40 years of age may still be relatively young for humans, but in the world of St. Pete restaurants, that makes this local favorite the granddaddy of them all. Harvey’s 4th Street Grill on 3121 4th St N is celebrating its 40th anniversary this April, making it one of (if not *the*) continuously family-owned restaurants in St. Pete.
All who have been to Harvey’s know the reason for its longevity: fresh and flavorful food, laid-back vibes, great service, and always reasonable prices. And we won’t pretend the great happy hour doesn’t help, too. Of course, it’s the big Sunday brunch, sizzling steaks, and famous grouper sandwich that get the headlines, and with good reason.
The family-owned restaurant is much more than a local eatery and watering hole, however. The building and its contents are a veritable museum of St. Petersburg’s history. The patio is constructed of wood pulled from the demolished Soreno Hotel, and the interior features wood pulled from the old Vinoy Hotel ballroom. Throughout the dining room, pictures on the wall celebrate the vibrant, kitschy history of the Sunshine City. You can find homages to tourist attractions such as the old Webb’s City, in addition to beautiful black-and-white photos of old hotels, structures, and St. Pete personas.
It’s appropriate that an establishment celebrating St. Pete through the years became a piece of the city’s history itself. With the official anniversary coming on April 1, locals will have a full week to take part in the festivities and raise a glass (or sandwich) to Harvey’s 4th Street Grill. They’re taking it back to 1984 with specials, live music, and more
Anniversary schedule:
Monday, April 1 – Grouper sandwich + draft beer or soft drink for $19.84, all day
Tuesday, April 2 – Past employee party (private event for all former employees; main dining room still open)
Wednesday, April 3 – All wine bottles $19.84
Thursday, April 4 – Bud Light Draft $1.84, all day
Friday, April 5 – Official 40th Anniversary celebration with food and drink specials, plus The Ocean Road Band live at 8:30 pm
Journey through five different decades at Harvey’s
Harvey’s late-night Full Moon Parties featuring chef specials and drink deals are consistently can’t-miss occasions. Going into year 41, the restaurant continues its commitment to serving some of the best food in the Burg.
Their broccoli bites, grouper nuggets and red eye shrimp are the ultimate appetizer combination. The patty melt is beyond words. If you want a serious brunch, you can visit them starting at 9am on Sunday and indulge in the egg sardou (poached eggs with creamed spinach and artichoke on a toasted english muffin).
As seen above, the interior features floorboards pulled from The Vinoy, and even old slate blackboards pulled from local schools. Their front doors were originally the front doors of the Sunshine School on St. Pete Beach. The outdoor dining patio features original wood planks from the Soreno Hotel, a landmark building that went out in a blaze of glory with a demolition that was used in Lethal Weapon 3.
“Have you ever looked up on our patio? This original wood now used as ceiling decor came from the historic Soreno Hotel, the first million dollar hotel in St. Pete,” writes Harvey’s owners. “Located right on Beach Drive, The Soreno was a perfect place to vacation. Harvey’s founder, Dan Jr. was able to restore the wood panels and piece it together to create the ceiling you now see today.”
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