Elegance at the Azure restaurant in the Edition Hotel
Lamb Meatballs – Tomato preserves, kefalotyri , Lamb Meatballs – Tomato preserves, kefalotyri at Azure restaurant
I recently had the pleasure of shooting a national magazine assignment in Channelside. It’s hard to pick a top quality from the list at the new Azure restaurant in the Edition Hotel. The view? A spectacular vista of Channelside and downtown sites. The hotel is situated in the middle of the $3.5 billion, 56-acre Water Street Tampa development and opened in 2022.
Water Street high rises with the Edition on the right
The Décor? The Edition was named by Travel + Leisure as a top contender for the best new hotels around the world in their May 2023 edition. Think opulent, comfortable wood and jewel-toned living room in the jungle, and it will give you a hint of what to expect as you enter the lobby.
Azure interior bar at the Edition Hotel
The service? Everyone I spoke with was on top of their game, able to answer any food questions I threw their way, and attentive, cordial, and professional.
But that beautiful food…. It stole the show. The kitchen is captained by Michelin-starred chef John Frasier and Chef Alejandro Ayala. The Mussels Plancha plate is overflowing with fat succulent mussels served with pink peppercorns and garlic-drawn butter. Next is Grilled Octopus Aegean Trinity, tender tentacles baked to perfection and served with jalapeno slices to amp up the flavor. Lamb Meatballs with tomato preserves and topped with kefalotyri, a salty goat cheese, were a perfect combo. Those tender meatballs soaked in a preserves red sauce and topped with that stringy salty cheese was a bowl of beauty. But the dish taking the trophy for best presentation is the Santorini- a two-tier platter of seafood including oysters, clams, shrimp cocktail, and mussels, all from Azure’s raw bar.
Mussels Plancha, Pink peppercorn, garlic drawn butter s
Grilled Octopus – Aegean Trinity
Santorini- Includes Oysters, clams, shrimp cocktail, and mussels
Take a trip here and enjoy everything the new Edition has to offer. Sip a cocktail from the breathtaking bar overlooking the city, or enjoy a meal at one of the two restaurants here. Parking is Channelside difficult but valet is available. Reservations are recommended for the restaurants. Prices are fine dining level and most dishes make great sharables
Azure plant draped outside bar overlooks Channelside -