Sunshine City Tavern

Service was just perfect! Esmeralda was our server and was as delightful as she was attentive. Our table was visited by Ted, one of the owners. Loved feeling appreciated for our patronage. Smoked turkey was excellent and salad was delicious. We were offered a complimentary cheesecake dessert which was amazing! And martinis, perfect! So happy you are in our neighborhood!

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Sunshine City Tavern with my family, and it was an experience worth sharing! The menu offered a wide variety of unique options and let me tell you, the food was absolutely amazing! We started with a few appetizers, and each one was better than the last. The brisket egg roll and jalapeño poppers were my personal favorites. For my main course, I ordered the ribs, and they were nothing short of outstanding. Since it was one of their first days open, our server kindly offered us a taste of their corned beef, and I can honestly say it was the best corned beef I’ve ever had in my life! It was tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor—definitely a must-try. For dessert, we had the Nutella poppers, which were so delicious that I could’ve easily placed a second to-go order! Chris, our server, was fantastic—super friendly, accommodating, and wonderful with my two kids. He made our experience even better, ensuring we had everything we needed. We loved the food so much that we decided to bring our friends visiting from Austria, and they absolutely enjoyed every dish they tried. One of my new favorites is the turkey ends appetizer—so flavorful! This hidden gem in St. Pete is definitely worth checking out. We live in Seminole, but after this experience, we will certainly be back very soon. Highly recommend!!!

Great spot. Very fresh and clean inside. Server was very attentive. We ordered the burger, cheese steak, and chili along with the poppers to start. We liked it all. Was surprised to learn the fries are done in beef tallow. I will definitely be back. Want to try the new menu that will be done after a couple weeks.

At one point this building was the best BBQ in St Pete (Fred Fleming) and after it closed it was never really anything that was too great….but Sunshine City Tavern IS IT. Great food, perfect service, and very comfortable ambiance. We’ve been here plenty and will be back soon. Those gator bites are so good

This was my 1st time here as the establishment was once BBQ. I was greeted with smiles by two friendly and polite hostesses at the desk around 6.15 pm. The place was packed so I opted for exterior seating. Brian was my server. He was polite and kind to all he served on the outside patio. I asked and was provided a pitcher of water because I am a heavy drinker (of water). The owner or chef offered a sample of the corned beef to each diner which was exquisite. I would highly recommend this restaurant. I hope they succeed. Stephen

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Truly Exceptional Dining Experience We had an incredible experience dining here recently with a party of six adults and a toddler. From the moment we arrived, the service was warm, attentive, and professional. Our server, Sarah, went above and beyond during the busy dinner rush. Even though the kitchen was backed up, she took the time to explain the delay, sincerely apologized, and offered us a complimentary appetizer while we waited. She also made sure our little one was served first—something any parent will appreciate! The food was absolutely fantastic. I haven’t had baby back ribs that tender and flavorful in a long time, and every dish at the table was spot on. To top it off, another staff member noticed our toddler got food on his shirt and kindly offered us a Tide pen—just another example of the thoughtful and attentive service we received throughout the night. It’s rare to find a place that delivers both top-notch food and outstanding service, but this restaurant nailed it. Highly recommend it to anyone looking for a memorable dining experience!

Wonderful dining experience! We sat at the bar and the bartender, Lexi, was amazing. Super friendly& knowledgeable, and helpful with our food selections. The food was DELICIOUS! The brisket egg rolls are incredible, the Tavern Burger was very, very good. Everything had so much flavor. The place is clean and light & bright - great place to hang out - loved the music they had playing. We will definitely go back. The menu is full of things we want to try next. Highly recommend! 👍🏼 Oh - and get the carrot cake for dessert - it’s perfection.

Great place with delicious food! Everyone was very personable, friendly and professional. I went today, Easter Sunday and sat at the bar. The bartender was very friendly and helpful. She recommended the smoked ham in a croissant special and it was excellent. I looked at the menu just to see what else they have and I was impressed. It was filled with common foods, but everything had a twist. All their meats are smoked. Example, they offer a cheesesteak with smoked brisket. Everyone does fried fish, but they do fried catfish. Everyone has burgers, but they also have a lamb burger. It’s like they took everything up a notch. I am looking forward to eating there a lot!

We absolutely LOVE this place! From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted by the sweetest hostesses and treated like family by the amazing servers. The service is always top-notch—your drink never goes empty, and you’re genuinely taken care of every time. The portions are generous, and I never leave without a to-go box. My go-to favorite? The burger with a fried egg—perfection! The pulled pork is insanely good—smoked to just the right level. And the Belle Salad? Always fresh and delicious. Oh, and don’t even get me started on the fish dip with those hot pita chips… chef’s kiss! Let’s go!

Outstanding! Greeted immediately by extremely sweet friendly hostess… entire staff was above and beyond personable, friendly & professional. Our server was wonderful. Owner came by to say hello. I had fresh catch on the arugula salad. Fish was cooked to perfection. Complementary bday desserts (cheesecake and carrot cake - absolutely delicious). It was a bit loud but no big deal. We all agreed that the warm welcoming staff really made it such an enjoyable experience. And of course good food is important but it seems easier to cook good food these days than to find such high quality, happy employees! Highly recommend!! We will be back!

Nickolas Goodrich

At one point this building was the best BBQ in St Pete (Fred Fleming) and after it closed it was never really anything that was too great….but Sunshine City Tavern IS IT. Great food, perfect service, and very comfortable ambiance. We’ve been here plenty and will be back soon. Those gator bites are so good

Sandi Day

Wonderful dining experience! We sat at the bar and the bartender, Lexi, was amazing. Super friendly& knowledgeable, and helpful with our food selections. The food was DELICIOUS! The brisket egg rolls are incredible, the Tavern Burger was very, very good. Everything had so much flavor. The place is clean and light & bright - great place to hang out - loved the music they had playing. We will definitely go back. The menu is full of things we want to try next. Highly recommend! 👍🏼 Oh - and get the carrot cake for dessert - it’s perfection.

Diana Edmonds

We ate there on Friday date night and had the brisket egg rolls for an appetizer and then shrimp and grits and short ribs with cheese grits and green beans oh my it was awesome so we went back Saturday for and early dinner and had pastrami Ruben and the smoked brisket cheesesteak sandwich and it was awesome we also had the bang bang gator and we will be back several more times. Oh yes we had the carrot cake last night. The chef has outdone himself of the dishes we had and can’t wait to go back and try different item on the menu. The wait staff very friendly. 👍👍👍

Keyan Paglialunga

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Truly Exceptional Dining Experience We had an incredible experience dining here recently with a party of six adults and a toddler. From the moment we arrived, the service was warm, attentive, and professional. Our server, Sarah, went above and beyond during the busy dinner rush. Even though the kitchen was backed up, she took the time to explain the delay, sincerely apologized, and offered us a complimentary appetizer while we waited. She also made sure our little one was served first—something any parent will appreciate! The food was absolutely fantastic. I haven’t had baby back ribs that tender and flavorful in a long time, and every dish at the table was spot on. To top it off, another staff member noticed our toddler got food on his shirt and kindly offered us a Tide pen—just another example of the thoughtful and attentive service we received throughout the night. It’s rare to find a place that delivers both top-notch food and outstanding service, but this restaurant nailed it. Highly recommend it to anyone looking for a memorable dining experience!

D L

Best smoked turkey breast I've ever tasted and at a reasonable price for a Large serving. Broccoli was tender and brussel sprouts were good too with real butter. Service also attentive in a clean and friendly atmosphere. Can't wait to try other offerings

Tera Dorr

We absolutely LOVE this place! From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted by the sweetest hostesses and treated like family by the amazing servers. The service is always top-notch—your drink never goes empty, and you’re genuinely taken care of every time. The portions are generous, and I never leave without a to-go box. My go-to favorite? The burger with a fried egg—perfection! The pulled pork is insanely good—smoked to just the right level. And the Belle Salad? Always fresh and delicious. Oh, and don’t even get me started on the fish dip with those hot pita chips… chef’s kiss! Let’s go!

Vicki Weber

First time at Sunshine City Tavern. All our meals were delicious (Braised short ribs, smoked meatloaf and Brisket)! Our server Daphne was personable and efficient! Loved the whole indoor vibe! Just wish they had the multi-color SCT logo on some shirts for sale! We will definitely be back!

Daniel Driscoll

Great spot. Very fresh and clean inside. Server was very attentive. We ordered the burger, cheese steak, and chili along with the poppers to start. We liked it all. Was surprised to learn the fries are done in beef tallow. I will definitely be back. Want to try the new menu that will be done after a couple weeks.

Dennis Haffner

Great place with delicious food! Everyone was very personable, friendly and professional. I went today, Easter Sunday and sat at the bar. The bartender was very friendly and helpful. She recommended the smoked ham in a croissant special and it was excellent. I looked at the menu just to see what else they have and I was impressed. It was filled with common foods, but everything had a twist. All their meats are smoked. Example, they offer a cheesesteak with smoked brisket. Everyone does fried fish, but they do fried catfish. Everyone has burgers, but they also have a lamb burger. It’s like they took everything up a notch. I am looking forward to eating there a lot!

David Moldauer

Came here for the first time last night. Place was crowded and loud, but that's to be expected. Especially when a new place opens. The girls had the barbecued salmon, which both reported was fantastic. They also split some Buffalo Brussels sprouts, also delicious. My buddy and I split the smoked wings and cheese curds and we all tried the Bang Bang alligator. All were amazing. We didn't even bother with the sauces that came with the wings, because they were perfect by themselves. Parking is tight but don't let that fool you, plenty of seating inside and out.

Nikita Moksha

Outstanding! Greeted immediately by extremely sweet friendly hostess… entire staff was above and beyond personable, friendly & professional. Our server was wonderful. Owner came by to say hello. I had fresh catch on the arugula salad. Fish was cooked to perfection. Complementary bday desserts (cheesecake and carrot cake - absolutely delicious). It was a bit loud but no big deal. We all agreed that the warm welcoming staff really made it such an enjoyable experience. And of course good food is important but it seems easier to cook good food these days than to find such high quality, happy employees! Highly recommend!! We will be back!

Update August 7, they have gone out of business Not bad. The ribs were dry but had a great flavor. We made tacos the next day which were awesome. The fish is very good. We went back to try other items, the Ruben is very good but the chicken on the salad is very dry. We’ll be back, hopefully they are just learning the smoker. The flavor is definitely there and the staff are all very nice. Update: no info here or on the website but the sign on the door says they have gone out of business. Bummer.

We stopped in last night after a concert for a couple cocktails, luckily we were able to find a few seats at the bar. We were immediately greeted by Olivia who was friendly and suggested a few appetizers as I was very hungry. The GM Alexis also checked in w/ us as she heard my hesitation about the burnt ends, haha. The brisket eggrolls were a no brainer, slightly cheesy, tender and lightly fried eggroll served w/ a Cajun dip. Yum! She mentioned her favorite dish was the burnt ends and I was hesitant as I’ve had others in the past and always tough, man was I impressed! The smoked turkey burnt ends were outstanding, flavorful and super tender cooked in an Orange Fanta sauce, who knew?! The menu is small, which I prefer to ensure freshness, I do wish there were sides available as I was craving mac and cheese, bet it’s delicious. Not a deal breaker, definitely going to go back soon for dinner and continue to support local peeps.

Tim Cornely

Update August 7, they have gone out of business Not bad. The ribs were dry but had a great flavor. We made tacos the next day which were awesome. The fish is very good. We went back to try other items, the Ruben is very good but the chicken on the salad is very dry. We’ll be back, hopefully they are just learning the smoker. The flavor is definitely there and the staff are all very nice. Update: no info here or on the website but the sign on the door says they have gone out of business. Bummer.

Melanie M

We stopped in last night after a concert for a couple cocktails, luckily we were able to find a few seats at the bar. We were immediately greeted by Olivia who was friendly and suggested a few appetizers as I was very hungry. The GM Alexis also checked in w/ us as she heard my hesitation about the burnt ends, haha. The brisket eggrolls were a no brainer, slightly cheesy, tender and lightly fried eggroll served w/ a Cajun dip. Yum! She mentioned her favorite dish was the burnt ends and I was hesitant as I’ve had others in the past and always tough, man was I impressed! The smoked turkey burnt ends were outstanding, flavorful and super tender cooked in an Orange Fanta sauce, who knew?! The menu is small, which I prefer to ensure freshness, I do wish there were sides available as I was craving mac and cheese, bet it’s delicious. Not a deal breaker, definitely going to go back soon for dinner and continue to support local peeps.

Atmosphere is nice, servers and staff were super friendly. Food on the other hand was not very good. My reuben wasn't bad, meat was super tender. My husband had the pulled pork, BBQ beans and potato salad. He made this horrible face after eating the potato salad. I tried it and it was so sour it was not edible at all. Probably won't be back but just because we did not enjoy the food. Everyone has different tastes, so maybe its good for someone else.

Jessica Waldo

Atmosphere is nice, servers and staff were super friendly. Food on the other hand was not very good. My reuben wasn't bad, meat was super tender. My husband had the pulled pork, BBQ beans and potato salad. He made this horrible face after eating the potato salad. I tried it and it was so sour it was not edible at all. Probably won't be back but just because we did not enjoy the food. Everyone has different tastes, so maybe its good for someone else.

Linda Shamba

We called early in the week to make a reservation and they told us to call back 30 minutes before we arrive to be out in the list. We did just that. The hostess greeted us when we arrived and we gave her our names and told her that we called ahead. She was so very rude and extremely condescending. We waited about 20-25 minutes for our table. There was 6 of us. Our waitress, Ally, on the other hand, couldn’t have been any nicer, polite, & courteous. I would definitely give her Five stars ⭐️! We had fish spread, wings, beef tips?, & salmon. All were very good. It is very close by, convenient on 4th street. Plenty of parking and no traffic like downtown. They have a cute outdoor seating area. I would definitely go back.

Heads up: This is not traditional BBQ place. No real BBQ sauce, it was more like a chilli puree. Keep in mind high prices don't always mean better food. 2 people to eat was $52.63, with tip $62.63. Want Real BBQ? Road side BBQ spots are probably your best bet. Besides the St Pete decor interior to look at and decent service, there is nothing special here. Good luck and happy eating out there.

Cate Caron

This was my first dining experience here— the brisket cheesesteak was delicious the service adequate although the seating and atmosphere is awful! If you aren’t lucky enough to get a booth there are plywood bench seating with no cushions and the chairs are uncomfortable too. Add some screaming kids to the mix and it was hard to converse across the table. At $18 a sandwich I’d like to be comfortable and enjoy the experience—I did not. Parking is minimal so the street is also parked up full.