DINING
out
178 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE
| MAY/JUNE 2016
s
North Pinellas continued
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. $$, RS, CM, X, W.
Nauti-Nancy’s Food Shack and Crows
Nest Pub, 700 Eldridge St. (one block
west of Myrtle Ave. on the Pinellas Trail),
Clearwater, (727) 446-3717. Dine indoors
or at the Crow’s Nest Patio Bar at this fun,
funky eatery. The food is cooked to order,
and includes daily specials, a Raw Bar and
favorites such as their Beef Martini, Shrimpn
Grits, 4-4-4, and Bread Pudding. Open for
lunch, dinner, plus music and appetizers
with your drinks on the patio Tues-Thurs 10
AM-10 PM; Fri & Sat 10 AM-12 AM; Sun 10
AM-7 PM. Free delivery to locals. $, CM, E,
D, X, C, W.
Olde Bay Café & Dunedin
Fish Market, 51 Main St., Dunedin (at the
Marina), (727) 733-2542. Chef Walt Wickman
offers mostly outdoor seating overlooking
the harbor for lunch and dinner. Enjoy an
intimate raw bar, a market with fresh fish,
seafood and accompaniments and takeout
at his casual waterfront eatery. Enjoy wine,
beer or sangria with his chowder, salads,
ceviche, fish tacos, Cubans and desserts.
Open daily 8 AM-10 PM. $-$$, E, X, C, W.
Palm Pavilion, 10 Bay Esplanade,
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.
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, vegetarianfriendly
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 12 PM-8 PM. $-$$, X, C, W.
Rumba Island Bar & Grill, 1800 Gulf
to Bay Blvd., Clearwater, (727) 446-7027
and 3687 Tampa Rd., Oldsmar, (813)
475-5974. Taste the flavors of the islands,
mixed with the freshest local ingredients at
Rumba Island Bar & Grill. Local favorites
include the Island-Style Quesadillas and
Jerk Chicken Wings for starters; and the
signature Rumba Salad with Grouper,
Runaway Bay Crab Cakes and Caribbean
Pulled Pork for an entrée. Open Sun-Thurs
11:30 AM-10 PM, Fri-Sat 11:30 AM-11 PM.
$$, 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 AM-9 PM $-$$, CM, X,
C, W.
Salt Rock Tavern,
3689 Tampa Rd., Oldsmar, (813) 336-4977.
This new Baystar Restaurant combines
a unique menu of casual dining with 21
craft beers on tap and other bar favorites.
Everything from their “Just Caught Fish”
with smoked gouda grits to their Double
Cut Bone-In Pork Chop are prepared with
flair, as are their flatbreads, burgers and
salads. Try their “Snap, Crackle, Pop” Beer
Cocktail for a real treat. Open Sun 10 AM-9
PM (including Brunch from 10 AM-2 PM);
Mon-Thurs 4 PM-10 PM; Fri-Sat 4 PM-11
PM. $$-$$$, RS, CM, X, C, W.
Stephen Michael’s Palm Cafe,
1143 Michigan Blvd., Dunedin,
(727) 298-DFAC (3322). Located in the
Dunedin Fine Art Center, this unique
cafe offers soups, salads, sandwiches and
quiches that are creative and flavorful. It
proudly serves gourmet coffees, featuring
fresh-roasted Buddy Brew Coffee. Now
open Mon-Fri 9AM-2 PM and
Sat 10 AM-2 PM. $, X, W.
Terrace Cafe at Bon Appétit,
148 Marina Plaza, Dunedin Marina,
Dunedin, (727) 733-2151. Enjoy casual,
alfresco waterfront dining at one of the area’s
finest restaurants. Watch the boats, dolphins
and pelicans while you order from the Bon
Appétit dining room menu’s selection of
salads and entrées, including specialties
such as Dover sole and rack of lamb. Open
daily for lunch and dinner Sun-Thurs 12
PM-9 PM, Fri-Sat 12 PM-10 PM and brunch
Sun 12 PM-4 PM, weather permitting. $-$$,
RS, X, W.
Thai Spice Restaurant,
2475 McMullen Booth Rd. #B (at SW corner
of McMullen Booth and Enterprise Rds.),
Clearwater, (727) 791-7050. New owner
Pannee Farooque 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. $$, CM, V, MC, W.
Villa Bellini Restaurant and Lounge,
2930 Gulf to Bay Blvd., Clearwater,
(727) 754-9848. Chef Ciro Mancini continues
his legacy of fine Italian cooking in this
warm family atmosphere by using fresh
organic and locally sourced ingredients
whenever possible. The cold or hot antipasti
appetizers, soups and salads, pasta
specialties, veal, chicken, fresh fish, meat
and lamb on his inspired menu will make
you a regular. Open for dinner Tues-Sun 5
PM-10:30 PM. $$$, 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 Johnny Morales, 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 Wed-Sun. Event spaces
available for up to 70 guests. $$-$$$, RS,
CM, X, C, W.
BurgerMonger, 1325 4th St., N.,
St. Petersburg, (727) 592-4206. 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.