Tahitian Inn floats a new restaurant idea

Longtime customers of the Tahitian Inn in South Tampa now have something new to look forward to next time they visit. The hotel opens its remodeled Kon Tiki restaurant this weekend, offering Latin-Asian fusion cuisine.

The restaurant is named for the wooden raft that carried Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl from South America to the Polynesian Islands in 1947. Erin Van Zandt Guggino serves as head chef following recent gigs with two other popular eateries — Water sushi lounge on South Howard Avenue and Mad Dogs & Englishmen pub on South MacDill Avenue.

Specialties at Kon Tiki include short rib nachos, cumin-chili dusted seared scallops and tuna poki tacos, and diners can also find salads and small-plate items on the menu. Items from the restaurant can also be ordered at the adjacent Torch poolside tiki bar. And the Tahitian Inn Cafe is still around for what it promotes as the “best breakfast in town.”

The Tahitian Inn has been in continuous operation since 1952 at 601 S. Dale Mabry Highway, featuring 79 rooms and suites. Popular among locals, the family-owned hotel also attracts a fair amount of weekend guests and visiting sports fans for Tampa Bay Buccaneers football games.