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Neighborhood news

After six years in bay area, the Dish is done

By RICK GERSHMAN
Published February 2, 2007

It was a founding member of Centro Ybor and one of the retail and entertainment plaza's most interesting concepts: Dish, the "Mongolian barbecue" restaurant with a twist or two.

But after a little more than six years of providing diners the opportunity to mix and match a variety of meats, veggies and sauces, cooked on a stone grill, Dish has closed up shop.

The restaurant was packed for much of New Year's Eve, thanks to hungry football fans attending the Outback Bowl Parade running through Ybor City. But that was a rare occurrence at Dish, where business was sporadic, especially on weekdays.

Another Dish, at BayWalk in downtown St. Petersburg, also closed in January. Dish president/co-owner John Schall could not be reached for comment.

Chris O'Rourke, a spokeswoman for Centro Ybor owners M&J Wilkow, said Tuesday the ownership was aware when it purchased the financially ailing plaza Dec. 22 that Dish subsequently would be closing. O'Rourke did not say whether the plaza was actively seeking any specific replacements.

While popular with tourists for its colorful concept and its regulars for offering fresh seafood and top sirloin among its ingredients, Dish got an uneven reception from critics.

Times critic Chris Sherman provided a lukewarm review in 2001, shortly after the concept opened. In April 2006, Brian Ries of the alternative newspaper Weekly Planet now Creative Loafing panned the restaurant.

Ries objected to everything from the concept itself to his meal's taste and noted concerns about using the same spatulas with meats in various states of doneness.

Rick Gershman can be reached at rgershman@sptimes.com or 226-3431.

[Last modified February 1, 2007, 07:59:06]