DINING
out
The Hangar Restaurant & Flight Lounge,
540 1st St. S.E., St. Petersburg, (Albert
Whitted Airport Terminal, 2nd floor
elevator provided), (727) 823-7767. Winner
of “Best Breakfast,” “Best Burger” and “Best
Jazz,” The Hangar has a full liquor bar
and a banquet room for up to 50 guests. It
is located directly on the airport runway,
across from the Mahaffey Theatre and the
Salvador Dalí Museum and features the
work of Chef Matt Smith. “Dog friendly”
outdoor seating and curb service are
available. Live music Wed-Sat from 6-9 PM.
Al Downing Jazz Jam performs on the first
Monday of each month. Fri-Sat helicopter
rides. Open daily from 8 AM-10 PM.
$ (breakfast), $$-$$$ (lunch & dinner),
E, D, X, W.
Jackie’s on Corey
Bistro and Catering,
338 Corey Ave., St. Pete Beach,
(727) 320-6358. Come down Corey Avenue
and enjoy lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch
and the new Jackie’s Martuni Lounge. Dine
in or enjoy their dog-friendly outside dining
in an herb garden. A private dining room is
available for parties or special events. You’ll
enjoy yourself at this upscale, but casual,
restaurant with a unique and amazing chef.
A gluten-free menu is available, as well
as catering in-house or at any size venue.
Open Mon-Sat 11 AM-10 PM, Sun 9 AM-
2 PM. They have live jazz Mon-Sat 6:30 PM
and Sun 10 AM-2 PM $$-$$$, RS, CM, E, D,
X, C, W.
Jessi’s Restaurant,
8331 66th St. N., Pinellas Park,
(727) 541-1200. Enjoy the “he-man-sized”
portions at this family-owned and operated
restaurant, where their kitchen’s madefrom
quality. Don’t pass on their homemade
desserts, as they are awesome. They serve
beer, wine, mimosas, sangria and spritzers
to add extra enjoyment to your meal. Open
seven days a week from 6:30 A.M.-8 PM.
$$, CM, X, C, W.
Luna,
950 Lake Carillon Dr. (in the Hilton
St. Petersburg Carillon Park), St. Petersburg,
(727) 954-2140. Open daily from breakfast
thru dinner, this stylish restaurant is
known for its first-class food. They have a
lunch buffet with a daily theme and serve
classic gourmet fare. With stunning décor and
excellent service, they offer health conscious,
as well as traditional, selections.
Open daily 6 AM-10 PM. $$-$$$, X, W.
Parkshore Grill,
300 Beach Drive, N.E., St. Petersburg,
(727) 896-3463. Enjoy an afternoon or
evening at this chic St. Petersburg restaurant
that serves an inspired menu created by
Chef Tyson Grant. They serve fine food,
wine and spirits in a beautiful park-like
setting. Enjoy both indoor or “dog-friendly”
outdoor dining. Their new 100-seat banquet
room is now available for parties or special
events. Catering, weekend brunch and curb
service available. Romantic carriage rides
Fri and Sat. Valet parking. Open Sun-Thurs
11 AM-10 PM, Fri-Sat 11 AM-11 PM. $$$,
RS, CM, X, C, W.
s
North Pinellas continued
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 dinner Tues-Sun
5 PM-10:30 PM. $$$, RS, CM, E, D, X, C, W.
South
Pinellas
400 Beach Seafood & Tap House,
400 Beach Drive N.E., St. Petersburg,
(727) 896-2400. Under the direction of
Chef Ana Davis, they are open daily for
lunch and dinner with a Sunday Brunch
Buffet from 10 AM-3 PM (regular lunch
menu available as well). Voted a “Top 20
Restaurant,” they offer 24 beers on tap, a
great wine selection, award-winning lobster
rolls, oysters, as well as fish tacos by day
and fresh fish and steaks by night. They
have “dog friendly” sidewalk dining or
beautiful indoor seating with private party,
meeting rooms and curb service available.
Romantic carriage rides Fri-Sat. Valet
parking. Open Mon-Sat 11 AM-11 PM, Sun
10 AM-10 PM. $$-$$$, RS, CM, X, W.
Aqua Prime,
213 Gulf Blvd., Indian Rocks Beach,
(727) 330-7724. Voted “Best New
Restaurant” in 2014, this stylish restaurant
with its tree-shaded outdoor patio, serves
fresh seafood and steaks with a flair. Under
the direction of Chef Jason Vargo, its two
bars serve excellent drinks, and there is a
good wine selection. Their excellent service
and relaxed, but upscale, dining have
made this one of the most popular beach
restaurants. Open daily at noon. Full menu
throughout the day featuring lunch, bar
menu, happy hour and dinner. Enjoy live
entertainment Thurs-Sun. Event spaces
available for up to 70 guests. $$-$$$, RS,
CM, X, C, W.
Cafe Gala, One Dali Blvd. (in the Salvador
Dalí Museum), St. Petersburg, (727) 623-
4725. This Spanish-styled cafe within the
museum is open to the public, as admission
to the Dalí is not required. Start with their
Gazpacho Soup; then enjoy one of their
salads, sandwiches or tapas dishes; and
finish with Crèma Catalana or Tiramisu de
Chocolate. You’ll enjoy this charming spot
that features the daily creations of Chef
Chuck Bandel. Open Mon-Wed 10 AM-
5 PM, Thurs 10 AM-8 PM, Fri-Sat 10 AM-
5:30 PM, Sun 12 PM-5:30 PM. $, X, C, W.
Carmelita’s Mexican Grill and Cantina,
5211 Park St N, St. Petersburg,
(727) 545-2956. This is Vince and Carmen
Lopez’s original location where they have
served fresh traditional Mexican Food for 33
years. The friendly and casual atmosphere
makes locals & tourists feel at home. From
their popular Del Rey burrito, creamy
chicken enchiladas to their daily prepared
poblano chiles rellenos, you will see why
Carmelita’s is the place to go. Live Mariachi
music Thurs & Sat nights. Open Sun-Thurs
11 AM-9 PM, Fri-Sat 11 AM-10 PM. $$, E, 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.
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 awardwinning
pizza, traditional pasta entrées
and flame-grilled steaks. A selective wine
list enhances your dining experience. A
gluten-free menu, special event rooms, offsite
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 presented dishes they
serve in this well-appointed restaurant.
Known for its table side flamed “Bada
Bing,” they also have an extensive wine list,
a pizza bar and unexpected extras, such
as half-priced $100 or less bottles of wine
all day on Mondays. A private room and
catering are available. Open Mon-Wed
11 AM-10 PM, Thurs-Sat 11 AM-2 AM, Sun
4 PM-10 PM. $$, RS, X, C, W.
Guppy’s on the Beach
Seafood Grill & Bar,
1701 Gulf Blvd., Indian Rocks Beach,
(727) 593-2032. For those who enjoy beautiful
sunsets and scrumptious food, Guppy’s is
the place. Try their Upper Potato Crusted
Salmon, served in a pool of leek and garlic
sauce. For meat lovers, they serve tender
Prime filet mignon and New York strip
steaks, cooked to perfection. Solid wine
selection and full bar. Al fresco dining is
available on their protected patio. Guppy’s
is a sister restaurant of E&E Stakeout Grill
& Kokopelli’s Bar and Mystic Fish Seafood
Grill & Bar. Takeout is available.
Open Sun-Thur 11:30 AM-10:30 PM,
Fri-Sat 11:30 AM-11 PM. $$, CM, X, C, W.
scratch dishes and breads are all top
178 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE MARCH /APRIL 2016