DINING out
Villa Bellini
Restaurant and Lounge,
2930 Gulf to Bay Blvd., Clearwater,
(727) 754-9848. Chef Ciro Mancini continues
his legacy of fine Italian cooking in this
warm family atmosphere by using fresh
organic and locally sourced ingredients
whenever possible. The cold or hot antipasti
appetizers, soups and salads, pasta specialties,
veal, chicken, fresh fish, meat and lamb on
his inspired menu will make you a regular.
Open for lunch Tues-Fri 11:30 AM-2 PM;
dinner Tues-Sun 5 PM-10:30 PM. $$$, RS,
CM, E, D, X, C, W.
South
Pinellas
400 Beach Seafood & Tap House,
400 Beach Drive N.E., St. Petersburg,
(727) 896-2400. Voted a “Top 20 Restaurant,”
it is in a beautiful location on Beach Drive
that overlooks Straub Park and the Vinoy
Yacht Basin. They are open daily for lunch
and dinner with a Sunday Brunch Buffet
from 10 AM-3 PM (regular lunch menu
available as well). They offer 24 beers on
tap, a great wine selection, award-winning
lobster rolls, oysters, as well as fish tacos
by day and fresh fish and steaks by night.
You can enjoy their great outdoor “dog
friendly” sidewalk dining or beautiful
indoor seating with private party and
meeting rooms available. Valet parking.
Open Mon-Sat 11 AM-11 PM,
Sun 10 AM-10 PM.
$$-$$$, RS, CM, X, W.
Aqua Prime, 213 Gulf Blvd.,
Indian Rocks Beach, (727) 330-7724.
Voted “Best New Restaurant” in 2014,
this stylish restaurant with its tree-shaded
outdoor patio, serves fresh seafood and
steaks with a flair. Its two bars serve
excellent drinks, and there is a good wine
selection. Their excellent service and relaxed,
but upscale, dining have made this one of
the most popular beach restaurants.
Open Mon-Fri at 4:00 PM; Sat-Sun at
11:30 AM for lunch and dinner.
$$-$$$, RS, CM, X, C, W.
Cafe Gala,
One Dali Blvd. (in the Salvador Dalí
Museum), St. Petersburg, (727) 623-4725.
This Spanish-styled cafe within the
museum is open to the public, as admission
to the Dalí is not required. Start with their
Gazpacho Soup; then enjoy one of their salads,
sandwiches or tapas dishes; and finish with
Crèma Catalana or Tiramisu de Chocolate.
You’ll enjoy this charming spot.
Open Mon-Wed 10 AM-5 PM, Thurs
10 AM-8 PM, Fri-Sat 10 AM-5:30 PM,
Sun 12 PM-5:30 PM.
$, X, C, W.
The Crafted Plate,
12600 Roosevelt Blvd.,
(in the St. Petersburg Marriott Clearwater)
St. Petersburg, (727) 572-7800. This restaurant
in Feather Sound offers chef-crafted cuisine,
using locally grown suppliers. It features
seafood, homemade pasta, flatbreads,
appetizers and fire-grilled steaks and chops.
Banquet space is available. Open Mon-Fri
6 AM-11 PM, Sat-Sun 7 AM-11 PM.
Full liquor lounge remains open late.
$$$, RS, CM, X, W.
Da Sesto Italiano Ristorante e Vino,
7199 66th Street N., Pinellas Park,
(727) 209-2695. Voted “Best Fresh Pasta”
by Tampa Bay Magazine and the Readers’
Choice award for “Best Authentic Italian
Restaurant” from the Tampa Bay Newspapers.
Owner/Chef Sesto Ramadori combines
fresh pasta from his Florida Pasta
Company with authentic Italian recipes
to make this one of the area’s most popular
Italian trattorias. Original dishes, such as
Pollo a la Sesto, Lobster Lorenzo, and their
clams and mussels with white or red sauce
are terrific at this authentic Italian venue.
There is live music on weekends, and they
cater for all occasions. Open Mon-Thurs
10 AM-9 PM, Fri 10 AM-10 PM, and
Sat 4 PM-10 PM. Sundays are available
for private parties.
$$-$$$, E, X, C, W.
Gigi’s Italian Restaurants,
5901 4th St. N., St. Petersburg,
(727) 526-2400;105 107th Ave., Treasure
Island, (727) 360-6905; and 4399 Gulf Blvd,
St. Pete Beach, (727) 363-3344. Since 1967,
these family-owned Italian trattorias have
become legendary for their award-winning
186 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2015