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A hotel built for your palate

Bern's. Just the name brings to mind fabulous food. In 2008, Bern's owners will open a hotel centered on fine dining. Imagine, a Bern's steak. In your room. At 2 a.m.

By ALEXANDRA ZAYAS
Published April 30, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [Times photo: Ken Helle] A rendering shows Bern's Family of Legends' newest project, The Epicurean Hotel, set to open at the end of next year. [Times photo: Ken Helle] Meghan Blatz, 25, and Alicia Barlow, 21, both of St. Petersburg, taste one of the wines offered Sunday at the Bern's 10th Annual Winefest.

TAMPA

For now, it's a dusty construction lot on S Howard Avenue.

But by the end of 2008, it'll be The Epicurean Hotel, a 75-room boutique hotel that will include a rooftop pool and bar, a spa and a parking garage.

On Sunday, Bern's Steak House owner David Laxer unveiled plans for the luxury condominium hotel project four years in the making that his family will open across the street from their restaurant.

With a focus on food, the hotel will feature upscale wine and cooking demonstrations, classes and wine tastings at the Bern Laxer School of Food and Wine.

It will also feature a new 18, 000-square-foot signature restaurant that will serve hotel and local guests from breakfast into the late night.

Chef partner Jeannie Pierola didn't reveal a lot about the restaurant, except to say it will have a very different approach.

Bern's Fine Wine and Spirits, now located down the street from the steak house, will expand into a new 9, 000 square foot location in the hotel that will house guest wine lockers and storage.

"I don't think there's anything in the country like this, " Laxer said.

Alexandra Zayas can be reached at zayas@sptimes.com or 813 226-3354.

For more

To learn more about The Epicurean Hotel, including sales information from Smith & Associates, visit www.theepicureanhotel.com.

[Last modified April 30, 2007, 07:29:58]