Mexican Fine Dining Concept Coming to Tampa in Former Ciro's Space

TAMPA, FL — Quiote Tequilaria, a new fine dining Mexican restaurant focused on refined cuisine and premium sipping tequilas, is targeting a March opening at 2109 Bayshore Blvd, Tampa, FL 33606.

Owner Gene Davis told Business Debut the concept aims to fill a gap in South Tampa for elevated a fine dining Mexican food experience paired with a serious tequila program.

What to Expect

Quiote Tequilaria is designed as an intimate, full-service fine dining restaurant with approximately 70 to 80 seats, including the bar. The space features stone walls with candlelit accents, an open kitchen, subdued lighting, and artwork centered on agave culture, creating a dark, elegant setting suited for date nights and special occasions.

“We’re shooting for a very upscale, refined and elegant Mexican concept,” Davis told Business Debut. “It’s going to be real intimate, a little bit darker inside, and a lot of fun.”

Menu and Vision

The kitchen will be led by Executive Chef Felicia Lacalle, who most recently worked at Teak on the St. Petersburg Pier. Davis said her experience and connection to the cuisine are shaping the restaurant’s focused, refined menu.

The menu will be intentionally limited, featuring four to five tacos, shareable plates, and select entrées. Highlights include a lamb belly chicharrón taco on a house-made blue masa tortilla with soy tamarind glaze, avocado serrano aioli, hibiscus truffle aioli, and fresh herbs. Other dishes include grilled quail over white mole inspired by the film “Como agua para chocolate,” and raw preparations such as scallop aguachile with prickly pear and coconut foam.

“She’s really looking to showcase her abilities and put her love through her food,” Davis said of Lacalle.

Beverage Program

Quiote’s bar program will be overseen by beverage director Adam Welch, who has spent more than a decade collecting tequila and recently traveled with the team to Mexico to visit distilleries and palenques. The bar will focus on additive-free tequilas, mezcals, and scratch-made cocktails.

“We might not even have shot glasses,” Davis said. “We want to show people how to enjoy sipping tequila, especially bourbon drinkers, and really let the product speak for itself.”

Background

Quiote Tequilaria builds on decades of restaurant experience for the Davis family in South Tampa. Gene Davis said he grew up in the business alongside his father, Gordon Davis, who is also an owner of Quiote and is known locally for a long history of successful concepts.

“My dad has been well known around the community for real fun restaurants that were all very successful,” Davis told Business Debut. He said those projects included Le Bordeaux, a French restaurant with French chefs and servers; a French Caribbean concept; Ceviche, a Spanish tapas restaurant; Copperfish, a seafood restaurant; Smoke BBQ; and Ciro’s Speakeasy, a London-inspired cocktail bar previously housed in the same space as Quiote.

Executive Chef Felicia Lacalle also has prior history with the group. Davis said Lacalle previously worked with them on Samba Room in South Tampa before going on to lead kitchens of her own and most recently spending several years at Teak on the St. Petersburg Pier.

“She’s incredible,” Davis said.

Opening Timeline

The restaurant is targeting a March opening, pending final construction and training.

Hours

At opening, Quiote Tequilaria plans to operate Wednesday through Sunday, with the kitchen open until 11 p.m. or midnight and the bar open until 1 a.m. Expanded late-night hours and seven-day service are planned after the first few months.

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