Stillwaters Tavern

Stillwater’s presents itself as very contemporary dining establishment so I had high expectations when entering the establishment. The atmosphere was fine but the first hint that this might not be the best dining experience was when our server, after taking our drink and dinner order, came to the table and placed a small container of milk or creamer and what looked like a small bottle of vinegar and oil. We had ordered Bailey’s and coffee so I thought the milk might be for the coffee but had no idea of what the vinegar and oil would be for since no one at the table had ordered a salad. I ordered the Mussels which were prepared with a beer and bratwurst sausage sauce. This I thought was an unusual combination but it sounded interesting. The others at the table ordered trout which came with a potato salad and cabbage, yet another unusual combination. I understand that everyone’s taste is different but the executive chef of this place just hasn’t got it together at all. Being different is fine but the plates should make some sense. Example, the hot cooked trout was stacked on top of a cold odd tasting potato salad and the cabbage was semi wilted with another unusual flavor. Not a good combination on many different levels. Everyone at the table enjoyed the trout but the sides were horrible. The mussels were different tasting and not my favorite but I was willing to attribute that to individual taste. The broth had a slight beer and bratwurst flavor which was unique but the mussels were served with french fries and no bread of any kind. I asked the server for bread and she told me that they don’t serve bread except on sandwiches. If I wanted bread it would be an up charge and it would just be sandwich bread, I said fine. Ten minutes later the bread had still not come, try dunking a french fry into broth, so I told her to forget it. The manager was nice about the matter and removed this meal from our bill. The final straw for me was as we were getting ready to leave the server came by and we asked what the oil and vinegar that came out with the milk was for. She said, «‘Oh one is a simple syrup we make here and the other is a brown sugar syrup we make, both are for your coffee. She then when on to say, «I guess I should have told you.» Bad food and a server that acted like we didn’t matter made this establishment go to the top of my «Do Not Eat There» list. Truly overpriced and a tourist trap in my opinion.

Met my folks here from out of town for lunch. Dad had the Salmon Pastrami Ruben and said it was ok but wouldn’t ever order it again but was happy to try something different. It was a thin sandwich but was toasted nicely. I had a burger and it didn’t taste like much. The best part of the meal was the pork belly sticky buns. Very tasty!

My mother and I went here after a visit to the Dali Museum. I hadn’t explored St. Pete in some time and the street this restaurant is on is right near the pier and has all sorts of restaurants around and looks very new and updated. I was really excited to try this place driving up as it has a great patio surrounding the sidewalk — VERY spacious.
It was a breezy day, so we sat in one of the booths across the bar. The décor is a bit industrial, with Edison bulbs and little desk lamps lining the bar. I imagine the open beam ceiling wouldn’t help the acoustics, especially when/​if it gets loud at night (it seems like a great, late-​night spot!), but it was perfect for a late lunch.
My mother started off with a pint of the Florida Cracker beer, and I wish I had as well. It was described as a Belgian wit-​esque type of beer, and I got it in my beer flight, and it was amazing — I wish I had gotten an entire pint of it. With around 15 – 20 beers on tap and the option of doing a beer flight, I went with that. What’s neat is that you get this wooden flight set up where, in the middle, you get a small glass of free beer nuts (which had some spices roasted on them and were DELISH), and you get to write down your 4 beer choices on the chalkboard that makes up one side of the wooden beer flight panel. Our server gave us a chalk pen, and I wrote down what I wanted. It was easy, fun, and best of all: I didn’t have to remember where the server told me each beer was on the flight. I selected some local Florida beers in addition to the Cracker — an amber, an IPA, and a Hefeweizen, but definitely try the Florida Cracker if they still have it on tap. I’m still dreaming about it.
For an appetizer, we ordered their smoked trout dip with homemade saltine crackers. I imagine it’s hard to go wrong with smoked trout — I’ve had smoked trout dip many times before — and this was just as delicious. It was a good way to start out with beer & beer nuts. For lunch, my mother had their lunch special — a fish sandwich of some sort (I think Mahi Mahi), which was delicious, but more importantly, their fries. I know fries are sometimes just fries, but their fries are GREAT. The only leftovers we had from this lunch were their fries, and yes, we got a to-​go box just to take them home and bake them later with dinner. So great. I had a kale & romaine Caesar salad, which had sourdough croutons (yum!) and a supposed harrisa Caesar dressing, though I didn’t taste much harrisa. Regardless, it was filling and delicious.
The only downside was our server disappeared after our lunch came — she didn’t come out to check on us after another person ran our food out. The fish sandwich was massive, so I actually had to get up and go to the bar to flag someone down to grab us a steak knife. A little bit of a bummer considering I saw our server turned away chatting with a colleague — I was a little turned off by this, but overall, our food was delicious, the beers were great, and our server was really friendly, so I’d definitely recommend checking this place out! And get the Florida Cracker if you’re a fan of Belgian or wheat beers!

Ate here with a large party (15) on Sunday night. It was my third time here and I have always thought the food was good (not bad but also never has blown my socks off). In the past, I’ve really enjoyed the chicken sandwich but the french onion soup was a big miss for me. This most recent time, I got the burger, add bacon. The burger was very tasty and so was the bacon but while the bacon had a nice sweet taste to it, it was very chewy. I personally don’t care for chewy bacon, I prefer it to be crispy.
My biggest issue on my most recent visit was the service. Don’t get me wrong, the staff is always very friendly here but I’m not sure they are very attentive; the service was VERY slow. I don’t think it was my own perception either, the large party I was with felt the same way. Everyone at our table was looking for more drinks, too. I feel the restaurant could have earned a few more dollars that night because myself and others constantly found ourselves waiting 15 – 20 minutes to order our next drink.
I have wanted to love this place for a while but I cannot find myself currently recommending this restaurant to others as a top choice. It’s a shame because I love the concept and ambiance of the restaurant. They just have a lot of room for improvement. I plan on returning in the future as I have faith that they certainly will.

we chose stillwaters today for lunch after reviewing all the menus on the street — glad we did. Unique touches, like :
large bottle of water delivered after you sit down,
liquid raw and refined sugar for coffee,
red cabbage garnish and melted cheese curd for the best chicken breast sandwich ever ($ 10!),
awesome shrimp and grits,
crispy, salty fries,
thick yummy clam chowder,
unique plates and dishes,
comfy booths,
a wonderful server named Chistrian.
I will definitely bring visiting guests here.

It was delicious! One of the best dinner sites downtown. Average American options but with class. Went in November and i forgot to Unilocal.Went last night again! My cousin and friend told me how delicious the filet mignon was, and so I had to try it this time! I asked for it to be cooked medium, but they gave me rare :/​. It surprisingly turned out tasty like other viewers. My friend ordered the shrimp and grits. That was delicious too. Our dates ordered the fish, that was great too. So everything turned out great and it’s rare i give five stars. :D

I feel like I have to give 3 stars based on the fact that it seemed like there was just something missing from each component of our plates that made it less than stellar. The atmosphere was nice but super loud. I enjoy a nice lively place but we found ourselves yelling to speak across the table. It was busy which is a great sign and I’m sure there is lots to like about this restaurant, maybe we just came on an off day. The ingredients were most definitely fresh. They don’t offer ranch or many of the other standard dressings, not a deal breaker, just an observation. Again, not a bad meal just with so many other restaurant options available I may try somewhere else before returning.

Made a random trip to St. Pete to go to Hooker Tea Co. and then we all started craving fries… Needless to say we started out hunt and ended up at Stillwaters. I literally walked in and was greeted by one of the hosts and I blatantly flat out said «I just want to know if you have fries or not…» They were very surprised and thought we were being funny, but they started to realize I wasn’t laughing, nor was I kidding. So they said no… however, they served poutine and if I was willing to try it. I mean, poutine doe. We couldn’t refuse.
So we were seated very shortly after and was greeted by one of the nicest waitresses I have ever met! She was very friendly and down to earth, she also was very patient with us because we literally just came for fries, but our hunger grew when we saw the menu. To make small talk in the meantime she educated us on the triple filtration system that they have for their water, in which you can actually taste a difference in how good the water tasted.
On to the food, we couldn’t decide what we wanted to eat next to poutine, so the waitress also suggested we have their chicken and waffles… with watermelon and kale? We were kind of skeptical, however, when we took our first bites it blew us into the bay right outside. We were amazed at how well the watermelon meshed with the waffles and chicken. It was amazing. The poutine helped to settle our fry craving, though the chicken and waffles did much more.
⁵⁄₅ would recommend this place to anyone who would like to have good food and service!

This is a place I normally would not go because of how pricy it was but I decided to take my boyfriend out for his birthday and he chose to come here. We went in and I had made a reservation to ensure that we didn’t get in a rush since it was nearing the time for the holidays.
We went in and it was very tastefully decorated I liked the way it was decorated. We followed our hostess to the booth near the bar which was also near so huge TVs. This was good because it allowed for my boyfriend to keep tabs on his team without missing the game.
The wait wasn’t very long and they gave us the menu, I had looked at the menu prior to make sure I was able to eat from it. I know sometimes places Like this sometimes go way out there but they did not. I did like how they reinvented classics that people love and but their take.
I had the burger because it sounded amazing and this huge because I hardly ever will order a burger from a place. My boyfriend ordered the chicken and waffles. His dish and my dish came and we decided to dig in. My food was very good and he enjoyed his but it was a lot of food. We both ended up getting some drinks as well.
Overall we have a fabulous time at the restaurant and the food was great and so was the service but for the type of food they are serving I felt the price was way to high for my liking. Do not get me wrong I would come back just would have to be a special night.

Definitely dug this place on our recent visit. Reminds me of the farm to table places I tried in Cleveland and Houston.
They have some really nice house cocktails that we started with before switching to a lovely Alexander Valley Cab at a very reasonable price of $ 94 a bottle
For dinner he had the chicken potpie ($ 15.99) probably the best pot pie ever. I had the smoked pork with pan fried ramen, soft boiled egg, and Chinese sausage ($ 21.99) it was a very complex tasting and deliciously fresh meal.
For dessert we had the dark chocolate and cherry brioche bread with a bourbon ice cream ($ 6.99) For a person who doesn’t really do desserts I loved this one!
On my list of favorite places this will be a regular haunt

Owned by Bella Brava, and located nearby, Stillwater is a solid option while dining on Beach Drive.
The menu is farm to table style with lots of fresh items and unique twists on favorites.
I decided upon the Med salad with was fantastic. It had a smoked salmon filet on top and was full of various flavors and ingredients.
My friend ordered the wedge and I must say, I think my selection was way better.
We both enjoyed a cappuccino and it was fancifully served with 2 types of liquid sweetener.
Would I return? Without a doubt and I look forward to trying more items on their menu.

Fun place to stop in and grab a meal or sit at the bar and sip on whiskey. We decided to venture to downtown St. Pete because it has been a while for us since we moved. We were greeted by the hostess outside and she sat us right away at a booth inside next to the bar. Smack dab in the middle of the bar is a huge mirror. Love it, I don’t know why but it makes me think of the 1960’s diner style. Eh, I’ll go with it. Our server is a very friendly, he greets us asking of our evening. Starts off by telling us, we can have an awesome relationship and let it blossom, or just eat and drink and ditch. Not sure how to really take that intro. He was knowledgeable on the beers as I can no longer drink wheat beers and the Strongbow keg was kicked. He asked, «Can I make you a cocktail?» I say, «sure», he whisks away. My husband had tasted a few beer samples of different IPA’s. He returns with my husband Lagunitas and the #3 cocktail for me. Vodka, raspberry and ginger. Garnished with a single raspberry on a wooden knotted toothpick. Sweet and delicious.
For our meal, we split the Korean Wings, Phở Rolls, Clam chowder & the Airline Chicken. My oh my! What a treat this place was for us! To start, the phở rolls were so fresh. Almost like the real phở bowl deal, the flavor of the pork bursts in your mouth. The crunch of the bean sprouts and the soft fluffiness of the bao bread. The Korean chicken wings were the best! A hint of mandarin and ginger play on the back of your tongue. Succulent wings lots of meat! Nothing dinky about them!
Let’s now discuss the Airline Chicken. Ok, jalapeño cornbread and chicken topped with Brunswick stew? Can we say YUMO?! My husband doesn’t like corn… bad experience as a kid, and I was worried that he wouldn’t try the stew… but he did! Seriously this dish is a true comfort food that I want to eat when I’m pregnant. Chicken breast, thigh, & leg with two jalapeño cornbread and all topped with Brunswick stew. You get a bite of everything… and they are the perfect pairing. Man, I want more! And the Clam chowder! Served in a coffee mug and do be careful as it will have 2 clams in slide! Just fish them out with your spoon and suck the sweetness from each clam. Ok… people Minds outta the gutter on that last comment. I can’t wait to come back and try more! A lovely spontaneous putting with my husband.

I liked Stillwaters more than the 3 stars would imply, but I didn’t love my food. My lovely lady and my not-​so-​lovely brother and I came here for dinner. Its a nice classy gastropub with great outdoor seating and a terrific looking menu
We had fantastic service. Don’t remember the server’s name, but she was great and put up with my brother’s sh*t (he does it to be funny, but he does give the servers a hard time).
But food-​wise: I ordered the Tavern Burger, which is made with short ribs and topped with red wine mustard, slow cooked shallots, gruyère, lettuce, tomato, brioche. It sounds like it should be fantastic, but it just wasn’t. The flavors didn’t work and frankly seemed to cancel each other out to the point that you didn’t taste much of anything. It was okay at best, and certainly not any better than any of the wonderful burger places in downtown St. Pete. If you want a good burger, Avenue, or Station 9, or Engine Rose is a better bet for you. I also tried my girlfriend’s mussels (house-​made bratwurst, spicy mustard lager broth, frites, minus the bratwurst) and wasn’t impressed. She really enjoyed hers though, and my brother liked whatever he got, so maybe it was just me.
In fairness, I never should have ordered the burger knowing how good the burgers are elsewhere, but I was drawn to the short rib. I’m willing to go back and try something else — the menu is that interesting, but I think I am going to have to temper my expectations next time.

My family and I had dinner Halloween. Sitting outside watching the costumes stroll added entertainment.
Highly recommend Stillwaters Tavern in St Petersburg. Food is scrumptious. Love the red slaw.
Chistrian is a charismatic soul. She made our night magical. She served us like royalty.
Leon the manager is impressive. Thank you for a great night. 10 out of 10.

We have been to this place a number of times now and each time has been superb. Today we were finally able to enjoy the outdoor seating as it was cooler, and as we approach winter, these should become prime spots. The pretzels and fondue are outstanding as are the fish and chips, rainbow trout, and po boys.
Definitely recommend checking this place out!

I was reluctant to try this place due to all the mixed reviews from the opening. But my friend and I went on a recent Wednesday and it was great. We sat outside and it was perfect out. We both had burgers. I had the gyro burger and my friend had the short rib burger, which he said was very good. The gyro is beef and lamb mixed. It is amazing! Cooked to perfection. The bun got a little soggy but I asked for it medium rare so there was a little seepage. It was one of the best burgers I’ve ever had, seriously! Oh and ask for the spicy ketchup, yum. I had the Caesar salad as a side which is a big portion, but it’s kale, which is good but I prefer an old fashioned Caesar with romaine. It didn’t have much taste. Drinks are a little on the pricy side. I didn’t try a cocktail, but the house wine was ok for $ 8.99.
Our server, Brittany, was very knowledgeable and helpful. She was able to explain most of the menu and answer any question we had.
All in all we had a very pleasant experience. Will be back!

My boyfriend and I came here for dinner for my birthday after attending a concert in vinoy park. We weren’t planning to come here but decided to try it after glancing at the menu
They had one table left outside on the sidewalk so we grabbed it and decided on our orders right away. Can you tell we were starving?
Th executive chef here is jeffrey jew, who was recently featured on on a TV cooking show. The menu was definitely quirky and trendy. I got the sea scallops and he got the gyro burger. My scallops were served a top grilled curry cauliflower, mushroom and sweet potato. The dish was good but far to coo small of a portion size. Of course I had to try his burger and it was delish. I wish I had ordered that. Excellent flavor with tzatziki and feta on top and large portion size
Service was fast even though they were busy. We had a good experience and will come back.

Great addition to Beach Drive! My first compliment will have to be the service. From the hostess’ to the servers everyone was wonderful and made you feel well taken care of. To start I had the #3 which was vodka, raspberry and ginger and was absolutely delicious! For an appetizer we shared the chicken fried oysters and the pretzels with lager cheese fondue. I guess we didn’t really understand what the «chicken fried» part would mean so when the oysters arrived we were surprised to see them fried but they were delicious nonetheless and came in a rather large size portion. The pretzel and fondue was a little disappointing. The pretzel was delicious, however, the cheese was a little tasteless and needed to be a little bit sharper in my opinion (that didn’t keep us from scarfing it down). For the entrée I shared the scallops which were pan seared and came with roasted vegetables, mushrooms and truffle butter. The scallops were absolutely delicious and on my next visit it will be a struggle to try something new since I was so impressed by them.
Overall, I really enjoyed my experience at Stillwaters Tavern. From the hospitality to the atmosphere, well mixed drinks, delicious food that was moderately priced and large portioned I will definitely be returning soon!

This is a welcome addition to Beach Drive, with a large space, combo indoor/​outdoor seating, fantastic service, and good food. My only complaint is the high cost of the entrees, especially at a «tavern.»
When you walk in, Stillwaters is appealing, with lots of tables and ample space at the bar. We were seated after only 10 minutes on a Friday night around 7. Not bad at all!
To start, our table tried the phở rolls and the creole mac & cheese. I loved both these apps and would go back to this restaurant just for them. The phở rolls remind me more of bao buns, with a soft, doughy exterior and tender beef inside. As for the mac & cheese — wow. If you want to indulge, order this. You won’t be sorry.
The onion and stout soup was another standout on the menu. We received a huge serving of soup rich in flavor and topped with cheese. Excellent!
For our entrees, this is where I feel Stillwaters still has some work to do before it becomes a 5-​star spot for me. None of the main courses stood out to me on the menu; maybe it was how they were described or the lack of appealing sides, but they all looked a bit bland. It took me a long time to decide on the airline chicken.
When my dish arrived, I had a big serving of chicken, roasted, whole veggies, and what looked like dry, cornbread cakes that must have been the jalapeño cornbread pudding that pushed me to choose this meal.
While everything was prepared well, nothing truly stood out to me as incredibly favorable. Considering this cost $ 19, I was a bit disappointed.
That said, everything else we tried was so delicious and the service so good, that I could see us venturing back here. I’d love to see the entrees revamped and re-​imagined, but, hey, I’m no chef.

The exterior of this place looked very inviting so I decided to stop by and see what it’s about. I thought it’d be packed on a Saturday night but it was fairly quiet. We were immediately greeted by 2 hostesses and we opted to grab a few seats at the bar.
Very nice tough with the décor as they had small lamps set at the bar. They had a few TVs up to watch the fight and baseball games, as well as a vertical TV to display the beer menu. I ordered the #68 and waited an hour to order food because I wanted to see their late night menu. The drink was great but the menu was disappointed as it was just a shortened version of their regular menu, it didn’t even have lower prices. I ended up ordering the lager cheese fondue which had a very generous amount of cheese and not matched by the amount of pretzels that were given. We asked the bartender for more pretzels and he grabbed some from the back instead of charging us $ 1 per additional pretzel, outrageous! I enjoyed the fondue but it’s not something I am crazy about.
Great location for bar hopping in the nicer area of DTSP. There are more bars with great drinks and even better menus. I can’t complain about the service here but I wish the menu was more impressive. Not somewhere that I’d list as a «must go to» place.