Influencer to interdisciplinary entrepreneur, Brandi Gergle’s restaurant extraordinaire
- Kaylen Ross
- 9 hours ago
- 5 min read
In Tampa’s Seminole Heights neighborhood, one restaurant has managed to exceed expectations about what a dining experience should be. Coasis Restaurant & Bar has quickly become one of the city’s most talked-about Black-owned restaurants with upscale dining and nightlife, blending Southern fusion cuisine, elevated cocktails, popping designs, and community-centered hospitality into a space that feels different.
Founder Brandi Gergle is an entrepreneur based in the Tampa Bay area who has spent years building businesses centered around hospitality, beauty, and customer experience.
For Gergle, branding and aesthetics play a central role in the business model. In today’s restaurant industry, visual identity matters almost as much as the menu itself. Coasis leans fully into the cultural moment with bold interiors, polished presentation, and shareable dishes and cocktails that resonate with younger diners and social media-driven audiences.
Tampa’s dining scene has historically drawn influence from Cuban, Caribbean, Southern, and Gulf Coast traditions. Coasis incorporates many of these flavors while presenting them through a modern lens.
Before entering the restaurant industry, Gergle built a following through her business, B Blaze Hair Boutique. That audience later became one of the foundations that helped introduce customers to Coasis when the restaurant first opened.
“I started with my own business, B Blaze Hair Boutique, and a lot of my followers came from there as well as my partner’s business, so it was easy to reach out to those same people and say, hey, I’ve opened this restaurant, come check it out,” she said.
“As a business owner, I’ve always believed that success comes from creating spaces where people feel welcomed, valued, and excited to return,” she said.
That philosophy became the foundation for Coasis.
Something Different
While Tampa has no shortage of dining options, Gergle felt there was room for something different.
“I wanted to create a destination,” she said. “Tampa has a lot of great places to eat, but I felt there was room for a concept that combined elevated dining, entertainment, nightlife, and community under one roof.”
That vision is what continues to separate Coasis from many traditional restaurants in the area. Guests can come for brunch, dinner, cocktails, live entertainment, special events, or just a great atmosphere.
“We focus on the entire experience, not just the food. When people visit Coasis, they’re creating memories,” Gergle says.
The restaurant has built its identity around that idea of experience-driven hospitality. Whether guests arrive for brunch with friends or a late-night event, the goal is to create an atmosphere that feels vibrant, exciting, and memorable from start to finish.
An Escape From Everyday Life
For Gergle, the guest experience begins the moment someone walks through the doors.
“I want guests to feel like they’ve escaped from their everyday routine,” she said. “From the moment they walk through the doors, I want them to experience great hospitality, amazing food, good music, and an atmosphere that feels vibrant and welcoming.”
That atmosphere is a major part of the restaurant’s appeal. Entering Coasis, tropical flowers cascade from above, neon lights illuminate each corner with a party ambiance, and the latest music sets the vibe.
Whether customers are celebrating birthdays, enjoying a date night, attending an event, or simply grabbing brunch, Gergle says the goal remains the same.
“I want them to leave feeling like they had an experience, not just a meal,” she said.
That focus on experience has helped the restaurant attract customers from far beyond the Tampa Bay area.
The Power of Social Media
According to Gergle, social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram have played a major role in Coasis’ growth and visibility.
“Social media has been a huge driver of our growth,” she said. “We’ve had guests travel from all over Florida and even other states after seeing our food, brunch experience, and events online.”
Videos featuring the restaurant perfectly capture the vibe and have helped Coasis gain attention from online audiences seeking unique dining destinations.
“It’s exciting when people tell us they drove hours just to experience what they’ve seen online,” Gergle said.
For Gergle, the response confirms the importance of creating content that feels authentic rather than forced. The restaurant’s social media presence has helped turn Coasis into a recognizable brand.
Signature Menu Favorites
While atmosphere and entertainment are major parts of the Coasis experience, the menu obviously remains at the center of what brings customers back.
“Our brunch items are definitely among the favorites, especially our shrimp and grits and our signature French toast creations,” Gergle said.
Guests also continue to gravitate toward the restaurant’s seafood offerings.
“Everyone loves our oysters, seafood dishes, steak eggrolls, and specialty cocktails,” she said.
“I think they stand out because we focus heavily on flavor, presentation, and consistency,” she said. “Not only do we want guests to enjoy their meal, but we want them to talk about it long after they leave.”
That combination of presentation and flavor has become part of the restaurant’s identity, especially among social media audiences who often share photos and videos of their dining experience online.
Balancing Upscale Dining and Entertainment
One of the unique challenges for Coasis has been balancing a high-end dining atmosphere with the energy of live entertainment and nightlife events. Gergle says achieving that balance requires intentionality in every aspect of the business.
From the music selection to the décor and event programming, the restaurant carefully curates the environment to maintain an elevated atmosphere.
Coasis regularly hosts events, including karaoke nights, dinner experiences, and Private events. The goal for them is always the same: great hospitality first, entertainment second.
Navigating Challenges in the Restaurant Industry
Like many restaurant owners, Gergle says operating a hospitality business comes with constant challenges.
“Like many restaurant owners, we’ve faced staffing challenges, economic shifts, rising costs, and the constant need to evolve with customer preferences,” she said. “But one thing I’ve learned is that adaptability is everything. Instead of resisting change, we’ve embraced it.”
She says listening to customer feedback, as well as making friends with her neighboring businesses, and continuously improving the business, has allowed Coasis to evolve into what it is now.
“We’ve listened to our customers, adjusted our programming, invested back into the business, and continued finding creative ways to improve the experience,” she said. “Those challenges have ultimately made us stronger.”
That mindset has helped the restaurant continue building momentum in Tampa’s competitive dining scene.
Community Support Fuels Growth
Since opening, the support from the Tampa community has exceeded expectations. Over time, the restaurant has built relationships with a wide variety of customers throughout the community.
“We’ve built relationships with locals, tourists, influencers, and business professionals throughout the community,” Gergle said.
“The fact that so many guests continue to return and recommend us to their friends and family means everything to us,” she said. “Their support is the reason we’ve continued to grow.”
For her, repeat customers and word-of-mouth recommendations remain some of the biggest signs of success.
As Coasis continues to grow, Gergle says the team remains focused on elevating the guest experience even further. Customers can expect expanded programming, new events, menu additions, and continued improvements to the restaurant’s atmosphere.
She also hinted at long-term plans to continue growing the Coasis brand into an even larger hospitality presence.
Ultimately, Gergle says her vision is for Coasis to become one of Tampa’s premier destinations for dining and entertainment.
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