When Tampa Bay Lightning fans pack Amalie Arena for the team's home opener Thursday night, they'll have an updated spread of eats to choose from. The new items, showcased at concession stands and on Amalie's premium menus, were revealed at a media preview Monday afternoon.
The arena's club, or 200, level was still being renovated during the sneak peek, and its entire food and drink lineup changed as well. Mise en Place, Cask & Barrel Bar with Bay Club Sliders, Irish 31 and the Tots & Boxty Bar, also from Irish 31, are the level's fresh concepts.
Irish 31, which will feature a sports bar, offered turkey avocado and Reuben sandwiches at the preview, while ham- and cheese-filled boxties were highlighted at the restaurant's Tots & Boxty Bar. Fans will find dishes such as chopped caprese arugula salad, deviled crab toast and flatbreads from the Mise en Place wine bar, alongside a range of Bay Club Sliders (crispy bacon ranch, burger, chicken Florentine), bourbons and whiskies at Cask & Barrel.
Ford's Garage and Cone Mac & Cheese — also operating new concessions on the promenade, or 100, level — are set to accompany Smoke's Poutinerie this season on the terrace (300 level). In addition to fries, Ford's will cook up grilled favorites, bacon barbecue burgers and cheeseburgers among them, as Cone specializes in macs aptly served in a ice cream cone-shaped vessel. The Canadian Smoke's showcased a traditional poutine of cheese curds and gravy throughout the preview.
On the premium menus, available at Firestick Grill, Chase Club and the suite level, revamped grub like strawberry feta salad with hydroponic greens and spicy shrimp dubbed "Thunder and Lightning" are expected.
Little Caesars, PDQ and Outback Steakhouse were were also included in the Lightning's remodeled concessions.
"We want to keep delivering world-class service to our fans," according to Lightning CEO Steve Griggs, "and part of that is keeping things fresh, fun and locally focused with our food choices around the building."
This article appears in Oct 1-7, 2015.