Engine No. 9 — Restaurant in Saint Petersburg

This past weekend, my husband and I visited a popular bar/restaurant in downtown St. Petersburg, renowned for its gourmet and creative burger menu. Despite the definite bar vibe, the atmosphere was welcoming, and the staff made us feel right at home. We were greeted immediately with waters and menus, and our server, Marina, was fantastic—friendly, attentive, and on top of everything, even as the place filled up quickly for lunch. The menu was a burger lover’s dream, with so many unique options it was tough to choose. We started by splitting their famous corn dog as an appetizer, featuring an all-beef Vienna sausage encased in a perfectly crispy coating. It came with house-made sauerkraut, which was a standout—balanced, not too sour, and with just the right amount of texture. Easily some of the best I’ve had! For our mains, my husband went with the Black and Blue burger, and it was a hit. Loaded with bacon, blue cheese dressing, crumbles, and a kick of Frank’s hot sauce, he called it phenomenal. His side of tater tots was crispy perfection, though fries and sweet potato fries were also tempting options. I opted for the Demigod—caramelized onions (done just right), sautéed mushrooms, three cheeses, and horseradish mayo. It was good, but after sneaking a bite of his, I’ll admit he won! My burger came with a house-made cucumber and tomato salad, which was fresh and a nice nod to healthy eating. That said, it could’ve used a bit more dressing or some marination time to elevate the flavors. Overall, the food was outstanding, the service was top-notch, and the vibe was spot-on. If you’re in St. Pete and craving a burger that’s unique and delicious, this place should be added to the list! It’s really a 4.5 for the service, burgers...

OK, I've been eating in St Pete restaurants for "awhile" and somehow I've missed this place? How did that happen??? Great food, great service,great beer selection. Ths Joint becomes one of my favorite go toys. We all (4 of us) had burgers, short ribs and tortellini, jambalaya and Sriracha salmon...all of it was excellent and some (the short ribs & the tuna) were unique. All in all, a great evening. Nice size bar, LARGE beer selection, friendly staff.Update 12/29/22 well last visit for the year, wasn't disappointed... had the jambalaya and it was outstanding, chicken, sausage, shrimp over pasta with a spicy tomato sauce, I highly recommend it ( as well as the short ribs entrée). Great bear menu, huge selection of burgers and hot dogs. I'm looking forward th the new year! 03/28/23 Well, we're back at No. 9. Great food, great service, friendly staff. Had the No. 9 hot dog, it was GREAT, better half had the Demi-God burger, friends had the jalapeno burger (he didn't think it was quite spicy enough) & his wife had the salmon (she always gets it & LOVES it). Great selection of beers, house wines. If you haven't been (but you probably have) try it out, I don't think you'll be disappointed! 07/27/23, well we're back, just another great meal at Engine #9, burgers, dinners, wine & beers, great server. This is one of those places you keep coming back to. Another great night with friends @ Engine #9 on 11/0/23 with friends. Again great food, beers and wine. This is a go to spot in St Pete, best burgers around from plain to speciality loaded burgers. Looking forward to next time to try another different...

This place was recommended to us over a year ago. We are just really, really slow in motivating ourselves. But dang, I wished we had. The minute we walked in the door, we felt at home. The large marble bar in a giant "U" shape, comfy barstools at just the right height, and a cheery greeting. It felt like we were stepping back into all the bars we hung out in throughout our youth.

The beer selection was top notch. With a choice available for just about any mood or pallette. Sadly for me though, they do not have hard liquor. But I managed with a dry riesling. Our bartendress was patient and amiable with us. We both ordered burgers and we just had to try the "crispy duck wings"

Oh... Oh those wings... Yessssssss. Two dunking (so much more than a polite dip) sauces come with them. I first tried the sesame garlic and it was good. But the House made Sriracha dip is excellent. So excellent.

The burgers too are fantastic. So many fun varieties to try that we are looking forward to eating our way through the menu.

As the the evening rolled in, so did the people. A delightful blend of old and young. Everyone seemingly enjoying themselves.

The staff were supremely professional and fun to be around.

We highly recommend Engine No. 9 And are quite looking forward to hanging out there...