DINING
out
Salt Rock Tavern,
3689 Tampa Rd., Oldsmar, (813) 336-4977.
This new Baystar Restaurant combines a
unique menu of casual dining with 21 craft
beers on tap and other bar favorites.
Everything from their “Just Caught Fish”
with smoked gouda grits to their Double
Cut Bone-In Pork Chop are prepared with
flair, as are their flatbreads, burgers and
salads. Try their “Snap, Crackle, Pop” Beer
Cocktail for a real treat. Open Sun 10 AM-
9 PM (including Brunch from 10 AM-2 PM);
Mon-Thurs 4 PM-10 PM; Fri-Sat 4 PM-
11 PM. $$-$$$, RS, CM, X, C, W.
Sea Sea Riders,
221 Main St. (at Alt. 19 and State Rd. 580),
downtown Dunedin, (727) 734-1445. Enjoy
a taste of “New” Florida in an Old Florida
atmosphere in the dining room or on the
veranda. Start with the “#1 Chili in Tampa
Bay,” and be sure to try the Buffalo-style
Mahi Bites, the Seafood Extravaganza and
their signature cheesecakes. Open daily for
lunch and dinner Mon-Thurs 11:30 AM-
10 PM, Fri-Sat 11:30 AM-11 PM, and Sun
11:30 AM-9 PM; brunch Sun 11:30 AM-
2 PM. $-$$, CM, X, C, W.
Stephen Michael’s Palm Cafe, 1143
Michigan Blvd., Dunedin, (727) 298-DFAC
(3322). Located in the Dunedin Fine Art
Center, this unique cafe offers soups, salads,
sandwiches and quiches that are creative
and flavorful. It proudly serves gourmet
coffees, featuring fresh-roasted Buddy Brew
Coffee. Now open Mon-Fri 9:00 AM-2 PM
and Sat 10 AM-2 PM. $, X, W.
Terrace Cafe at Bon Appétit,
150 Marina Plaza, Dunedin Marina,
Dunedin, (727) 733-2151. Enjoy casual,
al fresco waterfront dining at one of the area’s
finest restaurants. Watch the boats, dolphins
and pelicans while you order from the Bon
Appétit dining room menu’s selection of
salads and entrées, including specialties
such as Dover sole and rack of lamb.
Open daily for lunch and dinner Sun-Thurs
12 PM-9 PM, Fri-Sat 12 PM-10 PM.
and brunch Sun 12 PM-4 PM, weather
permitting. $-$$, RS, X, W.
Thai Spice Restaurant,
2475 McMullen Booth Rd. #B (at SW corner
of McMullen Booth and Enterprise Rds.),
Clearwater, (727) 791-7050. Owner Supattra
“Sue” Bowers serves fresh, healthy, authentic
Thai cuisine, as well as Thai food with an
American flair. Her chef creates dishes to
order that can be flavored mild, medium or
spicy to suit your taste. The ambience is
trendy, and the service is hospitable. Dine
in, take out or arrange for delivery. Open
for lunch Mon-Fri 11:30 AM-3 PM; dinner
Mon-Sat 5 PM-10 PM, Sun 5 PM-9 PM. $$,
CM, V, MC, W.
Villa Bellini
Restaurant and Lounge,
2930 Gulf to Bay Blvd., Clearwater,
(727) 754-9848. Chef Ciro Mancini continues
his legacy of fine Italian cooking in this
warm family atmosphere by using fresh
organic and locally sourced ingredients
whenever possible. The cold or hot antipasti
appetizers, soups and salads, pasta specialties,
veal, chicken, fresh fish, meat and lamb on
his inspired menu will make you a regular.
Open for lunch Tues-Fri 11:30 AM-2 PM;
dinner Tues-Sun 5 PM-10:30 PM. $$$, RS,
CM, E, D, X, C, W.
South
Pinellas
400 Beach Seafood & Tap House,
400 Beach Drive N.E., St. Petersburg,
(727) 896-2400. Under the direction of Chef
Ana Davis, they are open daily for lunch
and dinner with a Sunday Brunch Buffet
from 10 AM-3 PM (regular lunch menu
available as well). Voted a “Top 20 Restaurant,”
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. They have
“dog friendly” sidewalk dining or beautiful
indoor seating with private party, meeting
rooms and curb service available. Romantic
carriage rides Fri-Sat. 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. Under the
direction of Chef Jason Vargo, 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 daily at noon. Full menu throughout
the day featuring lunch, bar menu, happy
hour and dinner. Enjoy live entertainment
Thurs-Sun. Event spaces available for up to
70 guests. $$-$$$, 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
that features the daily creations of Chef
Chuck Bandel. 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.
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 Tues-Thurs
11 AM-9 PM, Fri 11 AM-10 PM, and Sat
4 PM-10 PM. Sundays are available for
private parties. $$-$$$, E, X, C, W.
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186 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015