Gulfport’s Backfin Blue Café to be reborn as The Wine House
/The Wine House will be located in the former Backfin Blue Cafe at 2913 Beach Boulevard South in Gulfport
After acquiring the next-door Backfin Blue Café, the new owners of Gulfport’s Peninsula Inn are preparing to rebrand and reopen the restaurant as The Wine House, which will offer a wide variety of classic, organic, and natural wines available by the glass or bottle, as well as casual dining options that include charcuterie boards, craft cheeses, aged and smoked meats, and grab-and-go items.
Co-owner Gaston Gonzalez told St. Pete Rising that The Wine House is on track to open in early March at 2913 Beach Boulevard South.
“We don’t have a set date,” he says, “but we’re expecting to open by the beginning of the March at the latest.”
The Wine House will offer a wide variety of classic, organic, and natural wines available by the glass or bottle
Gonzalez and his business partner, Chi Sharrak, bought the historic Peninsula Inn in summer 2022 and immediately became interested in acquiring the Backfin Blue Café, which had been a staple of Gulfport’s Beach Boulevard dining and shopping scene since 1997. The restaurant had been operating with limited hours and Gonzalez and Sharrak heard that the owner was willing to sell it.
“Once we had the Peninsula Inn under contract, we went ahead and bid for the Backfin,” he says. “We were looking for a second-generation restaurant or hotel and then this pops up.”
Gonzalez co-owns a restaurant in Miami called Casa Florida and he’s hoping to bring some of its vibe to both the Peninsula Inn and The Wine House. The Peninsula Inn’s 16 guest rooms are being remodeled, and when they reopen for reservations — likely in April or May, according to Gonzalez — each one will have a cocktail theme.
Turkish Eggs, consisting of Garlic labneh, poached eggs, paprika butter, dill, mint, and pita for dipping, is Served for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays at the neighboring Peninsula Inn.
“It’s going to be sort of a bed-and-breakfast,” Gonzalez says. “We’ll have a Margarita Room, an Old Fashioned Room, etc. When you check in, we’ll give you the room key but also offer you a complimentary cocktail.”
Cocktails will likely be priced around $11, he adds, but the cost will be reduced to $6 during happy hour. Female patrons will be able to enjoy happy hour prices all day on Thursdays.
Now that they own both properties, Gonzalez and Sharrak intend to more closely link The Wine House and Peninsula Inn via a pathway and create a communal patio with outdoor games like big Jenga, ping pong, and corn hole in addition to a stage area that can accommodate live music on weekends.
In addition to The Wine House’s drink offerings, The adjacent Peninsula Inn, which will soon be connected by an outdoor patio, will offer a menu of classic cocktails like the Daiquiri, Porn Star Martini, Bourbon Sour, and Piña Colada
Nathan Harding, a prominent local chef who created restaurant concepts at Armature Works in Tampa, has been brought on to develop The Wine House’s menu.
“It’s Miami people, Tampa people, and Gulfport people all coming together at this iconic location,” Gonzalez says, adding that The Wine House will be open Tuesdays through Sundays. Brunch will be served on Saturdays and Sundays.
Follow The Wine House on Facebook to stay up-to-date on the latest offerings and grand opening plans.
