CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: PHOTO BY AMY PEZZICARA. PHOTO BY CELEBRATIONS TAMPA BAY. PHOTO BY AJ HURLEY. FLAMESTONE AMERICAN GRILL: MUSHROOM TRUFFLE FLATBREAD The restaurants in downtown St. Pete, South Tampa & Seminole Heights get a lot of press, but it’s important to remember there is much more to Tampa Bay than these few select areas. Flamestone American Grill in Oldsmar is a great example of a solid American eatery with an expansive menu that includes several starters, flatbreads (duh), soups, salads, chicken, ribs, seafood, a full steak menu… you get the point. Not to mention they offer over 30 wines by the glass (which alone is enough to get me to go). I recommend starting with their signature tableside guacamole and the Mushroom Truffle Flatbread. This flatbread is one of their best sellers and is topped with wild mushrooms, crumbled goat cheese, fire-roasted red peppers, a balsamic reduction and fresh arugula. Once assembled, it is grilled in their fire-stone oven to give a perfect crispness to the crust. After devouring your starters move on to a perfectly cooked steak and end the night with one of their many decadent desserts. Flamestone is open daily for both lunch and dinner and is a less than 30-minute drive from basically anywhere in Tampa – get out and explore! BOCA: HERITAGE & SWINE Known for their strong farm-to-table focus, Boca sets itself apart by using clean, simple ingredients with big flavor to give their dishes complexity without overwhelming the palate. Their flatbread game is strong with at least five to choose from during lunch or dinner, but I highly recommend giving the Heritage & Swine a try on your next visit. Even though the menu is constantly evolving as the seasons change and ingredients come in and out of season, this flatbread has been a staple on the menu for over a year and a half and continues to be one of the most popular. The chefs lay the groundwork with a homemade white barbecue sauce and then top with caramelized onions, heritage tomatoes, manchego and arugula. The “Swine” gets its name from the Boca Bacon that finishes off the dish. Smoked in-house, this bacon is serious business and you’ll find it scattered throughout the lunch and dinner menus. Enjoy! THE LIVING ROOM ON MAIN: SEARED YELLOWFIN TUNA FLATBREAD If you are looking for something a little different, both in location and menu variety, consider a ride out to downtown Dunedin to visit The Living Room on Main. Boasting a tapas-style dinner menu with trendy “New American” cuisine, this up and coming restaurant is sure to find its niche here. While I would recommend sharing all three of their flatbreads, if you can only have one make it the Seared Yellowfin Tuna Flatbread. This isn’t your classic pizza-style flatbread, but once you take a bite you won’t care. Starting with grilled flatbread as the base, the dish is then topped with sliced Haas avocado, tomatoes, red onions, jalapenos, micro greens, spicy red chili aioli and of course, a healthy serving of seared Yellowfin Tuna. Fresh and simple while still hitting high notes on taste and execution. You can visit The Living Room on Main daily for lunch or dinner as well as brunch on the weekend. Bottomless Mimosa’s anyone? 24 localsDISH JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017
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