Many people on campus have eaten at or have at least heard of Datz. It is quite a popular place for the UT community; after all, it won staff pick for Best Local Restaurant in The Minaret’s Best of UT Magazine. The owners of Datz recently signed a release to open up a third restaurant on South MacDill Avenue in the St. Croix Plaza called Roux, which will consist of a menu that is inspired by the South, in which Cajun and Creole cooking will be used.
Datz, which opened in 2009, is the original of the two restaurants that are currently open and offers southern comfort food with a gourmet twist. Last April, co-owners Roger and Suzanne Perry opened up their second restaurant Dough, which is a bistro and bakery that specializes in doughnuts, gelato and all sorts of other sweets. This time, the Perrys are taking on a whole new theme with Roux: New Orleans.
“I’m envisioning deep reds, but no Mardi Gras or Bourbon Street stuff. There won’t be masks on the walls and I told Roger, ‘no naked women,’” Suzanne said.
According to Suzanne, this new project happened almost overnight. Her and Roger signed the lease and made renovation plans as soon as they drove past and saw the for lease sign inside what used to be a restaurant called Wimauma, which closed last May. However, St. Croix Plaza owner John Zambito wasn’t ready to rent at the time. Nevertheless, Roux is now officially set to open this summer on June 2. The restaurant will take up the space of Wimauma as well as the dentist’s office next door because they needed that square footage to get a full liquor license.
Dinner at Roux is going to be upscale with white tablecloths and heavy silver, but lunchtime will feel a little more casual. Lunches will include po-boys and muffaletta sandwiches. As for dinner, customers can expect an elegantly authentic New Orleans experience with seafood dishes, crab, lobster and steaks. Some of the dishes include Cajun sausages, alligator, frog legs as well as the classic Crawfish pie and gumbo. Suzanne said there will be higher price-points but will still remain moderate and affordable.
“Right now, there isn’t an excellent New Creole restaurant in the Bay Area,” Suzanne said. “We decided that we wanted to step in and address that void with our new place.”
The Perrys have been to New Orleans many times and have always been delighted with its multicultural roots and old Southern charm.
“The history of the city and its blending of different populations has led to such amazing cuisines that we couldn’t help but want to bring some of that here to the Tampa Bay Area,” Suzanne said.
There is a possibility that Roux may be the next popular place to eat off campus come next semester.
“I’m excited for the new place to open,” said Ellen Lundgren, a freshman marketing major. “I’ll definitely have to try it out. I love Datz and Dough, so I could imagine the food being just as delicious. But I’m especially excited to see what the owners will do with the theme.”
Madison Irwin can be reached at madison.irwin@spartans.ut.edu