Tampa's Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is ready to unveil its newest restaurant to the public. Yup, the 120-seat, American-inspired Rez Grill launches at 5223 N. Orient Road on Thursday as planned — with chef Frank Anderson, of Animal and Son of a Gun fame, on board as creative culinary director.
Hours of operation are 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. A grand opening for The Rez — a name that pays homage to the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the Indian Reservation — is scheduled for the weekend of Jan. 5.
CL dished about the chef-driven restaurant in November, but here are some highlights: a menu of elevated comfort food (think dishes from the Jade wood-burning grill and others made with Florida's bounty), an open kitchen, bottled cocktails poured tableside, and a modern, rustic, sophisticated-meets-casual feel.
• You recognize that dude to the right, don't you? The unmistakable likeness of the Sunshine City's Mr. Sun is watching over the draft lines of Pour Taproom, set to premiere in downtown St. Pete from 6:30 p.m. to midnight Saturday.
The first pour-it-yourself concept announced for the neighborhood (Oak & Stone is on the horizon nearby, too), Pour features 85 self-serve craft beer and wine taps — many of which are dedicated to local suds — at 225 Second Ave. N.
Parched patrons can also expect a dedicated food menu from the next-door 2nd & Second, a mimosa bar on weekends, and outdoor games like bocce, an old-school ball sport that's popping up more and more in the Bay area.
• Speaking of 2nd & Second, the highly anticipated 24-hour diner is open. Head to 201 Second Ave. N. for a big lineup of home-style favorites with a twist that're typically reserved for morning enjoyment, including omelets, doughnut French toast, skillets and hash browns seven ways.
There are various apps, salads, sandwiches, burgers and entrees as well — even cocktails (frosé and Bloody Mary flights, people), because, yeah, some of us might need more Hennessey at 2 a.m.
Looking at the menu, a link that's too tempting to not drop in here, I could go on. But I'll keep a little bit of the diner's newbie mystique in tact. I'm just glad 2nd & Second is out here doing the griddle lord's good work around the clock.
• Rejoice! The region's popular Hole Donuts, which announced it would cease operations over the summer, has returned under new ownership. Keep an eye out for the roving doughnut purveyor's gourmet flavors — made fresh daily in small batches, of course — around town. Recently, they've been on sale at holiday markets in both Tampa and St. Pete.
• Elsewhere, Yummy House owners John Zhao and Tommy Tang recently brought their Chinese specialties to South Tampa at 302 N. Dale Mabry Highway.
Blue Harbour, the renovated Westin Tampa Waterside's sea-inspired restaurant and bar at 725 S. Harbour Island Blvd., which we also covered last month, is up and running.
And Vale Food Co., a health-food restaurant brand that has other locations in Tallahassee and Gainesville, now does build-your-own bowls (rice, acai and poke included) at 501 N. Franklin St., where Crumb & Cork used to be.
