DINING
out
Julian’s Little Italy, Coastal Shopping
Center, 916 Patricia Ave. at S.R. 580,
Dunedin, (727) 734-8989. Julian Adams’
casual Italian café with a warm vibe is
one of Dunedin’s best kept secrets. The
well-appointed décor is comfortable and
inviting; and the secret family recipes
are made in house from the heart with
love, care and attention. Enjoy appetizers
and salads, baked pastas and sauté, plus
oven-baked pizzas. Julian’s is gluten-free
friendly. Reservations are suggested for
parties of five or more. Open for lunch and
dinner Mon-Thurs 11 AM-9 PM, Fri-Sat 11
AM-10 PM and for dinner Sun 4-9 PM. $$,
CM, X, C, W.
Kelly’s For Just About...Anything!,
319 Main St., downtown Dunedin,
(727) 736-5284. Award-winning Chef/
Owner Virgel Kelly and his partner Kathy
Carlson feature casual, fine dining and
creative Southern cuisine. The ambience
is funky and eclectic, so you’ll think
you’re in Greenwich Village. Gourmet
sauces, wonderful cakes, pastries and
mouthwatering cheesecakes are available
for takeout with an advance order. Outside
patio dining is also available. Open Mon-
Thurs 8 AM-9:30 PM, Fri-Sat
8 AM-10:30 PM, Sun 8 AM-9 PM. $-$$, RS,
CM, X, W.
Marina Cantina Tequila Bar and Grille,
25 Causeway Blvd., Clearwater Beach,
(727) 443-1750. Right in the heart of
Clearwater Beach, this new Baystar
restaurant has fabulous views and
phenomenal Mexican fare at bargain
prices. Try the iron pan cornbread
and the Beef Barbacoa Quesadillas
with a house Margarita or some
Sangria. This is a gathering spot for the
young and hip set. Open Sun-Thurs 4
PM-10 PM, Fri-Sat 4 PM-11 PM. $$, RS, X, W.
Marlin Darlin Grill, 2819 West Bay Dr.,
Belleair Bluffs, (727) 584-1700. The most
creative effort ever from the tag-team
of Frank Chivas and Tom Pritchard. Eat
small with ceviche, tuna tartare, oysters,
kettle chips, pear-bacon pizza or crab cake
corn dogs, or live large on lobsters and
steaks with tandoori onions and blistered
tomatoes. Either way, the drinks are smart
and the service is smarter. Open Mon-Thurs
4 PM-10 PM, Fri-Sat 4 PM-10:30 PM, Sun
4 PM-9:30 PM. $$, CM, X, C, W.
Massimo’s Eclectic Fine Dining,
31876 U.S. Hwy. 19 N., Palm Harbor,
(727) 784-1881. Award-winning Chef
Massimo Patano works his culinary magic at
his Palm Harbor restaurant. Nestled behind
Outback on Hwy. 19 N., this sophisticated
restaurant offers contemporary Italian and
Mediterranean cuisine with Asian accents
that include homemade soups, poultry,
lamb, veal, seafood entrées and tantalizing
desserts. Extensive wine selections are
available, and they have a private room for
parties and special events. Open for lunch
Tues-Fri 11:30 AM-2 PM and for dinner
Tues-Fri 5:30 PM-10 PM, Sat 5:30 PM-11 PM.
$$$, RS, X, W.
Mystic Fish Seafood Grill & Bar,
3253 Tampa Rd. (Corner of Tampa Rd.
& Lake St. George), Palm Harbor,
(727) 771-1800. The hip décor, top-notch
service and creative specials of fresh
and exotic seafood, meats, game, pasta and
vegetarian dishes make this a local favorite.
The list of small plates is endless. Their
signature dishes include Bouillabaisse,
NY Strip, Rib Eye, Filet Mignon, Mystic
178 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE
Paella, Bison Tenderloin and Bronzed
Chilean Sea Bass with hijiki sauce. They
have a great list of hand-crafted beers,
a full bar and a stellar wine list that is
reasonably priced. Takeout is available.
Open Sun-Thurs from 4:30 PM, Fri-Sat
4:30 PM-10 PM. $$, 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.
Ocean Blue Asian Fusion, 2475 McMullen
Booth Rd. (at Enterprise Rd), Clearwater,
(727) 791-6640. Sushi lovers rejoice. New
owner Nhan Nguyen carries on the same
tradition of delicious freshness as Charlie
did when this was his Kaiko Japanese
Restaurant/Ocean Blue. Nhan has
tweaked the menu with a wide selection of
appetizers, Japanese dinners and noodle
dishes, fresh from the sea Sushi rolls,
Makimono and Sashimi and has also added
deliciously seasoned Hibachi and other new
items. Open for lunch Mon-Fri 11:30 AM-3
PM, dinner Sun-Thurs 4:30 PM-12 AM and
Fri-Sat 4:30 PM-1 AM and special occasions.
$-$$, X, C, W.
Olde Bay Café & Dunedin
Fish Market, 51 Main St., Dunedin (at
the Marina), (727) 733-2542. Chef Walt
Wickman offers mostly outdoor seating
overlooking the harbor for lunch and
dinner. Enjoy an intimate raw bar, a
market with fresh fish, seafood and
accompaniments and takeout at his casual
waterfront eatery. Enjoy wine, beer or
sangria with his chowder, salads, ceviche,
fish tacos, Cubans and desserts. Open daily
8 AM-10 PM. $-$$, E, X, C, W.
Organic Goddess Cafe & Juice Bar,
737 Main St, Suite 104, Safety Harbor,
(727) 270-7670. There is a lot more here than
juices. There are two breakfast items that
are served all day; and for lunch, they have
gluten-free flatbreads and wraps, as well as
salads and soups. Dinner offerings include
items such as Roasted Portobello, Garden
Pasta, Spring Vegetables and Curried
Cauliflower, as well as several other healthy
appetizers and delicious desserts. There is
no need to feel guilty when you eat here.
Open Mon-Thurs 11 AM-7 PM, Fri-Sat 11
AM-3 PM and 5 PM-9 PM, Sun 12 PM-7 PM.
$-$$, RS, X, C, W.
Palm Pavilion, 10 Bay Esplanade,
Clearwater Beach, (727) 446-2642. Voted
“#1 Best Place for Live Music” and also
“Best of Tampa Bay.” Overlooking the
Gulf of Mexico, the Palm Pavilion has
been a famous Clearwater Beach landmark
since 1926. Amid its nostalgic architecture,
guests enjoy casual dining indoors or
outside on their deck, where they can
experience spectacular sunsets. Happy hour
on weekdays is from 4-7 PM. Visit their
website to view the music calendar. Open
Sun-Thurs 10:30 AM-10 PM, Fri-Sat 10:30
AM-11 PM. $$, CM, E, X, W.
| SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016
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.
$-$$, E, X.
PhoEdin Vietnamese, 355 Scotland St. (off
the Pinellas Trail), Dunedin, (727) 733-1909.
Chef Walt and Jane Wickman’s casual
new restaurant combines her Vietnamese
heritage with his Nordic talents in the
kitchen to share some of their favorite
at-home dishes. Based on Vietnamese
street food, their offerings include shrimp,
chicken, pork belly, meatball, beef short ribs
or Tofu in dishes such as Spring Rolls, Rice
Noodle Soup, Cold Vermicelli Noodles,
Lettuce Wraps and Banh Mi Sandwiches.
Open Tues-Sat
11 AM-8 PM, Sun 11 AM-5 PM. $-$$, X, C, W.
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 Cracker Fish Camp, 25 Causeway
Blvd., Clearwater Beach, (727) 442-6910.
This Southern dockside cooking spot right
off the roundabout on Clearwater Beach at
the Marina has an outside deck and bar to
let you take in the sun as you are having
fun. There is a Happy Hour all day long;
and from 2 PM-6 PM, they have five dollar
specials that range from a cheeseburger to a
half pound of Moonshine Mussels. They are
open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Sun-
North Pinellas continued