DINING
out
172 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE
| MAY/JUNE 2016
North Pinellas continued
BurgerMonger, 2454 McMullen Booth
Rd., Safety Harbor, (727) 726-4001. Proudly
founded in Tampa Bay, at BurgerMonger
they say, “We Build a Better Burger.”
Featuring 100% pure Japanese-bred Akaushi
Beef, BurgerMonger sources the finest and
healthiest ingredients in the world. Their
naturally satisfying menu includes burgers,
hot dogs, chicken, salads, beer and wine.
Incomparable food; warm, friendly service;
and comfortable ambiance is found in their
six Tampa Bay area locations. Open Sun-
Thurs 11 AM-10 PM, Fri-Sat 11 AM-11 PM.
$-$$, CM, X, W.
Café Alfresco,
344 Main St., downtown Dunedin,
(727) 736-4299. This breezy, casual café next
to the Pinellas Trail offers indoor or outdoor
dining with spiffy maple and brass whimsy.
Their menu is mostly West Coast bistro, Lite
Bites, beautiful salads, pastas, soups, Creole
items, sandwiches and burgers. Enjoy a
cappuccino with delicious European tortes,
pastries, cakes and ice cream. Open for
lunch and dinner Mon-Thurs 11 AM-9 PM,
Fri 11 AM-10 PM, Sat 10 AM-10 PM, Sun
10 AM-9 PM; brunch Sat & Sun 10 AM-2 PM.
$-$$, CM, X, W.
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 artisanstyle
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 custom order French wine featuring 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. $-$$, X, C, W.
Carmelita’s Mexican Grill and Cantina,
1280 Main St., Dunedin, (727) 240-4946.
Vince and Carmen Lopez’s newest Dunedin
location brings a history of serving fresh
traditional style Mexican Food in Tampa
Bay. The friendly and casual atmosphere
makes locals and tourists feel at home. From
their creamy Chicken Enchiladas to their
daily prepared Poblano Chiles Relleños or
their specialty Filet Mignon Fajitas you will
see why Carmelita’s is the place to go. Open
Sun-Thurs 11 AM-9 PM, Fri-Sat 11 AM-10
PM. $$, 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 Chiles 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. $-$$,
CM, E, X, C, W.
Clear Sky Beachside Cafe, 490 Mandalay
Ave., Clearwater Beach, (727) 442-3684. Dan
Shouvlin and Michael “Frenchy” Preston’s
friendly cafe is open from breakfast until
after midnight, as they serve a wide variety
of unique favorites that range from brick
oven pizza to fresh seafood specials.
Their boutique wines and mojito specials
make this “the best happy hour on the
beach.” This charming hot spot has live
entertainment and a comfortable beachstyle
atmosphere. Open seven days a week
7 AM-1 AM. $$, 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.
$-$$$, CM, E, X, C, W.
Columbia Restaurant, 1241 Gulf Blvd.
(on Sand Key), Clearwater Beach, (727)
596-8400. As Florida’s premier Spanish
restaurant for more than 100 years, it serves
the finest authentic Spanish/Cuban cuisine.
Try the Original “1905” Salad®, Snapper
Alicante, Grilled Grouper and Arroz con
Pollo Valenciana. With waterfront views
of the Intracoastal waterway, it is located
on beautiful Sand Key, next door to the
Marriott Suites Resort. Open daily for lunch
11:30 AM-4 PM; dinner 4 PM-10 PM. $$, 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.
$-$$, CM, X, C, W, Free WiFi.
Cork N Brew Bistro, 524 Mandalay Ave.,
Clearwater Beach, (727) 483-5990. Enjoy
this unique bistro that features lava rock
cooking at your table. An assortment of
appetizers, small plates, flatbreads and
dining selections can be paired with a large
variety of craft beers and both domestic
and imported wines. Open Weekdays 4
PM-Midnight, and Weekends 4 PM-1 AM.
$$-$$$ E, X, W.
Currents Restaurant, 200 E. Tarpon
Ave., Tarpon Springs, (727) 940-5377. This
intimate, boutique restaurant, inspired
by the fresh concept of culinary arts, is
commited to sustainability and has joined
the gluten-free movement. Eclectic daily
menus are prepared from fresh seasonal
ingredients directly from local farmers,
fishermen and purveyors. Specialty martinis
and unique wine dinners are also available
here, and the friendly wait staff will make
you feel at home. Open for lunch Mon-Sat
11:30 AM-2:30 PM; and for dinner Mon-
Thurs 4 PM-10 PM, Fri-Sat 4 PM-11 PM. $$-
$$$, RS, X, C, W.
Cuvée 103, 2454 McMullen Booth Rd.,
Clearwater, (727) 726-0350. This new
restaurant in Northwood Commons (the
southeast corner of McMullen Booth Rd.
and Enterprise) in Countryside, that has
already been highly rated by the Tampa Bay
Times, is an exciting opportunity to dine on
new American cuisine with a twist while
enjoying live music. Their Stuffed Pork,
Short Ribs and Ahi Tuna will wow you. The
wine and beer selections are excellent as
well. Open Mon-Tues 4 PM-10 PM, Wed-
Thurs 4 PM-11 PM, Fri-Sat 4 PM-Close. $$$,
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.