Anticipation is building, and stomachs are growling, for the Tampa Bay dining scene’s new lineup of fall restaurant openings. With premieres happening now through November, get in on the buzz below.
CHILL Tentatively relocating in late August, St. Pete Beach’s 4-year-old Chill will debut inside Madeleina Cottage Restaurant’s former digs along Corey Avenue. The cozy “food haven and lounge” plans to introduce a revamped bill of fare, and its current location at 7400 Gulf Blvd. will remain open throughout the new building’s construction phase. 357 Corey Ave., St. Pete Beach, 727-360-8080.
HOG ISLAND FISH CAMP Blue crabs, pork steak, fried mullet and cheese grits will be included on Hog Island Fish Camp’s local seafood-heavy menu when the restaurant opens around September or October. Walt Wickman, who owns the casual 160-seat Dunedin spot with Dennis Doyle, calls chef Jonathan Plichta’s food “salty Southern cuisine.” Hog Island will also offer Bay area-made beer and dining inside and out. 900 Broadway, Dunedin.
IRISH 31 The third location from Irish 31 is set to break ground at WestShore Plaza any day now. Slated to open mid-October, the upscale Irish pub will take space from the former interior of Kay Jewelers and Le Macaron’s vacated outdoor area behind P.F. Chang’s. A roughly 500-square-foot patio will be added as well. The brand’s atmosphere, intimate and welcoming with wall-to-wall TVs, will accompany its chef-driven menu. Another Irish 31, coming to Amalie Arena’s Chase Club, will highlight two food stations, a large sports bar and multiple TVs. 250 Westshore Plaza, Tampa.
SEMINOLE HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO With celeb chef Marc Murphy involved in the project, executive chef Chris Hine will craft Italian-inflected eats at the Seminole Hard Rock’s latest dining spot, a 325-seat Mediterranean-inspired grill debuting in November that has yet to be named. Grilled spicy lamb and tzatziki flatbread and spinach ricotta gnudi with brown butter and sage will be among the signatures. Expect barrel- and bottle-aged cocktails, local craft brews and international wines. 5223 N. Orient Road, Tampa, 813-627-7625.
ON SWANN Locally sourced cuisine is the focus of the soon-to-open Hyde Park Village restaurant, On Swann. The New American joint, which three partners and Cafe Ponte chef-owner Chris Ponte are behind, will carry items influenced by East and West coasts, including New England scallops, fresh pasta, lots of veggies, California wines and house charcuterie. Craft cocktails and beer will be on hand, too. 1501 W. Swann Ave., Tampa.
4 RIVERS SMOKEHOUSE The corner of Swann and MacDill avenues is where barbecue fanatics will find Tampa’s second 4 Rivers Smokehouse sometime in fall. The location will serve up the deregionalized ‘cue concept’s standard offerings (think Texas sausage, tri-tip steak and St. Louis-style ribs). Like its older sibling on Dale Mabry Highway, the restaurant will carry a selection of sweets. Swann Avenue and MacDill Avenue, Tampa.
BOCA KITCHEN BAR AND MARKET Also delving into its third site is Boca Kitchen Bar and Market, launching at Riverview’s Winthrop Town Centre. The New American farm-to-table brand, already in Winter Park and Tampa’s Hyde Park, will offer local, organic ingredients, a raw bar and craft cocktails. Other eateries are planned for Sarasota and St. Petersburg. 11109 Winthrop Market St., Riverview.
ACROPOLIS GREEK TAVERNA In the South Tampa building most recently occupied by the short-lived Global A’Fare, Acropolis will premiere its fifth restaurant’s Greek delicacies this season. Fresh dishes such as the Castoria Chopped Salad with grilled chicken, Parmesan, garlic aioli and more will be ushered in. 3023 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, 813-333-6463.
THAI PRIME MetWest International’s newest restaurant, Thai Prime, will craft authentic specialties for Tampa’s West Shore Business District. Unlike other spots at the retail center, the 2,613-square-foot Thai haven will showcase breakfast, along with dinner and lunch. In November, Davidoff of Geneva’s Cigar Bar & Lounge will also make its MetWest premiere. 4142 W. Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa.
Restaurants mentioned in CL’s roundup of summertime openings are still in the works, too, including St. Pete’s Fresh Kitchen and Daily Eats, Central Melt, Kings Street Food Counter, Hofbrauhaus, and Hawkers Asian Street Fare, as well as Ichicoro Ramen and Chicken Salad Chick in Tampa.
This article appears in Aug 13-19, 2015.