Chef’s Table Upgrade: New Executive Chef Zach Thorpe Takes the Helm at The Grill at Morris Bridge

NEW TAMPA — Keeping a local kitchen consistent is no easy feat, and a restaurant that has cycled through several culinary leaders is the last place you'd expect to find an exciting new dining experience. But at The Grill at Morris Bridge, owner Frank Gouveia is proving he has a knack for scouting elite talent—introducing a fresh culinary captain to elevate the neighborhood hotspot.

The Story Behind It

The popular New Tampa eatery had to pivot fast after losing their previous chef, Mike Touranjoe, to a top-tier cruise line gig. Enter Executive Chef Zach Thorpe. Thorpe, who moved to the Tampa Bay area from Phoenix five years ago, most recently sharpened his knives as the sous chef at the highly acclaimed Caretta on The Gulf inside Clearwater's Sandpearl Resort. Now, he’s stepping into his very first Executive Chef role with a blank canvas to showcase his skills.

What to Order

Thorpe is already leaning into his favorite culinary styles—Southern and Southwestern American comfort foods. While he loves whipping up the menu's staple shrimp scampi and ribeye steaks, he is using a rotating "Chef’s Features" menu to test out creative new dishes. Early crowd favorites include a refreshing watermelon salad tossed with pickled Fresno chiles and feta, a rich blackened chicken linguine, and an incredibly tender braised lamb shank topped with a port wine reduction and crispy yucca frites.

Why It’s Worth Trying

Thorpe isn't looking to completely dismantle a good thing, but his creative, scratch-made specials bring an upscale, resort-quality flair to a beloved neighborhood bar and grill.

📍 10920 Cross Creek Blvd, New Tampa, FL

🌐 Consult TheGrillatMorrisBridge.com for hours