The Lime’s owners retool eatery in New Tampa
By KENNETH KNIGHT
kknight@tampatrib.com

The Lime restaurant in New Tampa has gone sour.

“The Lime just didn’t work out,” co-owner Jimmy Lanza said.

Lanza and his business partners moved quickly last month to change the concept at the fledging eatery.

They closed The Lime, a Latin-themed restaurant and sports bar, on May 5, made some renovations and reopened three weeks later as two trendy restaurants under one roof.The larger spot will be ideal for Ciccio’s, which operated out of a smaller, adjacent storefront as the well-established Ciccio & Tony’s restaurant, Lanza said. It will share space with The Lodge, an eatery with a large, traditional menu that caters more to families.

Owned and operated by the same group that owns Ciccio & Tony’s, The Lodge is a successful dining concept that was launched in South Tampa before it was introduced to New Tampa. The Lime on Howard Avenue, which is doing a robust business in South Tampa’s SoHo district, will remain open, Lanza said.

“We tried the concept of The Lime,” he said. “It wasn’t necessarily conducive to the New Tampa clientele.”

The Lime caters to a younger crowd who enjoys dining on Mexican and South American inspired entrees while watching ESPN on flat-screen TVs and listening to loud, pumping music. The concept proved to be not as appealing in New Tampa.

Prior to The Lime, the space at City Plaza at Tampa Palms was occupied by Winners Grill.

Lanza said he hopes the combination of Ciccio’s and The Lodge is more in line with the appetites of New Tampa residents. So far, the change has been well received.

“We have doubled our lunch business,” Lanza said. “Business is very, very good.”

Both restaurants operate out of a combined space of about 5,000 square feet that includes a shared kitchen and seating for about 30 on the patio. Each restaurant covers about 2,000 square feet of space.

The total square footage is large enough under Tampa’s wet zoning to allow beer, wine and liquor sales, said Lanza, who also co-owns Ciccio & Tony’s, Daily Eats and Water, all restaurants on Howard Avenue in South Tampa.

“Ciccio’s lease was up in the smaller space,” Lanza said. “It was perfect timing.”

The new combined location can accommodate about 200, managing partner Robert Garofano said.

While both restaurants share the same menu, loyal Ciccio’s customers will find plenty of their favorite entrees included, he said. The same is true for popular appetizers served at The Lodge.

“It’s a complete fusion of the two; and the menu is available all day,” said Garofano, a Tampa Palms resident and Rotarian.

Ciccio’s and The Lodge, 16023 Tampa Palms Blvd W., are opened seven days a week from 11:30 a.m. to close, which usually runs past midnight.

Ciccio & Tony’s, for nine years, one of the most popular eating spots in New Tampa has made a move to bigger & better things. This new and improved version of a great concept is sure to please the most discriminating diner.

The Ciccio & Tony’s concept has been a hit since it opened. A line waiting for a table was often times the norm both for lunch and dinner, and certainly during the weekends for their great brunches.

The Ciccio team, James Lanza, Jeff Gigante, Robert Garofano, and Executive Chef, Luis Flores have certainly been on the cutting edge of Tampa dining and have a number of successful restaurants around town. The group felt that Ciccios needed more room, and decided to move it to where their other New Tampa restaurant, The Lime has been operating for the past two years. With a much larger space and a full bar, they decided to merge two of their most successful concepts, Ciccio’s and Lodge, into one eclectic restaurant and hand picked the best menu items and ideas from both. Thus was born, Ciccio’s ~ Lodge.

Walk into the restaurant and the first words out of your mouth might be “WOW”. This is one impressive restaurant. From the large grouping of red chandeliers over the bar, to the dark wood and white booths, the feeling is casual elegance.. As impressive as this restaurant is visually, the menu is the real star here.

Ciccio’s regulars will not be disappointed as all the best selling items remain, but added to it is an impressive array of appetizers, creative sides, sushi, and an extensive list of entrees.

One of the biggest additions is the American Sushi Roll section with no less than 18 choices. Also new, you will find a number of Sliders Sandwiches that are sure to please any taste. You can still get that great Ciccio pizza, but now you can order 1/2 pizzas for that smaller appetite. Stirfrys, great salads, Ciccio’s California Bowls, pasta, and 14 different wraps are all there to tempt. But now, so are open flame grilled steaks and burgers.

The entire menu is available for both lunch and dinner, except what the menu calls Lodge Style TV Dinners, which are available after 5pm daily. Here you pick from a large number of entrees including Shrimp Tacos, any Wrap, any California Bowl, any Stirfry, any Sushi Roll, Peanut Crusted Chicken Medallions, Tuna Medallions, Sesame Crusted Tuna, and Grilled NY Strip steak, to name a few. Then you pick 3 sides from a list of over 20 options. So in effect you custom make your dinner. You no longer have to ask for substitutions. You pick what you want. Smart! They also have promotional dinner specials such as $5 Sushi Mondays and $2.50 Slider Tuesdays.

There is much more to tell, but space is about gone. Ciccio ~ Lodge has not forgotten those of us who enjoy an adult beverage every now and then. You now can order your favorite drink, not just beer and wine. Two happy hours from 5 – 8pm, and from 10 – close, Frozen Margaritas, live entertainment and drink specials will help make this “The place to go in New Tampa”. Stop in to experience this great new restaurant. Tell them the Advisor sent you. For more info, call 975-1222.