Restaurant News: Edge Eatery Opens, Shiso Crispy Competes On Guy Fieri Show

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Here's the latest restaurant and bar news in the St. Petersburg area.

Edge Eatery Food Hall Holds Soft Opening

The new Edge Eatery, which calls St. Petersburg’s Fusion building at 1572 Central Ave. home, recently held its soft opening.

A grand opening for the Edge District food hall is planned for July 15, according to I Love the Burg. Until then, the food hall will be open daily at 11:30 a.m.

The Edge Eatery includes three food concepts, Carne D’Vino, The Cuban Sandwich and Sangrias at Saint Pete, as well as The District Lounge, an upscale listening room and high-end cocktail bar in the back.

Empanada Eatery Opening in Gulfport

A new Latin restaurant, Julio’s Empanadas Latin Twist Café, is coming to Gulfport at the intersection of Gulfport Boulevard and 49th Street S. The eatery will open by the end of July, The Gabber reported.

In addition to empanadas, the restaurant will also serve potato balls, black bean soup and bowls, and offers indoor and outdoor seating.

Fast-Casual Mediterranean Restaurant Planned for 4th Street

Cava, a fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant chain, will open at 1320 4th Street N. in the space formerly occupied by Zoës Kitchen.

Cava Group Inc. bought all 261 Zoës Kitchen locations around the country for $300 million in November 2018, according to St. Pete Rising.

According to the brand’s website, there aren’t any Cava restaurants listed in Florida yet, though the company also has plans for locations in Orlando, Winter Park and Winter Springs.

Shiso Crispy Owner to Appear on ‘Guy’s Grocery Games’

Ronicca Whaley, owner of the Shiso Crispy food truck, will appear on Guy Fieri’s food network show “Guy’s Grocery Games.”

“Guess what!?!? I competed in a 5-week-long Food Network Tournament on ‘Guy’s Grocery Games’ and the first show is July 6,” she shared on the Shiso Crispy Facebook page. “I’m so excited so excited so excited! Don’t miss it, I showed out with the comedy.”

The summer tournament series will air every Wednesday in July - July 6, 13, 20 and 27 - with a finale scheduled Aug. 3, she wrote.

Each episode of this grocery-store cooking competition pits four talented chefs against each other. They must create dishes using items available to them in the aisles of Fieri’s grocery store are given different competitions, like cooking with “5 items or less” or planning a meal when items are “out of stock.”

Backfin Blue Closes in Gulfport

After 25 years in business, Backfin Blue Café in Gulfport has closed its doors permanently after the Fourth of July weekend. The restaurant’s final day open to the public was Monday, Carly Russell, daughter of owner Harold Russell, shared on Facebook

“On January 15th, 1997, Harold Russell found a little house right in the heart of Gulfport, which shortly became a stepping stone for the community and of course a cherished family restaurant,” she posted to Facebook Sunday night. “After 25 amazing years the time has finally come to the close the doors to the beautiful Backfin Blue Café. Over the years we’ve built a family with so many people and are extremely grateful to have done so.”