A loaded baked potato restaurant, The Half Baked Potato, is coming soon to downtown St. Pete
/The Half Baked Potato will be opening at 1626 Central Avenue in downtown St. Pete. The space was formerly home to Leafy Greens Cafe.
What do you get when you combine 1980s culture, stoner vibes, and baked potatoes? You get The Half Baked Potato, a new restaurant ready to serve up the craziest loaded baked potatoes you’ve ever eaten.
The new spud shop will be opening in a few weeks at 1626 Central Avenue in downtown St. Pete. The space was formerly occupied by Leafy Greens Café.
The Buffalo Chicken Potato topped with house-made buffalo chicken dip, ranch drizzle, cheddar cheese, and house seasoning
“There are a lot of places to get sandwiches and salads in St. Pete,” said James Castetter, who owns The Half Baked Potato with his girlfriend Chelsey Andrews. “We really wanted to open up something different. So, we decided to focus on baked potatoes. I think it’s a cool concept that we can have a ton of fun with.”
The menu will consist of 20 outrageous potatoes topped with ingredients like Mac and Cheese, Shredded BBQ Pork, Shrimp Alfredo, Tofu Scramble, Crab Rangoon, Buffalo Chicken, and Frito Chili Pie.
“The goal is to be fun and super inviting,” said Chelsey. “The Half Baked Potato has a retro 420 theme. So, we’ve kept the vintage terrazzo floors, painted the walls a crazy blend of purple, green, and yellow, and will be jamming to 80s and 90s music all day.”
The Sweet n Spicy Potato topped with shredded chicken, sweet n spicy peppers, sour cream, and house seasoning
The Buffalo Chicken Potato will be topped with house-made buffalo chicken dip, ranch drizzle, cheddar cheese, and house seasoning. The Mac n Cheese Potato will be topped with home-made mac n cheese, a house cheese sauce, shredded cheddar, and potato sticks.
“I went crazy coming up with all of the recipes,” laughed James. “I actually have 67 potato recipes. And each month, we will rotate out new potatoes based on what is selling.”
After choosing a potato, diners decide whether they want it baked, mashed, or smashed. The former two options are well-known, but a smashed potato is created by taking a baked potato, covering it in bacon grease, topping it with Cheeto dust, and then smashing it down on the grill to get it crispy and caramelized on both sides.
The Mac n Cheese Potato topped with home-made mac n cheese, a house cheese sauce, shredded cheddar, and potato sticks
Every potato will be piled high with enough toppings that you’ll be able share with a friend or take home for another meal. Prices will range from $10-15.
And if a loaded potato doesn’t sound like enough food, The Half Baked Potato will offer a variety of sides, including German potato salad with mustard and bacon, corn on the cob, strawberry applesauce, and soft pretzel sticks served with a s of dips like pimento cheese, Guinness gravy, spinach & artichoke, and broccoli & cheddar.
Around ten different drinks will be available from a grab-and-go case, such as Mexican Coke, juice boxes, tea, and lemonade.
James and Chelsey couldn’t be more excited to open The Half Baked Potato in St. Pete. “Everyone is so supportive of small local businesses here. For us, it’s a big deal to have that encouragement,” said Chelsey.
The Memphis Pork Potato topped with Memphis-style pulled pork, coleslaw, a pickle, and house seasoning
James grew up in New Orleans and is a classically trained chef specializing in French and French Creole cuisine. He received his education from the New Orleans Academy of Culinary Arts.
“When I told my friends I was opening a restaurant, they assumed it would be fine dining because of my culinary background,” said James. “We all had a good laugh when I told them I’m opening a baked potato shop.”
James made his way to Florida after Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana back in 2005.
“I didn’t have a lot of money, but I came down here after the storm, started saving money, and was given the opportunity to open this restaurant,” said James. “I truly love cooking. The best feeling in the world is seeing someone smile after they’ve tried something I’ve made.”
The Half Baked Potato will open by the end of September at 1626 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District of downtown St. Pete. Be sure to follow them on Instagram to stay up to date on grand opening plans and the latest baked potato offerings.
