Pitmaster Ray Lampe, the barbecue personality known nationwide as Dr. BBQ, is bringing his smoked meats back to the Tampa Bay dining scene — this time with a tiki twist and a beachfront address. Squiki Tiki, a tiki-inspired barbecue restaurant, is set to open inside the Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach starting in December, combining Lampe's competition-honed barbecue with tropical cocktails and bamboo-and-thatch decor.
The concept was first reported by I Love The Burg, which detailed plans for the restaurant at the resort's address of 100 Coronado Drive. The menu will include pulled pork sandwiches, St. Louis-style ribs, burnt ends bao, and smoked shrimp summer rolls, alongside tiki cocktails, with the restaurant planned to operate daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. once it opens. Lampe said Squiki Tiki combines his passion for barbecue with the resort's hospitality and its commitment to the local community, according to the outlet's report.
The resort has described plans to transform the space into what it calls a tiki oasis, featuring bamboo accents, thatched roofing, plush lounge seating, and string lighting designed, in the property's words, to transport guests to paradise. The AAA Four-Diamond hotel, which opened in 2017, features 343 guest rooms and 22,000 square feet of event space overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, according to Cvent.
From Chicago Trucker to Barbecue Hall of Famer
Lampe's path to Squiki Tiki runs through a long and colorful career. He spent 25 years working in his family's Chicago trucking business before making a mid-life pivot in 2000, relocating to Florida to pursue competitive barbecue and outdoor culinary consulting full time, per The Local Palate. He had actually begun competing in barbecue contests while still working in trucking.
That career eventually earned him induction into the Barbecue Hall of Fame in 2014. Lampe has written nine cookbooks and made numerous appearances on Food Network shows. He has participated in barbecue contests and won awards over the course of his career.
Why Dr. BBQ Left St. Pete in the First Place
Squiki Tiki marks a notable shift in both location and business model for Lampe. His previous restaurant, an eponymous spot in St. Petersburg's EDGE District, opened in 2017.
That site hasn't sat idle. Demolition and sitework began in mid-2026 to build EDGE Collective II, a 20-story tower with 330 residential units and 18,000 square feet of retail space, following Phase I of the EDGE Collective campus anchored by Marriott's Moxy Hotel, Hoodline reported.
A Resort Bet Backed by Record Tourism
Lampe's move from a standalone urban restaurant to a resort setting brings Squiki Tiki to Clearwater Beach.
Guests driving to the resort should check current information on parking and amenities before arrival.
Barrier island restaurants across Pinellas County have also leaned into seasonal promotions to draw diners during slower stretches, including the annual Taste of the Beaches event, which featured nearly 50 coastal restaurants serving fixed-price $10 plates in October 2026, stretching from Tierra Verde to Clearwater Beach.
Public Preview Set for SAVOR St. Pete
Before its December debut, Squiki Tiki plans a public tasting preview at the 14th annual SAVOR St. Pete Food & Wine Festival, scheduled for November 7 and 8 at Vinoy Park in downtown St. Petersburg. The two-day festival features cooking demonstrations and tastings from more than 100 regional and national brands, organizers say.
