Casual California Meets Italy
St. Petersburg, Florida USA
Cuisine Style: Californian, Italian, New American
Average Price: $$
Overall Rating: 4/5
Dined in: July and December 2016
Updated: July 2019
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
FarmTable Kitchen Executive Chef:
Jeffrey Hileman
Farm-to-Table cuisine has been a major trend over the years with more and more people demanding good quality foods from fresh organic and sustainable sources and not GMO laced. One such place in St. Petersburg is the FarmTable Kitchen located on the second floor of the larger Locale Market below it, bringing the locals fresh seasonal ingredients and very good quality products. The FarmTable has a small bar, Chef’s Table, regular indoor and outdoor patio dining, overlooking The Sundial complex a premier shopping and dining destination, an oasis in the heart of St. Petersburg’s downtown center. The sundial includes shops, a movie theater, and restaurants like Ruth Chris Steakhouse and Sea Salt to name a few.
The Locale Market is a fantastic location to buy a wide range of products from fruits, vegetables, cheese, wine, charcuterie, and much more. You can have sandwiches made, then sit down in a small dining area and enjoy lunch. Go up to the second floor and you can have a full dining experience through the FarmTable Kitchen.
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| FarmTable Kitchen / Caesar salad |
Casual meets gourmet is their slogan, but not entirely based on the two visits I made in 2016. The first visit was in the summer with my wife and the second before Christmas with my daughter. Both times we all greatly enjoyed the Locale Market, but our visits to FarmTable could have been much better. The service was not the best, and the side of classic ‘merican’ macaroni and cheese that we order to hold us over while enjoying some drinks did not really impress us. My wife did have a chardonnay from Delouch Vineyards and the winemakers’ notes indicate that 2014 is a rich golden honey color and offers seductive aromas of Fuji apple, tangerine and baked fruit crisp with a touch of floral perfume. Full, rich flavors of mandarins, Asian pear, nutmeg and vanilla with a supple, silky mouthfeel and a medium plus bodied wine with moderate acidity and beautiful balance with an opulent finish.
When I returned in December with my daughter, we had just finished watching the new Star Wars movie Rogue One and were both hungry. We tried FarmTable sitting on the patio, and I hoped for a better experience than the summer. My daughter drank a Mexican sprite also known as a cherry sprite with grenadine syrup and maraschino cherry juice. It was a warm day for December so I enjoyed a Chablis from Maison Marchand-Tawse. We began with a starter of the Shrimp Toast, lightly seasoned with some parsley garnish, sourdough, romesco, and saffron aïoli.
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| FarmTable Kitchen / Shrimp Toast |
For entrees, my daughter and I shared the Caesar salad with an addition of avocados, and the ‘St. Petersburger’ deluxe, a 30-day dry-aged beef, American cheese sauce, smoked gouda, Niman Ranch bacon, caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, what was labeled as a secret sauce. The burger was nice and the quality of meat produced downstairs at Locale receives top marks. The best part of this dish was the deep fried duck fat french fries. You would be surprised how simple flavors of french fries are expanded ten fold with the simplest of changes to normal use of oils and fats.
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| FarmTable Kitchen / St Ptersburger |
Dessert:
We did not have dessert during this visit.
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Wine regulatory’s for the tastings in this article:
“In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is the strength, in the water there are bacteria.” - David Auerbach
United States:
California:
RRVW: Russian River AVA
European Union:
France:
Other Noteworthy California Cuisine articles and restaurants similar to FarmTable Kitchen:
California cuisine is a style of cuisine marked by an interest in fusion cuisine (integrating disparate cooking styles and ingredients) and in the use of freshly prepared local ingredients. The food is typically prepared with strong attention to presentation. Foods low in saturated fats and high in fresh vegetables and fruits with lean meats and seafood from the California coast often define the style.
BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse Chain (180+) for pub grub and brewed beer; reviewed in Pinellas Park, Florida
Fleur de Lys Lavish French-Californian by Hubert Keller in San Francisco, California
Gaia Restaurant Organic and sustainable concept in American Canyon, California (Renamed Table 29 Bistro and Bar)
Greystone CIA Restaurant CIA School restaurant formally called Wine Spectator now Gate House in Calistoga, California
Harvest Moon Café Farm-to-Fork daily changing new American fare menu in Sonoma, California
Wipeout Bar and Grill Surf shack theme with California and Mexican cuisine in San Francisco, California
Wolfgang Puck Celebrity Chef’s California cuisine and fine dining chain; reviewed in Orlando, Florida
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other St. Petersburg restaurants, and articles on Wine Dine and Play:
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Laid-back dockside spot for global eats
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
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A rustic restaurant that is known for its burgers
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
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A casual fusion of Thai and Japanese in tapas portions
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
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A few Florida restaurant favorites:
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Weekly, Organic, Sustainable
Gulfport, Florida, USA
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Organic & hormone-free steakhouse
Clearwater, Florida USA
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Casual Floribbean and American pub chain
Brandon, Florida USA
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See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary by country”
Final notes, review basics, observations, and more pictures:
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about. My ratings are by the stars I award (from 0 to 5). The rating is calculated on a point accumulation of six separate factors based on individual experience. They include wine and other beverage selections, plate presentation, customer service, restaurant or café ambiance, food quality, and wow factor. To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
Overall from this experience and the score factors outlined in the ‘about page’ section, based on my individual experience and rating, I give FarmTable Kitchen a 3 out of 5 stars, meaning that they exceeded my expectations and could have scored higher if service was much better.
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings for FarmTable Kitchen
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Max Points Possible:
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Total Points Awarded:
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Total Points deducted:
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Ambiance
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11
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11
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0
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Food quality
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11
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10
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1
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Plate presentation
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10
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9
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1
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Customer service
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12
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4
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8
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Alcohol and other beverages
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9
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8
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1
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Total regular points awarded
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53
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42
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11
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Total percentage — less the Bonus
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0.792452830188679
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“Wow” factor BONUS
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5
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0
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0
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Total bonus percentage
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0
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Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
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0.802452830188679
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Stars Awarded (see chart below)
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0 - 5
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3
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**A full break down and explanation of the observations and point disbursement is available in the linked article above. To receive a detailed copy of your score, feel free to contact me at any time and I will provide it to you.**
***
Overall Star Rating:
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3 of 5 Stars:
80% Rating with a 0 point “wow” bonus
Exceeded all Expectations in a Dining Experience
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Wine List:
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FarmTable Kitchen Wine rating:
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7 of 10
Old World selections:
Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Sardinia, and Spain
New World selections:
Argentina, Australia, California, Chile, New Jersey, New York, New Zealand, Oregon, South Africa, Virginia, Washington State
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Corkage fees:
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FarmTable Kitchen does not list any corkage fee’s however, most American restaurants charge $25.00 per bottle
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Restaurant style:
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Upscale casual dining
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Cuisine Style at FarmTable Kitchen:
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Californian, Italian, New American
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Farm to Fork, Gluten-free, Grass Fed, Local, Low Carb Choices, Non-GMO, Organic, Pescatarian, Sustainable, Vegan and Vegetarian Options
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Reservations:
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Not Required
Walk-Ins:
Accepted, but not guaranteed
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Dress code:
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Casual attire
It’s Florida, everybody wear’s flip-flops!
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Child policy:
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The Restaurants reviewed on this site may have a kids menu or cater to them; however, for full enjoyment of food and wine, it is recommended that kids not to be in attendance, unless they have been trained in proper etiquette.
If not then:
Hire a Babysitter!
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FarmTable Kitchen Experiences:
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A place for foodies, Contemporary, Modern, Trendy, Hotspot, Great bar, Great outdoor dining, Upscale, Tourist grabber, and a Neighborhood Gem.
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Payments:
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Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
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Parking:
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FarmTable Kitchen has a valet, public garage lot, or street meter parking
Validated parking with restaurant receipt
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Wifi:
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The restaurants reviewed on this site may have Wi-Fi, but do not require you to go online, because the excitement of the food and wine alone will keep you too entertained instead of checking your social media and emails.
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Noise level:
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Low
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Smoking:
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FarmTable Kitchen is a non-smoking restaurant, with a non-smoking patio
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Patio or terrace:
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Yes
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Food Prices
(excludes, alcohol, taxes & 20% gratuity’s)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricey)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
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Price
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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£
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Canadian Dollar (CAN)
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$$
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Chinese Yuan (CNY)
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¥¥¥¥
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European Union (EUR)
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€€
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Alcohol Prices:
$34.00
FarmTable Kitchen:
179 2nd Ave North
St. Petersburg, Florida
33701
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
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Maître d or host:
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+1 727-523-6297
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Online reservations
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Email Us:
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Serving hours:
Eastern Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC - 5:00)
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Open From:
Mon - Thur
11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Fri - Sat
11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Sunday
11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Brunch:
Sunday
11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Happy Hour: Mon - Fri
3:00 pm - 6:30 pm
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Social Media
And
Accolades for FarmTable Kitchen / Cucina:
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****
The worlds best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
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Impeccably prepared French fine dining
Dublin, Ireland
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Countryside French Bistro
Cheverny, France
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New American dining on a restored ship
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
