DINING
out
North Pinellas continued
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.
172 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE
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
beach-style 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.
| JULY/AUGUST 2016
Cricketers British Pub and Restaurant,
2634 Bayshore Blvd., Dunedin,
(727) 736-1322. In true pub style, everyone
comes here for great British/American
fare, such as Fish and Chips, as well as a
full liquor bar and their large selection of
quality craft and imported beers and live
music. Anytime of day, their extensive
menu can be enjoyed with 24 beers on tap
and a fun crowd who loves the atmosphere
and vibe of this popular pub. Open daily
11 AM-3 AM. $$, CM, E, D, X, C, W.
Currents Restaurant,
200 E. Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs,
(727) 940-5377. This intimate, boutique
restaurant, inspired by the fresh concept of
culinary arts, is commited to sustainability
and has joined the gluten-free movement.
Eclectic daily menus are prepared from
fresh seasonal ingredients directly from
local farmers, fishermen and purveyors.
Specialty martinis and unique wine dinners
are also available here, and the friendly wait
staff will make you feel at home. Open for
lunch Mon-Sat 11:30 AM-2:30 PM; and for
dinner Mon-Thurs 4 PM-10 PM, Fri-Sat
4 PM-11 PM. $$-$$$, RS, X, C, W.
Cuvée 103,
2454 McMullen Booth Rd., Clearwater,
(727) 726-0350. This new restaurant in
Northwood Commons (the southeast corner
of McMullen Booth Rd. and Enterprise) in
Countryside, that has already been highly
rated by the Tampa Bay Times, is an exciting
opportunity to dine on new American
cuisine with a twist while enjoying live
music. Their Stuffed Pork, Short Ribs and
Ahi Tuna will wow you. The wine and beer
selections are excellent as well. Open Mon-
Tues 4 PM-10 PM, Wed-Thurs 4 PM-11 PM,
Fri-Sat 4 PM-Close. $$$, 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.