Tampa steak and seafood spot Malio’s Prime Steakhouse is preparing to expand with a new restaurant on St. Pete Beach this January. Called Malio’s Beach House, the new restaurant will offer the proven Malio’s menu, seating between 110 and 120 guests in a space that owner Derek Iavarone describes as “loungey, beachy, with a yacht kind of feel.”
The Malio’s Prime brand has a storied past in the area. “Our original location in opened in 1969—that was my father,” Iavarone told What Now. “We opened this location in 2007, and my wife and I run it now.”
Jen Iavarone joined the team in 2010, and she says the move to St. Pete Beach represents a desire on the part of the Iavarones—who are St. Petersburg residents—to bring the concept closer to home.
“We’re bringing it over the bridge because we’re locals and we know there is a desire for high-end restaurants here,” said Jen Iavarone.
The menu will feature many of the same choices found at Malio’s Prime in Tampa. Jen Iavarone names a few popular favorites, including dishes like the Lobster Escargot, and drinks like the Espresso Martini.
“There will be lots of high end cocktails, a great Old Fashioned; we’re trying to bring some luxury. In general, we’re super excited to get to help with the rebuild of St. Pete Beach.”
Derek Iavarone shared this sense of a bright future for the area, which has faced a difficult hurricane season this year:
“We can’t wait to get open in St. Pete where everything is reopening, coming back stronger than ever.”
You can keep up with Malio’s Prime news by following @maliosprime on Instagram.
