Favorite places to eat in Tampa Bay area (Tarpon Springs, Gulfport: appointed, best)

[Davachka]

Oh I just thought of another place w/good veg food (though slow yet friendly service).

Consciousness Blossoms in Palm Harbor. They are open for breakfast and lunch every day, but I think dinner is only served on Fridays. Has a mellow, Buddhist sort of vibe and is 100% vegetarian and vegan.

[pezzy669]

The King and I Thai restaurant in St. Petersburg has EXCELLENT Thai and Sushi. Prices are very reasonable and the atmosphere is very cozy.

Only downside is service can be hit or miss during lunch as they frequently only have 1 server. Food is still well worth it though.

[SuziSu]

Originally Posted by pk33615

kinda surprised no mention of Rick's on the river, near Seminole Hts....good live music..nice view of downtown...good bar food...

and one of, if not THE best hole-in-the-wall philly-style cheese-steak places...in Clearwater...was called LaSpada's...and they changed the name sometime last year...i'm sure someone else local knows where i mean...but mannnnn heaven wrapped in foil...

Yeah I just went there for the first time this last labor day. That place is a hidden treasure! I love it! Another really great recent place I have grown to love is Gilligan's in downtown Tampa. Great bartender and cheap food with something oh so important by the name of NFL sunday ticket. Both bars are great! I can't wait to go back!

[kozzak]

Superb Tampa Bay Restaurants & Eateries

In the center of Florida’s west coast lies the famed Tampa Bay. This natural harbor is divided between the 2 bays, Tampa Bay on the west side & Hillsborough bay on the east side with the Palma Ceia peninsula of the City of Tampa dividing the 2 bays. Surrounding this body of water are the famed cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Bradenton & Sarasota along with picturesque villages, towns & communities as Bull Frog Creek, Ozona, Oldsmar, Anna Maria, Riverview, Venice, Long Boat Key, Coquina Beach, Holmes Beach, Safety Harbor, Tarpon Springs, etc.

In these wonderfully unique locations one can find Cuban, Spanish, Italian, Greek, Russian, Serbian, Albanian, German, French, Mexican, Brazilian, Argentinian, Turkish, Moroccan, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian, Philippino, Thai, Indonesian, Romanian, English, Irish, Cajun, Creole and many other types of cuisines served in haute-cuisine restaurants cafes, pubs, bistros, diners, mom & pop restaurants, take-outs, etc.

The wide variety of cuisines, the lovely settings, the temperate weather draw the tourists, snow-birds & business folks who all demand that the quality of the food be the best. In this article I will deal with a total of the best 15 not according to any panel, any one "expert" but according to my own taste buds & other senses. I will not put them into any order so that there is any sort of preference. Just listing them as I see fit so that you may, if you visit these wonderful eateries, rank by preference for yourself..

CITY FISH
4022 Tampa Road
Oldsmar, Florida 34677
Ph: 813-814-5800

An upscale restaurant featuring the very best in seafood, steaks & wonderful desserts. All food preparations is visible to the customer via large TV screens, huge mirrors over food prep areas or by simply walking over from your table to watch while your food is prepared. The quality of the food is 5-Star. Calling ahead for a reservation is advised on weekends. There is an outside patio that is air-conditioned, has plastic panels to ward off inclement weather & a well stocked bar. Their Conch Salad is the best I have had this side of Nassau!


LYNCHES PUB & GRUB
19-B North Boulevard
St. Armand’s Circle
Sarasota, Florida 34236
http://www.lynchespunandgrub.com (broken link)
Ph: 841-388-5550

Small, homey, distinctly Irish and a wonderful place for lunch or supper as well as a drinks, this place ranks at the top of my favorites. This unique eatery evolved from the famous Lynche’s Landing on Long Boat Key just about 2 miles north of this location. A fine & wonderful mixture of traditional Irish cuisine and American favorites fill the menu of this eatery! Their delicious Irish Lamb Stew, Cork Cottage Pie, & Corned beef 7 cabbage compete well wit their excellent stuffed grouper, grilled shrimp or New York Strip Steak. You can get an honest Irish Coffee, a Guinness Stout, a Bushmill’s neat or any other beverage that you wish. Another great place to pass time, make friends & be happy!

ENVER’S PARADISE RESTAURANT
443 Main Street
Safety Harbor, Florida
Ph: 727-725-1208

A unique blend of Southern European cuisine combined with traditional American diner-fare is the hallmark of this eatery. The owners are from Albania & have introduced such great things as Lemon-Rice Soup, Albanian baklava & number of other great Euro tastes. Their Albanian Omelet is a breakfast specialty that is just too delicious to describe! On the menu are the usual American favorites such as an Open-Faced Hot Roast Beef sandwich with REAL mashed potatoes, burgers of many descriptions, grouper sandwiches & so much more!


DAVE’S RESTAURANT
2339 MLK Jr. (9th.) Street North
St. Petersburg, Florida 33704
Ph: 727-895-6057

Traditional American diner located in downtown St. Petersburg. Serving breakfast, lunch & supper with a menu that is full of good, mouth-watering, rib-sticking tasty food. Known for their wonderful chicken sandwiches, 9 of them to be exact, a fantastic chicken-walnut salad, gourmet burgers & a selection of seafood as well as meat entrees this place is a great place for any meal! Their legendary homemade pies are a special treat! Family owned & operated so you can expect a table-side visit from one of the family to see how you are faring with them. Do not bring your plastic because these folks take cash only.


2 CHEFS CAFÉ
3065 Anderson Snow Road
Spring Hill, Florida 34609
Ph: 352-799-9096
URL: 2 Chef's Cafe | Spring Hill Restaurant

Owned & operated by 2 excellent chefs who know about what people like to eat. This café always serves up tasty fare. Their signature Broccoli-Cheese Soup is a standard along with another soup fo the day each & everyday. Sandwiches, wraps & so much more round out their menu. Chicken Pot Pie is a specialty of the house that many people call ahead for, pickup & take home. These delicious pot pies will feed 4 people. Another favorite is the Cheese Crusted Chicken Breast or you can have their hand-rubbed, roasted-to-perfection Roast beef. Both of these are just a sampling of the excellent cooking that comes out of this café.


CAFFE PARADISO
St. Croix Plaza
4205 South MacDill Avenue
Tampa, Florida 33611
Ph: 813-835-6622

Paolo Tini, genial host/owner of this piece of Italy in Tampa, will make you feel welcome as he & his excellent wait-staff seat, serve & treat you to the best of Italian cuisine. Paolo is a 3rd. Generation restauranteur who was born & raised in the old country. You will have the best of Italian wines, appetizers, entrees & desserts as you dine in this corner of Italia in Florida. If you loike veal then you are at the right place when you arrive at Caffee Paradiso! Their seafoods, pastas, & other entrees are to die for! Abasolutely the best Chicken Marsala this side of Rome! The dessert menu is not large but it is special. People come from nay parts of the country to eat the world’s best Creme Brulee or any of the other scrumptious desserts on the menu. Open for supper only but where you will be treated with old world charm, courtesy & hospitality as you dine in this wonderful restaurant.


JOHN’S CORNER FAMILY RESTAURANT
711 South Broad Street
Brooksville, Florida
Ph: 352-796-7722

John & Lilly Mundreanu, a Romanian couple, own & operate this small town eatery. They came here form Romania after the collapse of the Communist world in the early 1990's. They along with their kids serve up great American as well as Romanian fare for the lunch & supper crowds that always are at their tables. Holiday meals are a big treat for the locals who live close. At Thanksgiving it was by reservation only the tables styed filled! Their Romanian chicken, soups & other Romanian dishes on the menu serve to compliment the grerat American favorites that also appear there. If you like lamb shanks then place is your homing beacon! Come ready to eat & ready to be filled up!


YOKO’S JAPANESE RESTAURANT & SUSHI BAR

South MacDill Avenue

Tampa, Florida 33629

Ph:

Owned & operated by a diminutive * delightful lady, Yoko herself, this is a bit of Japan in south Tampa. Fresh flowers arranged in tarditional japanese style are on every table. The menu is large, authentically ethnic Japanese, & fare to be savored! Sushi is alarge part of this establishment’s fame & rightly so. It is the best sushi in Florida & perhaps in the entire USA! You can sit at the sushi bar exchanging quips with the sushi chefs or at a table or at a Japanese floor table as you partake of such wonderful Japanese dishses as Pork Tonkatsu, Beef Sukiyaki, Seafood Kaoribana & a myriad of other wonderful ethnic dishes from the Land of the Rising Sun. Quality, service & great food are the hallmarks for which this eatery are known & appreciated. You never know who will sit beside youa t the sushi bar. Tampa Bay Buccaneers players & coaches frequent this place as do other notable celebs. Be sure to come empty because you will wnat to fill up completely here. Their signature sushi offering is their own Bucs Roll named for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after they won the Superbowl.



BABALU BAR & RESTAURANT
9246 4th. Street North
St. Petersburg, Florida 33712
Ph: 727-576-7414

Cold beer, great burgers, superb seafood & low prices keep this traditon alive & well. Just 10 minutes from Tampa across the Gandy Bridge it is a slice of the 1950 & 1960's that has never faded into oblivion. Blackened or grilled grouper is their signature in seafood. Their burgers are tops with full ½ pound of meat, your choice of toppings & dressings along with real old-fashioned fries are a good meal anytime. It is place wheer no one will remain a stranger for long. Friendly wait-staff, friendly regulars & a noj-pretentious atmosphere all serve to make this a casual place for fun. Just around the corner from the famous Derby Lane Dog Track lunchtime sees the matinee race fans, supper sees the evening race fans when the dogs are running. Daily specials, homemade desserts & generous servings combine to ake this a place to go to eat as well as visit.


GREEK VILLAGE RESTAURANT
11125 Park Boulevard at Johnson Boulevard
Seminole, Florida
Ph: 727-393-6669

A taste of Greece is the ebst description of the fare of this great eatery. Traditional Greek dishes such as Moussaka, Pastitsio, Zaziki, Spanokopeta & many others grace the menu here. If it Greek tey can make it! Their Greek salads are famous as well. On Saturdays at 6:30PM & again at 7:30PM there is a belly dancing show that is worth the trip as well. Dieting is not allowed here. Come to eat & then do so!


ST. PETERSBURG NIGHTS RUSSIAN RESTAURANT & NIGHT CLUB
6800 Sunset Way
St. Petersburg, Florida 33706
Ph: 727-363-3832

Prepare yourself for a taste of the Rus! With an excellent selection of Russian Baltic & Ukrainian beers, wines from Moldova, the Georgian Republic, the Crimea as well as the usual French, Italian & American wines the well stocked bar is simply the begining in this ultra-Euro eatery. The menu is comprized of the ebst of the Rus. Chicken Tabaka is the signature dish along with vareniky, pelmeni, borscht, Cjicken Kyiv (prepared the REAL way) Beef Stroganov, Salat Olivier just to mention a few of the great delicacies waiting fr you here. Entertainment is also available on the weekends & during the week. Russian dining ios not hurried affair. Be prepared to spend a few hours having your drinks, eating zakuski (appetizers), enjoying salads, some soup an entree & finally a dessert. Eating slowly, taking time between the courses & enjoying the meal to the fullest is the Rus way.


SPARTACO TRATTORIA
3215 South MacDill Avenue
Tampa, Florida 33629
Ph: 813-837-1793

Family recipes from Italy are the trademark of this small but popular eatery in south Tampa’s Palma Ceia. It is a place packed with tradition as well as taste. You will truly love the owner’s Osso Bucco, his pastas & his antipasto are all well favored by the many regulars who eat there. It truly is a taste of old Italy in south tampa.

INDOCHINOIS
3324 Gandy Boulevard
Tampa, Florida 33611
Ph: 813-831-3432

Owned & operated by a Vietnamese family with a talent for the art of Indochinese food as well as servcie to the customer. The dishes here are excellent, tasty & a true piece of Viet Nam in Tampa. Go hungry, go with an open mind & a sense of adventure so you fully experience as well as appreciate the wonderful cuisine in this Asian bistro. Spring Rolls, Pho soup & Bung Nha Thit are just a few of the offerings here for the hungry patron.

La Cachette de la Plage
321 Gulf Boulevard
Indian Rocks Beach, FL 33785
Ph: 727-596-5439

Crisp white linens, fresh flowers on every table, warm and comfortable surroundings, excellent food, good wine, gracious service. Hospitality, the old fashioned way.
We invite you to make a reservation and enjoy a pleasurable evening dining with us at our little "hideaway at the beach."
http://www.lacachetteflorida.com


The Columbia Restaurant
2117 East 7th Avenue
Tampa, Florida 33605
Tel: (813) 248-4961

A fixture since 1905, Columbia is the jewel in Ybor City's culinary crown. Operated by the 4th and 5th generations of the Hernandez Gonzmart family, this landmark restaurant features toothsome Spanish/Cuban classics, a phenomenal wine list and paella that's arguable the most satisfying in Florida. Hand-rolled cigars are for sale in the on-site gift ship, and Flamenco dancing is a nightly attraction.
Columbia Restaurant - Locations


The Colonade
3401 Bayshore Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33629
Ph: (813) 839-7558

Since 1935 The Colonnade has become one of Florida's finest seafood restaurants. With fresh fish delivered daily, exceptional service and one of the area's most magnificent locations, we are a Tampa Bay favorite! Our dedication to quality is found in every aspect of this family owned and operated restaurant. We still do things the old-fashion way with our dressings, soups, bakery and dessert items made daily. We believed in offering the best seafood available. Our shrimp are large, our fish is superbly prepared and when we say crab, you not only taste but see succulent lump crab meat. We also offer one of the area's largest menu selections and our culinary team expertly prepares a variety of delicious specials every day.
http://www.thenade.com


Bern's Steakhouse
1208 S. Howard Ave
Tampa, FL 33606
Ph: 813-251-2421

With our passion for quality and impeccable attention to detail, we want to ensure that your steak is hand cut, prepared and broiled precisely to your liking. We’ve elevated the steak dinner to an art, and we believe you’ll savor your meal as much as we enjoy serving them. It is not unusual to see celebrities from all over the globe dining at Bern's.
http://www.bernssteakhouse.com


Donatello's
232 N. Dale Mabry Hwy.
Tampa
Ph: (813)875-6660

Northern Italian cuisine served in a Mediterranean atmosphere. With waiters in tuxedos and individual table lighting, Donatello features a variety of specialties, including veal dishes accented with a variety of trimmings


Lauro Ristorante Italiano
3915 Henderson Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33609
Ph: (813)281-2100

An excellent & locally owned Italian restaurant renowned for its caprese, putanesca, gnocchi, agnoloeti, and phenomenal sauces and pastas.


Le Bordeaux Jazz Bistro
1502 S. Howard Ave.
Tampa, FL 33606
Ph: (813)254-4387

Genuine French food at reasonable prices with solid jazz. A dynamic menu listing a wide variety of French cuisine, with specials such as salmon en crouate and pot au feu.


Fourth Street Shrimp Store
1006 4th St. North
St. Petersburg, FL 33714
Ph: (727)822-0325

A casual atmosphere for everyone's comfort this eatery serves up fresh grouper, smelts, and other seafood on paper plates with plastic silverware.


Nick's On The Water
230 Sarasota Quay
Sarasota, FL
Ph: (941)954-3839

You may order pizza and pasta as well as delicious & wonderful Italian seafood. Diners may eat inside or out on the terrace overlooking the marina.
Nick's on the Water Sarasota | Menuism

The Lobster Pot
17814 Gulf Blvd.
Redington Shores, FL
Ph: (727)391-8592

Ideally located on the beach this eatery is home to some of the finest seafood in the area. In addition to French-style lobster, Lobster Pot offers grouper, salmon, swordfish, and all sorts of other fine catches.
http://www.lobsterpotrestaurant.com


Valencia Garden
811 W. Kennedy Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33606
Ph: 813-253-3773

It originated in 1927 and is family owned, serving Spanish food with authentic flavors. Arroz con pollo (chicken with rice) is the signature dish, but there’s no shortage of chicken, seafood and meat items to choose from. The service is attentive, but not overbearing. Lunch finds city leaders filling up the tables.
http://www.valenciagarden.com


Arigato
3600 66th Street
St. Petersburg, FL 33710
Ph: 727-398-2222

Benihana has nothing on this teppan yaki restaurant! The food, the service & the tastes are all what make this the best teppan yaki eatery in the world!
http://www.dinearigato.com


Spinners Revolving Rooftop Bar & Restaurant
5250 Gulf Boulevard
St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
Ph: 727-360-1811

Great view, great service & superior food all combine to make this restaurant one that you cannot miss. Fresh local seafood, great steaks and fantastic salads arew what you wil find here!
St Pete Beach restaurants - Spinners Restaurant - Revolve around St Pete Beach


The Rusty Pelican
2425 North Rocky Point Drive
Tampa, FL 33607
Ph: (813) 281-1943

As you would expect from the anme seafood is the featrured fare at this lovely restaurant. A true gem, The Rusty Pelican has maintained a landmark reputation in the Tampa Bay area for the past 24 years. Stunning and sophisticated with four beckoning warm fireplaces, guests can gaze at the bay and listen to the soothing sound of waves lapping at the pier below. Recent honors include a nomination for “the best view”, with an incredible panorama of Tampa Bay and the lights underneath the restaurant that illuminate the bay’s marine life you won’t find a more relaxing place to dine. The Rusty Pelican offers both casual yet elegant dining and extraordinary full service banquet facilities. It doesn’t matter whether you’re having an intimate dinner for two prepared tableside in the restaurant or attending a grand event in one of the private rooms, both offer spectacular views of Old Tampa Bay and its amazing sunsets.
http://tampa.therustypelican.com


Pepin's Spanish Restaurant
4125 4th St North
St. Petersburg, FL 33703
Ph: 727-821-3773

Quiet, dimly lit, and gracious, this esteemed restaurant has been a fixture on St. Petersburg's dining scene for more than a generation. Its flavorful cuisine includes such favorites as steak and lobster, along with moist baked pompano, pork, and delectable paellas. Tapas offerings elicit kudos from patrons, and tableside salad preparation and fish fileting add notes of gentility.

[Bambina]

The Water Witch in Gulfport (thewaterwitch.com) comes to mind. It's the first all organic restaurant in Pinellas. Open for B/L/D. They also have an all organic market there, every saturday am. I get my fresh herbs and tea leaves there. We like it a lot. The menu seems indredibly fresh and healthy but still hearty enough for my meat loving hubby, lol. Our kids love it too. they change their menu weekly and use local farms for their produce. Definitely worth checking it out.

[SouthTampaSurfer]

What I have not seen mentioned in this thread and I never hear anyone mention is Green Springs Bistro in Safety Harbor. I have been there about 4-5 times and in my opinion, the food is excellent. It is an old house converted into a restaurant. There are a variety of dishes (steaks, fish, chicken).

[Chaoticsweetness]

I love Paradise restaurant in Safety Harbor. Delicious food.

Lucky Dill in Palm Harbor has AMAZING mouthwatering sandwiches.

Britts Laguna Grill on Clearwater Beach has the best WRAPS I have ever eaten, yummy!

Shephards on Clearwater Beach; I am surprised no one listed it on here yet, but their buffet is always fresh & its got great food

[parasol]

Originally Posted by Bambina

The Water Witch in Gulfport (thewaterwitch.com) comes to mind. It's the first all organic restaurant in Pinellas. Open for B/L/D. They also have an all organic market there, every saturday am. I get my fresh herbs and tea leaves there. We like it a lot. The menu seems indredibly fresh and healthy but still hearty enough for my meat loving hubby, lol. Our kids love it too. they change their menu weekly and use local farms for their produce. Definitely worth checking it out.

Sounds good! What other things do they have at the organic market and what are the hours on Saturday?

[wiltznucs]

Zudars deli in Tampa, the Columbia, Berns is a must visit...

[Bambina]

Originally Posted by parasol

Sounds good! What other things do they have at the organic market and what are the hours on Saturday?

As I remember the market opens at 8 'til 12, they have all produce, fruits, Tea's, Coffee's, honey, cheese, Syrup, eggs... well, you name it. We always combine it with a nice breakfast on the water. Gulfport is a cute little town...