Wicked Cantina expands to St. Petersburg
By Breanne Williams
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Dec 12, 2023

Anna Maria Island-based Wicked Cantina is expanding to St. Petersburg.

The Mexican restaurant opened in Anna Maria Island in 2014 and expanded to Sarasota in 2017. Founders Mike and Janice Dolan said St. Petersburg has been on their radar for years due to “repeated requests” from customers. The restaurant will open at 3650 Tyrone Blvd. N in January 2024.

“We believe our new location offers the perfect spot for daily happy hour and live music,” Jake Baker, vice president of Wicked Cantina, said in a release. “With the addition of a new patio to catch sunsets and sip a margarita, we are confident that we will be a welcome addition to the dining landscape in St Petersburg.”

The restaurant has a selection of Tex-Mex favorites as well as American classics. The menu includes tacos, burritos, enchiladas, nachos, salads, fajitas, and vegan and gluten-free options. Its drink menu includes a range of margaritas, craft cocktails and local beers.

It will have a happy hour daily from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. and all day on Sundays. The restaurants also feature live music.

The Dolans grew up in Southern California, where Mexican food was their “date night habit.” They later fell in love with Tex-Mex while living in Austin, Texas. They relocated to Florida in 2013 and missed their Austin restaurants, which led them to create Wicked Cantina.

The restaurant is taking over a roughly 6,000-square-foot space once home to Sonny’s BBQ near the El Dorado Furniture store. The restaurant is four minutes from Tyrone Square mall and 10 minutes from Madeira Beach.