Ybor City is getting a brand new reason to loosen its belt a notch. Tommy’s Chophouse, a modern fine-dining steakhouse from restaurateur Kenneth Emery, is officially set to open in early 2026 on the ground floor of the Kress Contemporary building at 1622 E. 7th Ave. And if the early details are any clue, this is not just another steakhouse. This is a full-on culinary event.
Emery is far from a newcomer to the food world. His Foodi Group already operates Barterhouse and Ocean Ink Raw Bar right in Ybor, along with Burwell’s Stone Fire Grill in Charleston, a restaurant that spent more than a decade redefining what a steakhouse could look and feel like. Tommy’s is the next step in that evolution, bringing Charleston’s sensibilities home to Florida with even more energy, design ambition, and steak expertise.
Named in honor of the late Tampa designer Thomas Lamb, Tommy’s Chophouse leans into the idea of a steakhouse that is elegant without feeling exclusive. Emery and Lamb believed in creating spaces where people eat and actually enjoy being seen. You ain’t gonna find no dim, old-school leather dens here. Tommy’s promises a vibrant, social dining environment where Prime steak, seafood, and champagne all coexist with a sense of ease.
And then there’s the beef. Tommy’s takes pride in highlighting lesser-known butcher cuts alongside the classics. Denver cut, hanger steak, bistro steak, shoulder filet. Many come from American Wagyu cattle with marbling so luxurious it could probably qualify for its own kitchen counter brand. Traditional cuts like ribeye and tenderloin are also on the menu, but the restaurant’s devotion to using more of the animal sets it apart in both approach and flavor…