Formerly occupied by White Lie, which closed in 2023, the space at 1708 E Seventh Avenue will soon be home to Papi’s, a brand-new restaurant serving American cuisine and cocktails with a Latin flourish. Encompassing two stories, Papi’s will offer a casual dining experience by day, with ground floors opening onto the vibrant Seventh Avenue; and, by night, a high-end, relaxed lounge atmosphere.
“A lot of people touring get on the streetcar by day and come by, so downstairs will be very approachable, with wide open doors,” owner Robert George told What Now on Monday. “We’ll be able to do patio seating, with the chickens coming up to you, the cigar aroma from King Corona. On the second floor, you’ll see more high-end finishes, leather couches, all very comfortable, with a private section we’ll be happy to open for private events.”
The menu will bring American classics like smash burgers to Seventh Avenue, while drawing on the character of Ybor City, George says.
“We’re trying to do a blend of modern American cuisine with a twist of the Spanish soul of Ybor. The item I’m most proud of is our affordable but great-tasting smash burger. There’s a lot of great food on Seventh, but Ybor doesn’t really have the best smash burger yet, so we want to bring that—with a Spanish twist.”
This means that, alongside typical American staples, you’ll be finding Latin-inspired small plates and a vibrant cocktail program.
George says the concept was born out of his experience owning and operating a Fat Tuesday, as well as working for the company at the corporate level, and at several others—most recently, at Firehouse Subs, where he served as vice president of development.
“This space came up for lease and the landlord had asked, ‘Are you interested in doing a new concept?’ In my mind, I had corporate experience at various restaurants, and I thought it might be time to do something that wasn’t a chain, something that’s more locally born and design-forward. Having Fat Tuesday and falling in love with Ybor—that’s where the idea came from.”
Papi’s is hoping to celebrate its Grand Opening on New Years’ Eve. The restaurant is now launching hiring, so if you’d like to be part of this exciting new concept, you can reach out with a resume at [email protected].
