Chattaway Drive-In a hidden St. Petersburg gem

Behind a pink building is a jungle inhabited by painted metal peacocks and pelicans. Just below a canopy of red and green drapes, a wooden chameleon the size of a coffee table perches on the roof of the pink structure, grinning at customers as they enter.

This place is the Chattaway Drive-In, a hidden gem of south St. Petersburg.

Customers enter through a vine-covered wooden walkway, popping out into an enclosed patio. As the attentive wait-staff will explain, seating is choose-your-own: long and green picnic-style tables, round and silver, square, or two-seater.

Chattaway's appetizers are the perfect way to preface one's entrée after ordering a soda by the can. All appetizers range from $0.75 to $5.50, and are $1.50 off on Wednesdays during happy hour.

The jalapeno poppers are especially good. Served with ranch dressing, these little nuggets are hot and creamy with a tiny kick of spice from the jalapeno.

Choosing the entrée can be tricky. The menu includes hamburgers that fall in the $6 range, seafood from $12—19, chicken at $9—20, and sandwiches $3—9. If the choices become overwhelming, it's hard to go wrong with the famous homemade Chattaburger.

With fresh ingredients and a choice of toppings, the burgers are well-flavored and cooked impeccably, emerging from the kitchen with a side of fries before the appetizer has been finished.

When it comes time to pay, Chattaway's is a cash-only establishment with an ATM on site—the perfect excuse for walking through the tea-room in which special events are held.

Take a minute to admire the elaborate ceiling decorations and blue china perched on shelves around the room. Watch your feet—there might be a cat or two dodging table legs in here.

Chattaway's is a small piece of history. In business since 1922 as a grocery store, the establishment grew into a restaurant in the mid-1940s.

Juanita Mincey, chef at Chattaway's for more than 50 years, is the engineer behind the famous Chattaburger, and chooses the specials on Fridays.

Between songs that the live band plays in the evenings, customers can catch the wait-staff bantering with one another, clearly closer than the traditional coworker bond.

The pictures of customers and family on the bar counter reinforce the comfortable local atmosphere of the space.

With WiFi and a 10 percent discount for military personnel, the Chattaway Drive-In is customer-focused, and a great place to come for a relaxing lunch or a cheerful dinner with friends.

Chattaway's is located at 358 22nd Ave. South.