Any Joe's Stone Crab-type top tier old world restaurants in St Petersburg area? (Miami: appointed, 2015)

[Marguerite2015]

We are spending a week in early December in St Petersburg this year instead of a week in South Beach like we have for a decade. We are big fans of Joe's Stone Crab in South Beach, for it's top notch food, old world NYC style legacy restaurant service and feel. Place has been in Miami Beach since the 1920s and most of it's staff have been there for decades and are true professionals. Incredible food, incredible service, and a blast to eat at. Not cheap, yes, but when you wait all year to visit Miami, it's worth the splurge.

In Miami, we also love the Rusty Pelican, and Balans on Lincoln Road. Up north, we love Zabar's in NYC - old world style places that have been around for ages that do not rest on their laurels, but are the real deal.

Can anyone point to any top notch excellent quality old world style restaurants/cafes/bakeries/delis/ice cream parlors/stores in St Petersburg area that are must visits? Is there a place that is considered the Joe's Stone Crab of St Petersburg or Clearwater or Tampa, et al?

Thank you.

[gypsychic]

There is a Rusty Pelican in Tampa on the Causeway. I haven't been for several years but It's a nice place with good food.

There is also Salt Rock Grille in Indian Shores that is very good.

[jambo101]

Well ya got your Crab Shack out by Gandy bridge =Crab Shack Restaurant, St Petersburg, FL

[sinatras]

Originally Posted by Marguerite2015

We are spending a week in early December in St Petersburg this year instead of a week in South Beach like we have for a decade. We are big fans of Joe's Stone Crab in South Beach, for it's top notch food, old world NYC style legacy restaurant service and feel. Place has been in Miami Beach since the 1920s and most of it's staff have been there for decades and are true professionals. Incredible food, incredible service, and a blast to eat at. Not cheap, yes, but when you wait all year to visit Miami, it's worth the splurge.

In Miami, we also love the Rusty Pelican, and Balans on Lincoln Road. Up north, we love Zabar's in NYC - old world style places that have been around for ages that do not rest on their laurels, but are the real deal.

Can anyone point to any top notch excellent quality old world style restaurants/cafes/bakeries/delis/ice cream parlors/stores in St Petersburg area that are must visits? Is there a place that is considered the Joe's Stone Crab of St Petersburg or Clearwater or Tampa, et al?

Thank you.

I also love Joe's and Zabar's. I was just at Zabar's yesterday before flying back to TPA.

Tampa Bay (which includes Tampa and St. Pete) is the humble, lower class cousin of Miami. You are not going to find anything like Zabar's or Joe's in Tampa Bay. I'm worried that you expect to find "top notch excellent quality old world style" restaurants here. This is a city/region that doesn't even have ONE five-star hotel. This is also a city/region that doesn't even have ONE French bakery.

The only legacy restaurants here are Bern's and Columbia (both in Tampa). I do not recommend Columbia unless you like hospital cafeteria-quality pan-Latin food.

Bern's has its fans.

I would recommend Mazzaro's in St. Pete. I would also recommend Oxford Exchange in St. Pete and Tampa.

Please for the love of god do not go to Rusty Pelican or Salt Rock Grille or Crab Shack. That crap is NOT what you are seeking.

[mrviking]

What? No love for Long John Silvers?....

[sinatras]

Originally Posted by mrviking

What? No love for Long John Silvers?....

Long John Silver's is wonderful -- on the day before a colonoscopy when you need to empty your large intestine and rectum of all fecal matter. Great day to eat Long John Silver's!

[mrviking]

Originally Posted by sinatras

Long John Silver's is wonderful -- on the day before a colonoscopy when you need to empty your large intestine and rectum of all fecal matter. Great day to eat Long John Silver's!

Nice to know there's a purpose for every restaurant.

[Marguerite2015]

Originally Posted by sinatras

I also love Joe's and Zabar's. I was just at Zabar's yesterday before flying back to TPA.

Tampa Bay (which includes Tampa and St. Pete) is the humble, lower class cousin of Miami. You are not going to find anything like Zabar's or Joe's in Tampa Bay. I'm worried that you expect to find "top notch excellent quality old world style" restaurants here. This is a city/region that doesn't even have ONE five-star hotel. This is also a city/region that doesn't even have ONE French bakery.

The only legacy restaurants here are Bern's and Columbia (both in Tampa). I do not recommend Columbia unless you like hospital cafeteria-quality pan-Latin food.

Bern's has its fans.

I would recommend Mazzaro's in St. Pete. I would also recommend Oxford Exchange in St. Pete and Tampa.

Please for the love of god do not go to Rusty Pelican or Salt Rock Grille or Crab Shack. That crap is NOT what you are seeking.

Thanks SO MUCH to everyone for their suggestions!! We don't only eat at Joe's high end type places, but we do love to do so when on vacation if possible. A decent seafood place, even if not super fancy, would be terrific, if there are no Joe's to be had in St Petersburg.

However, given that we are coming from the icy cold north, we ALSO love a decent quality sidewalk cafe so we can eat outside, hopefully not too touristy. A place where we can become "regulars" while in town - something open late-ish, if possible. (Late for us is like 10pm).

Any suggestions along these lines? Sidewalk cafe/seafood? Doesn't have to be high end, just decent drinks and food for lunch/dinner.

Thanks again!!!

[JMatl]

Tampa Bay is a wonderful place, much more down to earth and way friendlier than Miami.

There's a great 'old Florida' place you should check out in the Tierra Verde area of St. Pete called Billy's Stone Crab. They've been around for 43 years, and there's a great open air bar on the roof with a view of a bayou that attracts manatees. We usually eat up there, and have never been disappointed with the food or the friendly and outgoing staff. They are located at 1 Collany Road.

[Marguerite2015]

Thank you for the tip! Much appreciated. We love the "old Florida" places. Will check this out!

Do you happen to have any tips regarding sidewalk cafes in St Petersburg, or places to check out in Clearwater or other nearby areas?

Thanks again!