TAMPA, FL – Stone Soup Co. located in Ybor City at 1919 E 7th Ave. has abruptly shut down, according to a post made on Instagram. The restaurants joins a number of recent closures impacting Ybor City and Water Street. Former Stone Soup owner and CEO Ilya Benjamin Goldberg retired in December 2022 and made the company partially employee-owned working with a company called Teamshares, according to Creative Loafing. Employees retained 10% of the company while the rest was transferred to Teamshares.
No reason was given for the closure.
The announcement reads: “Effective immediately, @StoneSoupCompany will cease operations. We would like to thank all the current and past employees, the Ybor and Tampa community, and our guests who have supported us over the last 13 years. We appreciated the opportunity to serve you all! Thank you!”
TAMPA, FL – Ciro’s Speakeasy and Supper Club in South Tampa has permanently closed, according to an announcement posted by the bar and restaurant to Instagram. The restaurant was a popular speakeasy for locals and visitors alike with craft cocktails and a dedication to quality service and food. It will be missed.
The statement reads: “Today, we sadly announce the permanent closure of Ciro’s. Since 2009, Ciro’s has been a cherished spot for locals and visitors alike. Due to structural issues at The Bayshore Royale, we are forced to close our doors. Thank you for our loyal guests, staff, and the Tampa community for your support and memories shared over the years. As they say, this isn’t goodbye, it’s see you later. -Ciro’s”
Update: The restaurant has sent a statement over messenger: “After much consideration, we’ve decided to close our Tampa location. We are thankful for the hard work and dedication of the team and for the opportunity to serve our amazing customers in TPA. We do hope to be back one day.”
TAMPA, FL – Crisp & Green has shuttered its Water Street Tampa location, according to a news report from Tampa Bay Business Journal. The closure happened with little notice. The location was hardly open for a year with a ribbon cutting ceremony held back in April 2023. There have been a huge influx of salad and healthy food concepts to Water Street and the surrounding area with at least 4-6 opening around downtown and Midtown in the past year. When the concept was announced the owners said they would have an aggressive expansion across the Tampa Bay area.
No statement has been posted to the company website or social media channels. The Crisp & Green landing page page has vanished from the Water Street Tampa website as well with the page still appearing on Google search. The Water Street Tampa location has also been scrubbed from the official restaurant website.
TAMPA, FL – Ten Rooms will open its doors in Ybor City on Saturday, April 27. The concept is being led by Ro Patel, a Tampa Bay food & beverage veteran known for Ciro’s Speakeasy, Anise Global Gastro Bar and more, and Zach Pace, an experienced restaurant operator and sommelier. Reservations are now being accepted for Bar Martinez.
Menu items are already up on their website including Duck Confit, Stuffed Eggplant, Pink Shrimp, Dry-Aged Ribeye, and more. The Executive Chef for Bar Martinez is Parker Brown and Chef de Cuisine is Vincent Brisotti. Cocktails range from $12 to $14. Drinks include a Classic Margarita, Mai Tai, Kentucky Mule, Espresso Martini made with Mr. Black, Bramble Royale, and mroe. There is also craft beer and wine on the list.
Happy Hour will be Monday to Friday from noon to 4 p.m. with cocktails for $10.
TAMPA, FL – Minano Ramen located at 11909 Sheldon Rd. near Citrus Park is celebrating its grand opening on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. The restaurant has been in soft opening for about a month. The ramen shop is also rolling out a happy hour and lunch menu.
Guests who attend the grand opening will enjoy free sake or Minano original bubble tea when spending $50 or more. The offer will run from April 24 to April 30 while supplies last.
The menu includes appetizers such as gyoza, takoyaki, mentaiko fries, haru maki, yakitori, bao buns, and more izakaya-style food. Ramen choices include Shoyu, Miso, Curry Chicken, Spicy Tonkotsu, Tonkotsu, and more. The ramen shop joins a vacuum after the closing of other ramen shops in town such as Ichicoro Ramen. The interior looks sleek.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL: Lingr restaurant in St. Petersburg is shutting down on Saturday, April 27 so that Chef Jeffrey Jew can care for his mother, according to an announcement posted to Instagram and to the website of the restaurant. Chef Jeffrey Jew carries plenty of recognition from television and is one of the most acclaimed chefs in St. Petersburg. The restaurant originally opened in the summer of 2020. The statement reads:
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the upcoming closure of Lingr, our beloved Norwegian/Asian fusion restaurant in St. Petersburg. Our final service will be April 27, 2024. Chef Jeffrey Jew, an alumnus of Bravo’s “Top Chef” and winner of Food Network’s “Guy’s Grocery Games,” has decided to prioritize family as they navigate the challenges of his mother’s Lewy body dementia.
In his words: “After almost 3 years of serving our community, it’s time for me to follow the advice I’ve always given my team—put family and health first.”
We invite you to join us in celebrating the wonderful journey and the memories we’ve created together until our doors close. If you’ve enjoyed Lingr’s unique blend of culinary traditions, we also encourage supporting a cause close to our hearts by donating to the Alzheimer’s Association at https://act.alz.org.
Thank you to everyone—our amazing staff and fabulous customers who have made this journey possible. While we prepare to say goodbye to our space on 6th Street South, we look forward to keeping the spirit of Lingr alive through our continued connection with all of you in the community. Here’s to making the most of the time we have left together and cherishing every moment.”
TAMPA, FL – Heritage Fire is bringing its food experience to Tampa on Sunday, April 21. Tickets include unlimited food and drinks as well as live entertainment. The experience will be held at Tabellas at Delaney Creek located at 5818 Causeway Blvd. Tampa is the first stop on the tour which will also visit Atlanta, Austin, Nashville, Napa (California), Los Angeles, Miami, and Charleston.
Tickets start at $125 for General Admission and $175 for VIP. VIP gives visitors 45 minutes of early access as well as a welcome drink and everything included in General Admission. Tickets can be purchased online at heritagefiretour.com. Event is rain or shine. All Heritage Fire destinations are 21 and older. A valid ID is required for admission. Anyone under the age of 21 will be refused entry and tickets will not be refunded.
The line-up of chefs and restaurants includes a wide-range of different chefs from around Tampa Bay that carry awards and recognition around the city. Participating chefs and restaurants:
About me: Hello my name is Carlos Hernandez and I am a writer and journalist with over 10 years of experience. I write the food and travel blog Carlos Eats (https://www.carloseats.com) and also contribute to several newspapers and magazines on numerous topics. Follow me on X @CarlosEats, Threads @CarlosEats, and Instagram @CarlosEats.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – KAIYŌ Restaurant & Bar has opened a new location in San Francisco following successful openings in Cow Hollow (the flagship location) and a rooftop bar at Hyatt Place. The new restaurant is located on the ground floor of the Hyatt Place Hotel in the same building as the rooftop just minutes from Oracle Park at 701 3rd St. Other concepts from owner John Park and Brick Hospitality Group in San Francisco include Cavana, Whitechapel, and Novela.
The new concept comes as Nikkei concepts continue to rise in popularity across the country. Nikkei celebrates the fusion between Japanese and Peruvian cuisine and was created by the diaspora living in South America. Guests will find delicious sauces that utilize Peruvian and Japanese flavors as well as plenty of meat, seafood, and vegan options to enjoy.
New Nikkei menu highlights include Anticucho de Lomo Fino, an A5 Wagyu Sando with Caviar made with Tonkatsu A5 miyazaki wagyu, toasted Japanese milk bread, caramelized onions, rocoto aioli, Kaluga caviar, and house-made pickles. Other dining options include a Scallop Mentaiko Udon, Ginger Pork Chop, and Churrasco Bone-in Ribeye. The menu will offer premium and gourmet options as well as affordable items.
“For the first time since the restaurant’s debut in 2018, I’m excited to share the complete KAIYŌ experience, with a new ground floor restaurant added to the beautiful rooftop bar, and an all-new menu that truly captures the essence of Peruvian Nikkei dining experience.” -Managing Partner John Park.
Food & Beverage Photos Credit: Anthony Parks
The new location also features an intimate sushi bar with Executive Sushi Chef Kenji Sawada(previously Sous Chef of Sushi at PABU Izakaya and Chef de Cuisine at Ozumo) featuring a la carte sashimi and nigiri options.
Photo Credit: Travis Mocker
Libations will also be important to the concept as with other locations. The bar menu is being curated by bar a new director, Danny Louie. The menu will include 6 new specialty house cocktails with a focus on Japanese whisky, rum, gin, and Pisco. There is also a selection of sake, wine and domestic and Japanese beers.
KAIYŌ in Cow Hollow will also transition later this spring to a Nikkei hand roll concept.
Reservations are available online at Resy and are recommended during busy hours. Find more information about KAIYŌ at kaiyosf.com.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Sonata Restaurant at The Mahaffey Theater located in downtown St. Petersburg at 400 1st St S. is the newest project for Chef Ted Dorsey (previously of The Mill). The menu is focused on fine dining with dishes such as Pork Osso Bucco Bourguignon, Day Boat Gulf Fish, and Crispy House Smoked Duck. The restaurant is backed by businessman Bill Edwards, a household name well-known for taking on ambitious projects and investing in the arts and communities.
Wagyu Beef Tartare & Braised Bone Marrow.
Several of the dishes take simple restaurant food and then break down and reconstructs them into a gourmet serving, such as the Gasparilla Salad which is hardly your average taco salad but instead filled with remarkable shrimp flavors and a savory dressing. Dorsey’s mastery of cooking is evident with each bite and also in the plating and presentation of each dish. There was not one thing I tried that disappointed me or lacked a creative flair.
Char Grilled Octopus.
Chef Ted Dorsey is not new to the restaurant world and when put in a scenario where he can spread his wings, he delivers food that matches. He is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts and it shows. I appreciated his prior restaurant projects, but was left with a new impression of him after this dining experience. I frequently ran into Chef Dorsey at events around Tampa as a food writer, but this was my first time meeting the chef in person.
Anyone can serve a high-quality steak or expensive seafood dish at a fine dining restaurant, but to be able to uniquely create new flavors in a way that leaves someone who has visited hundreds of restaurants across the world intrigued is not an easy feat. I have enjoyed squid ink paella in Barcelona, dined waterfront in San Francisco, and enjoyed craft cocktails in Tokyo. I would say that Sonata could have a place in any of these food cities and the menu showcases an understanding of many cultures, cuisines, and backgrounds. It makes sense with Florida being a melting pot. One of the late Anthony Bourdain’s greatest critiques of the world of fine dining is the lack of imagination in those concepts, but that is not true at all at Sonata.
Equally impressive was the dessert menu with my favorite dish on the menu being their key lime pie. I am usually not much of a dessert person, mainly because I eat so much during regular meals and tend to order more appetizers or an extra side. Each dessert, similar to dinner, also had a unique flavor to it. The espresso chocolate mousse was superb for someone like me who loves coffee and tiramisu, but maybe wants a lighter version of it. The key lime pie was tart without being too tart. My face did not wince, but was instead pleasantly surprised. Nice.
The waterfront view of the city from our table was impressive. The moon art display was also very appropriate considering it was the day of the Solar Eclipse.
The cocktails at Sonata have a wide-spectrum of flavors and profiles that one would expect for a speakeasy or upscale tiki bar and complement the food well. Visitors to The Mahaffey Theater are in for a treat, but Sonata is appealing to more than just theater attendees, but a culinary destination that should be attract diners across Tampa Bay and visitors to Florida. It is a great place for a celebration or a romantic date. The appetizers and cocktail, beer, and wine menu also make it great for corporate gatherings or meetings.
The restaurant only recently opened in the winter of 2023, but there is clearly much more being planned for the concept and brunch is already available for diners to enjoy. Sonata has award-winning potential as a restaurant and I really think if people give it a taste, they’ll be back soon. I know I will be. The artistic vibe of the building and celebration from people who love the arts is a great marriage of the two at Sonata. Don’t miss it.
About me: Hello my name is Carlos Hernandez and I am a writer and journalist with over 10 years of experience. I write the food and travel blog Carlos Eats (https://www.carloseats.com) and also contribute to several newspapers and magazines on numerous topics. Follow me on X @CarlosEats, Threads @CarlosEats, and Instagram @CarlosEats.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Ya La’ford, a renowned visual artist, is releasing the newest canister artwork created through a partnership with Kahwa Coffee and the St. Pete Art Alliance. Net proceeds from the sales of this cannister will benefit the St Petersburg Arts Endowment at the Community Foundation Tampa Bay. The unveiling event will take place on Friday, Apr. 5, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Savant on Second, located at 634 2nd Ave. S, in St. Petersburg.
This gathering is open to the public, offering a unique opportunity for art enthusiasts, coffee lovers, and the community to experience her extraordinary talent. The exhibition will feature a stunning display of the canisters, which are not only captivating works of art but also available for purchase.
“The artwork I create serves as a powerful medium for self-expression and storytelling. It allows me to explore and communicate ideas, emotions, and experiences that words alone may struggle to capture. Just as a cup of high-quality coffee awakens the senses and provides a moment of pure enjoyment, my artwork aims to evoke a similar response. The intersection of creative expression and the appreciation of fine coffee is a fascinating connection. Both art and coffee have the ability to inspire, uplift, and create meaningful experiences. Just as a perfectly brewed cup of coffee can transport us to a different time and place, art has the power to transport us to new perspectives and emotions. By embracing and celebrating the intersection of art and the enjoyment of high-quality coffee, we can create a harmonious blend of sensory experiences that enriches our lives and connects us on a deeper level. It is my hope that through my artwork, viewers can find moments of reflection, inspiration, and connection, just as they do when savoring a delightful cup of coffee,” said La’ford.
“Partnering with the St Pete Arts alliance the last year has been a true testament to the depth of arts in this community. We are so proud to debut the next artist can with Ya La’ford, a nationally recognized artist who promotes the Tampa bay art scene with every opportunity. It is an honor to support SPAA and the work they do to ensure artist growth in St. Petersburg,” said Raphael Perrier, co-founder of Kahwa Coffee.
Ya La’ford is a highly acclaimed artist known for her thought-provoking and visually striking creations. Her works have been exhibited in prestigious galleries and museums around the world, including Galerie Myrtis. This is a unique chance to enjoy both coffee and art in the same space.
Carlos Eats 