The Abigaile Bringing Modern American Cuisine to Auburndale

AUBURNDALE, FL — The Abigaile, a new Modern American Cuisine restaurant from Chef Tina Calhoon, is targeting a mid-June opening at 117 East Lake Avenue, Auburndale, FL 33823. Tim Calhoon, vice president of the business and Tina Calhoon’s husband, told Business Debut the restaurant is 100% female owned, with Tina Calhoon serving as chef and owner.

The Abigaile is going into the former Craven Copper restaurant and brewery space, Calhoon told Business Debut.

What to Expect

The Abigaile will be a full-service restaurant with Modern American Cuisine, a craft bar, indoor and outdoor seating, and live music. Calhoon told Business Debut the restaurant will have about 80 seats inside and 80 seats outside, including an indoor bar with about 13 seats and an outdoor bar with about 12 seats.

The outdoor area will also include a covered bandstand for live music on Friday and Saturday nights, as well as Saturday and Sunday during the day, Calhoon told Business Debut.

Menu and Vision

The restaurant is the first brand under Curated Restaurant Group Inc., a new restaurant group from the Calhoons. The couple also owns 413 Hospitality Group, which includes Fresco’s Southern Kitchen & Bar in downtown Lakeland, Fresco’s Catering and Events, and Fresco’s Cafe, a walk-up food counter inside Lakeland Automall Ford in Lakeland, Calhoon told Business Debut.

Calhoon said The Abigaile will be a separate concept from Fresco’s Southern Kitchen & Bar, with no menu items carried over from the Lakeland restaurant.

“What that does is it gives my wife, who basically is the chef and the owner of the company, the ability to cook whatever she wants,” Calhoon told Business Debut.

The menu will be smaller and more flexible than Fresco’s, with plans for regular changes. Early menu highlights include confit wings cooked in Nueske’s bacon fat and tossed in Korean ginger sauce, a chicken shawarma salad with seared chicken, tomatoes, pickled onions, hummus, grilled halloumi and tahini yogurt dressing, and The Abigaile Sea Bass with verbena beurre blanc, lemon Parmesan potatoes, charred broccolini and cherry tomatoes.

For brunch, guests can expect dishes such as a smoked salmon tartine with fresh herbs, shallot and caper cream cheese, sliced tomatoes, cucumber and boiled eggs. Calhoon said the restaurant will also offer vegan and vegetarian dishes, gluten-free options, whiskey, craft spirits and house-made craft cocktails.

Calhoon said the team is looking forward to joining the Auburndale community and being part of the area’s continued growth.

“With all the other businesses that have opened up and will be opening up within the past 16, 18 months, we’re hoping that will help lead to a revitalization of downtown Auburndale,” Calhoon told Business Debut.

Opening Timeline

The team is targeting a mid-June opening.

Hours

Planned hours are 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Sunday.

Dinner service will initially be available Friday and Saturday nights, with brunch on Saturday and Sunday.

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Business Debut | New Business Openings in the SoutheastRoss McWaters