Buttermilk Eatery is opening its third location at 2601 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District | St Pete Rising

A popular local restaurant known for its oversized breakfast platters and robot food runners is heading to the Grand Central District this summer.

Buttermilk Eatery will open at 2601 Central Avenue, taking over the former Urban Brew & BBQ space, which closed last September after 12 years in business.

The new restaurant will feature approximately 1,400 square feet of indoor space alongside an expansive 3,000-square-foot covered patio on Central Avenue.

Locally owned and privately operated, Buttermilk Eatery currently has two other locations: one in north St. Pete that opened in early 2023 and another in Pinellas Park that followed in 2024.

“We’re excited to keep growing locally and bring Buttermilk to the Grand Central District,” said one of Buttermilk’s owners in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “This neighborhood has a lot of energy, and we think the concept fits really well here.”

Buttermilk has robot food runners that deliver meals directly to guests | Jeff & Mark Exploring

Traditional table service will be offered, though customers can also order directly from their phones by scanning a QR code at the table.

Also, one of the more exciting features of the restaurant is its robot food runners, that deliver meals directly to guests.

Despite the tech-forward setup, the restaurant still places a major emphasis on warm hospitality and service.

“There’s no lack of service,” the owner explained. “The restaurant is fully staffed, but the robot assistance gives our employees more time to focus on customers and provide better attention.”

Buttermilk describes itself as “a casual breakfast & lunch restaurant focused on providing fresh ingredients daily featuring pancakes, skillets and more.”

The menu is centered around breakfast and brunch comfort food, ranging from classic egg platters and pancakes to burgers, sandwiches, and omelets.

Buttermilk Eatery’s Dubai Chocolate Stack | Buttermilk Eatery

Signature breakfast items include thick-cut French toast, house-made buttermilk pancakes, Belgian waffles, eggs Benedicts, omelets, and customizable skillets.

Popular dishes include the Buttermilk Battered Chicken & Waffle along with the Dubai Chocolate Dream Cakes.

Savory dishes lean heavily into southern-style breakfast fare. The Down South Benedict contains chicken fried steak, sausage gravy, buttermilk biscuits, poached eggs, and hollandaise sauce, while the Country Skillet combines country fried steak, peppers, onions, cheddar-jack cheese, sausage gravy, potatoes, and choice of eggs.

The restaurant also offers a large selection of omelets, including the Mediterranean omelet with spinach, olives, tomatoes, onions, and feta cheese; the Market Veggie packed with broccoli, mushrooms, peppers, spinach, tomatoes, onions, and cheddar-jack; and the Butcher Block loaded with hardwood smoked bacon, diced ham, pork sausage, and cheddar-jack cheese.

Buttermilk also serves a variety of lunch items, including the Brunch Burger topped with a fried egg, the Avocado Bacon Burger with freshly smashed avocado and bacon, the TBLT with oven-roasted turkey and bacon on sourdough, as well as fried chicken sandwiches and a Philly cheesesteak.

Buttermilk Eatery’s Scrambled Egg Skillet | Buttermilk Eatery

Eventually, the Grand Central location is expected to introduce a light dinner menu.

The restaurant will serve Lavazza espresso drinks, along with fresh juices and brunch cocktails, like bottomless mimosas.

“We are looking forward to bringing great food, warm hospitality, and a welcoming space to the community,” said the owner. “We are excited to welcome everyone through the doors and share something special with the neighborhood.”

Be sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on the latest offerings and grand opening event details.