One of Tampa Bay’s most celebrated chefs, Ted Dorsey, will debut a new throwback neighborhood restaurant and bar early next year with fellow restaurant industry veteran Teddy Skiadiotis.

Sunshine City Tavern, which will pay homage to the history of St. Pete, will be located at 4351 4th Street North, most recently home to Oaks on 4th which closed in late 2023.

The tavern will be a dream realized for Dorsey, who has wanted to open a neighborhood bar in St. Pete for 20 years.

“In my early years, I wanted to be bougie and pretentious, but as life changes and as I grow older, I’ve realized that I just want to put out amazingly delicious food that makes people happy,” said Dorsey, who has helped open some of the area’s most popular restaurants including Sonata, The Mill, Ciro’s, Boca, and Copperfish.

“What excites me about this concept is it will be a throwback to an era where people felt like they belonged and were able to let life slip away for a moment or two,” said Dorsey. “Think of it as a modern-day Harvey’s.”

The interior of the 3,500-square-foot tavern will be a mash-up of “Saved by the Bell meets Vice City,” according to Dorsey, evoking a sense of the 1990s era while also incorporating a taste of old St. Pete.

Dorsey doesn't want to reveal too much of what he will whip up in the kitchen but said everything will be made in-house.

There will be a huge smoker in the back and a meat carving station in the dining room, which will feature the daily special. For instance, Friday’s special will always be a smoked prime rib plate that will be available for lunch and dinner.

“I've incorporated a fair amount of barbeque into the menu without it becoming a smokehouse,” Dorsey said. “I want to have fun with food again and do more slow cooking with a focus on flavor more so than presentation.”

The inclusion of barbeque at the tavern is also a nod to the previous restaurants that have occupied the space, including Fred Fleming's Famous Bar-B-Que, Luckie B's Bar-B-Que, and Quickies Scratch BBQ.

In addition to barbeque, Dorsey is also working with a local seafood purveyor to serve fresh fish.

One of the appetizers will be a house-smoked amberjack fish spread.

Also on the menu will be Crispy Florida Gator Bang Bang with a Pineapple Jalapeño Slaw, which Dorsey served at this year’s Frogman Feast supporting the Navy SEAL Foundation. He will donate a portion of the proceeds from each dish sold to the Navy SEAL Foundation.

As for drinks, there will be a full liquor bar that will have the “most aggressive happy hour in the city,” Dorsey promises.

The tavern will be open for lunch and dinner seven days a week and will offer a robust brunch menu on the weekend including ten of Dorsey's award-winning dishes.

Sunshine City Tavern will also offer family meals to-go for two, four, or six people featuring the daily special, salad, sides, and dessert. Customers can call ahead and use the building’s drive-thru window to pick up their family meal on the way home.

It may surprise people that Dorsey is opening a casual restaurant. After all, he’s made a name for himself helming some of the area’s best fine dining establishments. For Dorsey, it’s a culmination of long-time pursuits: build a legacy for his kids and work with his friend and fellow restaurant lifer Teddy Skiadiotis.

“This is going to be a sanctuary for me and my children. This is where I'm going to retire,” Dorsey said. “And I’m so excited to finally have an opportunity to work with Teddy after 12 years of friendship.”

Skiadiotis, who owns Craft Kafe and is a co-owner in Sunshine City Tavern, shares Dorsey’s enthusiasm. “I’ve wanted to work with Ted for years, but our timing has never been right. The stars really aligned on this one for us.”

The building is undergoing renovations including exterior painting, signage, kitchen construction, and a new bar top.

The work is expected to wrap up in December in time for a January 2025 opening.