Luxury Steakhouse and Speakeasy Open at Florida Gulf Coast Resort CW Prime at The St.

Regis Longboat Key Resort has opened with a portfolio of high-ticket offerings designed to draw affluent diners and cocktail enthusiasts to the Gulf Coast. The restaurant anchors a broader beverage expansion at the resort under Director of Beverage Evan Lewis.

The Caroline 400 and Tableside Theater The signature cocktail—dubbed The Caroline 400—carries a $400 price tag and honors Caroline Astor's famed "Four Hundred" social register. The drink pairs Hennessy Paradis Cognac and Champagne, prepared tableside in hand-cut Waterford crystal, and includes a personal 375ml bottle of Champagne. The Spirit Room operates as a discreet speakeasy where patrons summon a mixologist via a hidden button, embedding service into the experience itself.

Culinary Program Chef de Cuisine Chris Laico has built the menu around rare proteins and precision preparation.

The steakhouse sources olive-fed Sanuki Wagyu from Kagawa, Japan, and 35-day dry-aged beef cuts, alongside Gulf shrimp and caviar preparations. The wine program holds Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence. Cocktails reflect culinary technique: Beneath the Soil incorporates black truffle into a rye Boulevardier, while The Porthole pairs the resort's private-barrel Angel's Envy bourbon with ruby port, orange, and thyme, served for two.

Broader Resort Beverage Strategy Beyond CW Prime, Lewis oversees cocktail programs at sister restaurants Riva—focused on coastal Mediterranean influences—and Oshen, which draws from Japanese and Peruvian traditions.

Why It Matters

For high-end hospitality operators, CW Prime signals renewed investment in experiential dining and theatrical service as competitive differentiators in luxury markets. The combination of ultra-premium spirits, proprietary bottlings, and curated protein sourcing reflects how contemporary steakhouses justify premium pricing beyond the cut itself.

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Written by FBM Publications Editors