Fortu, a pan-Asian restaurant and steakhouse, quietly opened a few weeks ago at 95 Central Avenue on the ground floor of the Ponce de Leon Hotel in downtown St. Petersburg.

The space had been occupied since 1997 by Ceviche Tapas Bar and Restaurant, which moved to 332 Beach Drive NE, formerly home to The Moon Under Water, in 2021. 

According to the Fortu website, the restaurant seeks to elevate the Pan-Asian dining scene “with our lush environment and buzz-worthy bites.” Its traditionally prepared dishes are made using locally sourced seafood and other ingredients.

Fortu recently made its menu public, and it is indeed mouth-watering. Appetizers and shareable dishes include wonton tacos, crispy rock shrimp, pan-seared gyoza, truffled congee, fuji apple burrata, and caramelized cauliflower.

The menu lists seven “signature dishes”: double smoked short rib, Korean fried chicken, duck breast, pork collar, seared salmon, miso black cod, and North Carolina scallops.

The raw bar selections are highlighted by the Chilled Tower, a “daily selection of oysters, tuna, spicy salmon, poached shrimp, lobster tail, [and] chef select accompaniments.” The raw bar menu also includes beef tartare, spicy salmon, Hamachi Crudo, yellowfin tuna, and, of course, oysters.

Wagyu beef steaks are another staple of Fortu. Selections, which are “sourced from the best prefectures or regions around the world,” the website states, include a 10 oz Carrera Ranch sake-washed bavette and an 8 oz Margartette River shitake koji-aged coulotte.

Four varieties of house-cut steaks — 16-ounce prime ribeye, 18-ounce Australian ebony strip, 28-ounce porterhouse, and 9-ounce center-cut tenderloin — are also available.

Steak additions include miso crab butter, black truffle butter, Szechuan peppercorn cream, fermented chili and roasted garlic butter, shiso chimichurri, and butter poached lobster.

And if all that weren’t enough, a robust menu of side dishes will also leave diners happy and satisfied. Sides include jalapeño honey sweet potato, glazed carrots, miso creamed corn, fried rice, and foraged mushrooms.

The bar at Fortu focuses on high-end Japanese whiskeys, craft cocktails, sake, and wine. The cocktail menu includes Asian-inspired concoctions such as a Royal Mandarin Highball and Sakura Blossom Milk Punch.

Desserts include Japanese-style cheesecake with Suntory caramel, Vietnamese coffee cake with sweet cream and espresso, and spiced green tea custard with blueberry boba and brûléed sugar.

Shan Bakrac is the founder and owner of Fortu. His company, Benson Hospitality Group, also owns and operates Top Slice Pizzeria and Black Cattle Burger Co, in downtown St. Pete.

Benson Hospitality Group managing partners Corey Rose, Cory Saffran, and Nathan Howey assist with Fortu’s operations and menu development.

“Our team has worked tirelessly to create a truly unique dining experience for St. Petersburg,” Bakrac said. “We are incredibly proud of Fortu and cannot wait to welcome everyone into our restaurant in the coming weeks.”

To view the menu and make reservations, visit Fortu’s website. For the latest updates and specials, follow Fortu on Instagram.