Tampa Italian restaurant Cena has closed

After more than a decade in business, Channel District restaurant Cena has permanently closed.

The news follows the recent departure of chef and partner Michael Buttacavoli, a tenured Tampa chef known both for his modern approach to upscale Italian as well as his boisterous win on celebrity chef showdown ”Beat Bobby Flay.”

Ken Stoltenberg, a partner in the Italian restaurant, said there were several reasons for the closure, but that Buttacavoli leaving two weeks ago was the biggest reason.

“That was the straw that broke the camel’s back,” Stoltenberg said.