Roam, a new restaurant from the duo behind Red’s BBQ, is opening this week in St. Petersburg.
The restaurant, which chef and owner Joshua Jackson describes as a “steak-forward” spot with dishes that utilize classic techniques and global influences, opens Thursday at 3405 34th St. N.
Jackson, 30, is launching the restaurant with his brother, Christian Jackson, 37. Though this is their first brick-and-mortar, the duo are well-known around town for their popular barbecue catering business and food truck, which for the last few years was parked near the intersection of Fifth Avenue N and 34th Street.
Having worked in restaurant kitchens since the age of 14, and later as a corporate executive chef in New York, Joshua Jackson said opening a restaurant of his own has been a dream long in the making. The idea for Roam was to create the type of place he and his brother like to dine at and hang out with friends and family — a steakhouse with a higher-end beverage program that still felt welcoming and casual, but never stuffy.
“Those are the places that I like to go,” Jackson said. “That’s the type of food that I like to eat — I just want to do the same thing for other people.”
At Red’s BBQ, the emphasis was heavy on smoked meats and comfort staples inspired by their father’s Cajun and Creole cooking — smoked turkey legs, pulled pork and St. Louis-style ribs, collard greens, and mac and cheese. Now, at their new restaurant, Jackson said he plans on going more upscale (though not necessarily more restrained) with an evolving, seasonal menu and a strong emphasis on classic steakhouse fare.
On any given evening that could include a rotating selection of cuts — ranging from filets to New York strips, rib-eyes and tomahawks — as well as pork and lamb chops, along with classic steakhouse add-ons like lobster tail with drawn butter, garlic shrimp and caramelized onions.
