Birchwood's Restaurants, Lounge Open for Business

The new Birchwood Hotel's restaurants had a "soft opening" on Friday that was of little surprise to foodies in St. Petersburg.

The opening was reported by the Tampa Bay Times Friday morning, then tweeted and chatted about on social media sites, as the hype built throughout the day.

"So much for a soft opening... The cuisine is amazing and you're going to love it!!!" the Birchwood staff proclaimed on Facebook Friday.

The transformation of the old Grayl's Hotel into the trendy Birchwood – which blends historic and contemporary features – has been watched by patrons of the shops and restaurants along Beach Drive.

Lunch and dinner will be served at the hotel, which has sidewalk cafe service, as well as a rooftop deck to catch the sea breezes. Lunch starts at 11 a.m., dinner at 5, and the rooftop outdoor lounge opens at 4.

Entrees will include Forbidden Black Rice Crusted Ahi Tuna and Seafood & Fresh Parpadelle Pasta with Gulf shrimp, P.E.I. mussels, cedar key clams and calamari. (Click here to see the dinner menu.)

Lisa Zimlin commented: "Not accepting reservations it's going to be too crazy.. Good luck!"

Dan Charette wrote on Facebook: "As Beach Drive resident and foodie, I am really looking forward to experience the new haunt!"

The indoor restaurant is called Birch & Vine. The rooftop lounge/restaurant is the Canopy. The sidewalk cafe has 50 seats.

According to Birchwood's website:

The Birchwood was originally constructed in 1924 as the Lantern Lane Apartments and the only apartments along Beach Drive facing the waters of Tampa Bay. The Spanish Mission-style building, listed in the National Registry of Historic Places, underwent a renovation of historically accurate dimensions with the addition of two floors.

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