Out of all the Tampa Bay areas, no place witnessed a bigger explosion of new, exciting restaurants in 2020 than St. Petersburg.

We’re not sure why that is, but considering how 2020 was arguably the worst year to open a restaurant in recent memory, this is quite an accomplishment. But it wasn’t just the sheer volume of new establishments, St. Pete saw everything from new tiki bars, chicken-stuffed waffle cone joints, new wing spots, and even a handful of upscale eateries. This isn’t a comprehensive list, but here are a few a new St.Pete restaurants worth keeping on your radar.

The Lure Ono 685 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, (727) 851-9862 Newly opened in December, The Lure Ono is a Hawaiian-inspired grilled cheese and sandwich joint located right on Central Ave, near its sister The Lure. Sandwiches range from $4.50-$9 depending on how elaborate the combination is. The Hayden ($4.50) is made with Kraft singles on white bread and The Krabby Paddy ($9) is made with Maryland crab cake, cheddar and pepper jack. And in true Tampa fashion, the spot has a killer Cuban sando. Photo via The Lure Ono/Facebook
Grand Central Brewhouse 2340 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, (727) 202-6071 Taking the place of Taco Bus is Grand Central Brewhouse, a microbrewery that opened just last week. The brewery has an open-air courtyard and plenty of brews to sip on including a German Pilsner, The Peninsular (5.2% ABV), which is part of a permanent partnership with Tampa Bay Watch called “Beer for the Bay.” Photo via Grand Central Brewhouse/Facebook
Mad Cow Donuts 2232 5th Ave. S, St. St. Petersburg, (727) 440-8040 Mad Cow Donuts is a concept by former police officer and politician David Shane. Mad Cow’s hand-crafted doughnuts are made fresh daily and are delivered throughout the St. Petersburg area seven days a week. The concept’s motto is “made fresh daily with love.” Photo via Mad Cow Donuts/Facebook
On The Fly 4447 4th Street N., St. Petersburg, (727) 325-2973 From popular Tampa Bay restaurant group Ciccio comes On The Fly, a food hall concept containing some of the groups most popular restaurants. Vendors include Sweet Soul, an acai and bowl spot, Fresh Kitchen, a health-conscious build-your-own restaurant, Better Byrd, a chicken-centric concept and Taco Dirty, a Chipotle-esque modern Mexican place. Photo via On The Fly/Instagram
Wild Child Restaurant & Cocktail Bar 2710 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, (727) 954-7425 This bistro and cocktail bar has an incredibly diverse seasonal menu, serving tomato and peach salads alongside “KFC” Korean fried chicken sandwiches. The restaurant also features a covered patio area to help you escape the Florida heat. Photo via Wildchild/Instagram
Burger-ish Bar & Grill 4755 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach, (727) 954-0001 Burger-ish is a Latin-Carribean fusion spot with dishes like loaded burgers, flautas, tostones, coconut shrimp, tacos and nachos. The restaurant serves up burgers like “The Spaniard,” a patty, mojo bacon, pepper jack cheese, habanero aioli, pepper jack cheese, caramelized onions, lettuce, and tomato on a brioche bun, as well as a Cuban sandwich and much more. Photo via Burger-ish Bar & Grill/Facebook
The Urban Stillhouse 2232 5th Ave. S, St. St. Petersburg, (727) 440-8040 The Urban Stillhouse is a 16,000-square-foot restaurant, bar and event space boasting two full-service bars, dinner service on weekdays and brunch on the weekends. Currently, the restaurant is only serving guests with reservations. The menu features elevated classics from Maine lobster to lamb chops to ricotta gnocchi. Photo via The Urban Stillhouse/Facebook
Kipos Mediterranean Cuisine 201 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, (813) 501-5661 Kipos Mediterranean is located in Tampa’s Armature Works and serves fresh Mediterranean fare, with menu items such as gyros, pitas, Greek salads and scratch-made hummus and tzatziki. Photo via Kipos Mediterranian Cuisine/Facebook
Bayboro Brewing Co. 2390 5th Ave. S., St. Petersburg, (727) 767-9666 Bayboro Brewing’s 2,500-square-foot space hosts 20 taps with various bottled brews and a large outdoor beer garden. Additionally, its beer selection is not constrained by limitations like geographic borders. Available beers range from Belgians to IPAs, ciders and mead. Specific blends include the Wicked G’Day, a New England IPA; Bomb A Deer, a strawberry blonde ale; Teufel Hunden, a peanut butter chocolate stout; Prestonweizen, a German hefeweizen and more. Photo via Bayboro Brewing/Facebook
Crislip Cafe 645 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, (727) 954-0117 A new coffee shop and bakery fit for the caffeine-addicted and conscious shopper, Crislip Cafe puts an emphasis on locally-brewed coffee and locally-owned businesses. Guests can try the café’s lavender latte, “Purple Rain,” its activated charcoal latte, “Voodoo Child,” and more, as well as a wine and local craft beer bar set to debut this fall. Photo via Crislip Cafe/Instagram
Tiki Docks Skyway Bar and Grill 3769 50th Ave. S., St. Petersburg, (813) 683-8454 Opened in St. Pete’s Maximo Marina, at the former location of Getaway, Tiki Docks serves a variety of specialty sandwiches, like the Perfect 10 Dockwich and a raw bar, as well as vibrant cocktails served in colorful tiki glasses. Photo via Tiki Docks Skyway Bar and Grill/Facebook
Club 201 201 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, (813) 501-5661 This St. Pete speakeasy highlights a drink menu which includes cocktails, craft beers and CBD-infused drinks as well as a small plate menu and other CBD products like vegan candies. Photo via Club 201/Facebook
Hoots 204 1st Ave N., St. Petersburg, (727) 220-4607 Hoots is a fast casual wing joint from Hooters which describes itself as “a little bit Hooters, a little bit its own thing,” which may refer to the fact there’s no servers in pantyhose, and instead the staff (including men) sport khakis and orange shirts. Like its mother nest, Hoots focuses on wings, tenders, shrimps and boasts 11 different sauces. The new 1,000 square-foot space also includes outdoor seating, and the full menu is available on most delivery apps, as well as for takeout. Photo via Hoots
Red Mesa Quatro 128 3rd St. S., St. Petersburg, (727) 896-8226 Red Mesa Quatro is the currently all-online fourth concept from St. Pete icon Red Mesa Cantina. Quatro’s menu covers a wide swath of culinary territory, featuring everything from classic Cubans, ranch fries, BBQ chicken sandwiches, bacon-wrapped hot dogs, poke bowls and pad thai. Patrons also pick up their orders at Red Mesa Cantina. Once coronavirus cases begin to slow down to a manageable level, Quatro plans to head into an in-person, fast-casual format. Photo via Red Mesa Quatro/Instagram
CellarMasters Wine Bar and Bottle Shop 1005 1st Ave N., St. Petersburg, (727) 289-9889 CellarMasters, a new Edge District spot, offers a robust selection of rotating vinos by the bottle and glass, with a focus on natural wines and beers. The food menu includes locally-sourced cheeses, charcuterie and small plates. Photo via CellarMasters/Facebook
Sunshine Kitty Catfe 1669 1st Ave S., St. Petersburg The cat cafe allows guests to enjoy locally sourced drinks and eats in the company of adoptable cats acquired from Friends of Strays Animal Shelter. As of now, the catfe is operating at a limited capacity and is only offering reservations. Guests are also required to wear masks. Photo via Sunshine Kitty Catfe/Facebook
St. Pete Meat & Provisions 449 Central Ave., St.Petersburg, (727) 350-4721 Sharing a space with Greenstock, the butcher shop allows customers to order butcher shop essentials like beef, poultry, pork, lamb and veal from their phone and pick it up in store. Customers can also be on the lookout for weekly butch cut specials like lamb sausage, chimichurri marinated skirt steak, and Brussel sprout kimchi. Photo via St. Pete Meat & Provisions/Facebook
Fo’Cheezy Twisted Meltz 6305 Gulf Blvd., St. Petersburg, 727-498?-3205 The brick-and-mortar extension of celebrity chef Robert Hesse’s St. Pete food truck, Fo’Cheezy is chock-full of delectable comfort food, with over a dozen different cheesy melts to choose from. There’s also a handful of delicious shakes to choose from, including the Go Shorty. Photo via Fo’ Cheezy/Facebook
Pinoy 1113 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, (727) 281-0072 This recently opened Filipino restaurant in St. Petersburg offers traditional Filipino dishes as well as drinks like buko juice, which is coconut milk made with young coconut meat. For vegan patrons, Pinoy offers dishes like vegetable lumpia, curry and pancit made up of stir-fried rice noodles, carrot, celery, green beans, onion and cabbage. Photo via Pinoy/Facebook
BurgerFi 875 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, (727) 502-3411 The latest in the area, a BurgerFi just opened up in St. Pete. Burgers are, of course, the star of the menu. BurgerFi has 10 different ones to choose from including the Breakfast All Day Burger—Angus beef, bacon, American cheese, maple syrup, fried egg, hash brown, grilled onions and ketchup. The spot also has vegan burgers, chicken sandwiches and shakes. Photo via BurgerFi/Facebook
Sea Worthy Fish+Bar 1110 Pinellas Bayway S, St. Petersburg, (727) 623-0468 Overlooking the waterfront, Sea Worthy Fish+Bar offers a delicious selection of craft cocktails, brews and wine, as well as ceviche and other seafood dishes. Photo via Sea Worthy Fish+Bar/Facebook
Chick’nCone 425 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, (727) 350-4347 It’s delicious chicken overflowing out of waffle cones, right in St. Petersburg. What else is there to say? Photo via Photo via Chick’nCone
Anju 2827 16th St. N., St. Petersburg, (727) 289-8568 This location is a spin-off of the original Tampa Bay Anju food truck. Diners can expect Anju classics like egg rolls, Korean fried chicken wings, loaded tots, bowls, and kimchi. As well as new additions like buns and dumplings. Photo via Anju/Facebook
Southern Exposure Pub & Grub 326 1st Ave. N, St. Petersburg, (727) 399-1344 Seemingly out of nowhere, Southern Exposure popped up in St. Pete. The resto’s limited menu includes entrees like baby back ribs, Louisiana gumbo, chicken and waffles, southern pulled pork, chicken tenders, meatloaf and smoked penne. They also have tons of great deals for fire, police, first responders, military and hospital staff with ID and a daily early bird drink special. Photo via Southern Exposure Pub & Grub/Facebook
Whiskey Exchange 540 Central Ave., St. Petersburg One of the strangest bars in St. Pete, newcomer Whiskey Exchange is a stock market-themed spot. The place offers a variety of whiskeys and cocktails that change price depending on supply and demand that night. Daily specials include Monday Service Industry Night from 7 p.m. to close, $5 Smoked Old Fashioned Tuesdays, and W.A.P. Wednesdays with half off charcuterie. Photo via Whiskey Exchange/Facebook
Sprinkles Ice Cream 6870 Gulf Blvd, St. Pete Beach, (727) 290-6804 Perfect for a Tampa Bay winter, Sprinkles Ice Cream is now serving cold treats and desserts on St. Pete Beach. The spot offers tons of flavors including birthday cake and rum raisin, and even has dairy-free options. All the ice cream is small batch made in creamery called Big Olaf. Photo via Sprinkles Ice Cream/Facebook