I like to think that my restaurant reviews are timeless, but that really only applies to the prose. Each one is a snapshot of a place during a brief period of time; as soon as it's written and printed, the moment is gone. So many things can change, from that smiling server who had a preternatural understanding of my needs to the guy who dropped the fries in hot oil. The owner might revamp or sell out, the chef might change the menu because of his summer vacation in Barcelona. Restaurants are like rivers — some move so fast you won't step into the same one twice.
So, what to do about all the people reading a potentially out-of-date, 18-month-old snapshot of a restaurant? I can't keep going back — there are just too many restaurants to cover — but sometimes it's clear that a restaurant needs a second look. Then I can peek my head in, taste a few dishes, try to gauge the impact of the changes and report back the results. More a revisit than a review.
Read on as I revisit Savannah's and Primi Urban Cafe in St. Petersburg, and Rawbar Sushi in downtown Tampa.
