DINING
out
North Pinellas continued
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 Fine Wine
& Espresso Bar,
733 Broadway, Dunedin, (727) 738-8009.
Regina Invandino’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, wine tastings and to order
French wine with your dog’s picture and
name on the label. 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. $-$$, X, C, W.
Carmelita’s Mexican Grill and Cantina,
1280 Main St., Dunedin, (727) 240-4946.
Vince and Carmen Lopez’s newest Dunedin
location brings a history of serving fresh
traditional style Mexican Food in Tampa
Bay. The friendly and casual atmosphere
makes locals and tourists feel at home.
From their creamy chicken enchiladas to
their daily prepared chiles relleños to their
specialty filet mignon fajitas you will see
why Carmelita’s is the place to go. Open
Sun-Thurs 11 AM-9 PM, Fri-Sat 11 AM-10
PM. $$, 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 Chili 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.
Cesare’s Fine Italian Cuisine,
794 South Gulfview Blvd., Clearwater
Beach, (727) 449-8797. Cesare and Carlo
have created the epitome of Italian
restaurants, where all the desserts, pastas
and breads are made fresh daily. Whether
you are looking for Pappardelle with Wild
Mushrooms or a filet in a brandy sauce, you
will find it here. The cozy atmosphere and
special wine list make dining at Cesare’s
memorable. Open seven days a week from
5 PM-10 PM. $$$, X, W.
Clear Sky Beachside Cafe,
490 Mandalay Ave., Clearwater Beach,
(727) 442-3684. Dan Shouvlin and Michael
“Frenchy” Preston’s friendly cafe is open
from breakfast until after midnight, as they
serve a wide variety of unique favorites
that range from brick oven pizza to fresh
seafood specials. Their boutique wines and
mojito specials make this “the best happy
hour on the beach.” This charming hot spot
has live entertainment and a comfortable
beach-style atmosphere. Open seven days a
week 7 AM-1 AM. $$, 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.
$-$$, CM, X, C, W, Free WiFi.
Cork N Brew Bistro,
524 Mandalay Ave., Clearwater Beach,
(727) 483-5990. Enjoy this unique bistro
that features lava rock cooking at your
table. An assortment of appetizers, small
plates, flatbreads and dining selections can
be paired with a large variety of craft beers
and both domestic and imported wines.
Open Weekdays 4 PM-Midnight,
and Weekends 4 PM-1 AM.
$$-$$$ E, X, W.
Currents Restaurant,
200 E. Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs,
(727) 940-5377. This intimate boutique
restaurant is commited to sustainability
and has joined the gluten-free movement.
Eclectic daily menus are prepared from
fresh seasonal ingredients sourced from
local farmers, fishermen and purveyors.
Specialty martinis and unique wine dinners
are also available here, and the friendly wait
staff will make you feel at home.
Open Mon-Thurs 11:30 AM-9 PM,
Fri-Sat 11:30 AM-10 PM. $$-$$$,
RS, X, C, W.
Cuvée 103,
2454 McMullen Booth Rd.,
Clearwater, (727) 726-0350.
This new restaurant in Northwood
Commons (the southeast corner of
McMullen Booth Rd. and Enterprise) in
Countryside, that has already been highly
rated by the Tampa Bay Times, is an exciting
opportunity to dine on new American
cuisine with a twist while
enjoying live music. Their Stuffed Pork,
Short Ribs and Ahi Tuna will wow you.
The wine and beer selections are excellent
as well. Open Mon-Tues 4 PM-10 PM,
Wed-Thurs 4 PM-11 PM,
Fri-Sat 4 PM-Close. $$-$$$, RS, E, X, W.
Downtown Dunedin Deli & Grill,
730 Broadway, Dunedin, (727) 286-6270.
Dine inside or on the dog friendly patio at
new owners Mihaela and Jean Francois’
casually chic gourmet eatery and deli. They
serve all American favorites, including
state-themed breakfast specialties, salads,
sandwiches and burgers. They also offer
homemade desserts, “grown-up” sodas,
freshly roasted coffees and organic teas.
BYOB anytime. Takeout and catering
available. Open for breakfast and lunch Sun
8 AM-3 PM and Mon-Thurs 8 AM-4 PM; for
breakfast, lunch and dinner Fri & Sat
8 AM-9 PM. $, CM, X, C, W.
Dunedin Bagels and Deli,
716 Main St. (S.R. 580), Dunedin,
(727) 734-1829. This cozy, family-owned
and operated eatery is a small place
with big, Old World deli and Cuban
sandwiches. They use the best ingredients
they can get for their boiled and baked
New York water bagels, soups, salads,
single and multi-decker sandwiches, sweets,
pastries and Cuban-roasted coffee. Eat in,
curbside pick up, limited delivery, party
trays and catering available.
Open daily 7 AM-7 PM. $, X, C, W.
E & E Stakeout Grill
& Kokopelli’s Bar,
100 N. Indian Rocks Rd., Belleair Bluffs,
(727) 585-6399. This seafood-oriented
steakhouse has a beautiful sparkling
waterfall and emits an aura of relaxation
and intimacy. It is famous for its beef, and
great care is taken to select the choicest
seafood and Prime beef. They have an
excellent wine list, full bar and now offer
a “small plate” selection on the menu. It is
part of the “Three Best Chefs” group with
Guppy’s and Mystic Fish. There is alfresco
dining on the patio. Takeout available. Open
Mon-Thurs 11:30 AM-9 PM, Fri 11:30 AM-
10 PM, Sat 4 PM-10 PM, Sun 4 PM-9 PM. $$,
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.
172 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE MARCH /APRIL 2016