A pair of well-known celebrity chefs has opened a European-style market and private dining experience in the St. Petersburg area.
Near the waterfront in downtown St. Pete, Locale Market is a culinary marketplace where you’ll find fresh produce, artisanal foods and hand-selected ingredients, as well as meat and seafood – all with an emphasis on the local region.
Nestled in the northwest corner of the Sundial plaza and spanning nearly 20,000 square feet, Locale Market is modeled after the great markets of Europe. The brainchild of friends and award-winning chefs Michael Mina and Don Pintabona, the market offers both a shopping and dining immersion experience.
Locale Market offers an impressive selection of fresh, local produce — Photo courtesy of Locale Market
Choose from a wide abundance of meats, seafood, fruits, vegetables, wine, fine cheeses and charcuterie. The market features locally sourced ingredients that are fresh from the farm and straight from the sea.
There's also a wine bar, coffee bar and bakery stocked with sweet and savory treats prepared fresh on a daily basis. Selections include craft beer from more than 100 small breweries, some of which are located in St. Petersburg, Tampa Bay and Central Florida.
The fine wine selection includes brands from all over the world for an affordable price point (typically under $45). There’s also a variety of handcrafted cocktails based on wines, vermouths, Italian amaro liqueurs, sake and shochu. Additionally, all juices are squeezed fresh daily.
Locale Market is located at the Sundial plaza in downtown St. Petersburg — Photo courtesy of Locale Market
Located on the second floor at the market, FarmTable Kitchen offers a private dining experience in an intimate space, designed to resemble the welcoming and casual atmosphere of a farmhouse kitchen. Mina and Pintabona wanted to create a place for both locals and visitors to come and experience all of the culinary offers of Locale Market in this private dining setting.
The towering St. Petersburger is a local favorite — Photo courtesy of Locale Market
Tasting menus at FarmTable Kitchen feature the best local ingredients from the market downstairs, and dishes are paired with glasses from the extensive wine and sake menu, as well as cocktails and locally brewed beers.
The chefs rotate the menu seasonly in order to infuse local ingredients available from the market. Bringing the best of both chef’s specialities, dishes offer a casual farm-to-table feel with robust flavors and Italian inspiration.
Chefs Michael Mina and Don Pintabona, preparing a meal at FarmTable Kitchen — Photo courtesy of Locale Market
Each eight-course tasting menu – which will change seasonally and as ingredients come to market – showcases the best of the area’s fruits, vegetables, meats and seafood at the table. Dry-aged beef from Locale Market’s first-floor Butcher Shop and Salt Locker are featured on the tasting menu as well.
The intimate, private dining room seats up to eight people, and reservations are available at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, through Locale Market’s online reservation system. Dinner costs $105 per guest (not including sales tax and gratuity). Beverage pairings may be purchased upon arrival.
FarmTable also hosts special events and private dining opportunities during other days of the week.
