On the Menu: Vegan bakery and pizza parlor to debut

Here are some of the latest restaurants (and more) to open in St. Petersburg, and others that will debut soon: 

New pizza and beer location to open on Central

Central Avenue is getting a new addition. 

Pizza N’ Brew, which currently operates at Siesta Key and Sarasota, will open at the old Caddy’s site at 231 Central Ave. 

Pizza N’ Brew. Facebook image.

The New York-style pizzeria is known for its homemade marinara sauce and its signature pizza dough recipe that the Segreti family has used for four generations. It will also serve craft beer. 

The restaurant’s Facebook page says the new location is coming soon, but it does not state the exact opening date. 

Butcher shop to open this month

Butcher’s Mark, a butcher shop that debuted in Bradenton, will open at 2436 4th St. N. June 29. 

Butcher’s Mark has over 21 flavors of marinated meats, hand-cut steaks, Italian sausage, gourmet brisket burgers, New York Strip, Australian Wagyu, Japanese Kobe Beef and more. Its marinades are also diverse ranging from spicy mango to sweet bourbon and Korean BBQ. 

Butcher’s Mark. Facebook image.

It will also serve charcuterie boards through Daniele Inc.

The butcher shop also plans to open a location in Sarasota and Odessa, according to its website. 

Bonu’ Taverna takes over Cider Press Cafe space

Earlier this month, Bonu’ Taverna held a soft opening in the space formerly occupied by the popular Cider Press Cafe. 

Bonu’ Taverna, located at 601 Central Ave., is an Italian restaurant with a wide wine selection.  

Bonu’ Taverna’s chefs. Facebook image.

Its appetizers include calamari, polpo, grilled octopus, and crispy riso carnaroli rice balls made with saffron peas and mozzarella. 

Typical pasta dishes can also be found on the menu such as gnocchi, ravioli and lasagne. On Instagram and Facebook, the restaurant also shows images of its charcuterie boards. 

For dessert, it offers tiramisu, cannolis and gelato. 

Where’s Jubes opens 

The long-anticipated Australian brew pub has officially opened. 

Where’s Jubes Aussie Brewpub and Grill, a concept created by Australian native Josh Cameron, opened at 277 Central Ave.

The corner space was the site of the shuttered Lucky Dill Deli. 

The Lucky Dill Deli location at 277 Central Ave. Photo by Veronica Brezina.

“I’ve always envisioned it as an Australian brewpub. In Australia, we have pubs on the corners of blocks and people would walk from block to block,” Cameron previously told the St. Pete Catalyst, reminiscing about his days in Australia. “There would be a bar on the ground level and a hotel on the top, and the Lucky Dill location used to be a hotel with communal spaces – it’s so iconic.”

Cameron, Principal of Crafty Hospitality, also owns The Oyster Bar in downtown and the Crafty Squirrel, the site of the old Fortunato’s.

Cameron purchased the 1,600-square-foot space inside the 100-year-old building in 2018 for roughly $350,000.

 The beers are named after “silly” Australian towns and landmarks such as Mount Meharry, which is the highest mountain in Western Australia, or Pleasure Point, a small suburb in southwestern Sydney.

New restaurant to debut in Station House

The creator behind Park and Rec, No Vacancy, Dirty Laundry and The Avenue concepts will open a new Asian fusion restaurant in the Station House co-working hub in St. Petersburg. 

Stephen Schrutt, founder of the St. Petersburg-based Hunger Thirst Group, plans to open Golden Fortune this summer in the former 6,000-square-foot restaurant space that went dark during the pandemic. 

Good Fortune will feature a 12-person sushi bar, a 14-seat bar and an upscale cocktail lounge. There will also be a private karaoke room, which can be rented by the hour. 

A specialty cocktail drink that will be served at Golden Fortune. Photo courtesy of Stephen Schrutt.

“I’ve wanted to do this for the past 12 years,” Schrutt said in an interview with the St. Pete Catalyst, stating how the longtime vision didn’t become a reality until now due to timing and other concepts coming to the forefront. “I have a love for Asian fusion and the different styles – Korean, Thai, Chinese.”

The menu items, which are still in development, will include coconut ube layer cake, special cocktails and dumplings. 

HaleLife Bakery to open a vegan bistro

HaleLife Bakery will open its new bakery in the Warehouse Arts District at 2460 5th Ave. S.

The HaleLife Bakery will open the new St. Pete location this summer, which will be its very first gluten-free and vegan bistro in Tampa Bay. 

A mermaid-themed doughnut from HaleLife Bakery. Facebook image.

“We’ve dreamed of a place like this since we moved to Tampa Bay in 2012,” HaleLife said in its announcement. “10 years later we couldn’t be more excited to create this foodie oasis ourselves.”

The bakery will serve doughnuts other baked goods, and will also serve gluten-free drinks.