A new family-owned diner has opened in west St. Pete, bringing traditional breakfast and lunch fare to the former First Watch space on Tyrone Boulevard.

Hot Spot Diner quietly debuted earlier this month at 4045 Tyrone Boulevard and is now open daily from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Owner John Hazakis, a longtime diner operator based out of the Northeast, took over the space at the end of 2025.

He says he has opened eight diners over the last 40 years and recently relocated to St. Pete to be closer to family.

There is a large concentration of diners in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, which is typically referred to as “the diner capital of the country.”

These small, family-operated restaurants are known for their straightforward American food and affordable price points, two qualities that Hazakis is bringing to his newest diner in St. Pete. 

A popular Texas burger chain is making its long-awaited return to Tampa Bay this week.

Pinellas County’s only Whataburger will open Thursday, February 12th at 10150 Ulmerton Road in Largo, near Largo Mall.

The grand opening begins at 11 a.m., with free Whataburger merchandise available for the first 100 people in line.

The restaurant is also offering a free kids meal with the purchase of any Whatameal from February 12th through March 12th.

The new location will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Founded in Texas, Whataburger is known for its large, customizable burgers topped with options like bacon, avocado, jalapeños and its signature creamy pepper sauce.

Menu staples include the Sweet & Spicy Bacon Burger, the Patty Melt served on Texas toast, and the Honey BBQ Chicken Strip Sandwich.

A new pop-up opened yesterday in the Grand Central District introducing locals to a cuisine that’s still relatively niche in the U.S., but widely enjoyed abroad.

Inspired by the Basque region, an area in Northern Spain and Southwestern France, Barra-Barra specializes in small, skewered bites called pintxos (pronounced PEEN-chos) in addition to a curated selection of vermouths, ciders, and Basque-inspired cocktails. 

The pop-up will have a month-long residency at Barbouni, a Mediterranean restaurant connected to Baba at 2701 Central Avenue and known for its tinned fish and seafood plates.

Barra-Barra is led by Danielle McCoy and Andrew Duncan, who previously worked together at Baba. They are joined by friends and industry veterans Brennan Taulbee and Baba bartender Eleyah McCaw.

The menu centers on a social style of dining meant to encourage movement and conversation rather than long, seated meals.

Seahorse Restaurant, an 87-year-old Pass-a-Grille institution, welcomed its first customers in more than a year this week, after a long period of post-hurricane reconstruction. 

The waterfront breakfast spot closed in late 2024 after sustaining several feet of flood damage from hurricanes Helene and Milton. 

Located at 800 Pass a Grille Way, Seahorse has been serving the community since 1938, dishing out classic breakfasts and hearty lunch plates.  

The restaurant is currently in a soft opening phase, with owner Anayeri Gomez telling St. Pete Rising that a ribbon cutting ceremony is slated for Friday, February 6th at 11 a.m. 

“We had mostly locals coming in, residents from the area,” Gomez said of restaurant’s first day back. “We hired a few new staff members and updated the POS system, but overall it was a really nice training day.” 

A new spot for margaritas and quesabirria tacos has officially arrived in St. Pete.

Jimmy’s Tacos celebrated its soft opening last week at 2534 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District, marking the brand’s second location and its first in St. Pete.

The restaurant takes over the former home of vintage furniture shop The Foundry, which relocated just a few doors down to 2604 Central Avenue last year.

The St. Pete location has the same bright yellow exterior as its flagship location in Tampa’s Ybor City, , but the new space is noticeably larger, with expanded indoor seating, an outdoor back patio, and a full liquor bar.

The Grand Central District’s newest restaurant was originally slated to open last August, according to previous reporting from St. Pete Rising.