ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Tucked along Central Avenue, Cheeky’s is St. Pete’s newest seafood spot that doesn’t take itself too seriously, unless you’re talking about the food.
With cheeky branding, colorful cocktails, and a raw bar that hits harder than expected, the waterfront-inspired eatery delivers a casual yet elevated dining experience worth anchoring into.
On a recent visit with my girlfriend, Kiana, we docked ourselves at a blue table in the back and dug into what felt like a mini seafood festival, no boat required.
Talking with the owner Nate, it became clear that Cheeky’s is all about Florida. From the oysters to the fish and even the cocktail ingredients, there’s an intentional focus on sourcing from within the state whenever possible. The IROC oysters, for example, are Florida-raised and served at their peak freshness. Seafood is sourced from trusted regional suppliers.
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Best Oysters on Deck
We kicked things off with a half dozen of the “Best” oysters on the menu: the IROCs from Florida. Served over a mountain of crushed ice with cocktail sauce, lemon, and cucumber apple mignonette. The Mignonette was honesty one of the best things we had all night. We could have drank the stuff. The oysters were small and silky smooth, a noticeable upgrade from the more common Blue Points listed under the “Good” tier. At $24 for six, they’re a splurge, but a justifiable one if you’re an oyster lover.
Cornbread Hush Puppies and Bang-Bang Grouper
Next came the hush puppies, which arrived hot and crisp, with a deep golden crust and soft interior. They came with a guava sauce and a tangy honey butter sauce, sweet, salty, and addictive…