The downtown restaurant will take over offices next door so it can serve more customers - in a New York Minute.
By MICHAEL CANNING
Published August 1, 2003
GETTING OUT OF A PICKLE: Brandon Dasher, managing owner of the Lucky Dill Deli, says he turns away about 30 people every day.
If you've ever tried to get a table at the downtown restaurant at lunchtime, you know he's probably not bragging.
To fix the situation, the deli at 477 N Ashley Drive in the first floor of the Park Tower is expanding next door into the former offices of the Tampa Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The new space, which is scheduled to open Sept. 15, will more than double the capacity and significantly expand the size from 3,500 square feet to 6,500. The deli will have seating for 250, including 32 outside along Madison Street, compared with the current 100.
Dasher said he will continue the New York City theme in the new wing. Playing a major role in the expansion is the New York Minute. Dasher hopes it will take three minutes or less for customers to order, pick up their food and grab a seat (or zip out the door).
The new wing will essentially be a second restaurant that's connected. It will have a separate smaller menu featuring brick-oven pizzas and premade wraps, salads, lasagna, meat loaf and sandwiches. Cashiers will take cash only.
The Lucky Dill has its roots in Palm Harbor, which has two other locations. Its most famous item is probably the chicken matzo ball soup, though many are just as fond of the Tony Soprano sub, the Madison Square Garden salad and Bob's "You Talkin' to Me" Cobb salad.
CAFFE ITALIA GOES DI VINO: Casual's in style now at 3114 W Bay to Bay Blvd.
Ten-year veteran Caffe Italia has transformed into Di Vino.
Where Caffe Italia was heavy on the dark and romantic atmosphere, Di Vino sheds more light on diners. It charges about $5 less per plate and introduces less lofty fare, such as pork tenderloin, scallopino Raffaello, cannelloni and homemade pasta.
Ali Seghrouchni, former owner of Il Gabbiano on West Shore Boulevard (now Aldo's Italian), teamed up with Caffe Italia impresario Andreas Fenu to fashion Di Vino. Seghrouchni said business was decent at Caffe Italia but sometimes change for change's sake is a good thing.
To that end, the revamped restaurant sports a new sandstone paint job, burgundy awnings and an outdoor patio that seats 50. Inside the vibe is still Mediterranean courtyard but brighter. The fountain, mirrors and some of the frescos from the Italia days remain.
Hours are 5 to 10:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Sunday and Monday hours might be added after the slow summer months.
RAVIOLI SAYS SO LONG SOHO: It's not often you see a restaurant leaving Tampa's Restaurant Row in favor of another neighborhood. But after doing business just off the southeast corner of Platt Street and Howard Avenue for five years, co-owners Lauren and Dwight Otis have decided to move.
Their Ravioli Co. takeout and catering business opened July 25 at 3413 S Manhattan Ave., on the southwest corner of Vasconia Street.
"We just outgrew where we were at," said Lauren Otis. The new location has 1,500 square feet, double the size of the former location at 2202 W Platt St.
Plus their new spot is designed for cooking, she added. Previously, it housed JR's Floribbean and Ramon's Mexican restaurant before that.
The Otises hope the new location attracts the many families in the surrounding South Westshore and Virginia Park neighborhoods. Singles dominate the Howard Avenue area.
With the move comes an expanding menu. The Otises have added focaccia sandwiches, salads and desserts to their selection of pastas, raviolis, manicottis, lasagnas, sauces and home-baked breads. The new waiting area has a Tuscan garden feel.
As with their old location, the Otises will stick to takeout and catering, with no indoor dining. They take walk-in and phone orders (254-2051). Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
NEW DIGS FOR VINYL FEVER: Tampa's oldest independent record store has moved for a third time.
Vinyl Fever opened at its new location at 4110 Henderson Blvd. on June 26. It moved from what some would consider a dream spot on Dale Mabry Highway across from Plant High School, Steak n Shake and Smoothie King.
Not so for Vinyl Fever. Owner Lee Wolfson said his customers are typically older than Plant students. The shop opened in 1981 on Fletcher Avenue and was the first in Tampa to specialize in what was then considered underground rock. You know, the really obscure bands, such as U2, the Cure and the B-52s.
In 1989, Vinyl Fever opened on Dale Mabry. Moving away from the high school is no great crisis, Lee said, because over the years clients have aged.
The staff sees the change as a big plus. Store manager Gabe Echazabal said the new store is 3,500 square feet, a gain of about 1,000. That means the store has expanded its inventory of T-shirts, posters, DVDs and Metallica action figures. Plus there's more parking.
Echazabal said that Vinyl Fever's identity as not-too-mainstream but not-too-alternative won't change.
Fever regulars will be pleased to know that the store's framed picture of Yul Brynner has survived the move.
- Do you know something that should be everybody's business? Call 226-3382, or e-mail mikecanning@hotmail.com
The Find: Alphabet stamps
Kick off the school year right with a fun set of alphabet stamps. Bright yellow rubber stamps from Educational Insights make learning to spell as easy as ABC. A set of letters goes for $19.95 at An Educational Rainbow in Britton Plaza, at Dale Mabry Highway and Euclid Avenue. Scented ink pads are sold separately. Call 835-0499.
