RARE 1981 Debuts New Executive Chef and Argentinian-Influenced Menu
WESLEY CHAPEL / PASCO COUNTY, FL — Saddlebrook Resort's upscale steakhouse just got a new voice in the kitchen. RARE 1981 has introduced Emanuel Zarlenga, a chef from Argentina, as its new Executive Chef, bringing a refreshed menu built around his home country's culinary traditions.
What's Changed
Zarlenga has replaced many of RARE 1981's original dishes with Argentinian-influenced options, while keeping the restaurant's reputation for prime steaks intact — a natural fit, given Argentina's own standing as one of the world's most celebrated steak cultures. The menu still features standout seafood options, including a rotating "Seabass of the Day" and "Gulf Coast Catch of the Day."
Why It Matters for Wesley Chapel
RARE 1981 has positioned itself as one of the area's more distinctive fine-dining destinations since opening inside Saddlebrook Resort, and a new chef with an Argentinian perspective gives regulars a reason to come back and try something different, while keeping the steakhouse fundamentals that built its reputation in the first place.
📍 RARE 1981 at Saddlebrook Resort — 5700 Saddlebrook Way, Wesley Chapel, FL
📅 New menu now available
