I've been driving down Platt Street in Tampa watching a gorgeous restaurant space take shape for some months. A few weeks ago someone put up a hand-lettered sign that said something vague about barbecue. Yesterday the official sign went up. Welcome Smoke Barbecue & Grill, to open its doors Monday, May 19 at 901 Platt Street; (813) 254-7070.

I spent a little time on the phone with one of the owners, Rick Knapik, a former chef at Ceviche in Tampa. Apparently, the new barbecue joint is another project from uber-restaurateur Gordon Davis, along with third partner Tony Bruno (formerly at St. Bart's). Davis has wanted to do a barbecue place for many years, it seems--this one in what Rick calls a "New World barbecue" idiom. They'll be doing traditional dry-rubbed pork shoulder, brisket, spareribs and beef ribs, a Hawaiian rotisserie chicken, skewers of shrimp and scallops, other skewers of veggies. Whole meal prices will hover between $15 and $21, with side dishes that include sweet potato fries, Asian-inflected cole slaw and sauteed greens. A liquor license is still pending, but the aim is just beer and wine.

The space itself is just lovely, in what looks like an old converted auto body shop. Gas lamps and rustic brick give it a chic retro feel. Can't wait to check it out.