There\u2019s no shortage of great restaurants to try in Tampa Bay, and I\u2019m not just talking about the new, hip openings. I love exploring the region\u2019s lesser-known neighborhood gems, the sort of spots that fly under the radar or serve delicious meals where you\u2019d least expect them to.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s how I wound up in the waiting area of Bob Lee\u2019s, the decades-old St. Petersburg auto shop, on a recent Wednesday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Banquette seating, standard tables and a couple of bar stools surround a little food counter. A dry-erase board advertises a $10 sandwich special: Turkey Bacon Avocado on toasted ciabatta with melted cheese and a house-made spicy avocado crema. The glossy, laminated menu for \u201cDiner @ 4th North\u201d lists a small selection of breakfast and lunch eats.<\/p>\n
Westley Savoy runs this one-man operation, working with limited space and a 36-inch flat top. He does the food prep. Takes orders. Cooks. Cleans tables. Dreams up the weekly lunch deal, typically a deli sandwich showcasing the sauces and aiolis he crafts in-house.<\/p>\n
Savoy opened Diner @ 4th North inside Bob Lee\u2019s in December 2022, taking over the space formerly home to Orange Belt Cafe. But you\u2019d be forgiven for never hearing of the diner before. Savoy doesn\u2019t do any marketing. You won\u2019t find his no-frills restaurant on TikTok or Instagram. Instead, he has been focused on serving Bob Lee\u2019s employees and customers and those who find him through word-of-mouth recommendations. Like I did.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted to pass along a tip that you might find interesting,\u201d reader Andy Ritter wrote me in a February email. \u201cOne of the best smash burgers in all of Saint Petersburg, is served in a very unlikely place. A tire store. … If you haven\u2019t had the pleasure of ordering a Smashburger from the cafeteria at Bob Lee\u2019s, you haven\u2019t lived yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
Indeed, Savoy makes a mean smashburger. Three kinds, actually.<\/p>\n
The All American is a crowd-pleaser and caters to the burger purists with classic toppings: lettuce, tomato, pickle, mayo, mustard and ketchup. For the more adventurous, the Breakfast Burger piles on a sausage patty, a fried egg and American cheese. And then there\u2019s the Western-style Backyard Burger, a popular choice loaded with bacon, American cheese, banana peppers, barbecue sauce and onion crisps.<\/p>\n
Each 3\u00bd-ounce patty calls for beef with an 81\/19 lean-to-fat ratio and is seasoned simply with salt and pepper. Guests can order a single ($7-$9), double ($9-$11) or triple ($12-$14).<\/p>\n
I had a double Backyard Burger on my visit. It was big and juicy \u2014 two cheesy, thinly smashed patties with crispy edges and a pile of toppings stacked high between a soft bun for a delightfully messy experience. While I wouldn\u2019t typically order a burger smothered in barbecue sauce, the fixings played well together. The crisp bacon and crunchy onions added nice textural pop, and I enjoyed getting tangy bits of banana peppers while I munched.<\/p>\n
Savoy said his humble location prompts a common reaction from folks tasting his burgers for the first time: \u201cSurprisingly good!\u201d<\/p>\n
Beyond the smashburgers, the diner offers homey fare for breakfast and a lunch lineup built around sandwiches. Savoy wanted to create a menu that would appeal to Bob Lee\u2019s wide customer base.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomething for everyone,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s why I have French toast for the kid at heart, avocado toast for the healthy-minded and then your basic breakfast sandwiches.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Original \u2014 sausage, egg and cheese layered on a buttermilk biscuit with a touch of honey \u2014 is the most popular breakfast sandwich. People love the avocado toast topped with cherry tomatoes sauteed in red wine vinegar and extra-virgin olive oil. A tasty chicken salad is the star of one of six lunch sandwiches, featuring hunks of sous vide chicken, celery and red onion.<\/p>\n
Diner @ 4th North is Savoy\u2019s first foray into cooking. The U.S. Army veteran moved to St. Petersburg in 2009 and got into the food service industry around a year later, serving and bartending at spots like The Birchwood and Flute & Dram. With the help of his chef pals and YouTube trainings, he learned the basics of cooking and how to elevate foods as he was opening the diner.<\/p>\n
He has about 20-30 people who\u2019ve become regulars after trying his food while getting work done on their cars. They stop by at least once a week. Sometimes they bring friends.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s all been word of mouth, you know? I haven\u2019t put anything out there, and it seems to be working,\u201d Savoy said.<\/p>\n
Now whether the diner has one of St. Petersburg\u2019s best smashburgers … I\u2019d say it\u2019s a strong contender. Go dig in and see for yourself. You just might be pleasantly surprised.<\/p>\n