5 Best Southern Restaurants near St. Petersburg

“Wonderfully friendly staff. They made it easy when I didn’t really see what I wanted on the menu by accepting custom orders. Delicious biscuits; butting extra to take back to Airbnb for the morning. I truly believe it when they say they are mission-driven.“

“I just wanted to take a moment to shout out Phil, who took care of us yesterday (6/5/2025) at Chicken Salad Chick on 4th Street North in St. Petersburg. We came in right at closing, and not once did he make us feel rushed or like an inconvenience. Phil was incredibly attentive, welcoming, and had such a positive, upbeat spirit that honestly made our whole evening.

Even though it was the end of the day, he took the time to walk us through the menu, explain what was still available, and even gave us helpful tips on how to make our order better for next time when we aren’t so last minute. He truly went above and beyond to accommodate us, and it meant a lot.

It’s rare to come across service like that these days someone who genuinely enjoys what they do and makes guests feel valued. Phil was informative, friendly, and just a breath of fresh air. I had such a good experience, and it’s people like him who make you want to come back.

Thank you, Phil, for ending our day on such a high note. We’ll definitely be back!“

“Breakfast last Sunday was exceptionally good and service was great as usual!“

“Best chicken livers and fried green tomatoes ever. Can't wait to get back!“

“Definitely recommend Bernie's, I'm 39 yrs old and been eating Bernie's since I was a young lad spending the weekend at my aunt's in St Pete. Even now me and my wife drive from Bradenton just to get a plate. Being a cook myself I recognize good food and they got it“