Located at 3920 6th St S, in the restaurant space formerly known as Munch’s Restaurant and Sundries, Matthew Firosz recently opened Tchotchke, offering a modern take on diner classics. Tchotchke serves up breakfast and lunch delights every day from 7am–3pm. It’s a new neighborhood gem in South St. Pete.

Matthew isn’t new to the restaurant industry. In Portland, Oregon, he owned a neighborhood bar called Nepo 42 for 18 years, and has nearly 30 years of experience in the restaurant industry to boot. When he moved to St. Pete, it made sense for Matthew to own and operate another neighborhood joint, Munch’s restaurant, while preserving Munch’s long history and legacy in the ‘Burg.

International twist on diner classics

While the original Munch’s restaurant may be closed, Tchotchke pays homage to the iconic St. Pete staple. A wall displays old photos and articles of and about Munch’s restaurant. The new owner also took some “winks and nods,” he says, from Munch’s menu. Munch’s popular fried green tomatoes appear in three of Tchotchke’s dishes, and the classic, neighborly diner feel remains. But Tchotchke has updated the menu with its international take on diner classics.

Popular favorites are the low country Creole shrimp and grits, bravas potatoes (a Spanish dish of fried Yukon potatoes, tossed in rich paprika sauce, with roasted garlic aioli topped with two over easy eggs), and chilaquiles (a quintessential Mexican staple featuring fried tortilla tossed in salsa roja topped with avocado, sour cream, smoked chicken, topped with two over easy eggs).

Of course, no breakfast joint would be complete without biscuits and gravy, for which they painstakingly make the sausages in-house. And the lunch options will surely activate your salivary glands. Enjoy reimaginings of comfort foods such as “Not your Mamma’s Mac & Cheese” and the “Ah Yes Cuba”. Peruse the complete menu here.