Welcome To New Grill At Morris Bridge Executive Chef Zach Thorpe

Photos by Charmaine George

You have to hand it to Frank Gouveia, the owner of The Grill at Morris Bridge, which has been one of my two favorite restaurants in New Tampa since it first opened back in late 2021. 

The restaurant has gone through several chef changes — including losing the most recent chef Mike Touranjoe, who left to become a top chef at a cruise line — but Frank seems to have no problem finding outstanding new talent to lead the restaurant’s culinary team. 

The latest case in point is new Executive Chef Zach Thorpe (at right in top right photo, with Frank), who moved to the Tampa Bay area from Phoenix, AZ, five years ago. Zach was most recently a sous chef at Caretta on The Gulf at the Sandpearl Resort in Clearwater and he says he is excited for his first opportunity to be an Executive Chef. 

“What appeals to me most at The Grill is the chance to use my creativity,” Zach says. “I feel like menu changes are necessary. I look forward to putting my mark on this restaurant in a good way and hope everyone will love my food and the atmosphere we try to create here at The Grill.” He adds that his favorite cuisine types are both Southern and Southwestern American. 

“Currently, my favorite items to make off the menu are the shrimp scampi and the ribeye steak,” he says, but he also is already using his creativity on a constantly-changing “Chef’s Features” menu. 

On our most recent visit, Jannah, photographer Charmaine George and I were able to sample three of those Chef’s Features — and we’re hoping that all three will stay on the menu. 

We started our meal with Chef Zach’s refreshing and tasty Watermelon Salad (top left), which combined slices of seedless fresh watermelon, spring mix, pickled Fresno chiles, a slightly sweet blueberry compote, feta cheese, pepita (pumpkin) seeds and a delicate white balsamic vinaigrette. 

We all also loved the blackened chicken linguine (above right), which had roasted tomatoes, peas, bacon and a light Alfredo sauce that was creamy the Italian way, without being loaded with heavy cream. The blackened chicken had just the right amount of spice, too. 

My favorite of the specials was the braised lamb shank (left) which was topped with a rich, savory and slightly sweet port wine reduction and the tastiest, crispiest yucca frites I’ve sampled and fresh broccoli. The lamb was so tender you barely needed a knife to cut it. 

I’m also hoping that the crispy pork belly with sweet potato purée, bourbon caramel sauce and candied pecans and the lump blue crab cake (with charred lemon aji Amarillo aioli, jicama, Kohirabi slaw and scallions) will either both be added to the regular menu or at least stick around long enough for us to try them. 

But, speaking of seafood (and the regular menu), Charmaine also was able to sample the seafood risotto (below left), which included large shrimp, scallops and a lobster claw, in a lobster cream sauce and micros greens. Charmaine said the seafood was “perfect” and she loved the overall flavor of the risotto. 

And, even though we all already loved several of The Grill’s famous “Southshore Bar Pizzas,” we tried one we hadn’t had before — the spicy “New Bedford” pizza (above right), which was topped with hot chicken, onions, scallions and spicy peri-peri sauce. If you’re a beer lover, this super-crisp-crusted New England-style beauty is a perfect complement to a Sam Adams seasonal draft or any of The Grill’s other draft, bottled or canned beers. 

Speaking of great bar-friendly food, if you want to watch a World Cup soccer match, The Grill’s bar (right) is a great place to talk “futbol” with other local fans and enjoy an order of crispy grouper bites, mushroom arancini (rice balls) or one of the menu’s many great “Handhelds,” from a ground brisket, short rib and chuck smash burger to a fried, blackened or Nashville hot chicken sandwich to an excellent shaved ribeye sandwich (below left), which is topped with caramelized onions and Swiss cheese on an amoroso roll and served with au jus for dipping. 

And, The Grill also has more upscale regular menu items, like the seared Florida grouper (bottom left), served on a bed of goat cheese and pea risotto, with a confit of baby vegetables. The Grill’s fresh fish and the filet mignon and NY strip steaks have always been among mine and Jannah’s favorites in the area and the prime rib (available Fri.-Sun. only) also is extremely tender and seasoned just right. 

Other favorite menu items of ours at The Grill include the meatballs and the spinach & artichoke dip “Shareables,” the New England clam chowder, the grilled Caesar salad and the braised beef short ribs in cabernet demi-glace. 

If you’re craving dessert, we’re still partial to the Chef’s cheesecake, but we tried the bourbon-glazed chocolate chip bread pudding (below right) and even though I’ve never been the biggest bread pudding fan, it was delightfully dense, not overly sweet and topped with house-made bourbon glaze, a streusel swirl and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Truly delish! 

Jannah absolutely loves The Grill’s sparkling French (with Grey Goose vodka, Chambord, LaMarca prosecco and pineapple juice) and strawberry basil martinis and, of course, not only does The Grill have my Jameson, but on this most recent visit, I tried a super-smooth Dunbrody Irish whiskey and will almost definitely be enjoying it on my next visit to the Grill, too. 

We don’t usually drink wine when we visit The Grill, but I firmly believe Frank, who was previously in the wine distribution business, has assembled the largest and best wine list in the area, with more Italian reds (Barolos, a Brunello, etc.), California pinot noirs and chardonnays and sparkling options than you’ll find anywhere in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel. 

And, The Grill’s wine dinners are legendary and always sell out, so keep your eyes peeled or call to reserve your spot at the next one! Or, to elevate your next event, call Frank about The Grill’s catering. 

The Grill at Morris Bridge (10920 Cross Creek Blvd.) is open every day for dinner, and for brunch/lunch and dinner on Sat. and Sun. For more info, call (813) 388-5353, visit TheGrillatMorrisBridge.com, or email Frank at info@thegrillatmorrisbridge.com. 

No Takers Yet? The Most Expensive House In The Tampa Bay Area Is Just Next Door!

Property Owner Who Sold A $50-Million Miami Mansion To Superstar The Weeknd Is Making Waves Locally 

All photos/renderings of The Oaks Estate in Thonotosassa are from One Sotheby’s International Realty.

Nestled along a perfectly tree-lined road, amid gently rolling pastureland, stands something truly unique at 12321 Fort King Hwy. in Thonotosassa (just a few miles south and east of Cross Creek Blvd.) — the highest-priced home ever listed for sale in the entire Tampa Bay area. 

The garages alone are larger than many mansions in the Tampa Bay area, and the premium lakefront property is roughly the acreage of a small community. There really isn’t much this estate doesn’t have. 

The main house is an absolute masterpiece of French Normandy architecture. 

The 43,000-square-foot (total) château features 9 bedrooms and 26 bathrooms, and it looks more like something that belongs in the European countryside than where it’s actually positioned — just outside of both Wesley Chapel and New Tampa, on the edge of sleepy Lake Thonotosassa. 

And for those wondering why anyone needs 26 bathrooms, only 12 are full baths. The remaining 14 are half baths spread throughout the estate’s many gathering spaces. The primary suite alone features separate his-and-hers bathrooms. 

The 87-acre property includes impeccably manicured grounds, multiple equestrian facilities, a go-kart race track, a car museum complete with an executive boardroom, a dual-lane bowling alley, movie theater, private spa with sauna, adjacent fitness center, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and a private dock featuring a covered boat lift and party deck. 

There is simply nothing else like it anywhere in the greater Tampa Bay region, and brokers at One Sotheby’s International Realty are counting on that fact as they attempt to make this the highest-priced single-family residential sale in Tampa Bay history. 

The asking price: $115 million. 

If the property ultimately sells anywhere near that figure, it could represent a dramatic shift in how luxury real estate is valued throughout the region. Especially considering the estate last sold in April 2021 for $16.7 million, when it “only” included approximately 36 acres. 

Property records also show that roughly 51 additional acres, much of it greenbelt land, sold separately that same year for approximately $3.65 million. Combined, the transactions totaled roughly $20.35 million. 

So how does a property purchased for approximately $20 million in 2021 arrive at a $115-million asking price just five years later, with relatively few major additions or changes to the estate itself? 

How Did We Get Here? 

The property was originally owned by Donald and Erika Wallace, who acquired the sprawling and largely undeveloped land in 2007, around the same time Donald Wallace retired. 

Wallace was the founder and chairman of Lazydays RV Supercenter, which grew into the largest RV dealership operation in the world. 

Almost immediately after purchasing the property, the existing home was demolished and construction began on what would become known as The Oaks Estate. 

The main residence and its extensive amenities would take nearly five years to complete, with few expenses spared in the process. 

What makes the estate particularly unusual is its location. It’s not tucked behind the gates of an exclusive master-planned community or hidden within one of Florida’s traditional luxury enclaves. 

Instead, it sits in a part of eastern Hillsborough County where old orange grove homes still stand, where a historic Methodist church remains a local landmark, and where a small post office and library continue to serve the surrounding community. And yet, Lake Thonotosassa has quietly attracted a number of impressive homes over the years. 

The 947-acre lake is the largest in Hillsborough County and one of the region’s premier recreational lakes. Its size even makes fly-in, fly-out access possible for seaplane owners. For those who prefer helicopters, the estate’s expansive grounds provide plenty of room for a landing. 

An Exercise in Marketing? 

The property is currently owned by former oil executive and investor Steven Lempera, who made headlines last year after selling a Miami Beach mansion to music superstar The Weeknd for a reported $50 million. 

That sale came after Lempera acquired the property at auction in 2019 for $25.5 million. 

That history naturally raises an interesting question: Is the $115 million asking price for The Oaks Estate purely a reflection of its actual value, or is it also part of a carefully crafted marketing strategy? 

In the world of ultra-luxury real estate, asking prices often serve a purpose beyond establishing market value. A record-breaking price tag can transform a home into a conversation piece, generating headlines in real estate publications, business journals and local news outlets across the country. The listing itself becomes the story. And in many cases, that publicity is free. 

Whether the strategy originated with the owner, the brokerage, or a combination of both remains unclear. Representatives involved with the listing declined to discuss how the asking price was determined. But one thing is certain: very few homes generate this level of attention without first attaching a number large enough to make people stop scrolling. 

When we spoke with listing broker associate Eddy Martinez, he said the property had already secured two private showings on the same day shortly after officially hitting the market in late April. 

Even seeing the estate requires extensive vetting. Prospective buyers must demonstrate the financial capacity to complete a purchase before they are granted access. According to Martinez, those restrictions extend beyond buyers and even apply to members of the media and other real estate agents. 

That level of exclusivity may itself be part of the appeal. For ultra-high-net-worth buyers, scarcity often carries value of its own. There are luxury homes, and then there are trophy properties — properties so unique that traditional comparisons become almost impossible. 

At that level, the question is no longer whether one home is worth more than another, but whether there is anything remotely comparable available at all. 

Of course, publicity alone does not guarantee a sale. Even some of the country’s most heavily marketed luxury listings have struggled to find buyers. 

Celebrity Broker Ryan Serhant famously lost one of New York City’s highest-profile listings after the property failed to sell despite extensive media attention and marketing efforts. 

Still, timing may be working in The Oaks Estate’s favor. Recent luxury housing data has shown Tampa Bay’s high-end market among the strongest-performing luxury markets in the nation, with premium home values continuing to rise. 

Whether The Oaks Estate ultimately sells for anywhere near its $115 million asking price remains to be seen. But, regardless of the final number, the property has already accomplished one thing: Everyone is talking about it. 

And perhaps that was always the plan. 

The Bigger Picture 

The next highest-priced residential listing in the area is currently asking approximately $20 million. Coincidentally, it is located just down the road from The Oaks Estate. 

While that property offers fewer amenities and significantly less acreage, it does feature one amenity the $115 million estate cannot claim: a full-scale replica of the Oval Office. 

Even so, the gap between a $20 million listing and a $115 million listing illustrates just how ambitious The Oaks Estate’s pricing strategy truly is. Whether it ultimately sells for $115 million, $80 million, or something significantly less, the estate has already secured its place in local real estate history. 

Eight Of 11 New Tampa Schools Earn ‘A’ Grades

Eight of New Tampa’s eleven Hillsborough County public schools have earned “A” grades from the Florida Department of Education (DoE) this year, including Tampa Palms Elementary, which improved from the “B” it received in 2025. 

Only three schools in New Tampa received either a “B” or a “C” grade, including Turner-Bartels K-8 School, which dropped from an “A” in 2025 to a “B” this year. Wharton High also received a “B,” after earning a “C” in both 2024 and 2025, and Freedom High received a “C” again this year. 

Overall, the Hillsborough School District received its first-ever “A” grade from the Florida DoE, after earning a “B” each of the last two years.

The Neighborhood News applauds the excellence of our New Tampa schools.

Drivers Rejoice! New Tampa Blvd. Repaving To Finally Begin Soon

The Google Map above has been modified by Neighborhood News to show where the repaving of New Tampa Blvd. is planned to go.

Drivers can expect a smoother ride on New Tampa Blvd. in West Meadows in just a few months, as Tampa is finally set to begin work on improving the primary east-west thoroughfare connecting all of the subdivisions in the community. Stretching 1.8 miles from Meadow Pine Dr. (just east of the Gateway Bridge connecting Tampa Palms and West Meadows; see map) to Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., the project will address concerns that locals have raised about the condition of the roadway. 

Once construction has been completed, West Meadows residents can expect a number of upgrades along New Tampa Blvd. Planned improvements include fresh pavement, upgraded crosswalks, enhanced roadway signage and new ADA-compliant curb ramps designed to improve accessibility for pedestrians. The contracted cost of the project is about $2.5 million. 

For many residents, the improvements cannot come soon enough, as drivers have complained about deteriorating pavement, potholes and general wear and tear that have made travel less comfortable and, at times, more hazardous. 

The project represents a significant investment in one of the area’s most heavily traveled local roadways, shepherded by outgoing District 7 Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera (who is running in Nov. to replace term-limited Florida House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell in District 67). Viera says that New Tampa Blvd. was one of the last few items he wanted to cross off his priorities list before leaving City Council. 

“I only have a few things I still want to get done and this repaving project was one of them,” Viera says. “I have been hearing about this road for years from my constituents and this is a basic quality of life issue for New Tampa. Mobility is a huge issue for zip code 33647. We live with it every day.” 

The saga of improving New Tampa Blvd. is a long one, as what seemed like a straightforward road project became a years-long advocacy effort paved with funding issues and administrative delays. There was once a belief that the road would have been repaved with funds raised following the passage of the 2018 All for Transportation ballot referendum for Hillsborough County. The measure, approved by voters, was intended to provide billions of dollars over several decades for transportation improvements throughout the county, including road resurfacing, transit projects and safety enhancements. 

That opportunity disappeared when the courts, following legal challenges led by former Hillsborough County Commissioner Stacy White, scrapped the tax and deemed it unconstitutional. The county already had collected $570 million in escrow while the referendum played out in the courts. Following the ruling, the fate of that money was left up to the Florida Legislature, which ultimately only allocated about half of those funds for local projects to be selected by county officials. Unfortunately, the New Tampa Blvd. project was not among those selected. The remainder of the money went to a refund program for residents, a countywide sales tax holiday and attorneys’ fees. 

While the city was able to later fully fund the project, Neighborhood News informed our readers in our Apr. 21 issue that the start of the project had been delayed until June or July of this year. At issue was a processing delay of the approved contract by the City Council, according to a memo sent by the city’s engineering department to Councilman Viera’s office. When the city announced in early June that the project would move forward, Viera said he was relieved it finally got across the finish line. 

“When you represent ‘the Alaska of Tampa’ on City Council, you have to bang the desk a little harder to get projects done. I did that with this and I am glad it got done.” 

New Tampa Blvd. is now another win for Viera to promoter as he heads out on the campaign trail, while West Meadows commuters can now spend more time listening to their favorite podcasts instead of avoiding potholes. 

City Of Tampa To Add Speed Cameras Near Five New Tampa Schools

The Google Map above has been modified by the Neighborhood News to show the approximate locations of the four speed cameras that the City of Tampa now plans to place near (top-bottom) Turner/Bartels K-8 School, Benito Middle School, Freedom High/Liberty Middle School & Chiles Elementary. 

Speed cameras could be coming soon to some New Tampa school zones. 

During the June 4 Tampa City Council meeting, the seven Council members voted 6-1 to amend an ordinance allowing automated speed cameras to be placed within school zones around Tampa. The change would be an expansion of the current program in place. 

Right now, there are cameras placed in 12 school zones, primarily in east Tampa. The expansion would include 18 additional school zones. Four of those are in New Tampa, affecting the following five schools — Benito Middle School, Lawton Chiles Elementary School, Liberty Middle School, Freedom High School and Turner-Bartels K-8 School. 

District 7 Councilman Luis Viera, who voted for the amendment, confirmed that he has been spearheading the speed camera initiative. “I was the original maker of the motion that sought to implement the speed cameras for school zones, only in the city of Tampa, when the state statute was passed that allowed us to do this. I was very disappointed when New Tampa schools weren’t included,” Viera says, “so I worked very hard to make sure that these New Tampa schools were included. I made my message known that I wanted New Tampa schools in there as I have been hearing from constituents a lot. This is a really big deal for New Tampa, I believe, because speeding in our school zones is a big issue.” 

During the June 4 meeting, Viera highlighted three New Tampa schools specifically that have a history of speeding problems. “Benito near Hunter’s Green and Arbor Greene — that’s a wonderful choice, I hear about a lot of speeding over there on Cross Creek Blvd.,” Viera said. “We also see Chiles Elementary, where my son went, when he was a kid, and I experienced a lot there, years ago, when I used to drop him off and pick him up. And then Liberty, which is right next to Freedom, and so again, I hear a lot from my constituents, especially on those three zones.” 

He also added clarification about his position on the issue concerning fees and fines. “I’m not going to not enforce the law or not implement provisions that put penalties on people who go 15 miles in excess of the speed limit in a school zone,” Viera said. 

While the vote to add cameras in those school zones passed, it was only a first reading. 

The next step in the process, before the revised ordinance can be officially adopted, is to have a public hearing and a second reading. That is set to happen at the City Council meeting on Thursday, July 16. Council members also have the option to change their vote after the public hearing and second reading. They would just be required to state a reason for the change. 

That may be unlikely to happen, as the Council members agreed that they want to prioritize school safety. However, some concerns were shared at the meeting about the possibility of camera files being subpoenaed by the federal government’s Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE). 

However, Mike Schmid, the senior assistant city attorney for the city of Tampa, told the Council members that the camera files are not designed for that purpose and while they would have to comply with a federal subpoena, it would be a breach of contract between the city and RedSpeed, the vendor handling the cameras across the state, to use the camera files for anything other than speed monitoring. 

The Council agreed that details of the ordinance will need to be reevaluated after the contract with RedSpeed expires in March 2027. 

In the meantime, here is what you can expect if the amendment change passes after the July 16 second reading. The city will first hold a 30-day education period. This is when officials will distribute information online, and within the communities impacted by the speed cameras, notifying people about the implementation, and where the cameras will be placed. During this 30-day period, violators caught on camera will be issued a warning that will be mailed to their residences. Signage (graphic, right) also will be placed in the school zones, clearly alerting drivers about the presence of cameras. 

After the 30-day education period ends, fines will be issued to any violators driving more than 10 miles per hour over the posted school zone speed limit. However, if a police officer is at a school zone, monitoring speed with radar, that officer can issue fines at their discretion, at any speed over the posted school zone speed limit. The cameras will be active only during school hours, and the “civil penalty” fines will be $100. According to the ordinance, any violations caught by automatic cameras will not add any points to the violators’ driving records — even, according to Schmid, if the fines go unpaid. But of course, unpaid fines can lead to additional monetary penalties. 

The proposal to add more cameras are coming after RedSpeed completed a school zone speed study for the City of Tampa at 29 schools, each lasting two days, back in April. That study produced an average of from more than 200 violations per day to more than 3,000 violations per day, with Turner-Bartels having among the most violations.