Here are some of the best upcoming St. Pete restaurants you need to keep on your radar. Scroll down for some recently opened new restaurants to add to your list right now.
Original Flavor 1889
409 Central Avenue
The highly-anticipated restaurant on the 400 block of Central is bringing old school doughy Italian goodness with its brick-oven fired pizzas, as well as an extensive wine bar. The restaurant describes itself as “the wine bar temple of pizza Napoletana contemporanea.” An opening date is expected this summer.
Shiso Crispy
Downtown
The celebrated food truck, which has three regular locations throughout Tampa Bay, is finally opening its first brick-and-mortar. Shiso Crispy is beloved for flavorful dumplings, sticky rice dishes, bao buns, and made-to-order lobster rangoon.
Jolly Roger’s
32 Madonna Boulevard, Tierra Verde
The pirate-themed “eater’tainment” restaurant will bring pub and grub, as well as highly interactive experience with rude, sarcastic and possibly even drunken pirates serving tables and working the bar.
Good Fortune
260 1st Avenue South
The team behind Dirty Laundry, The Avenue, No Vacancy, and Park & Rec are opening a new asian fusion restaurant and cocktail bar on the ground floor of Station House St. Pete. The new spot will have a sushi bar, small plates, karaoke, and extensive selections of Japanese whiskey and sake.
Pizza N’ Brew
231 Central Avenue
The star of the new concept coming to the old Caddy’s on Central is the New York-style pizza which is made from family recipes for the dough and sauce that have been passed down for generations since its patriarch moved from Italy and perfected the recipes in NYC. It will also feature a hefty lineup of a local craft beer, as well as burgers and sandwiches.
HaleLife Bistro
Warehouse Arts District
Tampa Bay’s beloved HaleLife Bakery announced that it will be opening HaleLife Bistro this summer, what they are touting as the first gluten-free and vegan bistro in Tampa Bay.
In addition to their popular baked goods, the bistro is expected to have a full dining menu of gluten-free and vegan dishes. Additionally, HaleLife said in the announcement that the new concept will also have gluten-free alcohol for guests to enjoy.
The Crane
575 Central Avenue
A new fun dining experience is coming to downtown St. Pete, as ‘The Crane’ announced a January 2022 opening at 575 Central Avenue. The steak and seafood concept is being opened by the owners of Mangosteen, which is closing in on its own opening day right across the street.
Bakes and Wakes Fat Lenny’s World Headquarters
2148 49th Street South
Bakes and Wakes Fat Lenny’s World Headquarters is a combo ice cream parlor, bubble tea and espresso café, and toy and candy store.
Good Intentions St. Pete
19th Street & 1st Avenue South
Good Intentions (@goodintentions_fl) will be the new vegan hot spot in St. Petersburg. The concept is the creation of Nah Dogs, Golden Dinosaur Vegan Deli, and Black Radish Vegan Grocery Store.
Black Cattle Burger Company
17 3rd Street North
The concept promises to bring back simple, old school burgers to the downtown dining scene. Prep your taste buds for thin and crispy smash burgers.
Zoie’s
2245 Central Avenue
While details on the menu are being kept under wraps, owner Jeff Baker said his dream for Zoie’s – named for his lovable chihuahua – is to create a welcoming and warm atmosphere where anyone can be comfortable, a reflection of St. Pete’s diversity and supportive nature. Baker said Zoie’s will offer an immersive and unique experience, while welcoming the community to a laid-back and familial vibe.
Rumba Island Grill
6445 4th Street North
Taking pride in their “island cuisine,” Rumba has an expansive food menu of seafood-forward appetizers, hefty sandwiches, rice bowls, meaty favorites from the fire pit, and fresh-catch seafood direct from their own fleet of dayboats or flown-in fish. Rumba also offers a daytime lunch menu, kids menu, extensive list of sides, and flavorful salads.
Noble Tavern Off The Farm
1650 Central Avenue
From the owners of Noble Crust and Fat Beet Farm, this will be a mashup of the two concepts, creating a craft cocktail bar, taking the atmosphere of an old world tavern, and wrapping it into a modern design.
Mochinut
Mochinut, a wildly popular sweet spot, is planning a Florida expansion, and its latest announcement will bring the delicious treats to Pinellas Park.
What is a mochi donut?
“Mochi donut is the titillating product of the happy union between Japanese rice cake (mochi) and American-style doughnuts, which originated in Hawaii,” writes the Mochinut team.
The location of the Pinellas Park spot will be revealed soon. Follow Mochinut on its website, as well as Facebook and Instagram for updates.
Nueva Cantina St. Pete Beach
5955 Gulf Winds Boulevard
The tasty restaurant is known for its modern takes on classic Mexican dishes, its popular happy hours, and an atmosphere that manages to be both lively and family-friendly.
Recently Opened Restaurants
Hungry right now? Here are some recently-opened restaurants you can add to your immediate must-try list.
Bonu Taverna
601 Central Avenue
Bonu Taverna is a Sicilian-inspired neighborhood restaurant and bar, bringing a laid-back neighborhood vibe for lunch and dinner. The seasonal Italian menu offers a wide variety of appetizers, pasta, “pinsa” and a bar menu featuring Italian-inspired cocktails and wine.
Twisted Indian
2639 Central Avenue
Lokesh Vale launched the Twisted Indian as a Food Truck in St. Petersburg back in 2016. The concept has been a major success at the Saturday Morning market, and pop up events throughout the Sunshine City. Seriously, the buttermilk naan and chicken tikka masala are addictive.
Roam
3405 34th Street North
The culinary masterminds behind the beloved Red’s BBQ food truck have turned their talents toward a new project and opened their first brick and mortar in St. Pete. While Roam’s menu rotates on seasonal availability, highlights of the menu include prime steaks and a tomahawk ribeye, lamb chops and pork chops, alfredo cavatelli, salmon, New York lobster mac, and a richly decadent ½-pound cast iron fried burger.
Cap’s Seafood
226 1st Avenue North
Cap’s is a double-concept featuring a coffee shop and bar, and a fresh seafood restaurant, both paired with al fresco sipping and dining. The fresh seafood concept is a raw bar and steamer bar featuring flavorful takes on raw and steamed standards. The raw bar offers fresh oysters, sashimi, peel and eat gulf shrimp, tuna poke and conch salad.
Cafe Clementine
255 Beach Drive NE
Housed inside the Museum of Fine Arts, no ticket is required for entry into this stunning space featuring fantastic baked goods, sandwiches, coffee and more.
Pierogi Bar
6661 Central Avenue
St. Pete’s first Ukrainian restaurant offers an incredible variety of scratch-made pieorgi, as well as several other Ukrainian favorite dishes.
Tacos My Love
400 49th Street South
The restaurant serves authentic Mexican cuisine, including a separate plant-based menu, and signature Micheladas. The restaurant also has ornate cocktails including a smoky basil mezcal cocktail and a jalapeno margarita. The food menu features a wide variety of plant based options such as vegan nachos and jackfruit tacos, as well as traditional meat based dishes like carne asada and tacos al pastor.
Frog Pond
890 3rd Avenue South
The beach favorite for breakfast has made its long-awaited return to the city. The restaurant is beloved for its big breakfast and lunch dishes and its always-friendly service.
House of Vegano
655 31st Street South
The all-vegan sushi concept was a celebrated pop-up before the owner decided to open her first brick-and-mortar. Reviewers rave about the range of flavor and fresh ingredients used to create drool-worthy sushi rolls.
2105 Central Avenue
The concept uses artistic tricks of illusion to give the appearance of a completely two-dimensional experience in real life and is described as a European-based café offering unique delicacies, coffees, pastries and more.
Salty Nun
2501 Central Avenue
Two of Gulfport’s most popular spots for food and drink are combining their talents to bring a new breakfast, brunch and bar concept to St. Pete. Salty Nun is a project from the minds behind Stella’s and Salty’s (now closed) in Gulfport. The new restaurant and bar brings Stella’s famous breakfast and brunch by day and Salty’s popular bar scene by night.
Jay Luigi
3201 4th Street North
Jay Luigi is a new fast casual pizza concept from the minds behind Ciccio Restaurant Group and Forbici Modern Italian. It showcases two types of pizza, as well as great Italian dishes, in laid back digs.
La Segunda
25th Avenue & 4th Street North
La Segunda Bakery & Café, the legendary family-owned business based in Tampa, has brought a taste of Ybor City to St. Petersburg with the opening of its third location, and its first in St. Pete. Pastries, fresh Cuban bread, and delicious sandwiches are the stars.
Pop Goes the Waffle
5004 Tangerine Ave South
This location is the first brick-and-mortar for the beloved food truck and features expanded space for production and a small cafe where customers can enjoy waffles, pastries and beverages.
Flip Crepes and Waffles
625 Central Avenue
In the former home Swah-Rey, sweet and savory stuffed crepes, an assortment of fluffy waffles, flaky croissants, and fresh coffee are all on the menu at this intimate concept.
Nicko’s Pizza and Subs
1239 4th Street South
Nicko’s has a spacious, relaxed and eclectic dining room and bar with TVs, beer and wine rustic fixtures. In addition to some seriously creative specialty pizzas and the long list of subs, Nicko’s offers a great list of hot and carb-centered small bites. Meatballs, cheesy garlic toast, bruschetta and an oven-baked pepperoni roll offer plenty of good snacks for the visit.
Heavy’s Diner
911 22nd Street South
The premise of Heavy’s is to provide the best possible food that won’t leave your stomach or your wallet empty. They want to fill you up in an affordable fashion. The blue-plate-to-go style menu has huge plates with a variety of hot meats, delectable sides and crumbly cornbread. Highlights include fried pork chops, chitterlings, oxtail, shrimp, turkey wings and oven baked BBQ chicken.
