Tampa Edition’s Michelin-starred restaurant Lilac offers discounted VIP dinners for local restaurant workers

Local hospitality workers can now enjoy a VIP dining experience at one of Tampa’s Michelin-starred restaurants.

Located at 500 Channelside Dr. inside of the Tampa Edition hotel, Lilac now offers Tampa Bay’s restaurant workers a VIP discounted dinner for two as a part of Executive Chef John Fraser’s nationwide initiative called “The Industry Table.”

One table per night of service will be reserved as “The Industry Table,” seating two lucky folks that have filled out the questionnaire on Fraser’s website.

The questionnaire requires basic information like your email, phone number, what restaurant you work at and what position you fill there.

Industry Table diners will only have to pay the cost of the food they ate—which hovers between 28%-35% of the total price, according to Toast. Alcohol, however, is not comped.

That means industry folks lucky enough to dine at this exclusive VIP table may walk away with a whopping 65% savings on Lilac’s prized swordfish with eggplant caviar, roasted Cornish hen with chicken tallow rice pilaf, or aged lamb chops with coriander-black truffle crumble.

Check out Lilac’s full dinner, wine and cocktail menu via lilacrestauranttampa.com.

Earlier this year, Chef John Fraser launched his “The Industry Table” program at his New York City restaurants IRIS, La Marchande, North Fork Table & Inn, The Terrace and Outdoor Gardens , as well as Ardor in West Hollywood.

“If nothing else, the pandemic reminded us of how much we missed our industry family and community.” Fraser writes on his website. “With nothing more than the simple desire to reconnect and share the fruits of our labor with like-minded, passionate folks, The Industry Table was born.”

“The true intention behind this offering is to help reignite the spirit that brought us into hospitality in the first place while also rebuilding a sense of community and camaraderie…The Industry Table is our team’s effort to help level the playing field so that all can access our restaurants and be inspired.”

In an attempt to keep The Industry Table as accessible as possible, JF Restaurants asks participants to limit their VIP dinners at Lilac to twice a year.

Just a few months ago, the signature hotel restaurant took home one of Tampa’s very first Michelin stars, being praised for its acclaimed Mediterranean-Floridian fare and exceptional  table-side service.

For more information on Lilac’s Industry Table and its regulations, head to jfrestaurants.com.

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This article appears in Jun 15-21, 2023.