CLEARWATER, FL — A Michelin Bib Gourmand-recognized restaurant from Tampa is headed to downtown Clearwater, with Streetlight Taco set to open its second location in the restored Peoples Bank Building at Cleveland Street and Fort Harrison Avenue.
The Cleveland Street Alliance announced that Streetlight Taco is moving into Clearwater on Tuesday, days after a celebration of the historic building's completion, with more than 3,000 people filling the surrounding intersection for the unveiling of the restored Peoples Bank clock and the public reopening of the property.
The release said Streetlight Taco will become the signature ground-floor dining destination in the landmark building.
Streetlight Taco, created by Tastes Pretty Good Hospitality, received Michelin Guide recognition within months of opening its South Tampa location in January 2024, the news release said.
The Clearwater site will be the first Streetlight Taco location outside Tampa and the second Tastes Pretty Good Hospitality concept announced for downtown Clearwater, following Rippers in the restored historic Telephone Building.
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The restaurant is built around handcrafted Mexican cuisine, with corn tortillas made from heirloom corn sourced from Mexico and milled in-house into fresh masa, while meats are slow-braised or cooked over a wood fire.
"Streetlight Taco brings a vibrant Mexican bodega," Nick Reader, CEO of Tastes Pretty Good Hospitality, said in a statement. "At night, there's a party atmosphere. That energy is what we hope to bring to Cleveland Street — something that complements everything else that's happening downtown."
The menu is centered on tacos, including a brisket taco, as well as chips and dips, tostadas, burritos, bowls, mercado sides, flan, tres leches, and crafted drinks, according to the release. Chef and partner Michael Brannock developed the concept after studying Mexican cuisine and traveling throughout Mexico, according to the news release.
"Streetlight Taco is the taste of Mexico," Brannock said in a statement. "At the end of the day, I want to make food that tastes like what I've had in Mexico and shared with Mexican families." He also linked the restaurant's approach to the building's restoration.
"The restoration of Peoples Bank is meticulous," he said. "That matches what we're about, because that's how I look at the menu and Streetlight Taco — all the little details. It's going to be a great pair and a great match."
The street-facing restaurant will have a central bar, warm wood finishes, and artwork and design elements influenced by Mexican markets and street vendors, the news release said.
"I want you to walk in and feel a piece of Mexico from the start," Brannock said. "The energy that you would feel on the street, under the streetlights — the food and all the vibes — I think you'll feel that from the get-go."
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