Union New American is a new restaurant concept from Next Level Brands Holdings LLC, a group led by restaurateur Jeff Gigante. The restaurant will debut at the Westshore City Center on Tuesday, April 4 and reservations are open now.
Jeff Gigante, the visionary restaurateur who has delivered some of the most tantalizing and celebrated restaurants in the entire region, is ready to debut the next big thing in Tampa with Union New American at Westshore City Center.
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“The Westshore area is home to a vast population of business professionals and travelers,” says Gigante. “Union New American is a full experience – an adult playground of sorts – where guests can conduct business during the day, close the work day with a cocktail at the bar, and progress into the evening hours, while embracing energetic lounge-vibes on our second floor rooftop, terrace, and event space.”
Union New American offers a tantalizing two-story dining experience
The brand new two-story 9,358-square-foot restaurant space features indoor and outdoor dining. The build-out for the restaurant was designed by Atelier Zebulon Perron, showcasing a contemporary and upscale ambiance.
“Visible to our guests from the dining room, our open-fire oven is an integral part of the restaurant,” says Chef Adam Polise. “Much of our cuisine is centered around the hearth, whether it’s the focal point of the dish or a finishing component, it’s part of every aspect of the dining experience. The hearth packs great flavor by gently manipulating taste while not overpowering it.”
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Inspiration pulls from all corners of the globe with flavorful starters like Yellowfin Tuna Tartare with mustard cream, sweet pickle gastrique, and crispy potato; a Hearth Roasted Platter of king crab legs, oysters, shrimp, lobster and white wine garlic butter; Roasted Carrots with koji tahini, salsa verde and garden herbs; and delicious bread starters like Parker House Milk Bread with whipped butter, honey and fresh thyme and Country Biscuits with Benton’s 1-year ham, blueberry pepper jam, and pimento cheese.
Your new favorite steak and dessert destination
Lighter choices include a selection of four salads – House, Caesar, Greek and Crunch Love with fry bread croutons, red pepper hummus, feta and lemon vinaigrette – and five Sushi options that include a namesake Union Roll with Alaskan king crab, A5 Miyazaki, avocado, crispy onion, and truffle aioli; Salmon and Hamachi Crudo with pineapple vinaigrette, cucumber, jalapeño, cilantro, avocado cream and chili oil; and Korean BBQ Salmon with avocado, charred allium, gochujang, sesame oil, honey and togarashi.
An assortment of steak options include an 8 ounce Filet, a 14 ounce NY Strip, and a 22 ounce Bone-in Rib Eye served with a Hasselback potato and the option to enhance with “surf” (shrimp, lobster, crab), truffles and four sauces, which includes a Union Steak Sauce. A selection of main items round out the offerings with items like Green Circle Farms Roast Chickenwith confit vegetables and onion jus; a vegan-friendly Smoked Eggplant Enchilada with cauliflower, lentils, cashew cream, and pepper coulis; and General Po’s Iberico Pork with shrimp fried rice, Mandarin pancake, and yum yum sauce – and reflect the globally-inspired gastronomic adventure the restaurant will be known for.
A top notch cocktail experience at Westshore City Center
Executive Pastry Chef, Summer Bailey, oversees all of Next Level Brand’s pastry programs. She joined the restaurant group with an impressive resume that included a bevy of heavy-hitting New York positions at Christina Tosi’s Momofuku’s MilkBar and Andrew Carmellini’s The Dutch. Bailey wowed the Tampa region with her contribution to Water Street’s new culinary gem, Boulon, and will continue this trend with a selection of five nostalgic desserts that include an Apple Hand Pie, Union Chocolate Chip Cookies served warm with iced vanilla milk, and a Blizzard.
Along with an impressively wide selection of beers and wines, Union New American has conceptualized a tantalizing cocktail program. A selection of eight signature cocktails includes modern interpretations of classic concoctions and unique signature drinks including the Pepino Papi with Casa Noble Blanco Tequila, Mr. Q. Cumber Soda, and Thai herb elixir; Dominican Domino made from Diplomatico Rum, Chinola passion fruit, prosecco, mint, and honey; and aLychee Lover with Drumshanbo Gin, St. Germain, tart grapefruit, and lychee-lavender cordial to name a few.
Transforming a vital piece of property in Tampa
Tampa-based Ally Capital Group acquired Westshore City Center in early 2019 and selected Franklin Street to oversee leasing, management and project management for the property. Franklin Street hired VCC, LLC for demolition of the existing building.
“From the very beginning, Ally Capital Group’s vision for Westshore City Center has been to create a true mixed-use destination that blends newly renovated office campus with exceptional retail, dining and entertainment options that attract a regional audience,” said Matthew Chadwick, Director of Ally Capital Group. “It’s also important to us to support local concepts born in Tampa Bay, which makes Union New American an exciting and fitting addition to this property.”
Built in 1975, Westshore City Center is comprised of five office buildings totaling 300,000 square feet on 10.4 acres. Under Ally Capital Group’s ownership and Franklin Street’s management, the property has received significant cosmetic and structural improvements to create a modernized aesthetic and greater focus on walkability and outdoor space. .
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