Burgers And Punky Atmosphere Scoring A Home Run Again
Disston Heights, St. Petersburg, Florida USA
Cuisine Style: Bar and Grill, Burgers
Average Price: $
Overall Rating: 3/5
Dined: June 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:
Punky's Zomato rating:
Punky's Executive Chef:
Frank Costelli Jr.
Punky’s Bar and Grill owned by local residents Lara Shelton, Lynn Deibert, John Burt, and Brian Longstreth is a laid back friendly vibe burger joint with a large bar that extends into the dining room where live bands can set-up or other activities can take place. The patio is larger than the dining room, fully covered to protect you from the Florida sun with fans and shade that drop the temperature 10 degrees. The restaurant known for its cartoon mascot, Punky took over after Georgie’s Alibi well-known gay bar closed. Punky’s is located at the far western edge of the famed Central Avenue of downtown St. Petersburg in the Disston Heights neighborhood that is known for its many businesses that are owned and frequented by members of the LGBT community. So, Punky’s became a perfect fit.
They have bingo nights, drag contests, and more where all the proceeds go to a variety of local organizations, such as Friends of Strays, the Gasparilla Softball League, and the Metro Community and Wellness Centers. Gay, straight or otherwise, don’t let bigotry or being a heterosexual stand in your way, because if you want a great hamburger or sandwich, plus pizza in a fun atmosphere then this is the place to come, especially during the 8-hour long happy hour where all of your drinks are BOGO.
This was my wife and I’s second visit together to Punky’s. She has been a few more times by herself when in the area during lunch. Punky’s is a recent recipient of the 2019 Tampa Bay’s Wave Favorite Awards for Local Restaurant, Local Late-Night Dining, Local Brunch, Happy Hour, Bingo, and LGBTQ Club/Bar. Whenever we drive past the location I think about the first visit and the wonderful food, atmosphere and just how friendly the staff was. So going back to write this second review for Wine Dine and Play was greatly anticipated.
Throughout the week you can also enjoy $5 St. Petersburg Distillery Liquors such as rum, gin, vodka, or whiskey, plus $5 featured tequila on Wednesdays and for Sunday brunch (11am-3pm) they have $3 mimosas or well bloody Mary’s, then $5 Absolut bloody Mary’s, and $5 sangria’s.
Punky’s Menu:
- Appetizers
- Fan Favorites
- Flatbread Pizzas
- Soups and Salads
- Sandwiches
- Burgers
- Desserts
On our previous visit, we had the Southerner burger with fried green tomatoes, coleslaw, sriracha aioli, and thick-cut bacon as well as the delicious sticky burger, formally only seen at country fairs. It has sticky peanut butter, thick-cut bacon, and cheddar cheese served with a side salad that my wife wanted instead of fries. The sticky burger is still on the menu, but the southerner has been removed. Since our last visit, several new things have been added to the new menu, and from the sounds of them, they have up here game from serving some of the best burgers in town to compete with the bigger boys along Beach Drive.
My wife started with a Dobel Diamante cocktail with Maestro Dobel Tequila, and an appetizer of three Punky sliders with a choice of either the cheddar cheeseburger pulled BBQ pork or Buffalo chicken with pickles. This was the perfect lite bite snack, and my wife chose the cheeseburger. For this appetizer, you choose one of the three without mix-matching.
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| Punky's / Punky's Sliders |
Basil pesto has always been a favorite of mine since I first tried it over twenty years ago, and I wondered where it had been for the first twenty years of my life. The pesto burger was no exception and was outstanding. A good grass-fed quality beef patty that had a warm creamy brie and tangy goat cheese with a pesto on top for not only a fresh aroma, but a tasting sensation that would have every Italian breaking down the doors for a sample. With the dish I ordered a side of macaroni and cheese while my wife ordered the tater tots. The macaroni did have a slight generic ‘canned' cheese flavor to it, but otherwise it was a decent quality compared to other we have had before, and the tater tots are always a crowd favorite. I also like the way the dish was presented in a basket with polkadot red and white foodservice paper that brings you back to the old diner and burger joint days from the 1960s through the 80s.
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| Punky's / The Pesto Burger |
Dessert:
We did not have dessert during this visit, though the fried cheesecake rolls in raspberry sauce did sound delicious as I read the description. So instead, check out some of these wonderful selections from Wine Dine and Play:
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Other noteworthy Bar and Grill / Burger articles and restaurants similar to Punky’s:
A burger is a sandwich consisting of one or more cooked patties of ground meat, usually beef, placed inside a sliced bread roll or bun. It can contain variations other than ground beef, to include turkey, pork, bison, tofu, or vegetables. The recipe originated in Hamburg, Germany and first appeared in the United States as a Hamburg Steak in 1884.
Boulevard Burgers And Tap House A beachside burger joint for the carnivore connoisseur in St Pete Beach, Florida
Boulevard Burgers Second review of this burger joint for the carnivore connoisseur in St Pete Beach, Florida
FLIP Burger Boutique Hip burger chain with the space-age decor, reviewed in Midtown, Atlanta, Georgia
Hamburger Mary’s A San Fransisco Burger joint chain started in 1972 with 19 locations reviewed in Clearwater, Florida
Holeman and Finch Public House Modern gastropub and whole animal cookery in Atlanta, Georgia
The Avenue Eat + Drink Rustic restaurant known for its burgers in St. Petersburg, Florida
Bar and Grill cuisine is made up of locations that incorporate restaurants that serve typical bar foods or “pub grub” but also includes grilled menu items. Some restaurants enhance the experience further by offering detailed plate presented foods along with contemporary Bistro cuisine.
Lucky’s Lounge slick lounge with a cool retro vibe at Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts
Reflections Bar and Grill American favorites in the Westin Hotel at the airport in Detroit, Michigan
Sloppy Joe’s Bar A landmark bar/pub serving Floribbean and American classics since 1933 Key West, Florida
The Dickens Inn 1800s warehouse dockside style British pub, in London, UK
The Pegasus Arms Casual tavern serving contemporary New Zealand cuisine in Christchurch, New Zealand
The Pike Brewing Company Brewpub with a locally sourced menu in Seattle, Washington
Wipeout Bar and Grill Surf shack theme with Californian and Mexican cuisine in San Francisco, California
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other St Petersburg restaurants and articles on Wine Dine and Play:
|
creative sushi + pan-Asian regional menu
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
|
Organic and sustainable New American cuisine
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
|
A bistro focusing on the Mediterranean and New American Cuisine
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
|
A Few Florida Favorites:
|
American & Greek Cafe on the banks of the Manatee River
Palmetto, Florida, USA
|
Upscale Pan Asian Fare w/sushi
Orlando, Florida, USA
|
Laid-back pizza bar featuring
stone-baked artisan pizzas
Indian Rocks Beach, Florida, USA
|
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 ambience, 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 Punky's a 3 out of 5 stars, meaning that they exceeded my expectations and were far above the average dining experience of most restaurants. The first review score was also 3 of 5 stars, so they have maintained their high rating and awesome standards from my last visit.
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings for Punky's
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Max Points Possible:
|
Total Points Awarded:
|
Total Points deducted:
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Ambience
|
11
|
11
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0
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Food quality
|
11
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9
|
2
|
Plate presentation
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10
|
9
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1
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Customer service
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9
|
7
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2
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Alcohol and other beverages
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10
|
7
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3
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Total regular points awarded
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51
|
43
|
8
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Total percentage — less the Bonus
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0.843137254901961
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“Wow” factor BONUS
|
5
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0
|
0
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Total bonus percentage
|
0
| ||
Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
|
0.843137254901961
| ||
Stars Awarded (see chart below)
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0 - 5
|
3
|
**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:
84% Rating with a 0 point “wow” bonus
Exceeded My Expectations in a Dining Experience
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Corkage fees:
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Punky's 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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Casual dining
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Cuisine Style at Punky's:
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American, Bar and Grille, Burgers
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Low Carb Choices, Pescatarian, Vegetarian Options
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Reservations:
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Not Required, but Recommended to call ahead
Walk-Ins:
Accepted, but not guaranteed
|
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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Punky’s
Experiences:
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Place for foodies, Trendy, Hotspot, Great bar, Great outdoor dining, Good for special occasions, Hole-in-the-wall, 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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Punky's has a private lot or street meter parking
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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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Medium
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Smoking:
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Punky's 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:
|
Price
|
United States Dollar (USD)
|
$
|
Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
|
£
|
Canadian Dollar (CAN)
|
$
|
Chinese Yuan (CNY)
|
¥¥¥
|
European Union (EUR)
|
€
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Alcohol prices:
$10.00 USD
Punky’s Bar and Grill:
3063 Central Ave
St. Petersburg, Florida
33713
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
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Maître d or host:
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+1 727-201-4712
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Website Contact:
Email Us:
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Serving hours:
Eastern Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC - 5:00)
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Mon - Sat
11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Sunday
11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Happy Hour: Mon - Fri
11:00 am - 7:00 pm
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Social Media
And
Accolades for Punky's:
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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…
|
Eclectic and Innovative New Zealand cuisine
Christchurch, New Zealand
|
A classy southern seafood eatery house
Charleston, South Carolina, USA
|
Waterfront upscale new American cuisine
Sanibel Island, Florida, USA
|
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
