef J. Ward will remain in the kitchen, and will spearhead a menu change that will Read the rest of this entry »

Great sushi- now closer to home (for me, anyway).

I was introduced to Origami’s Hillsborough Avenue location about a year ago.  They have a new location on Waters Avenue and a recent move to a new residence put me dangerously close to this location.

There’s a huge selection of makimono, my favorite being Read the rest of this entry »

Paula Abdul and regret. Ellen DeGeneres and opportunity. Kanye West and unwarranted opinion. Beyonce and PR. Peanut butter and jelly. Jelly and John Goodman.

Spider-Man: art lover.

Some things just go together – like vintage clothing and artwork. Don’t believe me? Just ask those in attendance at St. Pete’s ARTpool’s monthly gallery opening, Heroes & Heroines — or any of the locals who frequent the shop for a must-have creation in fabric or frame.

ARTpool opened in April of 2008 and has been making waves ever since.

Its mission statement is to “partner with the community to form an organic, evolving cooperative of artists that will work together to build a sustainable and a mutually beneficial artistic environment that promotes creativity, originality, and forward thought.” It’s done just that, holding events ranging from fashion shows to children’s installation events.

The latest opening was last Saturday, and, inspired by decades of comic book art, owner Marina Williams and local artists banded together to celebrate the finest fashions and fantasies. Live entertainment and artistry complemented the creation-lined walls as superhero and civilian alike answered the bat signal to enjoy St. Pete’s finest fusion. Read the rest of this entry »

• The Table is in the midst of another shake-up, with 717 South Michael Stewart, former GM Joe Moledo out and Andrew Wilkins (formerly of Mad Fish and Ceviche) in as GM. This comes after a long history of turmoil, including the loss of chef Pedro Flores earlier this year. Looks like the restaurant’s new thrust will be for lower price points and fewer staff changes. (Mouth)

• Ella’s Folk Art Cafe, the first of a new generation of restaurant slated to open in Tampa and Seminole Heights, started serving this past weekend.

The Columbia, OktoBEERfest, Domenica Macchia, and Grattzi’s after the break: Read the rest of this entry »

After a long wait, the first in a series of new restaurants slated for Seminole Heights and Tampa Heights opened over this past weekend.

Ella’s Folk Art Cafe (5119 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa, 813-234-1000) looks like it has the right funky vibe to fit in with the Seminole Heights crowd, along with outdoor seating (albeit next to Nebraska) and an eclectic American menu that ranges from beer-battered, deep-fried jalapenos stuffed with pulled pork, cheddar and cream cheese to “beet box and veggie pot pie”, whatever that is. There’s also pizza, salad, and soups; a small but very capable beer list; and a Sunday brunch/neighborhood barbecue.

Open for dinner, Tuesday-Saturday, with daylight hourse on Sunday.

The old Rattlefish spot is back up and running as the Hula Bay Club and Duke’s Retired Surfers’ Island Bar (5210 W. Tyson Ave., Tampa, 813-837-4352) , but now she wears a sarong and tank top (the guys wear Tommy Bahama-esque club shirts and khakis). Pre-opening party is tonight, with grand opening Friday, Feb. 20.

The space has gotten a major makeover from the old days. It was initially going to be the clubhouse for all the dock-a-minium owners until the guys from Green Iguana got involved. Read the rest of this entry »

Mr. Dunderbak’s owner J.B. Ellis closed his doors at the dying, sad University Mall on January 26th, leaving lovers of his Germanic bar food and extensive beer selection dry and hungry for the past two weeks. Thankfully, Tampa’s long beerless nightmare is almost over. Read the rest of this entry »

Datz Deli
2616 MacDill Ave., Tampa, 813-831-7000 or datzdeli.com
People seem obsessed with the idea of a new deli in town providing giant sandwiches over-stuffed with pastrami or corned beef.  Opening day this week was mobbed at this two-story space, maybe because along with the sammies there’s fairly decent wine and beer selection.

Fatdogs
1200 19th St., Ybor
Apparently, this hot dog stand in Ybor is owned by James Devito of Taps in downtown Tampa. Nathan’s dogs and a whole lot of toppings are the draw.

More openings after the break:

Read the rest of this entry »

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: Read the rest of this entry »

Teatro on 7th (1600 E. 8th. Ave., Ybor, 813-248-9400) has been open for about six weeks, but there’s been little fanfare so I thought I’d give its menu a shout-out. Owners Philip Zeltsar and Bill Haines have a long history in the restaurant business in and out of Tampa, most recently at Bernini where Zeltsar was chef and Haines was GM.

The menu looks modern American with some international influence — which means you’ll never know how good it is without sitting down and eating — although a few interesting ingredients pop up, like green papaya and cucumber dill raita. Blue cheese with poached lobster? They’ll have to sell me on that one.

Get info on Bin 27 Bistro, Cupcakes! Cupcakes, and gossip about The Independent after the break: Read the rest of this entry »