On the menu: Boston-area roast beef chain, LGBTQ-owned restaurant to open locally

From roast beef sandwiches to upscale Italian cuisine, here’s what’s coming to the St. Petersburg area: 

Celebrity chef Fabio Viviani’s restaurant to open this weekend 

Celebrity chef Fabio Viviani will open Taverna Costale Sunday (Jan. 16) on the ground floor of 200 Central Ave. 

It will be his first restaurant concept to open in St. Petersburg. The 5,900-square-foot restaurant will be next to Craft Kafe.

A rendering of the exterior of Taverna Costale. Facebook image.

Taverna Costale is described as a rustic Italian eatery with a menu featuring prime-cut steaks, homemade pasta, pizzas and signature seafood dishes. 

Viviani is partnering with Brian Henry and Anthony Sandstrom for the opening of  Taverna Costale. The group was also behind Viviani’s Wesley Chapel concept Chuck Lager’s American Tavern.

“Downtown St. Pete has nothing like this,” Sandstorm said. “It will be an elevated dining experience, bringing a very high level of hospitality and food in a very inclusive space.” 

LGBTQ+ friendly restaurant to open in Grand Central District  

A new concept dubbed Zoie’s bar and restaurant will open this year at 2245 Central Ave.

The future site of Zoie’s. GoogleMaps.

Not many details have been released about the LGBTQ-owned restaurant concept, but it will offer craft cocktails, dishes and desserts. 

The 3,200-square-foot space was formerly used by Father and Son’s A/C and Heating. 

The space will reportedly have a stage to host events such as drag shows. 

New restaurant to fill swah-rey’s former space 

A new restaurant is slated to take over swah-rey’s former downtown space at 625 Central Ave. 

Flip Crepes and Waffles, a dessert cafe offering crepes, waffles as its name suggests, will open its doors by February. 

The restaurant will also serve acai bowls. 

The restaurant space became available after the owners of swah-rey closed both Central Avenue locations in 2021. 

The couple recently survived a car accident on a Mississippi highway. 

Roast beef sandwich chain to take over the site of a steakhouse restaurant 

The site of the shuttered Pasadena Steak House will be replaced by a roast beef sandwich restaurant chain. 

Kelly’s Roast Beef will demolish the former steak house building at 1530 Pasadena Ave. S. and build a drive-thru restaurant, according to plans filed in the stormwater permits. 

A roast beef sandwich. Image: Kelly’s Roast Beef Facebook

Kelly’s Roast Beef was founded in 1951 in Massachusetts. The family-owned franchise has four locations, which are all located in Massachusetts. The chain has won awards for its roast beef, clam chowder and was also recognized as having Boston’s best lobster roll, according to the company’s history. 

An application shows the restaurant is expected to be completed in 2023. 

Raising Cane’s is coming to Clearwater 

The Louisiana-based restaurant chain Raising Cane’s, known for its chicken tenders, is opening a location in Clearwater. 

The popular chain purchased property at 25252 Gulf Blvd. in a $4.5 million deal. The site was used for a Village Inn. 

A fried chicken tender platter from Raising Cane’s. Image: Facebook.

Raising Cane’s announced its plans last year to expand across Florida, and will open its first Florida location in Miami this February. 

The Clearwater location is expected to open in 2023.