Dining in St. Petersburg/ Clearwater

Here's a smattering of the great culinary experiences to be had in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area. More restaurants can be found on the web at http://www.FloridasBeach.com/nightlife/index.php.

Downtown St. Pete & The Lower Beaches

Bella Brava New World Trattoria – Italian Nouveau
Downtown St. Petersburg
The Dish: Trendy with substance, this Central Avenue trattoria serves hearty gourmet pastas, meats and pizzas. For a Tuscan twist on Florida lobster, try their signature Ravioli Aragosta.
727-895-5515
www.bellabrava.net

Caddy's Waterfront – Seafood & Barbeque
Treasure Island
The Dish: Keep your swimsuit on and your feet in the sand while you dine on a tasty grilled grouper sandwich and an ice cold beer. Need we say more?
727-360-4993
www.gulfcoastflorida.com/caddys

Ceviche Tapas Bar &
Restaurant – Spanish
Downtown St. Petersburg
The Dish: Enjoy the romance of Spain with a pitcher of Sangria, fresh tapas and zesty ceviche in this popular nightspot in a historic hotel.
727-209-2302
www.ceviche.com

Maritana Grill – New American
St. Pete Beach
The Dish: The sea surrounds you in this upscale, four-star dining room lined with aquariums. Located inside the Don CeSar Beach Resort, a Loews Hotel.
727-360-1882
www.doncesar.com/Dining/MaritanaGrille

Moon Under Water – British/Indian
Downtown St. Petersburg
The Dish: Café seating with views of Tampa Bay is a bonus to the spicy curries and ice cold ales served at this British tavern.
727-896-6160

Osaka Sushi – Japanese
Madeira Beach
The Dish: Sushi lovers don't miss this modest Japanese restaurant that serves some of the area's best rolls and nigiri at fair prices.
727-397-3885

Pacific Wave Restaurant – Asian Fusion
Downtown St. Petersburg
The Dish: Seafood and meats combined with French sauces, fresh sushi and artistic presentation make this intimate gourmet restaurant one of Florida's best.
727-822-5235
www.pacificwaverestaurant.com

Red Woods – New American
Downtown St. Petersburg
The Dish: Smoked pork chops and fried grits never tasted so good, or as gourmet, as in this small, upscale dining room where service ranks up with their high-end cuisine.
727-896-5118
www.redwoods-restaurant.com

Skidders Restaurant – American
St. Pete Beach
The Dish: A solid choice for burgers, steaks, pizza, seafood and breakfast. The owners are Greek, so many menu items have a Mediterranean flair.
727-360-1029

The Wharf – Seafood
St. Pete Beach, Pass-a-Grille
The Dish: The windows stay open year round at this rustic marina-side seafood house where they'll cook up your catch or serve you theirs.
727-367-9469

-- Lynn Waddell

Clearwater & Mid-Pinellas

Bascom's Chop House – American
Clearwater
The Dish: This eatery features thick-cut chops, juicy steaks and fresh seafood. You might spot a celebrity breezing through town to film at Home Shopping Network.
727-573-3363
www.bascoms.com

Bobby's Bistro & Wine Bar – Eclectic
Clearwater Beach
The Dish: After catching the sunset, enjoy wine, cheese and gourmet pizzas at this tucked-away, romantic bistro. The "JamAsian” baby-back ribs will kick things up a notch!
727-446-9463
www.bobbysbistro.com

City Fish Seafood and Chop House –
Steaks & Seafood
Oldsmar
The Dish: This restaurant/bar serves California-style salmon on cedar planks and some of the area's greatest sushi.
813-814-5800
www.cityfishseafoodgrill.com

Columbia Restaurant – Spanish
Clearwater
The Dish: See sunset cruises sail by as you dine at the Sand Key branch of this Florida favorite. Try the "1905 Salad” made with imported Spanish olives and special house dressing, tossed tableside.
727-596-8400
www.columbiarestaurant.com

Guppy's on the Beach – Seafood
Indian Rocks Beach
The Dish: Guppy's serves a fun twist on an old favorite: Lobster Escargot.
727-593-2032
www.3bestchefs.com

Grillsmith – American Grill
Clearwater
The Dish: This neighborhood joint cooks up fire-grilled foods such as Black Angus burgers and grilled tortilla pizzas. For lighter fare, try the Bourbon salmon salad.
727-726-6061
www.grillsmith.com

Marlin Darlin Grill – New American
Belleair Bluffs
The Dish: This hip spot features ceviche in a Chinese soup spoon and mahi mahi in rum-raisin sauce. The pear-bacon pizza and crab cake corn dogs make this a top pick for creative cooking.
727-584-1700

Tio Pepe Restaurant – Spanish Mediterranean
Clearwater
The Dish: This landmark house filled with rare antiques offers Spanish Mediterranean cuisine with banquet facilities, a wine cellar and cigar humidor. Try the pompano cooked in a parchment bag. Homemade desserts include Key lime pie.
727-799-3082
www.tiopeperestaurant.com

Wildflower Café – Natural Foods
Clearwater
The Dish: This is where the "ladies lunch” for all-natural goodies such as buttermilk biscuits and honey butter. Parties of eight or more may reserve a 2 p.m. "tea time.”
727-447-4497
www.wildflowercafe.net

-- Jennifer Michaels

Tarpon Springs, Dunedin
& Safety Harbor area

Bellini's Restaurant – Italian
Dunedin
The Dish: Faux Old World décor that nonetheless works here. Features fresh fish and pastas. Meat options spotlight veal dishes. Full wine list.
727-733-5449
www.bellinidunedin.com

Green Springs Bistro – American/
New Southern
Safety Harbor
The Dish: Conch architecture, walls festooned with vibrant art and a to-die-for gumbo. Other choices? Salmon topped with lobster sauce and a mahi-mahi sandwich. Live music at lunch and weekends.
727-669-6762
www.greenspringsbistro.com

Hellas Restaurant – Greek
Tarpon Springs
The Dish: Classic Greek fare in an atmosphere of an upscale pizzeria. Eat indoors or out. Try the fried calamari, moussaka and flaming cheese. Restaurant bakery next door for dessert. Full bar.
727-943-2400
www.hellas-restaurant.com

Kelly's For Just About...Anything –
American/Bar
Dunedin
The Dish: Kelly's serves up breakfast, lunch, dinner. Sample seafood, pasta, ribs and veggie fare in small plates or large. The Chic-a-Boom Room (in the same building) is the region's signature martini bar.
727-736-5284
www.kellyschicaboom.com

Molly Goodheads Inc. –
Seafood/American
Ozona
The Dish: A rowdy locals favorite. Eat in or out on the deck draped with Christmas lights year 'round. Try the raw oysters, crab cakes and Greek salad.
727-786-6255

Mykonos Restaurant – Greek
Tarpon Springs
The Dish: The local's favorite. Modest whitewashed building serves authentic Greek entrees. Typical meal: spanikopita, fish or soutzoukakia (essentially a Greek kebab) and baklava. Some water views. Crowds quickly at peak times.
727-934-4306

-- Laura Spinale

Culinary Landmarks

They are the restaurants where locals know the menus by heart, parking lots are full and a wait is worth it. These culinary landmarks define the St. Pete/Clearwater area as much as the sea.

Out on the islands, classics such as The Hurricane Seafood Restaurant on St. Pete Beach (727-360-9558) and Bob Heilman's Beachcomber Restaurant on Clearwater Beach (727-442-4144) serve fresh seafood and American cuisine just steps from the sand.

In St. Petersburg, the Columbia Restaurant, a white-table cloth Spanish restaurant on The Pier is a culinary reflection of the Bay area's Latin heritage (727-822-8000). Pepin's Restaurant also features Spanish dishes along with steaks and lobsters that will impress your dinner mates (727-821-3773).

Flip-flop it for a taste of smoked mullet at Ted Peter's Restaurant & Smoked Fish in South Pasadena (727-381-7931) or for the signature crab cakes at Backfin Blue Cafe in Gulfport (727-343-2583). Make that Birkenstocks at Casa Tina's Mexican Grill, which serves healthy south-of-the-border favorites and gourmet vegetarian dishes in downtown Dunedin (727-734-9226).

To learn more about dining out in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area, visit www.FloridasBeach.com/nightlife/index.php.