Trendy St. Pete restaurant strip to get new eatery, cocktail lounge

Beach Drive in downtown St. Pete, the city’s unofficial restaurant row, is getting two new potential hot spots: Juno & the Peacock, a New American Coastal cuisine concept, inspired by the cautionary tale of Aesop's fable, and Pluma, a cocktail lounge. 

Juno & the Peacock is scheduled to open in early summer at 400 Beach Drive across from North Straub Park and The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club. The restaurant is in the space previously occupied by 400 Beach Seafood & Tap House. 

Juno & the Peacock will be open daily for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, according to a statement. The owners of the new restaurant, Shawn and Jeanna Damkoehler, will not have to walk far: The Damkoehlers also own Allelo, a Mediterranean-Aegean restaurant a block away, at 300 Beach Drive. 

“Having lived here all my life, I am incredibly proud to contribute to the growth of St. Pete and bring new dining experiences to my hometown,” Jeanna Damkoehler says in the statement. “It has been a labor of love, bringing together experts in every field, from the design firm to the culinary and beverage teams, to create an entirely new culinary destination in the Tampa Bay area. We can’t wait to unveil the concepts in a few short months and are confident our vision and attention to detail will impress.”

The menu at Juno & the Peacock will combine American fare, like dry-aged steaks, with modern coastal cuisine, such as a seafood tower with a signature twist, seared grouper and crab cakes approved by Maryland-raised owner Shawn Damkoehler, the release states. The cocktail spans “the decades, from the Singapore sling to the espresso martini, adding modern twists to timeless classics from every era,” the release adds. 

There will also be Pluma, which the owners say will introduce guests to “new drinking traditions, spirited cocktails from Lima to Tulum, select wines by the glass and light bites,” stemming from South and Central American influences. 

Collectively, Juno & the Peacock and Pluma will provide seating for up to 268 guests.