Zaxby’s, Point Chaud, Café Tuk Tuk, 400 Beach: Restaurant News

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

Restaurants Offer Specials During Tampa Bay Restaurant Week

Businesses throughout the region are participating in Tampa Bay Restaurant Week, which runs through June 25. They will offer multiple-course prix fixe menus, drink specials and more.

Several restaurants are in St. Petersburg, including Cider Press Vegan Gastropub, Good Intentions, Teak, Allelo and Birch & Vine.

A portion of proceeds will go to Feeding Tampa Bay.

Find a full list of participating restaurants here.

Crepe Cafe Opening at ARK Innovation Center

Point Chaud Coffee & Crepes, a creperie with gourmet Lavazza coffee, has signed a sublease for space at the Tampa Bay Innovation Center, according to a news release.

The 45,000-square-foot tech hub at 1101 4th Street S. will house startups and innovation partners.

“Point Chaud is proud to announce its first location in Florida,” Mourad Kacimi, partner,
Point Chaud Florida, said. “We are happy to partner with the Tampa Bay Innovation Center to bring this concept to St. Petersburg and the surrounding community.”

The new café expects that it will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. It will also feature an outdoor patio and free Wi-Fi for guests.

The café was intentionally designed as a place to provide collaboration among business leaders, innovators, founders and members of the community, according to the news release.

“Point Chaud will be an excellent addition that will provide a nice amenity to our clients and neighbors,“ Tonya Elmore, president and CEO of the Tampa Bay Innovation Center, said.
The creperies was founded in 2005, growing into several locations in Washington D.C. and Maryland since then. St. Petersburg is its first location in Florida.

In addition to crepes, the menu will also include salads, paninis, quiches and gelato, and feature gluten-free and vegetarian options.

Pride Bar Crawl Planned

This sixth annual Pride Bar Crawl throughout St. Petersburg takes place Saturday, 4 p.m. to midnight. 20 percent of proceeds will benefit Metro Inclusive Health.

Participating bars include Enigma, Pour Judgement, One Night Stand, Thirsty First, Whiskey Exchange and Yard of Ale.

Ooza Palooza Grilled Cheese and Tater Tot Fest Set

Local food trucks will serve up a childhood classic — the grilled cheese — at this food festival on Saturday, 5 to 10 p.m., at Albert Whitted Park in St. Petersburg. There will also be a beer garden, vendors and artists, live music, and games and activities.

Espresso Cart Opens Downtown

A new European-style espresso cart, Café Tuk Tuk, opened in downtown St. Petersburg at the corner of Central Avenue and 1st Street.

The cart is currently open daily from 7 a.m. to noon or 1 with plans to stay open later down the road, according to I Love the Burg.

400 Beach Seafood and Tap House Temporarily Closed

The 400 Beach Seafood and Tap House on Beach Drive temporarily closed Monday for renovations, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The work is expected to take about six months.

The restaurant’s interior will get a more contemporary design. The eatery’s culinary team will also develop a new menu with a focus on locally sourced ingredients during its closure

Zaxby’s Opens in St. Petersburg

Zaxby’s, a chicken restaurant chain, opened its first location in St. Petersburg at 3700 34th Street S. in the Skyway Marina District. It held its grand opening on Monday, according to a Facebook post from the company.

The brand promises giveaways at the store and on its Facebook page in the coming weeks.

New Owner for Melange, Pangea in Sarasota

Downtown Sarasota’s Melange restaurant and Pangea Alchemy Lab have been sold to new owners.

St. Petersburg chef, Jeremy Duclut, who competed on and won an episode of the Food Network’s “Chopped” in 2009, is taking over the eatery. He’s also the owner/partner of the Wooden Rooster and Dirty Shirley in St. Petersburg.

“We knew that Melange and Pangea was the place for us," he told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. "My wife (Liset) and I have loved coming here for years! Our intention is not to change, our focus and attention will be on food and cocktail creation and execution. At the moment, we are not planning on changing anything other than a little aesthetics around the bar and restaurant. What we want to do first, is to get to know our guests and Sarasota.”