Pesca Vilano restaurant says it will open Oct. 17 in the Hyatt Place hotel at 117 Vilano Road in Vilano Beach.
Chef Michael Lugo is operating the Caribbean-inspired concept. He also operates Michael’s at 25 Cuna St. in St. Augustine. That restaurant is in the Buchanti House, which dates back to 1764.
Pesca Vilano restaurant has indoor dining, a bar area, private dining room and a chef’s experience table. There is a rooftop bar and grill that overlooks the ocean.
“The whole vibe of the restaurant is very vintage Miami pulling from the Art Deco period,” he said in an Oct. 10 news release.
“It really fits with the beachy, laid-back atmosphere of Vilano.”
Lugo will be assisted by Chef Natasha Olivera and Pastry Chef Rebecca Reed.
The menu has strong Latin influences featuring lobster, clams, calamari, tuna, snapper and sea bass. It includes beef tartar, chicken, pork and beef filet.
It has a full bar and international wine list.
Entrée prices are from $36 to $48 with some seafood at market price.
The restaurant will also cater high-end events at the hotel.
Lugo, a native of Puerto Rica, is a self-taught cook. He was featured with Emeril Lagasse during the 500th anniversary of St. Augustine and was a competitor on the Food Network’s “Guy’s Grocery Games” in 2019.
“I chose the name as a tribute to my father. When we would go back to Puerto Rico to visit, we always had to visit his favorite restaurant, El Pescador. That’s the feeling I want to invoke. I want our diners to experience new flavors in an atmosphere that is exciting and comfortable,” he said.
Pesca Vilano will be open for dinner daily from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. The rooftop bar and grill will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.