A Taste of Chicago opens in St Andrew

ST ANDREWS, PANAMA CITY, FL - A vibrant, new restaurant and bar, “A Taste of Chicago,” open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner, celebrated its Grand Opening on February 28th, in a prime location, right here in St. Andrews. Dozens of people were here by 10:30 am for the highly anticipated event, hosted by the Ambassadors of the Bay County Chamber of Commerce.

The owner, Elton Tavernaro, is from Chicago, hence the name, and said that while he was searching for a location for a restaurant, bar or pool hall, he was thrilled to find all 3 at this location. The crowds that came made it clear that St. Andrews is ready for REAL Chicago-style deep-dish and thin-crust pizza (Elton’s favorite style), pizza puffs, sandwiches such as the always-popular Italian beef (thin-sliced), chili cheese dog, Italian sausage or Polish sausage, cheeseburger and chicken. Come in a try a couple of appetizers like cheese sticks with marinara, chicken wings, chicken strips, cheese fries and garlic fried mushrooms. Salads include house, Caesar and grilled chicken. There is chocolate cake and strawberry cheesecake for dessert.

If you’re in a festive mood, step over to the bar area for frozen daiquiris which are currently strawberry, pina colada, electric blue-raspberry and green madness. They serve house wines, beer and lemonade.

For those with a Sweet Tooth, the bar serves Good Humor ice cream bars. Do you remember strawberry shortcake bars? The menu includes an ice cream sandwich, ice cream cookie, Reese bar, Sponge Bob, double caramel bar, creamsicle and Spiderman bar. You can even be the first of your friends to try ice cream nachos with a choice of 3 ice creams such as child-pleasing Superman ice cream, cookie dough, cotton candy, mint chocolate chip, dulce de leche, chocolate, vanilla or Oreo, then 2 toppings like M&M’s, hot fudge, strawberries, whipped cream, etc. One of the favorite drinks of all time, the root beer float, is also available in the bar, or you can try a banana split or hot fudge sundae, just like neighborhood food counters used to serve.

If you ordered a deep-dish pizza, you can expect a 45-minute wait, so you may as well venture over to the elevator, and go up to the Game Room, to enjoy the time at pool tables, playing games, listening to the jukebox or having a stimulating conversation with friends at a table. Down the hallway to the other end of the building, you will find the Upstairs Lounge and bar (more on this below). Downstairs from there is Barefoot on the Bay, still with a great view. This area can be reserved for private parties. Barefoot Oyster Bar is also open.

Upstairs Lounge (formerly House of Bourbon at the Shrimp Boat) with a bar, seating area, and stage has a variety of events arranged during March. The schedule includes:

Every Wednesday night, Panhandle Stompers. More events are to come, with a special thanks to promoter, Jermaine Hill!

Food from the full menu can be purchased until 8 pm in A Taste of Chicago, or Barefoot, and food on the bar menu can be purchased until midnight. If a room is reserved for a special event, arrangements can be made for pizza to be available until midnight.

Another ‘little known fact’ about this building is that there is a third-floor, 2-bedroom AirBNB space, currently available to rent for $350/night. What a view that space must have!