Forbici is slated to open at the Sundial complex in downtown St. Petersburg on Wednesday, June 24.
The long-awaited second location of the modern Italian restaurant is opening in a completely renovated upstairs space formerly occupied by Sea Salt.
“St. Pete’s my hometown, so we got a lot of family and friends there, and I’m excited to bring this concept home,” owner Jeff Gigante said by phone in January.
Expect an ample happy hour and indoor and outdoor bars at the new Forbici. Live music will be performed inside and outside, and all day on the weekends.
We got a look at the new space, and the food and drink, Saturday afternoon.
The restaurant is bright with natural light and airy with high ceilings and a two-story windowed wine cellar off to the side of the bar.
A sleek, long beige mid-century modern banquet cuts through the center of the main dining room with light wood accents. Cream and dark green subway tiles are splashed throughout the space, with black-tiled borders.
A signature red heart with horns and a tail shows up subtly throughout the space: at the back of a dark maroon part of the dining room pulsing in red neon, and in the bathroom hallway.
The menu mirrors the Hyde Park location, but it will “emphasize a little more coastal flair,” Gigante said.
The drinks menu is vast with aperitivo, cocktails, local craft beer, lagers both Italian and domestic, a large wine selection featuring Italian and American vintners, and non-alcoholic selections.
Draft wine comes from southern Sicilian winemakers Stemmari: pinot grigio, chardonnay, pinot noir and nero d’avola. A full digestivi and spirits menu is also available, from grappa to amari.
Forbici Sundial has a much larger imprint than the Hyde Park location, with space for around 350 to 400 guests and a private dining area that will hold up to 100 people.
The Tampa spot is known for happy hour, live music seven days a week, pasta and Roman-style pizza. Gigante hopes to mimic that energy and business with the St. Petersburg location.
At the new spot, rotary phone booths are stationed on the patio, where guests can leave a message about their experience.
Forbici’s opening marks a revitalization for Sundial after a legal battle over the redevelopment of the mixed-use space. Sundial has been an embattled concept in an otherwise upscale area of downtown St. Petersburg and is anchored by AMC Sundial 12, movie theater.
There’s also a Sarasota location of the Italian concept in the pipeline. Next Level Brands, owned by Gigante, oversees the Forbici concepts, Boulon Brasserie and Union New American. Drift, a bar also coming to the courtyard of Sundial, will be run by Next Level Brands.
“Our unofficial motto at Forbici is, ‘every friend was once a stranger,’” Gigante said. “That’s the beauty of hospitality.”
183 Second Ave. N., St. Petersburg. eatforbici.com
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