DINING out
Broadway Deli & Cafe,
730 Broadway, Dunedin, (727) 286-6270.
Dine inside or out at this casually chic
gourmet eatery and market. They serve
omelets, eggs and wraps for breakfast and
salads, deli and specialty sandwiches for
lunch. Try their Maytag Bleu Cheese and
Nueske Applewood Smoked Bacon Burger.
They also offer homemade desserts,
“grown-up” sodas, freshly roasted coffees
and organic teas. BYOB anytime. Takeout
and catering available. Open for breakfast
and lunch Sun 8 AM-3 PM and Mon-Wed
8 AM-4 PM; for breakfast, lunch and
dinner Thurs, Fri & Sat 8 AM-9 PM.
$, X, C, W.
Café Alfresco,
344 Main St., downtown Dunedin,
(727) 736-4299. This breezy, casual café next
to the Pinellas Trail offers indoor or outdoor
dining with spiffy maple and brass whimsy.
Their menu is mostly West Coast bistro, Lite
Bites, beautiful salads, pastas, soups, Creole
items, sandwiches and burgers. Enjoy a
cappuccino with delicious European tortes,
pastries, cakes and ice cream. Open for
lunch and dinner Mon-Thurs 11 AM-9 PM,
Fri 11 AM-10 PM, Sat 10 AM-10 PM, Sun
10 AM-9 PM; brunch Sat & Sun 10 AM-2 PM.
$-$$, CM, X, W.
Cafe Ponte,
13505 Icot Blvd. (In the Icot Center
at Ulmerton Road, just east of US 19),
Clearwater, (727) 538-5768. Chef Chris Ponte
and his capable staff offer fine dining in this
casual, yet elegant café ambience. Their
restaurant serves contemporary American
cuisine with Italian, French and Asian
influences prepared in a demonstration
kitchen. They have banquet seating for up
to 50, a full bar and an eclectic wine list.
Open for lunch Mon-Fri 11:30 AM-2 PM;
dinner Mon-Thurs 5:30 PM-9 PM, Fri-Sat
5:30 PM-10 PM; Happy Hour Tues-Sat
3 PM-7 PM. $$-$$$, CM, RS, E, X, C, W.
Cappuccino’s Altro Posto Cafe,
733 Broadway, Dunedin, (727) 738-8009.
Chef Regina’s artisan-style Italian coffee
house and eatery, where “It’s all about the
food,” serves lunch daily, dinner Friday
and Saturday, homemade baked goods, wine
and beer by the bottle or glass, espresso and
more. Call ahead for takeout orders, special
requests, picnic baskets, private parties and
wine tastings. Open Mon, Wed and Thurs
8 AM-7 PM, Tues 8 AM-4:30 PM,
Fri 8 AM-10 PM, Sat 11 AM-10 PM.
$-$$, X, C, W.
Casa Tina,
365 Main St., downtown Dunedin,
(727) 734-9226. Fresh, healthy, authentic
dishes are prepared by Chef/Owner Javier
Avila from Guadalajara, and a vegetarian
menu is prepared by his wife Tina. Specialties
include fresh molé, fish with Veracruz salsa,
Tomatillo Enchiladas and fresh-roasted
Chile Relleños. Join them for lunch, dinner,
dessert, a margarita, or Sunday brunch.
Saturday and Sunday nights feature
Cirque-like entertainment. Open Mon-
Thurs 11 AM-10 PM; Fri & Sat 11 AM-11 PM;
Sun 10 AM-10 PM.
$, CM, E, X, C, W.
Clear Sky Beachside Cafe,
490 Mandalay Ave., Clearwater Beach,
(727) 442-3684. Dan Shouvlin and Michael
“Frenchy” Preston’s friendly cafe is open
from breakfast until after midnight, as they
serve a wide variety of unique favorites
that range from brick oven pizza to fresh
seafood specials. Their boutique wines and
mojito specials make this “the best happy
hour on the beach.” This charming hot spot
has live entertainment and a comfortable
beach-style atmosphere.
Open seven days a week 7 AM-1 AM.
$$, CM, E, X, C, W.
Clear Sky Draught Haus,
680 Main St. (at S.R. 580), Dunedin,
(727) 286-6266. Clear Sky Beachside Cafe’s
sister restaurant offers chef-driven pub grub
and wood-burning oven pizzas with over
50 beers (28 on tap), plus a full liquor bar
and impressive wine selections. Sit inside
or out for drinks, eats, entertainment and
camaraderie at this new hot spot. Breakfast,
lunch and dinner seven days a week.
Happy hour Mon-Fri and Late Night
menu Mon-Thurs & Sun. Open Mon-
Thurs 8 AM-12 AM, Fri 8 AM-1 AM,
Sat 7 AM-1 AM, and Sun 7 AM-12 AM.
$-$$$, CM, E, X, C, W.
Columbia Restaurant,
1241 Gulf Blvd. (on Sand Key), Clearwater,
(727) 596-8400. As Florida’s premier Spanish
restaurant for more than 100 years, it serves
the finest authentic Spanish/Cuban cuisine.
Try the Original “1905” Salad®, Snapper
Alicante, Grilled Grouper and Arroz con Pollo
Valenciana. With waterfront views of the
Intracoastal waterway, it is located on
beautiful Sand Key, next door to the Marriott
Suites Resort. Open daily for lunch
11:30 AM-4 PM; dinner 4 PM-10 PM.
$$, RS, CM, X, W.
Cooters Restaurant & Bar,
423 Poinsettia Ave., Clearwater Beach,
(727) 462-2668. Cooters is the place to go
on Clearwater Beach for delicious food, friendly
service and a fun, casual atmosphere.
They feature fresh-off-the-boat grouper,
king crab, sirloin burgers, hand-cut steaks
and famous all-you-can-eat crab legs specials,
as well as amazing wings, smoked grouper
spread, and she crab soup. Full liquor bar
with a great daily happy hour. A pet-friendly
patio, take-out and off-site catering are also
available. Open Sun-Thurs 11 AM-11 PM;
Fri & Sat 11 AM-Midnight.
$-$$, CM, X, C, W, Free WiFi.
Cork N Brew Bistro,
524 Mandalay Ave., Clearwater Beach,
(727) 483-5990. Enjoy this unique bistro
that features lava rock cooking at your
table. An assortment of appetizers, small
plates, flatbreads and dining selections can
be paired with a large variety of craft beers
and both domestic and imported wines.
Open Weekdays 4 PM-Midnight,
and Weekends 4 PM-1 AM.
$$-$$$ E, X, W.
Currents Restaurant, 200 E. Tarpon Ave.,
Tarpon Springs, (727) 940-5377. This
intimate, boutique restaurant, inspired by
the fresh concept of culinary arts, is
commited to sustainability and has joined
the gluten-free movement. Chef Derrick
Roese creates eclectic daily menus from
fresh seasonal ingredients directly from
local farmers, fishermen and purveyors.
Specialty martinis and unique wine dinners
are also available here, and the friendly wait
staff will make you feel at home. Open for
lunch Mon-Sat 11:30 AM-2:30 PM; and for
dinner Mon-Thurs 4 PM-10 PM, Fri-Sat
4 PM-11 PM. $$-$$$, RS, X, C, W.
Cuvée 103,
2454 McMullen Booth Rd.,
Clearwater, (727) 726-0350. This new
restaurant in Northwood Commons (the
southeast corner of McMullen Booth Rd.
and Enterprise) in Countryside, that has
already been highly rated by the Tampa Bay
Times, is an exciting opportunity to dine on
new American cuisine with a twist while
enjoying live music. Their Stuffed Pork,
Short Ribs and Ahi Tuna will wow you.
The wine and beer selections are excellent
as well. Open Mon-Tues 4 PM-10 PM,
Wed-Thurs 4 PM-11 PM,
Fri-Sat 4 PM-Close. $$-$$$, RS, E, X, W.
Dunedin Bagels and Deli,
716 Main St. (S.R. 580), Dunedin,
(727) 734-1829. This cozy, family-owned
and operated eatery is a small place
with big, Old World deli and Cuban
sandwiches. They use the best ingredients
they can get for their boiled and baked
New York water bagels, soups, salads,
single and multi-decker sandwiches, sweets,
pastries and Cuban-roasted coffee. Eat in,
curbside pick up, limited delivery, party
trays and catering available.
Open daily 7 AM-7 PM. $, X, C, W.
E & E Stakeout Grill
& Kokopelli’s Bar,
100 N. Indian Rocks Rd., Belleair Bluffs,
(727) 585-6399. This seafood-oriented
steakhouse has a beautiful sparkling
waterfall and emits an aura of relaxation
and intimacy. It is famous for its beef,
and great care is taken to select the
choicest seafood and Prime beef.
They have an excellent wine list,
full bar and now offer a "small plate"
selection on the menu. It is part of the
“Three Best Chefs” group with Guppy's
and Mystic Fish. There is al fresco dining
on the patio. Takeout available. Open
Mon-Thurs 11:30 AM-10 PM,
Fri-Sat 11:30 AM-10:30 PM,
Sun 4 PM-10 PM.
$$, RS, CM, X, C, W.
Forlini’s Restaurant,
435 Mandalay Ave N., Clearwater Beach,
(727) 441-1111. Forlini’s is a local favorite
with a true family tradition of serving
authentic Italian cuisine and fine wine since
1981. Homemade Lasagna and Gnocchi are
just a few of the pasta favorites. Specialties
include Lobster Sinatra, Honey Lemon
Salmon, Osso Buco and Veal. All entrées
are served with fresh bread, baked in house,
and soup or salad. Award Winning Wine
List & Full Bar available.
Open Tues-Sun 5 PM-10 PM.
$$, RS, CM, X, W.
178 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2015