A rock-and-blues barbecue joint is coming along in St. Pete Beach.
In the former home of Chill, The Pit, which kicked off construction back in November, has blues, beer, bourbon and barbecue planned for 7400 Gulf Blvd. According to the restaurant's website, pit-smoked meats and house-made ingredients are its specialties.
The Pit, opening sometime this year, will also feature craft cocktails alongside a mix of local and national live music.
• In Pasco, the long-awaited Zephyrhills Brewing Company has set its grand opening date for Oct. 15 at noon.
The city's first craft brewery and tasting room, featuring a two-barrel automated brewhouse downtown at 38530 Fifth Ave., will offer beer and sodas made on-site, plus a selection of bottled brews, cider and wine. The Abbott Station blonde ale, hoppy Hook Turn Pale Ale, Irish Drop Zone Double Red and sweet Dean Dairy Stout are included on the beer lineup.
Once the opening gets closer, more details on food trucks will be announced; check the brewery's Facebook event for updates.
• Rico's Acai, a new food trailer, is now serving the downtown Tampa community at 411 N. Florida Ave. Here, diners will find a range of acai bowls (Brazilian smoothie-like creations that are eaten with a spoon), with toppings such as fruit, peanut butter, chia seeds and sliced almonds, from owner and operator Marie Williams. Rico's Acai started in Charlotte, North Carolina's Uptown area.
• A neighborhood favorite is slated to join Seminole Heights's selection of something-for-everyone diners: Trip's. The restaurant, whose flagship launched in St. Petersburg four years ago, has a "coming soon" banner covering the San Carlos Tavern's old signage at 6416 N. Florida Ave. Trip's Diner is slated to open this third location (the second is in Seminole) toward the end of the year.
The Wine Bar Seminole Heights is also close to breaking ground at 6428 N. Florida Ave. The bar's set to carry quality, affordable wines and local craft beer that are thoughtfully curated. Food-wise, the menu's described as "casual yet inspired."
• St. Petersburg recently gained a fresh place for sweets through The Sugar Shack. With products from Florida purveyors like Le' Ann's Cheesecakes 'N More and Kermit's Key West Key Lime Shoppe, the island-themed Shack is a small dessert shop that supports shopping small. It's carried dreamy ready-to-eat items like chocolate-dipped key lime pie on a stick and Working Cow ice cream at 177 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N. since last month.
Nearby, Old Chicago Pizza will arrive at 199 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N. with two iconic Windy City pizza styles in November. The pizzeria aims to transport Chicago natives — and eaters unfamiliar with authentic deep-dish pizza or wood-fired, tavern-style pies — back home through its food. Seven hot and cold subs, fresh salads with house-made dressing and beer (imported, domestic and specialty) will be on hand, too.
Thirsty First, also in St. Pete, has risen downtown where Alvin'S Lounge used to be. Opened Aug. 22, the American bar at 119 First Ave. N., whose tagline is "Come Thirsty, Leave Tipsy," is a mix of sports bar and Prohibition-inspired lounge. A crowd-pleasing variety of starters, salads, sandwiches and desserts are showcased, as well as specialty cocktails, theme nights and brunch between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
This article appears in Sep 15-22, 2016.