Michael's owner to bring Pesca concept of 'coastal cuisine' to Vilano Beach in next venture

With the success of Michael's — a gourmet steakhouse in St. Augustine — under his belt, local restaurateur Michael Lugo had been wanting to expand his brand for several years now.

After searching a number of locations, Lugo found just the right spot for his second venture inside the Hyatt Place, a 120-room upscale hotel under construction in Vilano Beach.

The new restaurant, called Pesca by Michael's, will occupy a main dining room in the Hyatt as well as a rooftop bar atop the 3-story building. Each space will seat about 125 guests, with the rooftop space being a little more casual than the dining room.

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Lugo anticipates opening his doors at Pesca sometime in the third quarter of 2022.

Lugo, a native of Puerto Rico, established Michael's 16 years ago in the historic district of St. Augustine. Since then, the business has undergone several changes in name (it was originally called Michael's Tasting Room), interior renovations and menu items.

Pesca (which means "fishing" in Spanish) will not only be a much larger enterprise for Lugo and his staff — Michael's has an intimate capacity of just 50 — but it will also allow the chef/owner to push his creativity in another direction.

Lugo said the Pesca concept is based around Florida's coastal cuisine, with other influences such as Caribbean, European and, of course, Latin.

"If I do Chinese food, it's going to be like Latin Chinese; always have to bring some of that in," he said with a laugh.

Just an example of some of the menu items Pesca will include: escabeche with pickled rainbow carrots, cauliflower, peppers, onions and shishito peppers; scallop crudo with hazelnut salsa macha, mint and orange segments; and bacalaitos, a Spanish salt cod fritter.

The restaurant will also offer a seasonal selection of oysters, grilled lobster, filet mignon, lamb chops and burgers.

Additionally, Pesca will be the dedicated caterer for events held in the banquet room of the hotel.

With the Hyatt's building design inspired by Miami’s Art Deco style, Lugo said he is enjoying decorating Pesca's interior, which he said would emphasize "bright colors and a lot of life and energy."

Lugo said Michael's had always attracted a good mix of tourists and locals, the latter of which he said "help you build your identity," and he expected Pesca to draw a similar crowd. And with Vilano Beach's proximity to downtown St. Augustine, he hoped the two brands would be complimentary and increase exposure for each restaurant.

With Vilano's Main Street adding more development in hotels, housing and restaurants, Lugo said he was happy to be a part of its renaissance.

"We are excited to be expanding our artistic voice in the community," he said.

This article originally appeared on St. Augustine Record: St. Augustine restaurants: Chef Michael Lugo to open Pesca at Hyatt