The serial holiday pranksters of Datz, Dough and Roux, Roger and Suzanne Perry, are at it again.
For Halloween, the South Tampa restaurateurs have modeled the inside and outside of Dough and Datz after two other popular eateries, The Refinery and Fodder & Shine in Seminole Heights.
Dough is modeling The Gourdery after The Refinery, while Datz portrays Feedlot & Sow in honor of Fodder & Shine. The staff's decked out in hipster glasses and band T-shirts, and today, the Perrys are dressed up as Refinery and Fodder owners Michelle and Greg Baker, faux tattoos and all.
"It's really for us because we're so conservative usually, but for my staff, they look like they do everyday," Suzanne said, adding that she thought of the idea years ago. "We were a little nervous, like, 'What if [the Bakers] don't get it?' But they've been really good sports."
Folks visiting the restaurants on Friday or Saturday will see temporary Feedlot and Gourdery signage (one covered in another pair of hipster specs), but there are also more subtle nods to the Bakers involved.
Designed after the look of Fodder's, the menus at Feedlot feature dishes masked as items patrons might find at Fodder (pilau, PBR-braised chicken and the like). The Gourdery is serving up its beverages in Mason jars. Rows of James Beard Awards decorate Feedlot's stairs. Stuffed cats, which reflect Michelle's love for animals, according to Suzanne, are hidden throughout.
"I think it's hilarious," Michelle said of the Perrys' shenanigans. "We laughed out loud a lot."
So will the Bakers seek revenge for April Fool's?
"I'm not gonna leak any details, but we will certainly remember this," she said.