St. Petersburg • Clearwater 2009 - (Page 31) Water Witch in Gulfport – American Organic Gulfport The Dish: This restaurateur trades with area farmers and fisherman to bring hormonefree dairy and meats and fresh, never-frozen produce and seafood to American dishes. And it has a waterfront view! 727-346-2444 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 cook up the fresh catches of the day. 727-367-9469 ~ Lynn Waddell 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 Guppy’s Seafood Grill & Bar – Seafood Indian Rocks Beach The Dish: Guppy’s on the Beach serves a fun twist on an old favorite: Lobster Escargot. 727-593-2032 www.3bestchefs.com Jack Willie’s Original Tiki Bar & Grill – American Oldsmar The Dish: Beach and baseball. “Sand Lot” menu includes fresh-catch Reuben or oyster po’ boy. Dine waterside and listen to live music, or sit inside next to classic memorabilia. 813-854-1972 www.jackwilliestikibar.com Marlin Darlin’ – New American Belleair Bluffs The Dish: This hip spot features sour orange osso bucco, surf ‘n’ turf and fried lobster tail. Although off the beaten trail, this restaurant is a top pick for creative cooking. 727-584-1700 Meca – Creative Urban Cuisine Palm Harbor The Dish: “Life’s Fast, Live Fresh” is a fitting motto for this hip, healthy stop for meals of stir-fried noodles, hand-crafted paninis, gourmet salads and wraps. 727-773-8839 www.mecafresh.com Tate Island Grill at the Sandpearl Resort – Florida Seafood Clearwater Beach The Dish: Try the sugarcane shrimp salad with crunchy plantains and chili lime dressing. Watch the sunset over the Gulf while enjoying the key lime tart, a Florida staple. 727-674-4168 www.sandpearl.com Tio Pepe Restaurant – Spanish Mediterranean Clearwater The Dish: This landmark house filled with rare antiques offers Spanish Mediterranean cuisine with banquet facilities and a wine cellar. 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 » 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 :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 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 Peters Famous 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-theborder favorites and gourmet vegetarian fare in downtown Dunedin (727-734-9226). For the best authentic Greek dishes at affordable prices, locals (many Greek) have long dined at the plain and simple, iconic white and blue Mykonos in Tarpon Springs (727-934-4306). Bobby’s Bistro and 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 Café Ponte – High-end American Fusion Clearwater The Dish: Chef Ponte mixes it up by adding French, Asian and Italian influences to lunch/dinner at this trendy, New York-style café. Potato-encrusted sea bass and filet mignon are favorites. 727-538-5768 www.cafeponte.com City Fish Seafood and Chop House – Steaks & Seafood Oldsmar The Dish: This restaurant/bar serves Atlantic 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 ~ LW www.VisitStPeteClearwater.com 31 http://www.grillsmith.com http://www.wildflowercafe.net http://www.3bestchefs.com http://www.jackwilliestikibar.com http://www.bascoms.com http://www.bobbysbistro.com http://www.mecafresh.com http://www.cafeponte.com http://www.sandpearl.com http://www.cityfishseafoodgrill.com http://www.columbiarestaurant.com http://www.tiopeperestaurant.com http://www.VisitStPeteClearwater.com
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