Chef Fabio Viviani’s newest restaurant Amendment XXI is now open in South Tampa

Known for his various appearances on “Top Chef,” longtime Tampa Bay restauranteur Fabio Viviani has debuted his latest culinary concept.

Amendment XXI quietly opened at 204 Westshore Plaza earlier this week, adjacent to other popular South Tampa concepts Bourbon Street Cafe, Seasons 52 and Maggiano’s Little Italy.

Boasting a contemporary menu of “refined bites and booze,” this new Westshore Plaza restaurant specializes in the Italian-inspired cuisine that Viviani is know for.

Entrees on Amendment XXI’s dinner menu include dry-aged ribeyes, beer-braised mussels, grilled branzino, braised pork shank with citrus polenta and mint chimichurri, and pizzas topped with prosciutto, truffle honey, mozzarella and arugula.

“Named for the 21st amendment to the United States Constitution, which repealed the ban on the manufacturing, distribution and consumption of alcohol nationwide, Amendment XXI takes beverage inspiration from the Prohibition Era and blends it seamlessly with the mouthwatering food of visionary international chef, Fabio Viviani,” a press release says.

The newly-opened restaurant hosts a VIP Grand Opening Celebration on Wednesday, Sept. 13. Folks interested in attending this party can text ““AMENDMENT” to (805) 991-5126 to get on the guest list.

The massive restaurant spans almost 8,000 square-feet and is decorated in vintage-inspired, Prohibition era decor. The opening of Amendment XXI was announced last summer; the eatery was originally slated to open by December 2022.

Although the Italy-born chef is known for his various TV appearances and “Top Chef” stardom, he’s been a proficient business owner and restaurateur in Tampa Bay for the last several years. 

Following a series of racist comments and sexual battery allegations against former partner Lanfranco Pescante, Viviani swiftly cut ties with Nocturnal Hospitality Group and all of its now-closed restaurants in the summer of 2020.

Since then, Viviani has helped open multiple Chuck Lager America’s Tavern locations throughout Tampa Bay.  Both Chuck Lager America’s Tavern and the newly-opened Amendment XXI are brands operated by local company BABB Hospitality, which also runs the Viviani-affiliated Taverna Costale in downtown St. Pete.

For the latest information on Amendment XXI and its grand opening party, head to its Instagram at @amendmentxxitampa. Currently, the restaurant only offers dinner service from 3 p.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 3 p.m.-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

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This article appears in Aug 24-30, 2023.