3 New (& Coming Soon) Pinellas County Restaurants [July]

Here are three new restaurants coming soon (or recently opened) in Pinellas County. As usual, Business Debut has interviewed each business to get the details directly from the source.

Marina Grille — Clearwater Beach

Address: 411 E Shore Dr, Clearwater, FL 33767

Status: Targeting a July 5 opening.

What to expect: New American casual restaurant opening as the signature dining venue for CW Resort and Marina. The restaurant will serve the hotel and the adjacent 46-slip marina.

Space details: Marina Grille will seat 116 guests across indoor dining and a covered outdoor area. All seating faces the marina, with views of the intercoastal waterway and resort pool deck.

Menu highlights: Seafood, steaks, burgers, cold-water lobster and New England-influenced dishes. Planned items include lobster Benedict, lobster cakes paired with crab cakes, ribeye surf and turf, and a bourbon bacon jam burger with habanero and maple-syrup bacon jam.

Special dishes: “Nonna’s Spaghetti and Meatballs” will use a personal recipe from owner Luigi Novembre’s mother. Lead cook Dijana Petrovic also plans to showcase Serbian-inspired dishes as specials.

Hours: Breakfast Monday through Friday starting at 7 a.m.; brunch Saturday and Sunday until 2 p.m.; closing planned at 9 p.m.

Who’s behind it: Owner Luigi Novembre, executive chef and general manager Christopher Dellinger-Flow, and lead cook Dijana Petrovic.

Read our full article.

Mrs. Thelma’s Southern Cuisine — St. Petersburg

Address: 119 49th St South, St. Petersburg, FL 33707

Status: Targeting an August 1 opening.

What to expect: Southern comfort restaurant from owners Melvin Holt and Cornicole Rollins-Holt. The concept honors Holt’s late mother, who inspired both the restaurant’s name and menu.

Menu highlights: Baked turkey wings, baked macaroni and cheese, baked chicken, fried chicken, meatloaf, collard greens and black-eyed peas.

Desserts and drinks: Red velvet cake, banana pudding, mini sweet potato pies, pineapple lemonade and island fruit punch.

Service style: Mrs. Thelma’s Southern Cuisine will offer dine-in and takeout.

More to know: This is the couple’s first full restaurant, though Holt previously ran a cleaning service and a barbecue stand in Orlando.

Who’s behind it: Owners Melvin Holt and Cornicole Rollins-Holt.

Article coming soon.

Costa Vida — Palm Harbor

Address: 33505 US Highway 19 N, Palm Harbor, FL 34684

Status: Targeting late August, with early September as a backup timeframe.

What to expect: First Florida location for Costa Vida, a fast-casual Mexican brand. The Palm Harbor restaurant will take over a former restaurant space along the U.S. 19 corridor near a new Trader Joe’s.

Menu highlights: Burritos, salads, enchiladas, tacos, quesadillas, nachos, chips and salsa, kids meals and desserts. Guests can choose proteins such as sweet pork, grilled chicken and steak, then add rice, beans, salsas and toppings.

Fresh prep: Franchise owner Morgan Smith said everything on the service line, from meats to toppings, is prepared daily in-house. Housemade flour tortillas are pressed and cooked on a hot comal in view of guests.

More to know: This is the first Costa Vida location in Florida. Smith’s group, Summit Management, has a long-term goal of opening three to five locations in the Tampa Bay area.

Who’s behind it: Franchise owner Morgan Smith of Summit Management.

Read our full article.