Best Chef Chris Ponte, Olivia Finalists: Chad Johnson, Bern’s; Jeffrey Jew, Lingr Credit: OLIVIA / Facebook

Riding off the success of his new Tampa restaurant Ponte Modern American, a renowned local chef is ready to tackle his next culinary endeavor.

James Beard semifinalist Chef Chris Ponte will soon open a downtown St. Pete location of popular Italian restaurant Olivia (stylized “OLIVIA”), which currently resides in South Tampa.

St. Pete Rising says that the 5,600 square-foot Olivia will open on the ground floor of the 36-story Ascent building at 225 1st Ave. N. St. Pete’s OLIVIA is slated to debut by the end of 2023, although no opening date is set in stone.

When open later this year, Olivia will be neighbors with Hoots, Joey Brooklyn’s Pizza, newly-opened seafood restaurant Cap’s and country bar and venue Welcome to the Farm.

Another neighbor will also be Cane and Barrel, a Cuban-inspired rooftop bar that just opened on the 8th floor of Ascent St. Pete.

While St. Pete’s newest Italian restaurant undergoes its buildout, head to the flagship location of in South Tampa (3601 W Swann Ave.) to get a taste of its charcuterie boards, pizzas, squid ink pasta and porcini mushroom-rubbed filet mignons.

The modern eatery also boasts a large wine and cocktail list to accompany its house-made pastas and decadent entrees, in addition to popular desserts like tiramisu and apple butter cake.

While the St. Pete and Tampa locations of Olivia might share a majority of its menu items, its upcoming location might boast a few changes. Chef Ponte opened South Tampa’s Olivia location in 2019 and modern dining restaurant Ponte Modern American last year.

His very first restaurant and only concept in Pinellas County, Clearwater’s Cafe Ponte, closed in spring of 2020 after Ponte was unable to reach a lease renewal agreement with his landlord.

For the latest updates on Chef Ponte’s second OLIVIA location, follow its Instagram at @olivia_tampa.