Credit: Sarah Maingot c/o Cheeky's
Cheeky’s Fish & Raw Bar, the latest addition to St. Petersburg’s Central Avenue dining scene, will officially open its doors on Wednesday, May 7.

The restaurant is the latest project from Tampa native Nate Siegel, co-founder of Tampa’s Willa’s and Willa’s Provisions.

The menu will feature fresh seafood from local and Gulf waters, including oysters from Florida and the East Coast, Maine lobster rolls, New Orleans-style po-boys, smoked fish dip, chowder, burgers, salads, and daily specials.

Cheeky’s oyster program will serve raw, grilled, and fried oysters sourced from farms like Indian River Oyster Company in New Smyrna Beach, Lost Coast Oysters in Tampa Bay, and out-of-state suppliers such as Blue Point in Long Island and Katama Bay in Massachusetts.

Here’s the opening day menu:

Executive Chef Philip Cleary, who previously worked in kitchens in Omaha and more recently at Willa’s and On Swann in Tampa, will lead the kitchen drawing inspiration from his background in fine dining.

The bar program, developed by consultant Jacob Ceciro, will offer classic cocktails, natural wines, local beers, Guinness on tap, and spirit-free options. Frozen drinks such as banana daiquiris and espresso martinis made with coffee from Tampa’s Look Alive roastery will also be on the menu, alongside cocktails on draft including mojitos, palomas, and strawberry negronis.

The design of Cheeky’s draws inspiration from New England oyster bars and Southern fish shacks, offering a mix of indoor banquettes, a 20-seat horseshoe-shaped bar, and an outdoor patio along Central Avenue.

The restaurant will initially open for dinner service only, with plans to add weekday lunch, weekend brunch, happy hour, and live music over time. For now, Cheeky’s will welcome walk-ins and offer reservations through Resy.

UPDATE 4/29/25 Cheeky’s name and menu focus changed from “a fish & chicken shack” to “seafood restaurant and raw bar” after its initial announcement. Mentions of fried chicken have been removed from the headline.

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This article appears in Apr 24-30, 2025.

Sofía García Vargas, born in Colombia, South America and raised in Costa Rica, Central America, is a journalism student at the University of South Florida and Editor-in-Chief of The Crow’s Nest, USF...