The Grill at Morris Bridge has hired former Caretta on the Gulf sous chef Zach Thorpe as its new executive chef, putting him in charge of the kitchen and a new lineup of rotating specials.

Thorpe comes from Caretta on the Gulf, Clearwater Beach's only AAA Four-Diamond restaurant, and is stepping into his first executive chef role, according to a July 10 Neighborhood News profile.

"What appeals to me most at The Grill is the chance to use my creativity," Thorpe told Neighborhood News. "I feel like menu changes are necessary. I look forward to putting my mark on this restaurant in a good way."

Thorpe moved to the Tampa Bay area from Phoenix around 2021. His rotating "Chef's Features" menu highlights Southern and Southwestern influences. Dishes sampled by Neighborhood News included a watermelon salad with pickled Fresno chiles, blueberry compote and feta; blackened chicken linguine with roasted tomatoes, peas, bacon and a light Alfredo sauce; and braised lamb shank with port wine reduction and yucca frites.

Other rotating features include crispy pork belly with sweet potato purée, bourbon caramel sauce and candied pecans, and a lump blue crab cake with charred lemon ají amarillo aioli and jicama-kohlrabi slaw.

The regular menu remains intact. Thorpe said his favorite dishes to prepare from it are the shrimp scampi and the ribeye steak. The Grill's staples include seafood risotto with shrimp, scallops and lobster claw; seared Florida grouper on goat cheese and pea risotto; filet mignon; New York strip steaks; and prime rib available Friday through Sunday.

Owner Frank Gouveia, who was in the wine distribution business before opening The Grill in late 2021, has also assembled what Neighborhood News describes as the largest wine list in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel area, with Italian reds, California pinot noirs and sparkling options. The restaurant's wine dinners regularly sell out.

Thorpe replaces former executive chef Mike Touranjoe, who left to become a top chef at a cruise line, according to Neighborhood News.

The Grill at Morris Bridge is at 10920 Cross Creek Blvd., Tampa, FL 33647, near the Wesley Chapel and New Tampa border. It is open daily for dinner and for brunch, lunch and dinner on Saturdays and Sundays. Reservations can be made online or by calling (813) 388-5353.