St. Pete restaurant openings you may have missed
Wicked nachos from Wicked Cantina in west St. Pete | Wicked Cantina
From Asian-fusion cuisine to smoked fish, established and rising chefs continue to bring new tasty concepts to the Sunshine City for locals to indulge in.
Numerous restaurants have debuted in St. Pete and beyond over the past few months and the city’s culinary landscape has garnered the attention of Travel & Leisure, which recently ranked St. Petersburg as the “top food city in America”.
Here’s a list of recent restaurant openings you may have missed.
Juno & the Peacock
From the owners of the nearby Allelo, Juno & the Peacock is now open in the space formerly occupied by 400 Beach, a longtime staple of Beach Drive in downtown St. Pete. Juno and the Peacock, which draws its name from one of Aesop's fables, features American dishes, like dry-aged steaks, along with modern coastal cuisine, such as a seafood tower, seared grouper, and crab cakes.
Greenlane
Greenlane, a health-conscious drive-thru restaurant, has opened its first St. Pete location. The new eatery offering fresh salads, filling wraps, protein boxes, slushies, pretzel sticks, cookies, and more. All the salad dressings are made in-house, including the maple balsamic vinaigrette and green goddess.
Don the Beachcomber
Don the Beachcomber, recognized as the first tiki bar and the genesis of tiki culture in America, features Polynesian-inspired dishes and authentic tiki cocktails. Donn Beach, an adventurer, businessman, and World War II veteran, opened the original Don the Beachcomber in Hollywood, California nearly 90 years ago.
Tchotchke
Tchotchke, which replaced the beloved Munch's Restaurant, serves ‘old Florida’ breakfast, brunch, and lunch dishes with an international twist. Items range from traditional shrimp and grits to burgers. Tchotchke also serves alcoholic beverages.
McMullen Fish House
Brothers James and Josh McMullen have taken over the former Mastry's Bait and Tackle shop, now selling and cooking fresh-caught fish. Behind McMullen Fish House, the owners have opened a food truck offering smoked mullet, hushpuppies, and other fried goodness.
Wicked Cantina
Wicked Cantina, known for its “Austin-style” food and margaritas, opened its first St. Pete restaurant in a space formerly occupied by Sonny’s BBQ. Wicked Cantina serves tacos, burritos, enchiladas, fajitas, nachos, burgers, and seafood.
Bohemios Tapas Restaurant
Bohemios, a tapas restaurant and wine bar that debuted six years ago in Sarasota, opened its first St. Pete location in the former BurgerFi space on the ground floor of the Camden Central Apartments. Bohemios serves Spanish dishes such as paella and grilled octopus as well as the most expensive ham in the world, 5J Iberian Ham. It also serves unique wines from Argentina, California, and the Old World — Italy, France, and Spain.
Little Philly
Philadelphia-born-and-raised chef and restaurant operator Sean Ford, alongside prominent local business owner Renaud Cowez, has brought authentic East Coast-style Philly cheesesteaks to St. Petersburg. Little Philly’s menu includes Italian hoagies, chicken cutlet sandwiches, hot dogs, chicken tenders, Italian pork sandwiches, and house-made “water ice” – Philly’s version of Italian ice.
The Neon Lunchbox
James Castetter and Chelsey Andrews, who owned The Half Baked Potato, have opened a new retro-themed bar at the former Hideaway Cafe space. The Neon Lunchbox serves sandwiches, salads, appetizers, and cocktails named after nostalgic TV characters and movies.
Samurai Cat
Samurai Cat, a new Japanese bakery and cafe from Majestic Restaurant Group, opened in the former Beans & Barlour cafe and dessert shop space. Samurai Cat serves Japanese fruit sando, a crema chantilly-stuffed sandwich with fruit between two milk bread slices, and the popular tamago sando, egg salad on milk bread, and boba tea.
Grove Surf Cafe
The owners behind the popular retail surf shop and specialty coffee bar Grove Surf + Coffee in St. Pete Beach have opened Grove Surf Cafe, a new concept on Indian Rocks Beach. Grove Surf Cafe serves a variety of breakfast bowls, sandwiches, and a coffee selection identical to Grove Surf + Coffee with lattes flavored with toasted coconut, honey cinnamon, salted caramel, mocha, and orange vanilla syrups.
Shiso Crispy
Shiso Crispy, a food-truck-based Asian fusion eatery, has opened a permanent location in St. Petersburg’s EDGE District. The space was previously occupied by Brooklyn South, a local cheese shop. A food truck is parked behind the building, serving Shiso Crispy's Bang Bang Chicken, bao buns, and other dishes.