After the surprising departure of chef Pedro Flores from The Table — he originated the restaurant's Atlantic Rim cuisine in its previous incarnation — current owners Michael Stewart (717 South) and Linda and George Rahdert (the owners of the building The Table occupies) have brought in some local names to helm the kitchen at the downtown St. Pete spot.
The three new chefs are Steven O'Brien, formerly of the TradeWinds; Jay Ward, formerly of Mise en Place and Michael's Grill; and Antonio Guevara, formerly of the Renaissance Vinoy and Snappers.
The menu will stay the same, although The Table plans on adding new items based on the expertise of the new chefs.
International Plaza is undergoing major changes to its dining scene, thanks to the recent closures of Bamboo Club and Piazza Roma. Later this year, new restaurants are slated to fill the several vacant spots, including Posh 27 (posh27.com) — which promises Latin-inspired cuisine and nightlife — and Brio Tuscan Grill, a sizable, mid-range Italian chain out of Ohio.
Downtown Tampa is continuing its dining resurgence with this week's opening of Pizzaiolo Bavaro (514 N. Franklin St., Tampa). The new pizza place has a custom-built brick oven and recipes that focus on classic Neapolitan pies. Also coming to the area are all the new restaurants in Skypoint, including RAWbar from the owners of Taps, a Five Guys, and a Mexican joint.
This article appears in Mar 11-17, 2009.