With rampant development on both sides of the Bay, keeping on top of the restaurant scene can be a chore. Nothing sucks more than showing up at your favorite greasy spoon to find the windows boarded up and the doors locked. Or worse, that it's been replaced by an Applebee's.
Still, eating out sure beats bingeing on mac & cheese in your cramped apartment. So, to satisfy your need to feed, we're introducing The Gravy: a column to keep you apprised of openings, closings and other news in the restaurant biz.
Ceviche opens in St. Petersburg
The new kid on the block in downtown St. Pete is an old hand on the other side of the Bay. Gordon Davis, owner of Ceviche Tapas Bar and St. Bart's Island House in Tampa, is making his first foray into the St. Pete dining scene. Davis and crew moved into the Ponce DeLeon Hotel at 95 Central Ave. this month. Ceviche, which serves the same menu as the Tampa original, is the latest in a string of restaurants to occupy the space in the historic hotel.
A basement bar, the 10 Beach Drive piano bar, opened Nov. 8 and serves an abbreviated menu of cold tapas and snacks. The main restaurant, in the portico-styled upstairs, opened Tues., Nov. 22. The former site of the Ristorante Bellagio, Ceviche offers the full menu of hot and cold tapas.
Ceviche's St. Pete branch will open from 5 p.m. to midnight Mon.-Wed. and from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thurs.-Sat. (727-209-2302).
Adobo Grill shuts down
Adobo Grill, a Baywalk staple since the complex opened in 2000, has closed its doors. The Veytias, long-time local restaurateurs and owners of Red Mesa, decided to shut down their burrito and taco joint after the expiration of their five-year lease this month. They are not seeking another location for the restaurant and are instead concentrating their efforts on Red Mesa.
BayWalk management could not be reached for comment on what might be moving into the space.
Chipotle hits St. Pete
Burrito lovers fear not. Adobo may be dead, but Chipotle Mexican Grill has opened at 780 Fourth St. N. The building was under construction for several months, a temporary sign outside promising passers-by that the McDonald's-owned chain was coming soon. A few weeks ago, a huge banner was posted proclaiming "Almost," and Almost became Finally last week when the restaurant officially opened shop on Thurs., Nov. 17.
Founded by a Culinary Institute of America-trained chef, Steve Ells, Chipotle opened its first location in Denver in 1993. McDonalds bought a stake in the company in '98, and now owns 90 percent of the chain. Chipotle has more than 450 locations throughout the country, making it the fastest-growing chain in America.
Chipotle's popularity stems from its focus on made-to-order food. Customers can concoct burritos, tacos, or salads by choosing from 16 ingredients.
Tampa got its first Chipotle (390 S. Westshore Blvd.) in February, and the new St. Pete operation makes 11 Chipotles (so far) in Florida.
Chipotle is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. (727-895-6050).
Empanadas on Kennedy
A new Mr. Empanada, a locally owned chain specializing in the eponymous crescent-shaped turnovers and other Latin favorites, has opened its fourth Tampa location at 3953 W. Kennedy Blvd. The grand opening was held on Sat., Nov. 19. Tampa natives Albert and Audrey Perez, who founded the restaurant in 1984, reopened the chain two years ago and are looking into franchises in Town N Country and Brandon. The Kennedy store will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mon.-Fri. and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sat. (813-879-6233).
Know of restaurants opening or closing? Have news of new chefs, new dishes or other culinary gossip? E-mail anne.arsenault@weeklyplanet.com.
This article appears in Nov 23-29, 2005.