Subject: Tom Billante

• Gaia Ristorante: The Full Story

  As Short Order reported last week, Gaia Ristorante, the latest venture of seasoned restaurateur Tom Billante, has opened at 101 Ocean Drive (Hilton Bentley Hotel)-- which I erroneously cited as the site of Billante's last Ocean Drive venue, ViVi. In fact, Prime Italian has moved into that space, and Gaia is its' new neighbor. There is a whole lot more info about the place to impart to you now. For example, we can say with certainty that there is a "walking menu", which features a laminated piece

  February 9, 2009

• High Tide, High Hopes

  July 7, 1993

• Prime Italian Is Prime Turf

  April 9, 2009

• Luna Rocks

  November 2, 2006

• A Real Villagio

  May 26, 2005

• French Misconnection

  February 19, 1998

• Nantucket South

  January 13, 1993

• Drink Up at Level 25, Luna Cafe, Meat Market and More

  It's going to be a long weekend, whether or not you plan to get all up in the Memorial Day craziness.  Here are some classy liquid opportunities to wind up before ....or down after... Jackie Sayet Keep the planet top of mind at Go Green Tuesdays, menu to be announced soonBody Mind and Planet: The Bar at Level 25 now has weekday happy hours that flaunt  culturally relevant rather than cheesy themes. Skinny Thursdays kicks off May 28 from 5 - 8 p.m. (1395 Brickell Ave, (305) 503-6

  May 22, 2009

• The Taurus Returns!

  The Taurus started out on Main Highway in Coconut Grove in 1926. Back then it was a little cottage that served as a gathering place for locals, and remained the Grove's favorite spot to hoist brews and munch burgers until 2002 -- when the one-acre site was developed into Grove Garden residences. But The Taurus is coming back.This time around the restaurateur will be Tom Billante (Il Villagio, in Merrick Park, Carpaccio in Bal Harbour, Bella Luna and Trattoria Rosalia in Aventura, and Luna Café)

  June 23, 2009

• Luna Changes Names, Kobe Comes Back, Fleming Gets Gordon, and so forth

  ​Luna Cafe, at 4770 Biscayne Boulevard, is now called L'artista Restaurant. Ownership is the same, meaning Tom Billante is still  involved. Besides the name change, the menu has been tweaked upwardly towards a more fine dining experience than the casual Luna Cafe. Seems a curious move at this time, but Billante has in the past shown himself to be a savvy restaurateur.What if La Boite a Pizza in South Beach goes out of business and nobody sees it fall? Is it still out of business?Speak

  July 29, 2009

• Luna Returns, Shing Wang Retreats, Maitardi Opens, Bancroft Stumbles

  ​Luna Rises Again"Back by Popular Demand" declares the banner across the re-rechristened Luna Cafe at 4770 Biscayne Boulevard. Short Order had reported in July that Luna had changed its name to L'artista Restaurant and tweaked the menu towards a more fine dining experience. We noted that it "Seems a curious move at this time," but expressed our faith in owner Tom Billante's business savvy. Sure enough, he was savvy enough to realize the mistake and bring back the moderately priced Luna Cafe. U

  October 7, 2009