Plant-based restaurant Freya’s Diner to debut Saturday in the Grand Central District
/Freya’s Diner will be located at 2462 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District
Fresh, plant-based food is what’s on the menu at Freya’s Diner, a new restaurant opening this Saturday in the Grand Central District at 2462 Central Avenue. The space was formerly home to Lucy’s Vegan Corner, which permanently closed in April. Freya’s is the latest concept from Celine Duvoisin, who also owns the neighboring Valhalla Bakery, one of St. Pete’s most beloved vegan bakeries, and Valkyrie Donuts, which is set to debut nearby in a few short weeks.
Freya’s will be the perfect complement to Valhalla Bakery, taking the terms “fresh” and “plant-based” to a whole new level. A mid-sized garden bed on the right-hand side of the building will house herbs, microgreens, and veggies that will yield a harvest of produce to be incorporated into seasonal and year-round menu items. Most of the produce not grown in the side garden will be delivered the same day from local St. Pete distributors.
Seasonal Grains at Freya’s Diner
The cuisine at Freya’s will feature options like grilled watermelon and pineapple kabobs with chimichurri and Freya’s Impossible Burger with smoked gouda, smoked tomato ketchup, Brick Street Farms butter lettuce on a homemade pretzel bun.
However, one of the most anticipated dishes is the Seasonal Grains, made with puffed grains, romesco, grilled mushroom, grilled summer squash, fennel, and chervil.
Sides will include familiar favorites such as fries along with new flavors like Khao Phot Ping, which is a Thai-style grilled corn on the cob drizzled with a salted coconut cream sauce and Thai chilis.
Many items on Freya’s menu will be seasonal, offering unique dishes you won’t find anywhere else in St. Pete. In the Summer, look forward to a Strawberry Gazpacho Soup featuring locally grown, fresh strawberries in a cool thick mixture that will be both flavorful and satisfying on a hot Florida day.
On Saturdays and Sundays, expect a different menu featuring the “greatest hits” from the regular lunch menu with a few exclusive brunch options.
Freya’s food is just as much a work of art as it is nourishment. The vibrant colors and unique seasonings delivered through plants often look more like a bouquet of flowers than a tasty meal. Plants like pineapple sage, society garlic, and borage will dress up the meals with color while providing fresh seasoning.
Freddie Gentile, head chef at Freya’s Diner
As with Valhalla Bakery, Duvoisin has created a space where diners feel at home and are comfortable to be themselves in a laid-back setting. Freya’s Diner will have seating for around 15 diners at indoor bar top tables, outdoor seating along Central Avenue, and patio seating behind the restaurant. In the coming weeks, a stage will be built on the back patio to host live music from local musicians.
To head the kitchen, Duvoisin has hired Chef Freddie Gentile. Gentile has been working in the food industry since he was 15 years old and received his training from the Culinary Institute of America in New York, where he met St. Pete local and owner of Twisted Indian, Lokesh Vale. When Lokesh opened his first food truck in Tampa Bay, Gentile began helping out and was eventually inspired to open his own food truck. That experience, along with his work in fine dining at Michelin-starred Gramercy Tavern and Pok Pok NY, has allowed Gentile to find his own creative style of food preparation and presentation.
Brick Street Farms Gem Lettuce Salad with blistered tomatoes, charred citrus Vinaigrette, and micro greens.
Gentile is proud of Freya’s dedication to sourcing food, which has been carefully selected for its freshness and quality. “It’s important to me to know where the food is coming from. I only want the best ingredients and products infused into the dishes,” said Gentile. “And since I don’t have to spend any money on meat, I can take that same investment and put it into buying the highest quality plant-based products.”
St. Pete continues to offer some of the best plant-based restaurants in all of Florida. And if Freya’s Diner can deliver the experience Duvoisin and Gentile are hoping for, it could very well be the crown jewel.
“We’ve worked day and night to develop a plant-based menu that we think St. Pete will really love,” said Gentile. “I cannot wait to open the doors and begin serving the community.”
Freya’s Diner will debut this Saturday at 2462 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District. Hours of operation will be Wednesday through Sunday from 11 am to 7 pm. Be sure to follow them on Instagram to stay up to date on a grand opening announcement and the latest seasonal specials.
