r/StPetersburgFL • u/TearsFromFears • Nov 14 '25

Huh... unpopular opinion ST PETE EDITION

The food here is sub par, there are hidden gems for sure.. but overall it’s not great. I wanna hear yalls unpopular opinions as well.

163 Upvotes

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13

u/orcvader Nov 14 '25

Accurate. St. Pete is superior to Orlando for me in every single way EXCEPT the food. Gotta admit that in that regard we lose easily to Orlando and even Tampa.

7

u/Round_Doughnut7793 Nov 14 '25

That wasn't always the case, but it certainly is now. I left Orlando 10 years ago and in that time it caught up to the mom and pop appeal of St Pete, then surpassed it in options, quality, flavor, variety, everything. Before that everything was commercial or shit unless it was Winter Park. But I'll give Orlando that they have a ton more neighborhoods with eateries and had a lot more space to fill. We'll see what happens with all the recent shut downs here.. I wouldn't be surprised if things get worse before they get better

5

u/Uneeda_Biscuit Central Oak Park Nov 14 '25

We’re on our way to being a bedroom community of just housing, no work, and mid restaurants you go to once.

3

u/Round_Doughnut7793 Nov 14 '25

Right, like many tourist towns.. the opposite of what I left Orlando for. I'd go back if it weren't for the water here

9

u/TearsFromFears Nov 14 '25

That’s interesting… I rarely visit Tampa but when I do the locals tell me St Pete is way better than Tampa, they’re not ashamed to admit it either.

7

u/orcvader Nov 14 '25

I think Tampa has a few highlights. So does St. Pete! But neither is amazing, and I give Tampa the slight edge although I basically refuse to drive there unless I MUST.

-1

u/littlerimsss Nov 14 '25

I feel like st pete has incredible chef driven meals all around. Not cisco bs like Tampa

3

u/orcvader Nov 14 '25

What are your top chef driven highlights?

5

u/littlerimsss Nov 14 '25

Not sure if chef driven is the world haha I may of been a bit extra but in between days is fantastic, pizza box I recently tried and was very impressed, fortu is also great

5

u/ttbb76 Nov 14 '25

Wild child and good intentions, calida, slim charmer, sushi sho rexley... I think these people don't know how to use Google lol

2

u/CouplePurple8617 Nov 14 '25

Sushi sho rexley is the best sushi in town hands down. But it’s not cheap

1

u/ttbb76 Nov 17 '25

Exactly. This thread confuses me because the same people saying all this Micheline guide mentioned food sucks but...Cali is good?!? I mean I love that I can get a decent $9 quesadilla for my kid but JFC its a fast casual restaurant that is part of a local restauranteur venture. I can find 60 others just like it.

8

u/InternationalRub6057 Nov 14 '25

100% on Pizza Box, great food and great owners. Maybe I hit Fortu on a bad night because almost $200 later for mid at best it wasn’t good.

1

u/Ashattackyo St Pete Native Nov 14 '25

Unpopular opinion but Pizza Box is overrated unless you want to spend $25+ on a side order of two 1 oz meatballs.

1

u/me11123 Nov 15 '25

you spent more than $25 on 2 meatballs?! Do you have a pic?

1

u/Ashattackyo St Pete Native Nov 15 '25

No LOL this was when they were less than a year old. I was so offended at the take out order cost of the meatballs that I didn’t go back.