Date Night at Wild Child
Dress (similar) || Wedges || Clutch
Whenever a new restaurant opens up in St. Pete, I try to get there ASAP. Obviously, that mentality has slowed down a little bit with COVID. Better late than never! Back in August, one of the newest bistros and bars opened up. Wild Child is an instant hit and is a welcome new addition to the Grand Central District. David and I had an opportunity for a little date night last weekend. I’m already planning on a return trip!
The Setting
Anytime I find a spot that is painted in shades of pink and coral, I know it’s going to be a favorite! Between the Vinoy and Don Cesar hotels, I want to declare pink to be the unofficial color of St. Pete. Like an old school tiki bar brought into the 21st century, you can expect a relaxed atmosphere. The inside dining room is intimate, while the outdoor patio is where you can take advantage of the beautiful Florida weather. On this particular night, they were able to open up the windows and it was, in a word, heavenly.
Left: Queens Park Swizzle || Right: Lone Palm 
Left: Saturn || Right: Naked and Famous
The Cocktails
When you head to a cocktail bar, of course, you want to sip something amazing! The drink list was long and a little something for everyone. Since David and I were there for a meal, we took the opportunity to have a few of their cocktails. I will always have a love for tiki-inspired drinks. They are so flavor-forward while making you feel like you’re on vacation. My favorite of the night was absolutely the Queens Park Swizzle. It’s a beautiful concoction of rum, lime, mint, and bitters. I feel like this drink was made just for me! No matter what you order, you’re in store from such a treat!
Whipped Ricotta 
Jerk Octopus
The Food
The hardest decision of the evening was to decide what to order! We had gone in just wanting to order a few small plates to share, but everything tasted so good! Ultimately, we followed our stomach and ordered what I think are the two standout dishes on the menu. And how different they are from each other! To start, we shared the whipped ricotta. I had heard through the grapevine that this was a must eat. Drizzled with herbs and honey, it makes for a great little snack.
Our second dish was the Jerk Octopus. A little known fact about me… I tend to put jerk sauce or seasoning on everything! There’s something about the flavors that send my tastebuds on overdrive. Wild Child did not disappoint. The combination of Meyer lemon, jerk seasoning, and Thai basil was incredible. It was tempting to wipe the plate clean. Oh, how I wish I could recreate this at home!
If you’re looking for a new spot for date night or cocktails with friends, I highly recommend Wild Child! I can’t wait to try more of their ever-changing menu. Opened Wednesday through Saturday, starting at 5 o’clock, you may very well just see me there. Cheers!
Love from Florida,
Katie
As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.