North Florida

17 King American Bistro Opening in St. Augustine

The new restaurant will grand open on May 1st.

Pictures courtesy of 17 King American Bistro.

ST. AUGUSTINE, FL — 17 King American Bistro is planning its grand opening celebration on May 1 at 17 King Street in downtown St. Augustine, FL 32084, after first opening in mid-December under the name Harvest. Owner Gary McGeddy told Business Debut the restaurant is now being rebranded as 17 King American Bistro as he refines the concept around wine, dining, and live music.

Business Debut learned of this story first from What Now.

What to Expect

McGeddy told Business Debut the restaurant offers an upscale casual setting with seating for about 85 guests, plus a large bar with roughly 25 to 30 seats. He described the space as warm and welcoming, with wood beams, wood-look tile flooring, updated wall finishes, and a soft amber glow.

The concept is centered on lunch, dinner, brunch, and a stronger wine focus than before. McGeddy told Business Debut the restaurant includes a 1,000-bottle wine room and plans for a wine tasting experience near the front of the restaurant. In the evenings, that area will shift into a 12-seat high-top experience called The King’s Table.

Live music is already part of the format nightly, though McGeddy said the goal is to keep it as background entertainment rather than make the restaurant feel like a music venue.

Pictures courtesy of 17 King American Bistro.

McGeddy told Business Debut the menu is built around approachable American bistro fare with a more elevated feel at dinner. Lunch includes sandwiches, salads, and appetizers, while dinner leans further into entree-driven dining.

Among the items he said guests have responded to most are the smoked fish dip and meatballs. Other standouts he shared with Business Debut include the smash burger, cheesesteak, turkey sandwich, Harvest salad, salmon, filet, duck pappardelle, grilled pork chop, and a 14-ounce ribeye.

McGeddy told Business Debut he wants the restaurant to feel polished but still accessible in a walkable downtown setting. He also credited Stephen Hutson, owner of Catch 27, as a mentor who has helped him as he got started in the restaurant business.

Community Focus and La Casa Studios

McGeddy told Business Debut he is also behind La Casa Studios at 33 King Street, located a few doors down from the restaurant. The space includes a local artisan retail shop, art gallery, podcast studio, coworking area, and event space, with a focus on bringing more activity to the downtown square.

He shared with Business Debut that the two businesses are designed to complement one another. 17 King can cater events at La Casa Studios, and some of the artwork displayed at La Casa Studios is also being shown inside the restaurant. McGeddy said both businesses are meant to create more reasons for locals and families to spend time around the square.

Pictures courtesy of La Casa Studios featuring La Casa Studios.

Opening Timeline

The restaurant has been operating since mid-December, but McGeddy told Business Debut the official grand opening celebration for 17 King American Bistro is set for May 1.