Epicurean Hotel Updates Élevage and The Lobby Bar with Innovative Menus, Expanded Space

Epicurean Hotel Updates Élevage and The Lobby Bar with Innovative Menus, Expanded Space

TAMPA, Fla. (September 11, 2018) – Tampa’s popular Epicurean Hotel has completed a round of significant updates, including the introduction of an innovative new menu at its signature restaurant, Élevage, and the creation of a new space called The Lobby Bar. Élevage is now open for dinner nightly and weekend brunch, and the new Lobby Bar is open daily for breakfast, happy hour and weekend brunch. The Lobby Bar also serves an all-day menu extending into the late-night hours. The changes were directed by the hotel’s nationally recognized Executive Chef Chad Johnson, a 2012 and 2014 James Beard Foundation “Best Chef: South” semi-finalist, who has been with the Epicurean since its opening in 2013.

“We looked to Chef Chad to make these improvements to keep our offerings fresh and accommodate the changing trends and tastes of our guests and the local community,” said Kevin Scott, general manager of the Epicurean. “The new space is beautiful, but, as always, the star of the show is the food available in both outlets; it’s classic, yet modern and showcases what our award-winning chefs do best.”

Élevage has unveiled a more concise menu that is an innovative marriage between the best of Southern hospitality and French techniques. The culinary team focuses on fresh, vibrant preparations that have a sense of familiarity with a twist of the unexpected to create dishes such as the goat cheese and sweet potato agnolotti, a hand-made pasta filled with a mousse of goat cheese, roasted sweet potato, and pureed black truffles. Other dishes on the new menu include brioche crusted halibut in a modified classic Veronique sauce and the snapper crudo with crab remoulade, dried tomato, watercress and buttermilk consommé. Server uniforms have been updated to accompany the menu changes.

The newly named Lobby Bar area has been expanded to include a mix of seating featuring industrial high tops, rich leather couches and shared bar seating. Additional square footage has been added for more communal space and social engagement, along with two flat screen TVs. The large street-side window area now converts to open air doors leading to an outdoor patio area with additional seating.

The new Lobby Bar menu features chef-inspired plates and a cocktail program that showcases well-made classics, while highlighting creative signature offerings. Perfect examples include the diner burger, a fresh take on the classic with cheddar, bread and butter pickles and comeback sauce, and the moules dijonnaise with mustard, creme fraiche and parsley on a baguette. While the menus have been completely overhauled, one foodie-favorite dish remains on The Lobby Bar menu – the Homage to Bern’s pressed steak sandwich, a nod to the Epicurean’s legendary neighbor, Bern’s Steak House.

Located in the trendy Hyde Park historic district of South Tampa, Florida, the food-focused Epicurean Hotel features a state-of-the-art culinary classroom known as the Epicurean Theatre; Élevage, a restaurant where Southern hospitality meets French technique; EDGE rooftop bar; Bern’s Fine Wines & Spirits wine shop; Evangeline full-service spa; and 5,200-square feet of flexible event space. The Epicurean Hotel was developed in collaboration with Mainsail Lodging & Development and the legendary Bern’s Steak House and is the first newly constructed hotel property in the United States to join the prestigious Autograph Collection® of Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR).  For reservations, please call (855) U-AWAKEN (829-2536) or visit www.EpicureanHotel.com.