A hot new restaurant just opened in one of The 'Burg's most historic buildings.
Fortu is located at 95 Central Ave. within the historic Ponce De Leon Boutique Hotel that formerly housed popular Spanish restaurant Ceviche before it moved a few blocks away in 2021.
Although ILovetheBurg says Fortu’s official grand opening doesn’t happen until Tuesday, Dec. 5., it seems like reservations for its dining room and patio are now available via Tock.
Promising an “elevated Pan-Asian dining experience that celebrates Asia’s vibrant and diverse culture,” Fortu’s menu boasts a wide selection of steaks—including specialty cuts of wagyu—both cooked and raw seafood, and a variety of fusion-forward shareables and sides.
Appetizers include edamame, blistered shishito peppers, wonton tacos (move over, Applebees) and milk bread with garlic miso butter, while its “signature dishes” are oxtail gyoza, truffled congee and a Fuji apple burrata salad.
Since steaks are the star of Fortu’s menu, the newly-opened high end concept offers a variety of different cuts—from prime ribeyes, Australian ebony strip steaks and porterhouses to tenderloins, massive 40oz “cowboy cuts” and an A5 wagyu pairing, complete with dry-aged Miyazaki ribeye cap and miso koji aged-stone axe tenderloin (although there are no prices available online yet).
It’s full menu can be browsed on forturestaurants.com, although it doesn't list any cocktail, sake, beer or wine options.
The opening of Fortu was announced back in 2022 and is right on time with its projected debut of fall 2023. Between its patio and main dining room, the pan-Asian restaurant can seat almost 200 patrons. Fortu is the latest concept from Benson Hospitality Group led by Shan Bakrac, the same restaurant group that owns Black Cattle Burger Co. and Top Slice Pizzeria, both located in downtown St. Pete.
Bakrac is the son of the former Ponce De Leon Hotel owner, Savni Bakrac, who sold the historic building for $4.5 million earlier this year, according to the St. Pete Catalyst. The publication also reports that its new owners plan to renovate the hotel, which has been a landmark in downtown St. Pete since the 1920s.
For the latest news on Fortu and its highly-anticipated grand opening, head to its Instagram at @forturestaurant. Fortu is now open from 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and is closed Sundays and Mondays.
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