Chef Luca Ammirati and his wife Erika are closing Frammi, the authentic Italian & American restaurant on BBD Blvd. on Aug. 22, but are reopening it by sometime in Nov. in the Shoppes at Amberly plaza in Tampa Palms. In the meantime, Luca wants to teach you how to make delicious parmigiana di melanzana (eggplant parmigiana, bottom left) and semi-spicy, al dente rigatoni amatriciana (bottom right) like he does — without burning down your house! (Photos by Charmaine George)
So, here’s a little bad news-wonderful news situation for you.
First, the bad news: Luca and Erika Ammirati, the owners of Frammi — the authentic Italian & American restaurant previously known as Oakley’s Grille — are closing their location at 17631 Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in North Palms Village as of Saturday, August 22.
The amazing news is that Luca and Erika will reopen Frammi at 15363 Amberly Dr., in the Shoppes at Amberly plaza in Tampa Palms (hopefully) by sometime in November of this year.
I met Luca at the new location just before we went to press with this issue and although the space between the Tampa City Ballet and the Tae Kwon Do studios in the plaza was still an empty shell, Luca was meeting with his engineers to finalize the plans for the new Frammi’s layout that same day, and he believes “It won’t take too long to get the new Frammi open,” he said. “And it’s a larger space, so we will have room for a bar and more tables.”
That’s great news, as is the fact that the new Frammi will expand Luca’s already-extensive menu of authentic Italian favorites.
“But, other than the burgers (right), we will not be bringing the rest of the American menu from the old Oakley’s Grille with us,” he said.
Please note that for the few days to a week of time between when you receive this issue and Aug. 22, the original Frammi (which the Ammiratis took over in 2018 and renamed in 2022) will still be open every day, serving both Luca’s authentic Southern and Erika’s equally legit Northern Italian specialties — as well as the fajita tacos, chicken sandwiches and more that made Oakley’s so popular. “And, I will still have chicken at the new location, so if you want a fried chicken sandwich, we can still help you.”
Cooking Lessons & Private Chef Service
In the 2-3 months’ time between Frammi’s closing and the new restaurant’s opening, Luca says he is offering both “Cooking Classes with the Chef” and “Private Chef Experiences.”
Jannah and I are already getting a group of ten people together to take lessons from Luca.
For just $50 per person, each guest will learn how to make two different pasta dishes (but not how to make the fresh pasta) and Luca will provide all of the ingredients and pair each pasta with a different Italian wine, as part of a full meal. Please note that for the cooking class, since Frammi will be closed, you will have to provide the kitchen for Luca and that ten people is the magic number for that $50-per-person price.
Want more? Luca also is now offering a two-hour “Private Chef Experience” for up to four people for just $200. It includes two hours of Luca’s time preparing and serving your food in your home, but the ingredients for your private meal will be charged separately.
Either way, if you’ve ever had Luca’s pasta, you know that both of these are well worth it!
For more info or for reservations for the last day of the current Frammi (Aug. 22), call (813) 523-5075 or visit Frammi.com. For cooking lessons & private chef services, call Chef Luca’s cell at (813) 775-8279. — GN
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