A stew of new

Kona Grill is now open on Boy Scout in Tampa. La Cachette in Clearwater on Cleveland Street is open and, according to my sources, very beautiful, with several rooms to accomodate different-sized parties. At the site of the old La Cachette on Gulf Blvd. in Indian Rocks Beach, Tapas Garden Restaurant has opened, with nice outside dining space. Taverna Opa is going into Channelside in the space that was once Grille 29, while downstairs a new Irish 31s Pub and Grill is going in. Angelinos in Palm Harbor is now Jonny Garlic's. Taqueria Quetzalcoatl 402 S Howard Ave. in Tampa will open shortly as Mateo's Fresh Mex. And Dutchy's, a sports bar on Mandalay on Clearwater Beach, will open early in January.

On a sad note, Edyth James' Callaloo's (705 Court St., Clearwater) appears to be out of business.
The phone is disconnected, the Web site is down and the sign says "Closed for Repairs."

Hot Tuna Bar & Cafe opens soon

What used to be Andreychucks across the street from the St. Pete Times Forum is currently being completely remodeled and by the end of the month will reopen as Hot Tuna Bar & Cafe (490 Channelside Dr., Tampa, (813) 325-1919). With a new stage being built, the bar will host a mix of solo acts, top cover bands and tribute bands. There will be music before and after every St. Pete Times Forum event, and new owner Chris Condon insists, no cover charge ever. 

Gigi's and Chappy's update

Craig Chapman is entirely out of the Chappy's Louisiana Kitchen project (247 Central Ave., St. Petersburg) since some unpleasantness in September. Investors Jim Connell, the Hamiltons and the Cerutis have taken over full ownership and Michelle Reeves is manager of the restaurant. Reeves says the menu remains the same at Chappy's, with less emphasis on the Cajun/Creole dishes.

Meanwhile, the former Bonefish Grill space on 4th Street (5901 Fourth St. N.), which has been empty for the past several months and was slated to become Chappy’s Martini Bar and Grill, will open as Gigi's Italian Restaurant around December 15. This will be a fourth location for the S. Pasadena-based restaurant group owned by the Newberne family.

Heavenly Swirl opens in St. Petersburg

John Gonos has just opened the Heavenlyswirl frozen yogurt shop at 10454 Roosevelt Blvd. in St Petersburg next to the Walgreens at the Gateway Crossings Plaza. He offers soft-serve low-fat tart yogurt packed with those wonderful probiotics, either served by the cup or in a parfait or smoothie. There are also low-fat sugar-free ice creams and Italian ice. Hours are daily 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, call (727) 289-7184.

Official World of Beer opening on Friday

To add to my post last week, World of Beer will open its door Friday at 5526 4th St. N, St. Petersburg. Beer and wine starts at $4. There will be a grand opening celebration early in December, stay tuned.

Says co-owner Philippe Theodore, “When I first stumbled upon WOB some 2 and a half years ago I was intrigued, the founders had re-created the ambiance of a local European pub or tavern and added a distinct American twist- live acoustic music and a seemingly unlimited and instantly accessible assortment of  domestic micro brews and beers from across the globe.”

With 40 taps rotated weekly, and 500 beers from around the world, World of Beer 4th Street is for the discerning beer connoisseur and the casual drinker alike. The smoke-free and comfortable locale boasts an outdoor area, several flats-screen TVs, a private loft  and a staff of  knowledgeable beer experts.

Mezzaluna opens in New Port Richey

Michelle Filippou relocated recently from Atlanta to New Port Richey (she has family in these parts), opening Mezzaluna at 5749 Main Street (at the site of the defunct Main St. Grill) on October 1. She and her brother, Victor Napolillo, are holding their grand opening gala on Nov. 10, hoping neighbors will come out for free tastings and live entertainment. The menu is a straight-up Italian mix of pizza, calzones, stuffed shells, grinders and salads. For more info, call (727) 264-8980.

Careme's Market brings swoony prime rib takeout to Lutz

Careme’s Market, a new gourmet market featuring freshly prepared entrees, a full sandwich bar and deli, cheeses and wines celebrates its official grand opening next Saturday, Nov. 7 from noon to 5 p.m. The celebration will include tastings, live music, children’s activities and a drawing to win a trip to Las Vegas. The first 25 people in the store will receive a $10 store credit and all guests will have an opportunity to “spin to win” discounts from 10 to 50 percent off food items purchased that day.

That's good and all, but what I've been hearing about Careme's, which opened on Oct. 1, is that fancy-pants Avila residents have been swarming the place for the signature take-away smoked prime rib or a number of other snazzy entrees (heat-and-eat chicken parmesan, shrimp scampi, Korean ribs, Cuban picadillo) for dinner at home.

"The whole concept is restaurant-quality food you can take and enjoy in your home," said owner and president. 

The market, located at 16319 N. Florida Ave., is named for Marie-Antoine Careme, who lived from 1784 to 1833 and was an early practitioner of the high art of French cooking.

Kona Grill Tampa to open next week

I like their tagline: "East meets West. They party." Kona Grill will open a location at 4134 W. Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa, with a grand opening party on Nov. 8. As colleague Mark Albright recently described the chain: "Kona Grill, a 22-store casual dining chain with an Asian-influenced menu of American favorites, will open a 344-seat restaurant at MetWest International. The Scottsdale, Ariz., chain is the first retail tenant in the 32-acre mixed-use project across Boy Scout Boulevard from International Plaza in Tampa. With an average check of $24, Kona Grill offers sushi, steaks, seafood and a selection of 40 sauces served in a dining room featuring a 2,000-gallon saltwater aquarium."

International Plaza area is heating up these days--went to BRIO last night and they were doing a brisk business. It's an attractive space and the staff seems well trained thus far. I'll reserve judgement on the food until my next visit.

World of Beer comes to St. Petersburg next week

Beer brought them back together. Tampa natives Philippe Theodore and Jason Rappaport met in the third grade at Berkeley Prep. They grew up  to go their separate ways, but now the hugely successful Westchase pub concept World of Beer has brought them together again. They bought the area development rights to the venture (500 beers, live music, drawing a professional crowd) and are currently building two new WOBs, one in Tampa Palms and one in the old Panchero's site at 5226 4th St. N in St. Petersburg.

According to Theodore, the St. Petersburg location is awaiting its certificate of occupancy but anticipates opening at the end of next week. They hired a local St. Petersburg staff and have just finished putting the group through an intensive training program. Adding a new twist to the Westchase flagship store, which is beer only, no food, the new St. Pete location will offer a limited menu of bar-friendly foods like flatbread pizzas, mojo chicken wings, pretzel bread served with a porter cheese dip and beef sliders called Wobbers.

Gratzzi to rise like the phoenix in Pacific Wave's space

Domenic D'Angelo is in lease negotiations to take over the recently vacated Pacific Wave space at 211 2nd St. S. in St. Petersburg. He closed his fine-dining Italian restaurant, Gratzzi, last month after nine years in BayWalk.

"Problems in BayWalk are not insurmountable," D'Angelo says. "BayWalk's problems stem from a perception that it is unsafe, and the management company has done nothing to overcome those perceptions. It will be easy to rectify, but it will take time."

A self-described optimist, D'Angelo explains how devastating this August and September were for business in the dining and entertainment complex, citing check averages three years of around $35 and this August of a mere $20. "It got to the point that the next step would have been to sell my house."

D'Angelo feels that the smaller, cozier Pacific Wave space may suit the times better--his aim is to continue with Italian fare at the new Gratzzi, but to make it more affordable and casual.

"Fine dining is not in vogue anymore, so we're going to scale it back a little. Unfortunately, in a bad economy, restaurants are the first to feel it and the last industry to really come back afterward."

Assuming lease negotiations go smoothly, D'Angelo aims to open Gratzzi before the holidays after some renovation work.