Burnt Ends Tiki Bar will join Dr. BBQ in the EDGE District of St. Petersburg at 1101 1st Avenue South beginning March 20. 

Roger and Suzanne Perry, co-owners of Datz Restaurant Group, have just announced the debut of Burnt Ends Tiki Bar at Dr. BBQ. Set to serve its first drinks, in line with all social distancing protocols, on the March 20 equinox, a symbol of rebirth and new life following hard times, Burnt Ends Tiki Bar will be a tropical escape in the EDGE district, according to a release from the owners.

Beverage Director Dean Hurst, a 30-year industry veteran with dedicated interest in tiki, leads menu and creative development for the concept.

The EDGE gets its own Tiki Bar

Tiki subculture is about to bring a more lei’d back vibe to downtown St. Petersburg.

Hurst brings stellar credentials from the tiki subculture to this new venture including deep connections to rum distilleries and experience running the bar program at The Hukilau from 2014 – 2019.

The menu is bursting with classic tiki cocktails such as Mai Tais with Jamaican rum, dry curacao, fresh lime juice and house-made orgeat; Mr. Bali Hai offering big, bold rum flavors matched with coffee and pineapple notes; Three Dots and a Dash, an ode to the famed Chicago tiki bar, which stands out for its use of Rhum Agricole, Martinique and Demerara rums, pimento, falernum, orange and lime juices, honey mix and angostura.

Spam sliders are on the menu

Adventurous drinkers will also enjoy more under-the-radar libations including a Port Light, one of the few classic tiki cocktails made with bourbon, as well as a Saturn gin-based cocktail with delicious falernum, passionfruit and orgeat, or The Rum Barrel served in a whole cocktail.

Don’t worry, Half of Fame Pitmaster Ray “Dr. BBQ” Lampe has few special treats to deliver, too. Indulge in  Spam Sliders and a Pupu Platter with fresh grilled fruit, fried shrimp, burnt end bao buns, Hawaiian pork Ribs, chili garlic edamame and pork belly satay with tiki inspired dipping sauces and other tropical delights.

Committed to authenticity and honoring tiki culture in this new venture, the Dr. BBQ team has enlisted the help of several brands rooted in classic tiki tradition to bring this vision to life. John Mulder, the lead artist at Eekum Bookum, a St. Pete resident and multifaceted personality in the tiki world, has designed custom collector tiki mugs for the bar. Mugs will also be sold on-site for guests who want to bring the tiki experience home.

Daiquiri happy hour at Burnt Ends Tiki Bar

The Perrys and Hurst have also tapped Frank Simontics, known as the Tiki Rancher, to blend classic tiki design with Dr. BBQ’s smokehouse roots in the second-floor bar. Design elements include charred end cuts of wood with red backlighting, and simulating glowing embers. Guests will also find a thatch and bamboo awning and an 8-foot moai-like figure of Ray “Dr. BBQ” Lampe greeting guests at street level.

Tiki fans can look forward to imaginative programing after opening. In addition to weekday daiquiri happy hour from 3pm-6pm, Hurst will also collaborate with tiki experts and authors from across the country for an on-going guest bartender series to further tiki education for guests. Guests will also help get into the spirit with music and entertainment from local performers.

Burnt Ends at Dr. BBQ, 1101 1st Avenue South