Cena partner Ken Stoltenberg confirmed the recent closure to the Tampa Bay Business Journal, adding that nearby sister restaurant Bread and Butta Pizza Bar has also shuttered because they both share a kitchen.
“The past year has been a challenging environment,” said Stoltenberg to TBBJ. “This summer was the worst summer we’d ever had. It’s a combination of the general economy, Cena is a destination — and it’s a luxury.”
Stoltenberg also told the publication that the recent departure of Chef Michael Buttacavoli played a role in the decision, as did the fact that a large portion of the concept’s customers hailed from nearby Davis Islands, which was inundated by storm surge from Hurricane Helene.
Located at 1120 E Kennedy Blvd. UNIT 112, Cena (which is Italian for “dinner”) opened to warm reviews in 2013, and was praised by Creative Loafing Tampa Bay food critic Jon Palmer Claridge, who called it “the best new restaurant in town.”
“Like its intimate sleek dining room, the menu is narrow, but boy, does it pack a punch,” wrote Claridge. “Chef Michael Buttacavoli delivers on Cena’s promise to be “modern, fresh, and simple.” Having recently dined at another noted Italian landmark, I am struck that Cena has much better food at nearly half the price.”
Buttacavoli was also a known fixture around Tampa Bay, often competing in charity events like the Tampa Bay Food Fight and Epicurean’s Epic Chef Showdown. Buttacavoli even scored a win on the Food Network’s competition show “Beat Bobby Flay.”
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This article appears in Oct 10-16, 2024.