When local seafood spot Cheeky’s made its debut in St. Pete’s Grand Central District earlier this summer, many locals were shocked that the Central Avenue eatery did not have an air conditioned dining room.
While the open-air restaurant boasted a beachy ambiance with several high-powered fans to keep it as cool as possible in the sweltering summer heat, Cheeky’s recently acquired air conditioning to the delight of regular and future customers alike.
The restaurant at 2823 Central Ave. recently took to social media to announce its latest addition: “We heard you, and we did something about it.”
“The cool air experience is even colder than the ice cold martinis and raw oysters served on ice—we’re even getting guest complaints about it being too cold!” Cheeky’s owner Nate Siegel tells Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “We did it really for our team members to make it a better work environment, and of course for an improved guest experience.”
And when the weather cools down this fall, he’ll turn off the restaurant’s newly-added A/C and return to its breezy, open-air dining room.
The raw bar and seafood shack offers a range of familiar Florida favorites like smoked fish dip, hush puppies and blackened grouper cheeks in addition to New England-inspired fare like lobster rolls.
Alongside its raw offerings of oysters, shrimp cocktail and seafood towers and cooked dishes like fish tacos, grouper cheeks, fried seafood baskets and po’boys, Cheeky’s also offers a stacked beverage program of frozen cocktails, martinis, craft cocktails, oyster shooters, beer and wine.
Siegel is also the co-owner of Tampa restaurant Willa’s, known for its classic New American fare and accompanying cafe, Willa’s Provisions. Cheeky’s is his first solo endeavour.
Follow the neighborhood seafood joint on Instagram at @cheekys_net for the latest updates on its menu, events and more. Cheeky’s recently launched a trivia night on Thursdays, live music on Wednesday nights, weekend brunch and a happy hour that happens every day of service from 3 p.m.-6 p.m.
The raw bar and seafood restaurant is now open from 3 p.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 3 p.m.-9:30 p.m. on Fridays, noon-9:30 p.m. on Saturdays, noon-8p.m. on Sundays.
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