C U I S I N E
Excellence in Downtown
St. Petersburg
400 Beach Seafood & Tap House
ONE OF THE FIRST
restaurants to
establish itself on
By Margaret Word Burnside and Aaron R. Fodiman
Beach Drive in downtown
St. Petersburg was Steve
Westphal’s 400 Beach
Seafood & Tap House,
which he opened to pair
with his highly successful
Parkshore Grill. Featuring
relaxed coastal cuisine, it has
evolved, but also remained
very much the same over
the years. Now, with Chef Ana Davis overseeing
The Florida Grouper Oscar at 400 Beach is fresh-caught grouper topped with
jumbo lump crab, hollandaise and grilled asparagus over potato hash.
the kitchen, it continues to be one
of our area’s most popular restaurants.
The attractive décor, private party room,
comfortable bar and extensive outdoor
seating are all wonderful, but it is still
the food and drink here that make it a
favorite of ours.
The restaurant is open seven days a
week for both lunch and dinner, including
a Sunday Brunch from 10 am to 3 pm.
It offers 24 beers on tap, a great selection
of bottled beer and an excellent wine list
with many wines offered by the glass.
To begin your meal, there is an array
of appetizers, from a luscious Lobster
Mac and Cheese to classic Crab Cakes.
You can also order from their Oyster
Bar, which features specialties such as
their Tap House Oysters with garlic leek
butter and Parmesan; Oysters Rockefeller
with spinach, bacon and hollandaise; and
Roasted Bleu Cheese Oysters. We like to
Grouper. In addition to the
accompaniments that are
served with your dinner,
they also offer an incredible
Chorizo Roasted Corn
Risotto, Sautéed Spinach,
Grilled Asparagus, Stir Fry
Vegetables, Island Rice and
various potatoes.
The service is efficient
and friendly, with the
attentiveness that makes
you want to return often.
NORRA
The desserts are an ever-changing
selection with both the usual, such as Key
Lime Pie, and others that are more exotic
and unusual. Everything at 400 Beach
is calculated to make your experience
memorable, and they even provide free
valet parking, which on Beach Drive in
downtown St. Petersburg is heaven sent.
9
EDITOR’S NOTE: 400 Beach Seafood
& Tap House is located at 400 Beach
Drive N.E., across from the Vinoy and
Straub Park in downtown St. Petersburg,
(727) 896-2400. Reservations are suggested.
order the Oyster Trio, which is three of
each of these specialties.
There are six salad selections to which
you can add chicken, shrimp, steak or
salmon; although, that would be overkill
on the Seafood Louis, which is already
loaded with shrimp, scallops and crab.
Three of the salads, the 400 Beach, the
Caesar, and the Iceberg “Wedge,” can be
ordered in either small or large portions.
“The Wedge” is covered in bacon, bleu
cheese, dressing, red onions and diced
tomatoes.
In addition to seafood main courses,
there are so many more choices, as well
as daily specials. There is a Fresh Catch of
the Day, but also a Vegetable Stir Fry,
two steaks, short ribs, twin pork chops
and chicken. The seafood options begin
with traditional Fried Haddock Fish and
Chips and include Shrimp, Sea Scallops,
King Crab, Lobster Tails, Tilapia,
Mahi Mahi, Salmon, Seared Tuna and
MARCH /APRIL 2016 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 169