Sola Bistro owners to open new Spanish-inspired restaurant Bararam on St. Pete Beach
/Bararam, a new Spanish-inspired restaurant and bar, will open this fall next to Sola Bistro & Wine Bar in St. Pete Beach | St. Pete Rising
The owners of Sola Bistro & Wine Bar are preparing to open a new Spanish tapas concept next door to their longtime St. Pete Beach restaurant.
Bararam, a 1,100-square-foot Spanish-inspired restaurant and bar, is expected to open this fall at 6702 Gulf Boulevard, adjacent to Sola Bistro + Wine Bar.
The concept is the latest venture from Tigran “Tig” Khachaturyan and Chef Artem “Art” Kucherenko, who have owned and operated Sola since 2015.
Bararam’s food menu will feature traditional Spanish tapas, including ceviche, pan con tomate, rabbit croquetas, Spanish omelets, and gildas, which are small skewers typically made with peppers, olives, and anchovies.
The drink menu will focus on Spanish wines, beers, ciders, and sangria, along with vermouth and sherry.
“At Bararam, we will try to stick to classic Spanish food and drinks, like what you would expect to get if you were traveling in Spain,” Khachaturyan said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “But we’ll include little twists here and there that are going to be fun.”
“We really like to include Armenian flavors when we can,” added Khachaturyan, who is originally from Armenia.
Owners of Sola Bistro & Wine Bar and the upcoming Bararam, Tigran “Tig” Khachaturyan (left) and Chef Artem “Art” Kucherenko (right) | Sola Bistro & Wine Bar
While Bararam will center around small plates and shareable snacks, Khachaturyan said customers looking for larger entrees will still be able to head next door to Sola, whose menu features heartier dishes influenced by Italian and French cuisine.
The idea for Bararam began taking shape after the former real estate office next to Sola became available earlier this year.
Rather than expanding Sola into the neighboring space, Khachaturyan and Kucherenko decided to create an entirely separate concept.
“The two businesses will technically be connected, but they’ll be two completely different concepts,” Khachaturyan said, explaining that Sola and Bararam will be linked by a saloon-style door. “Sola already has its identity as a small bistro where everybody knows each other. We didn’t want to lose that by expanding the dining room.”
Like Sola, Bararam's name has a personal connection to Khachaturyan's family. Bararam is named after his son, Aram, while Sola combines the names of his twin daughters.
In addition to food and drinks, Bararam will include a small retail market selling wine, olive oil, tinned seafood, and other specialty products.
A selection of Spanish dishes previously offered at Sola - Shrimp with Anchovy Lemon Chili Butter and paella | Sola Bistro & Wine Bar
Khachaturyan said the new concept will have a darker aesthetic than Sola, with a casual, communal atmosphere.
The bar will be standing room only, while the small dining area will have a handful of high-top and two-top tables.
The owners may eventually acquire a liquor license that would allow Bararam to add cocktails to its drink menu.
In the meantime, Khachaturyan and Kucherenko plan to begin introducing Spanish dishes at Sola ahead of Bararam's opening, allowing them to test recipes and get feedback from their regulars.
“The tourists always find us, but we really built this for the locals,” Kucherenko said of Sola's loyal customer base.
Unlike Sola, Bararam will be open for lunch, with expected hours from 11 a.m. to 9 or 10 p.m.
Bararam is expected to open this fall.
Follow the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram for updates on its opening.
