The Avenue
St. petersburg, FL
***Disclaimer*** After the meal pictured below, I went back to the Avenue for 3 days straight. I would just like to open with that. Stephen Schrutt Owner+Operator & Ryan Kelly the Chef, have a good thing going at 330 1st Ave S. The Avenue specializes in burgers, but also innovative Mac n' Cheese, sandwiches, salads, drinks, and crazy app's(**See photo below for bacon with chocolate and beer dip). I have always had to wait for a table at The Avenue. It has ALWAYS been worth it. I love the atmosphere, all dark wood, open air, back lit bars, and a flat screen in the ladies bathroom. The burger you see here is topped with brie cheese and fresh locally grown beets & spinach. That yellow bowl to the left is filled with BBQ mac n' cheese which I kind of forced Harrison to get because I wanted to try it. Once again, always worth it.
Kings street food counter
St. petersburg, fl
I had always seen an out-the-door line at King's while biking to and from work. Also owned by Schrutt and Kelly of The Avenue, King's is a little less formal + little more quick + little more Instagram worthy joint specializing in hot dogs, poutine (french fries with...stuff), milkshakes, and beer. Even though we dined in at the 50's style counter, the food was served in the take-away box pictured here. *King's is a tiny establishment and they encourage take-out meals. All of the hot dogs have campy names and crazy toppings, as a relatively safe eater, I went with the jalapeno and blue cheese dog with fries. ***I am surprised I can't remember the name because my dad loved saying every.single.one.of.them. out loud and with gusto.*** I DO in fact recall the name of the milkshake I had *not pictured, sometimes you just have to enjoy* it was the Elvis (PB, banana, bacon). By the time we were done, my pants felt very tight, well tighter than usual haha.
Me in front of a hot dog mural in the courtyard/bar area of King's, wearing my "witch hat" as my boyfriend calls it from MisRead Outfitters...KEEP ST. PETE LOCAL!!!