It’s been quite a while since we took a peek at Chill Restaurant at Corey & Gulf… oops, our mistake.
Even from the outside you can see a return to the kind of quality commitment that propelled this place to the top of the charts and won Chill’s owners Paul & Ruthie Buxbaum a Business of the Year award a couple of years back. The landscaping has returned to an award-winning look and the outdoor seating changes are beautiful. New, comfortable booths have been added outdoors. Speakers were being installed when we were there, so the music could be enjoyed outside as well. Ruthie told us that the next outdoor project will be “fans & misters, to make the outdoor dining area feel as cool as it looks.”
Upgrades and improvements to the inside are comfortable, efficient and delicious. Chef Steve Horvat, a nutritional specialist and a personal trainer, has taken over in the kitchen. Steve has revamped the menu, adding a wide variety of fresh, locally caught fish. Chill’s local catch features whole fish, tagged by local fishing boats – you can know where it was caught, when and even by which boat. You’ve heard of “Farm to Table?” Chef Steve has introduced “Gulf to Table”. The quality & freshness is unmistakable. Steve’s emphasis on health and wellness is a perfect match to Ruthie’s commitment to “providing amazing flavors without the guilt of refined or processed foods and sugars. Eat clean with no sacrifice of flavor,” she says.
This looked to us like Chill’s best menu yet. In the past, Chill offered only tapas dining style. Thanks to their guest’s feedback over the past 4 years, Chill now offers a more traditional dining menu, with entrees and side items. The “tapas” menu is still available, but there is now a full offering of casual fine dining entrees. Portion sizes are larger, yet are well balanced. The kitchen cooking area has again been expanded, as well as the culinary staff, so guests can get their breakfast, lunch or dinner selections faster. Sunday brunches are packed, featuring live entertainment, and all your favorite breakfast items.
Speaking of entertainment, everyone’s favorite ‘piano man’, Carl, has become the weekend act, on Friday and Saturday nights at Chill. What a hit! The full liquor bar and dancing area are a perfect home for Carl’s newest piano bar. Saxaphonist/Singer Stacey Knights and guitarists Chris & Igor are regulars. Guest appearances by other local performers complete the entertainment schedule.
The kitchen is open until really late with a quite expansive menu, even after 10 pm. Daily drink specials after 9 pm are encouraging more locals to come in and share a cocktail or two. If you haven’t been in to ‘Chill’ for awhile, hopefully we’ve sparked your curiosity. Their posted hours are 7 AM – at least midnight on Fridays and Saturdays and 7 am to at least 10 pm the rest of the week. When you go, tell them you read about them in Paradise News.
For more information, visit with Chill Restaurant at www.chillstpetebeach.com, on Facebook, Trip Adviser or Yelp. For information about parties, catering or entertainment, call 727-360-8080.