Downtown St. Pete isn't just getting one self-serve beer wall. There's a second, part of the coming-soon Oak & Stone, on the horizon next to the new Hyatt Place at 199 Central Ave.
With an opening slated for early 2018, Oak & Stone plans to feature a menu of signature wood-fired pizza and other chef-inspired fare, alongside more than 60 rotating, pour-'em-yourself drafts (Pour Taproom, announced on Second Avenue North back in August, will offer 85 self-serve taps sometime in fall). The emphasis is on American craft beer, St. Pete breweries and regional favorites.
To get a beer, each guest has a wristband embedded with radio-frequency technology, which permits a total of 40 ounces per person and allows the cicerone-certified beer servers to see who's pouring what — and how much — to calculate a tab. Patrons who reach the pour limit during their stay must see a hostess to load additional ounces.
Inside, expect a 6,000-square-foot, 300-seat dining room that mingles with an open-air kitchen, big-screen TVs, billiards and a full bar, where select wines, cocktails and a notable whiskey menu are on hand. The 3,000-square-foot outdoor deck (which, TBH, kinda looks more International Plaza than downtown St. Pete from the rendering above, but I digress) can further accommodate dining, plus fire-pit lounging and games of cornhole.
Triple-filtered water gives Oak & Stone's artisanal pies — featured in builds like the classic sausage and meatball and the one-of-a-kind rotisserie chicken (garlic, spinach, goat cheese, pine nuts) — their distinct crust, center and flavor. A build-your-own option even accompanies non-pizza items, including stone-fired meatloaf with Guinness gravy and pretzel-crusted tuna sashimi.
Managing partners Joe Seidensticker and Brett Decklever are behind the St. Pete tavern, which launched a location in the Sarasota area last year.
This article appears in Oct 26 – Nov 2, 2017.