DINING
out
North Pinellas continued
Kelly’s For Just About...Anything!,
319 Main St., downtown Dunedin,
(727) 736-5284. Award-winning Chef/
Owner Virgel Kelly and his partner Kathy
Carlson feature casual, fine dining and
creative Southern cuisine. The ambience
is funky and eclectic, so you’ll think
you’re in Greenwich Village. Gourmet
sauces, wonderful cakes, pastries and
mouthwatering cheesecakes are available
for takeout with an advance order. Outside
patio dining is also available. Open Mon-
Thurs 8 AM-9:30 PM, Fri-Sat
8 AM-10:30 PM, Sun 8 AM-9 PM. $-$$, RS,
CM, X, W.
Marlin Darlin Grill, 2819 West Bay Dr.,
Belleair Bluffs, (727) 584-1700. The most
creative effort ever from the tag-team of
Frank Chivas and Tom Pritchard. Eat small:
ceviche, tuna tartare, oysters, kettle chips,
pear-bacon pizza or crab cake corn dogs,
or live large on lobsters and steaks with
tandoori onions and blistered tomatoes.
Either way, the drinks are smart and the
service is smarter. Open Mon-Thurs
4 PM-10 PM, Fri-Sat 4 PM-10:30 PM,
Sun 4 PM-9:30 PM. $$, CM, X, C, W.
Massimo’s Eclectic Fine Dining,
31876 U.S. Hwy. 19 N., Palm Harbor,
(727) 784-1881. Award-winning Chef
Massimo Patano works his culinary magic at
his Palm Harbor restaurant. Nestled behind
Outback on Hwy. 19 N., this sophisticated
restaurant offers contemporary Italian and
Mediterranean cuisine with Asian accents
that include homemade soups, poultry,
lamb, veal, seafood entrées and tantalizing
desserts. Extensive wine selections are
available, and they have a private room for
parties and special events. Open for lunch
Tues-Fri 11:30 AM-2 PM and for dinner
Tues-Fri 5:30 PM-10 PM, Sat 5:30 PM-
11 PM. $$$, RS, X, W.
Mystic Fish Seafood Grill & Bar,
3253 Tampa Rd. (Corner of Tampa Rd.
& Lake St. George), Palm Harbor, (727)
771-1800. The hip décor, top-notch service
and creative specials of fresh and exotic
seafood, meats, game, pasta and vegetarian
dishes make this a local favorite. The list
of small plates is endless. Their signature
dishes include Bouillabaisse, NY Strip, Rib
Eye, Filet Mignon, Mystic Paella, Bison
Tenderloin and Bronzed Chilean Sea Bass
with hijiki sauce. They have a great list of
hand-crafted beers, a full bar and a stellar
wine list that is reasonably priced. Takeout
is available. Open Sun-Thurs from 4:30 PM,
Fri-Sat 4:30 PM-10 PM. $$, RS, CM, X, W.
Nauti-Nancy’s Food Shack
and Crows Nest Pub, 700 Eldridge St. (one
block west of Myrtle Ave. on the Pinellas
Trail), Clearwater, (727) 446-3717. Dine
indoors or at the Crow’s Nest Patio Bar at
this fun, funky eatery. The food is cooked
to order, and includes daily specials, a Raw
Bar and favorites such as their Beef Martini,
Shrimp-n-Grits, 4-4-4, and Bread Pudding.
Open for lunch, dinner, plus music and
appetizers with your drinks on the patio.
Tues-Thurs 10 AM-10 PM; Fri & Sat
10 AM-12 AM; Sun 10 AM-7 PM. Free
delivery to locals. $, CM, E, D, X, C, W.
Olde Bay Café & Dunedin Fish Market,
51 Main St., Dunedin (at the Marina),
(727) 733-2542. Chef Walt Wickman offers
mostly outdoor seating overlooking the
harbor for lunch and dinner. Enjoy an
intimate raw bar, a market with fresh fish,
seafood and accompaniments and takeout
at his casual waterfront eatery. Enjoy wine,
beer or sangria with his chowder, salads,
ceviche, fish tacos, Cubans and desserts.
Open daily 8 AM-10 PM. $-$$, E, X, C, W.
Palm Pavilion,
10 Bay Esplanade, N. Clearwater Beach,
(727) 446-2642. Voted “#1 Best Place for Live
Music” and also “Best of Tampa Bay.”
Overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, the Palm
Pavilion has been a famous Clearwater Beach
landmark since 1926. Amid its nostalgic
architecture, guests enjoy casual dining
indoors or outside on their deck, where
they can experience spectacular sunsets.
Happy hour on weekdays is from 4-7 PM.
Visit their website to view the music
calendar. Open Sun-Thurs 10:30 AM-10 PM,
Fri-Sat 10:30 AM-11 PM. $$, CM, E, X, W.
Pan y Vino
Brick Oven Pizza & Wine Bar,
369 Main St., Dunedin, (727) 734-7700.
This new intimate downtown wine bar and
bistro is a relaxing place to break bread and
lift a glass. Owners Tina and Javier Avila,
of Casa Tina (next door), serve their artisan
pizza that is cooked in a brick oven, soups,
salads, skillet specials and delicious desserts,
along with a wide selection of wines, beers
and coffees. Available for private parties.
Open Tues-Thurs 5 PM-10 PM, Fri-Sat
5 PM-11 PM, Sun 3 PM-10 PM. $-$$, E, X.
Pensare Italian Bistro & Wine Bar,
799 Highland Ave. (at its intersection
with Main St.), Dunedin, (727) 786-2222.
Robin and Mike Rey’s award-winning
restaurant has won a multitude of loyal
customers, who appreciate the high quality
classic Italian cuisine that they serve with a
twist. The sleek, modern décor and
attentive service has made them one of the
area’s premier dining spots.
Open for dinner Sun-Thurs 5 PM-10 PM,
Fri-Sat 5 PM-11 PM. $$$, RS, CM, X, C, W.
Pico Rojo Charcoal Rotisserie,
2475 McMullen Booth Rd., #E
(accessible via Enterprise Rd.) Clearwater,
(727) 474-3826. Known for its healthy,
natural, delicious food with Latin American
flair, this restaurant is also child-friendly,
vegetarian-friendly and offers carry-out.
All-natural chicken is marinated in spices
and roasted in an ecological charcoal
rotisserie oven. Complementary sides
include fried yuca, tostones, sweet
plantains, hearty rice and beans, and
scrumptious asparagus. Their well-priced,
flavorful salads, sandwiches, sauces, dressings,
sangria, and desserts are homemade from
fine, fresh ingredients and can be ordered
family style. Catering available. Open
Mon-Thurs 11:30 AM-9 PM, Fri 11:30 AM-
9:30 PM, Sat 12 PM-9:30 PM, Sun 12PM-
8 PM. $-$$, X, C, W.
Riedo Restaurant and Bar,
601 Cleveland St., #150, Clearwater,
(727) 223-4917. Downtown Clearwater’s
premier restaurant serves authentic German
and Mediterranean cuisine, as well as fine
American dishes including Black Angus
Beef Steaks and fresh grouper with lemon
garlic sauce. Don’t miss the Mix-Grill Platter
that is served for two or more. Their awardwinning
homemade apple strudel is a must
on any visit. Open Mon-Fri 11 AM-11 PM,
Sat 5 PM-11 PM, Sun-closed.
$$-$$$, RS, E, X, C, W.
Rumba Island Bar & Grill,
1800 Gulf to Bay Blvd., Clearwater,
(727) 446-7027 and 3687 Tampa Rd.,
Oldsmar, (813) 475-5974. Taste the flavors
of the islands, mixed with the freshest local
ingredients at Rumba Island Bar & Grill.
Local favorites include the Island-Style
Quesadillas and Jerk Chicken Wings for
starters; and the signature Rumba Salad
with Grouper, Runaway Bay Crab Cakes
and Caribbean Pulled Pork for an entrée.
Open Sun-Thurs 11:30 AM-10 PM,
Fri-Sat 11:30 AM-11 PM. $$, CM, X, C, W.
Sages West Bay Bistro,
883 West Bay Dr., Largo, (727) 585-6600.
Patty and Mike have created the ideal
family-style bistro that features traditional
Italian food in an attractive atmosphere that
makes you feel at home. The Tortellini in
Pink Sauce is fabulous, and the pizza can be
ordered with either thick or regular crust.
You’ll love eating here any time of day. Open
Mon-Sat 11 A.M.-9 P.M. $-$$, CM, X, C, W.
Salt Rock Tavern,
3689 Tampa Rd., Oldsmar, (813) 336-4977.
This new Baystar Restaurant combines a
unique menu of casual dining with 21 craft
beers on tap and other bar favorites.
Everything from their “Just Caught Fish”
with smoked gouda grits to their Double
Cut Bone-In Pork Chop are prepared with
flair, as are their flatbreads, burgers and
salads. Try their “Snap, Crackle, Pop” Beer
Cocktail for a real treat. Open Sun 10 AM-
9 PM (including Brunch from 10 AM-2 PM);
Mon-Thurs 4 PM-10 PM; Fri-Sat 4 PM-
11 PM. $$-$$$, RS, CM, X, C, W.
Stephen Michael’s Palm Cafe, 1143
Michigan Blvd., Dunedin, (727) 298-DFAC
(3322). Located in the Dunedin Fine Art
Center, this unique cafe offers soups, salads,
sandwiches and quiches that are creative
and flavorful. It proudly serves gourmet
coffees, featuring fresh-roasted Buddy Brew
Coffee. Now open Mon-Fri 9:00 AM-2 PM
and Sat 10 AM-2 PM. $, X, W.
Terrace Cafe at Bon Appétit,
150 Marina Plaza, Dunedin Marina,
Dunedin, (727) 733-2151. Enjoy casual,
al fresco waterfront dining at one of the area’s
finest restaurants. Watch the boats, dolphins
and pelicans while you order from the Bon
Appétit dining room menu’s selection of
salads and entrées, including specialties
such as Dover sole and rack of lamb.
Open daily for lunch and dinner Sun-Thurs
12 PM-9 PM, Fri-Sat 12 PM-10 PM.
and brunch Sun 12 PM-4 PM, weather
permitting. $-$$, 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.
176 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE MARCH /APRIL 2016