DINING
out
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. 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, 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. 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.
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.
$$$, RS, CM, X, W.
Da Sesto Italiano
Ristorante e Vino,
7199 66th Street N., Pinellas Park,
(727) 209-2695. Voted “Best Fresh Pasta”
by Tampa Bay Magazine and the Readers’
Choice award for “Best Authentic Italian
Restaurant” from the Tampa Bay Newspapers.
Owner/Chef Sesto Ramadori combines
fresh pasta from his Florida Pasta
Company with authentic Italian recipes
to make this one of the area’s most popular
Italian trattorias. Original dishes, such as
Pollo a la Sesto, Lobster Lorenzo, and their
clams and mussels with white or red sauce
are terrific at this authentic Italian venue.
There is live music on weekends, and they
cater for all occasions. Open Mon-Thurs
10 AM-9 PM, Fri 10 AM-10 PM, and
Sat 4 PM-10 PM. Sundays are available
for private parties.
$$-$$$, E, X, C, W.
Gigi’s Italian Restaurants,
5901 4th St. N., St. Petersburg,
(727) 526-2400;105 107th Ave., Treasure
Island, (727) 360-6905; and 4399 Gulf Blvd,
St. Pete Beach, (727) 363-3344. Since 1967,
these family-owned Italian trattorias have
become legendary for their award-winning
pizza, traditional pasta entrées and flamegrilled
steaks. A selective wine list enhances
your dining experience. A gluten-free menu,
special event rooms, off-site catering and
delivery are available at all locations.
The 4th St. N. location in St. Petersburg,
which is now open for lunch at 11:30 am
Mon-Fri, has outdoor dining plus a new
fire pit, as well as half-price wine on
Wednesday and entertainment Wed-Sat.
All locations open daily from 4 PM.
$$-$$$, CM, X, C, W.
Gratzzi Italian Grille,
211 2nd St. S., St. Petersburg,
(727) 623-9037. Native Italians Dominic
D’Angelo and Chef Anthony Mangiafico’s
passion for authentic Italian cuisine shows
in the deliciously prepared, beautifully
188 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE JULY/AUGUST 2015