Lilac expands menu as one of Tampa’s only Michelin-starred restaurants

TAMPA, Fla. (BLOOM) — Lilac, the Michelin-starred Mediterranean restaurant inside The Tampa EDITION, is now offering diners a new way to experience its celebrated cuisine, and just in time for a major national nod.

Named one of OpenTable’s Top 100 Hotel Restaurants in America, Lilac is one of the very few Tampa establishments to earn the distinction. The honor places the John Fraser-led destination in elite company and solidifies its growing role in shaping Tampa Bay’s evolving culinary identity.

Now, Lilac is inviting guests to explore its menu on their own terms, with the debut of a new à la carte format that joins its existing prix-fixe tasting menu, an eight-course, chef-guided journey through some of the restaurant’s most refined dishes.

“We’ve always wanted to make Lilac not only a destination for fine dining but also an inviting experience for locals and loyal fans,” said Chef John Fraser, who has led the kitchen since Lilac’s debut in 2022. “By adding a customizable format alongside our tasting menu, we’re giving guests more flexibility — and more reasons to return.”

Tampa’s Dining Scene

Located within The Tampa EDITION, the city’s first and only true luxury hotel, Lilac has helped redefine fine dining in Tampa. Since its launch, it has retained its One MICHELIN Star for three consecutive years and contributed to the hotel receiving a MICHELIN Key, a rare honor in hospitality.

Lilac’s evolving menu reflects a distinct blend of Mediterranean tradition and Florida flair, highlighting locally sourced ingredients and seasonal produce. New dishes include:

• Diver Scallop with pine nut–preserved lemon risotto and rosemary embers
• Caramelle Cacio e Pepe featuring baby squashes and piquillo peppers
• Scamp Grouper a la Plancha paired with Vesuvian tomato puttanesca and roasted eggplant caviar

Fraser, a pioneer in plant-forward cuisine and founder of JF Restaurants, has made vegetables a central element of Lilac’s menu.

The shift to a dual-format menu is intended to create a more personalized and accessible experience. Whether guests are celebrating a milestone with the full eight-course tasting or dropping in to sample a few highlights à la carte, Lilac aims to meet them where they are.

For Tampa locals, the new menu format could be the nudge that turns a special-occasion spot into a frequent favorite.