Next Level Brands revealed renderings and menu direction for Matilde, a 7,600 sq ft waterfront restaurant planned for spring 2027 at AER Tampa. Expect open-flame steaks, coastal Mexican preparations, a raw bar, and an agave-forward cocktail program.
Matilde will open in spring 2027 at AER Tampa (300 W Tyler Street), a 334-unit luxury rental community next to the Riverwalk and Straz Center.
Menu items under development include shrimp aguachile negro, rib eye and pork al pastor tacos, lamb shank barbacoa, hearth-roasted chicken with mole negro, and heritage pork chop with pipián verde.
The beverage program will highlight tequila and mezcal cocktails using fresh juices and seasonal ingredients, alongside a global wine list and a raw bar/crudo selections.
# What Matilde will be
Next Level Brands — the group behind Boulon, Forbici, and Union New American — has released first-look renderings and menu direction for Matilde, an upscale coastal Mexican steakhouse slated to open in Downtown Tampa in spring 2027. The space will sit at AER Tampa (Arts and Entertainment Residences), 300 W Tyler Street, adjacent to the Riverwalk and the Straz Center.
The restaurant is planned as a 7,600-square-foot venue designed for both neighborhood traffic and residents of the ultra-luxury building. Renderings were created by Atelier Zébulon Perron.
# Culinary focus and leadership
Culinary Director Jacob Rios is leading menu development. Rios and other Next Level Brands founders and leaders spent time in Mexico City researching techniques and flavors. The restaurant's approach centers on live-fire cooking and traditional Mexican preparations intended for sharing.
Steaks cooked over open flame are positioned as the primary draw. The broader menu will include seafood, poultry, seasonal vegetables, a raw bar with crudo options, tacos, and shareable dishes meant for communal dining.
Examples of dishes the team is exploring include:
Traditional Mexican techniques and preparations called out by the team include aguachile, mole, pipián, barbacoa, al pastor, and salsa macha.
Matilde also plans to offer lunch and brunch with more casual daytime fare such as burrito bowls, chilaquiles, carne asada, conchas, churros, and tortas.
# Drinks and service
Operational leadership will include Director of Operations Heather Rivas, who will build out a leadership team including a general manager and beverage manager, and staff across front- and back-of-house.
# Identity and context
Matilde to add activity to the neighborhood and serve building residents, neighboring businesses, and arts patrons visiting nearby cultural destinations.
# Timeline and next steps
Next Level Brands says more details will be released over the coming year leading up to the planned spring 2027 opening. Follow Matilde's social channels for updates and additional renderings as the project progresses.
# What to watch for
This preview establishes Matilde as a high-end, coastal Mexican steakhouse combining live-fire technique with agave-forward drinks in a prominent downtown location.
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