Eight friends, a Friday in May, and a table at 7:00. That is how a lot of birthday plans downtown start. The restaurants on Central Avenue and Beach Drive that host a birthday dinner St Pete groups book most often tend to fill their weekend tables several days ahead.
Party Size on the Form
Online booking forms ask for a date, a time and a party size. Fortu‘s form lists half-hour slots and party sizes from one up to 8+. Groups bigger than that usually call the restaurant, and Fortu lists its number as (727) 500-2918 and takes private-event inquiries.
Kitchen Hours
Fortu serves dinner from 5 to 9 Sunday through Thursday and until 10 on Friday and Saturday. A 7:00 table on a Friday leaves time for dessert before the kitchen closes.
The Notes Line
Below the party size, the form has a space for notes. Hosts read these before service. A birthday, a food allergy and a show time after dinner all fit on one line.
Plates for a Group
Shared plates arrive in rounds. Two or three dishes land in the middle of the table, everyone tries some, and the next order goes in when the table is ready. Late guests still eat, and nobody has to agree on one entrée.
After Dinner
Bars and live music sit a block or two away on Central. A birthday dinner St Pete friends plan downtown often ends with a walk rather than a ride.
Fortu, inside the historic Ponce de Leon Hotel at 97 Central Ave, serves a Michelin Recommended, Japanese-inspired menu of shared plates and takes birthday dinner St Pete reservations and private-event inquiries.