Dining on the Waterfront

On a coastal Florida vacation, cuisine with a view is as essential to the itinerary as a day at the beach. There's just something about shuffling through sand en route to lunch, or watching the sun set over dinner. From casual to fine, St. Pete/Clearwater offers several waterfront dining selections that make even the locals feel like they're on vacation.

Casual Classics

What Chicago did for pizza, St. Pete/Clearwater did for the grouper sandwich. You'll hardly find an area menu without one, but locals have asserted for years that the "Frenchy's" family of restaurants spaced throughout Clearwater Beach, serves the best. They've also deemed the local chain a generous provider of complimentary sunsets, and with its locations' signature proximity to the shore, you won't find a bad seat in the house. Depending on the location, you might find live music or a beachfront bar where it's perfectly acceptable to arrive sandy-footed and clad in swimwear.

On Pass-a-Grille Beach, pay homage to the landmark Hurricane Seafood Restaurant, where multi-levels offer panoramic Gulf views, live music and dancing in an atmosphere slightly more formal than that of sandier surfside hang-outs. Sunsets savored from the Hurricane's rooftop deck enhance the flavor of its something-for-everyone menu that emphasizes seafood.

Locals also are partial to Billy's Stone Crab Restaurant on nearby Tierra Verde. Feast on sweet scallops, Gulf stream mahi mahi, fresh Florida flounder and stone crabs fresh from the owner's traps. The menu is succulently simple; the atmosphere focused on creating a total experience for patrons: before or after your meal, hop aboard one of the restaurant's narrated boat tours of its surrounding waterways. Or fish off of their dock during a Full Moon Party. Live music and an open-air rooftop bar all but enforce relaxation.

Fancy This

In a wok flash of what the owners call Pacific Rim/continental/island cuisine, Island Way Grill offers a more formal approach to waterfront dining on Clearwater Beach. (Just keep in mind that in Florida, formal means tucking a Tommy Bahama shirt into a pair of walking shorts for men; sporting sundresses or capris for women. And flip-flops are de rigueur all around.)

Come by boat if you wish, and sample lollipop conch fritters and the restaurant's coveted bamboo salmon. Island Way also offers an early dining menu and a Sunday champagne brunch that you'll crave long after you leave (think of it as an edible souvenir). Just don't forget to take in the view of Clearwater Harbor between bites of sushi or bananas foster.

Downtown Delectables

What downtown St. Pete lacks in sand and shells, it makes up for in a waterfront strewn with parks, shops, museums and of course, restaurants. At The Pier, the historic Columbia Restaurant serves Spanish favorites alongside views of Tampa Bay. At the top of the Pier, Cha Cha Coconuts magnifies that view from its open-air deck and conjures the vacation vibe with live music, casual seafood and drinks that beg to be topped with umbrellas. After your meal, explore the Pier or surrounding downtown.

Arriving by boat? Try family-friendly Fish Tales at the Harborage Marina in the southern section of St. Pete's downtown. Boat parking is free as is the welcome shade on their covered deck (inside seating is available as well, but who needs it?). Try their signature salad crowned with red grouper or spicy crawfish.

Surf and Turf

South of Clearwater Beach, the hum of Pier 60 fades as you pass through tony Belleair into the soft-spoken charm of Indian Rocks Beach. Across the street from intimate public beaches, Guppy's on the Beach deliciously deviates from its ocean inspiration with a warm hazelnut crusted goat cheese appetizer and filet mignon dressed in garlic gorgonzola butter. But the fresh fish selection won't let you forget what the restaurant does best. The night we indulged, cobia, swordfish and snapper headlined with accoutrements of mango black bean salsa and roasted corn chipotle chili sauce. We ordered the "Sunset Trio" for a taste of all three. The chef takes care to feature a beer, martini and wine on the menu daily, and it's a good idea to call ahead for seating on the bustling deck at dinner.

When the table is cleared, flavors and views combine to create memorable dining experiences in St. Pete/Clearwater. My best advice: After-dinner walks on the sand or downtown streets help you store memories, not calories. Bon appetit!