This week the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa officially opened the doors to their latest restaurant concept, The Rez Grill.

At the helm of the American grill concept is the newly appointed Creative Culinary Director, Frank Anderson, whose pedigree includes running the kitchens at James Beard-awarded, Los Angeles-based restaurants, Animal and Son of a Gun.

A graduate of Southern Maine Technical College and the Italian Institute for Advanced Culinary & Pastry Arts, Anderson has accumulated more than 20 years of culinary experience.

Before arriving at Seminole Hard Rock Tampa, Anderson was the Chef de Cuisine for three years at Son of a Gun Restaurant in Los Angeles where he managed the daily operations of the 60-seat venue.

Prior to Son of a Gun, Anderson was the Chef de Cuisine at Animal Restaurant, also in Los Angeles. He was a key player in the development of the restaurant.

In 2005, Anderson had an integral role in the launch of a Los Angeles-based catering company called Carmelized Productions, which went on to have its own television show (called “Two Dudes Catering”) on the Food Network.

Anderson is now focused on the development of the culinary program at Seminole Hard Rock Tampa. He and his team have curated a thoughtful menu for the property’s new restaurant The Rez Grill that offers diners a wide variety of elevated comfort food favorites. The options range from a selection of items straight from the kitchen’s Jade wood burning grill to hand-made pastas, and dishes meant for sharing that are playfully categorized as “table participation.

When asked what his biggest accomplishment is, Anderson proudly says “my daughter.”

The Rez Grill is located in the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa at 5223 North Orient Road Tampa, FL 33610 with easy accessibility from the Orient Road, Lucky Street and Winner’s Way garages.

The restaurant is open Wednesday and Thursday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. For more information, please call 813-627-7625.