SideBernand#8217;s to close during renovation

TAMPA Now that the Epicurean Hotel is open and the Elevage restaurant, Edge Social Drinkery and Chocolate Pi patisserie are serving customers, the owner of Berns Steak House announced Monday that sister restaurant SideBerns will get a major makeover.

David Laxer said the changes at the 18-year-old South Howard Avenue restaurant were long planned following Berns Fine Wine & Spirits relocation south to the Epicurean from SideBerns. With all the bottles moved and the space empty, renovating the modern fusion restaurant is now possible.

SideBerns will close on June 24 so that construction can begin at the award-winning 150-seat restaurant, Laxer said. No reopening date has been set, but it is expected service will restart near the end of the year.

For the past five years, the restaurant has closed for 10 days each summer for maintenance and decor improvements. Laxer said this years renovation plans are too extensive to complete in such a short amount of time.

Its a bigger endeavor than tearing up some floor, putting paint on the walls and moving furniture around, Laxer said. We just cant continue to have that dead space in the former wine store. Now its about figuring out the nuts and bolts of what to do.

In 2012, Berns joined with Mainsail Lodging & Development and Marriott to build the food-themed Epicurean Hotel across from the steak house on South Howard Avenue.

The land for the hotel, as well as the parking garage behind the resort, was provided by Laxer. Mainsail built the hotel and oversees its operations. Marriott provides the reservations and booking system.

Staff from Berns and SideBerns operate the Elevage restaurant, Chocolate Pi bakery and the Edge rooftop bar, as well as in-room and spa food and beverage hospitality. The restaurant also provides food for catering events in the ballroom as well as private functions inside the Epicureans Culinary Theater.

It takes time to do something right and we want to do it right, Berns spokeswoman Brooke Palmer said of the renovation. We want to bring SideBerns to the level of the hotel and Elevage.

In 1996, SideBerns started as three separate buildings, including the wine shop, the restaurant and a warehouse. As the restaurant grew from a dessert and wine space into a full-fledged restaurant under former chef Jeannie Pierola, the land between the wine shop and dining room was enclosed as The Brick Room to accommodate large groups and functions.

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SideBernand#8217;s to close during renovation