5 Coming Soon Pinellas County Restaurants [Feb. 8, 2026]

Over the course of last month, Business Debut spoke with 5 new restaurant owners to get the details of their plans. Two of these businesses have since opened, and the other three are making strides.

Read the full report linked beneath each blurb.

Jackson’s — St. Petersburg

Address: 1700 34th St. S, St. Petersburg, FL 33711

Status: Targeting a February opening; permitting with the city is in final stages.

What to expect: Full-service gastropub with a full liquor bar; ~120 indoor seats across ~4,000 sq. ft.; no patio; no smoking on property.

Menu highlights: American regional cooking—Southern soul food, Cajun-inspired plates, and familiar gastropub fare. Executive chef is Sean Ford.

Hours: Daily service starting ~4:30 p.m.; earlier opens on weekends for brunch and sports; projected closings 10–11 p.m.

Who’s behind it: Local restaurateur Dan Soronen with his wife Aisha Jackson; past projects include Old Northeast Tavern, Shackleton’s Folly, and Brew Burgers. Southern/Louisiana influence guided by Aisha’s Baton Rouge roots.

Source: New Full-Service Gastropub Opening in St. Petersburg

Say Coffee House — St. Petersburg

Address: 2414 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33712

Status: Aiming for March or April 2026.

What to expect: Fast-casual Vietnamese specialty coffee bar; ~20–24 seats inside plus ~15 outside; industrial interior and a patio with “Vietnam street coffee” vibes.

Menu highlights: Modernized traditional Vietnamese coffee—egg coffee, ube coffee, sea-salt coffee—plus ceremonial matcha, refreshers, and twisted tea drinks (e.g., lychee green tea, jasmine milk tea latte). House-made croffles are in R&D, with basic pastries, bagels, and croissants.

Hours: Planned daily 8 a.m.–4 p.m.

Who’s behind it: Owners Haley Huynh and Huy Ho; key ingredients imported from Asia (Vietnamese coffee, Japanese matcha, teas sourced in Asia).

Source: Vietnamese Specialty Coffee Shop Coming to St. Petersburg

The Bearded Turtle — Tarpon Springs

Address: 847 Roosevelt Blvd, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689

Status: Now open!

What to expect: Flexible full-service setup near the Sponge Docks: indoor bistro, poolside patio bar, and outdoor deck; swimwear welcome outdoors; ~75–100 seats inside and ~100 outside.

Menu highlights: Florida seafood focus with local sourcing; grouper dishes and sandwich, steak bites, rotating catches, plus chef’s short rib ragù over flat egg noodles. Elevated-but-approachable upstairs bistro.

Hours: About 11 a.m.–11 p.m., five or six days weekly (TBA).

Who’s behind it: Owner Richard Landreman; kitchen led by Executive Chef Brian Healy. F&B program by Eleni Tsitsongas. Brand features a story-driven mascot, Captain Shadow.

Source: Indoor / Outdoor Dining From Local Chef Coming to Tarpon Springs

Lazy Crave — Palm Harbor

Address: 2706 US-19 ALT, Unit 107, Palm Harbor, FL 34683

Status: Targeting mid-February for first brick-and-mortar; food truck continues.

What to expect: Family-friendly counter service with ~20–40 seats and a toddler play area. Chill, sloth-mascot vibes.

Menu highlights: Soft-serve and hand-scooped ice cream, Belgian waffles, NY-style bagels (imported from New York), full coffee program. Hits include the coffee shake (soft-serve + cold brew), ice cream tacos, and ice cream nachos with house waffle-cone shells. Local suppliers for ice cream; rotating seasonal flavors.

Hours: Mon–Thu 7 a.m.–9 p.m.; Fri–Sat 7 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sun 8 a.m.–9 p.m. Holiday hours TBA.

Who’s behind it: Owner Tanya Pinette grew the brand from a December 2024 food truck; truck remains active for events across Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco.

Source: Local Food Truck Opening Brick and Mortar in Palm Harbor, FL

Hibachi Express — St. Petersburg

Address: 3605 49th St. N, St. Petersburg, FL 33710

Status: Now open!

What to expect: Fast-casual hibachi and sushi with counter service; eight tables; ~32–35 indoor seats; value-focused for quick dine-in or takeout.

Menu highlights: Daily lunch specials (10:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.) with hibachi chicken/steak/shrimp or two-roll sushi, drink included. Dinner upsizes hibachi and offers a three-roll sushi dinner with drink. Sides include fried rice, Japanese rice, yakisoba, udon; apps like spring rolls and tempura shrimp.

Hours: Mon–Thu 10:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m.; Fri–Sat 10:30 a.m.–10:30 p.m.; Sun 11:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m.

Who’s behind it: Owner Jason Huang. Grand opening promo: first three days, first 300 customers receive prize envelopes (free food items and multiple iPad giveaways daily).

Source: Hibachi Restaurant Opening in St. Petersburg, FL With an iPad Giveaway