Restaurant turns stolen BBQ smoker into new opportunity

The staff at Haven, sister restaurant of the famed Bern’s Steak House in Tampa, created a new recipe for instant success by mixing two ingredients. One is new: the pandemic pivot. The other is an old one: when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

For Haven, the result is Larceny BBQ, a monthly pop-up food stand, for dine-in or takeout, that, in the words of a promotional press release, “will steal your appetite.” The concept has been wildly popular in its first two months, says Haven Executive Chef Chad Johnson, selling out in food and seats in the restaurant.