One of the casualties of the construction and renovation project that started in June at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa will be the closing of Grey Salt Restaurant in February. Owned by celebrity chef Marc Murphy, the 240-restaurant does not fit into the casino’s plans, said President John Fontana. “We are disappointed to announce the closing of Grey Salt but changes to the design of our current expansion project leave us no choice at this time, Fontana said, adding he hoped “our paths cross again in the future.”
Although Tampa Bay Times food critic Laura Reiley praised Grey Salt’s food in a December 2015 review, she noted the dining room was nearly empty in two visits. She wrote, “For casino gamblers, it is neither fish nor fowl–not the high-stakes pinnacle, nor the consoling bargain. And little has been done to attract folks in the area who aren’t already at the casino. Self-parking requires a 20-minute cacophonous walk through the whole of the smoky casino.” Seminole Tribe spokesman Gary Bitner denied poor restaurant sales led to the decision to close the restaurant. “It’s a hugely successful casino, one of the largest in the world, and there’s only so much they can do with the space. In the end, it’s about maximizing the value of the property,” he said.
A judge on Food Network’s “Chopped” and a frequent guest on other cooking shows, Murphy said in a statement, “I am already looking forward to finding a new home for my Mediterranean-inspired eatery.” Opened in 2015 to replace the casino’s diner-style Green Room, Grey Salt was Murphy’s first restaurant outside New York City. Fontana said Grey Salt employees will be given alternate job assignments immediately, plus priority in hiring for other food and beverage outlets at the property.
The construction project includes an additional 750-space parking garage, a new 30,000 square foot premium gaming area, a new poker room and a new entryway portico.
