Beachfront Restaurant Coming to Madeira Beach

Madeira Beach city commissioners have approved the development agreement for a beachfront restaurant at 14080 Gulf Blvd. called the Gulf Grill. 

Construction on the $2 million restaurant is scheduled to begin in a few weeks, with a grand opening of the restaurant in December. 

The Gulf Grill will feature an outdoor deck, beach boardwalk and open-air seating. 

"We are trying to bring to you a beautiful crown jewel on the Gulf of Mexico," said local restaurateur Steve Westphal in an interview with the Tampa Bay Times.

Westphal also runs Parkshore Grill, the Hangar Restaurant and Flight Lounge and 400 Beach Seafood & Tap House. 

The Gulf Grill's website says it will be a "welcoming seaside eatery focusing on uniquely crafted dishes with great flavor and exciting pairings. Always on the menu will be the All-American favorites burgers, steaks and fresh off the boat seafood."

Gulf Grill adds: 

"The beach, the sea and the surf all resonate within each of us. The reason we find ourselves here in Florida. The Gulf Grill is designed to celebrate our relationship to the sea and the creatures that live within it.

Wide-open vistas of the Gulf, the beach and even views of the Intracoastal Waterway... are the decor. Our design theory is not to get in the way of Mother Nature and to simply showcase the grand panorama that lies around our location."

According to the Beach Beacon, there will be 240 seats at the Gulf Grill, 160 upstairs and 80 downstairs. 

The restaurant said its menu will feature, locally grown produce, locally caught seafood, sustainable and humanely raised meats and poultry along with no hormones, pesticides or antibiotics. 

For additional renderings of the proposed Gulf Grill, click here. 

According to city documents, the commission's approval goes against the planning commission who voted against the proposal 5-0 "due to the Planning Commission's concern regarding the parking variance portion of the development agreement."

The Times reported, "the City Commission granted a 15-space parking variance and will allow the restaurant to provide some of its 39 spaces across the street. Normally, the city would have required 54 spaces onsite."

According to_planning commission minutes, the development agreement involves the dedication of a five-foot easement by Gulfwaters Land Development to the city for the expansion of additional city metered parking at Kitty Stuart Park, which is adjacent to the Gulf Grill. This will increase the number of public parking spaces at Kitty Stuart Park to 20.

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