CUAISRITNE
AN ALL-DAY PLEASER
Salt Cracker Fish Camp
F r o m b r e a k f a s t
through dinner, the
Salt Cracker Fish
Camp restaurant
By Margaret Word Burnside and Aaron R. Fodiman
located at the roundabout
on Clearwater Beach has a
definitive universal appeal
and some of the freshest
seafood you can find. Besides special
features, such as a daily daylong happy
hour for Rum Punch, House Margaritas,
well drinks, house wines, Bloody Mary’s
and Sangria, they will gladly clean what
you catch and serve it to you the way you
want it.
In addition to an early riser special
breakfast menu from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., the
extensive regular breakfast menu, which
is served until noon, includes a wide variety
Photography by Gram
This plate of Jumbo Fried Shrimp and Oysters that is served with
Cracker Slaw is one of the many no-frills dishes that is prepared perfectly
of omelettes plus Chicken ‘n’ Waffle,
Shrimp ‘n’ Grits, pancakes, waffles, French
toast and more.
Starting at 11 a.m. and continuing until
9 p.m, except Fridays and Saturdays when
they close at 10 p.m., the open kitchen
turns out great lunches and suppers.
Snacks range from smoked fish dip, BBQ
Gator Ribs, Fire Roasted Oysters and hush
puppies to deviled eggs, corn on the cob,
steamed clams plus grouper and shrimp
chowder. There is also a raw bar with oysters
and jumbo peel ‘n’ eat Gulf shrimp.
at the Salt Cracker Fish Camp.
172 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | MARCH/APRIL 2017
not to be missed. We tried
one of each since there were
six of us dining. When our
server brought them to
our table, we thought we
couldn’t possibly finish everything.
Yet we did, and
even ordered another Mac
and Cheese Skillet.
Although we had overeaten, we ordered
one of each of their three desserts: the Key
Lime Pie, Bananas Rum Bread Pudding
with vanilla bean ice cream and caramel
rum sauce, and Chocolate Chess Pie with
a pretzel crust. Once again, against all
odds, not a crumb was left as our spoons
continued to scrape the plates.
Our server, Brad, and Linda the manager,
as well as the chef on the other side of
the kitchen service bar, turned our family
dinner into a memorable party with their
suggestions and ever-present service. The
quality food and attentive service of this
casual meal made this an enjoyable evening
for our group, which is accustomed
to the best in food and service. 9
EDITOR’S NOTE: Salt Cracker Fish Camp
is off the Clearwater Beach roundabout at
the Clearwater Beach Marina, 25 Causeway
Boulevard (below Marina Cantina),
(727) 442-6910.
Their three salads can be ordered with
chicken, shrimp or the fresh catch of the
day. The sandwiches are unique creations
that include a large grouper sandwich that
can be fried, grilled or blackened, Lobster
BLT Tacos and an 8-ounce ground beef
chuck double burger that can be enhanced
with anything from bacon to an additional
4-ounce patty and cheese.
For larger appetites, there is a Low Country
Seafood Boil that includes shrimp, oysters,
clams, mussels, crab, grouper cheeks,
andouille sausage, corn and potatoes. Additional
selections include Shrimp and
Grits; Chicken ‘n’ Waffle; Clam Linguine;
a New Orleans Pasta loaded with shrimp,
chicken, sausage and more, served in a
Cajun cream sauce; Jumbo Fried Shrimp
or Oysters; a Cuban Mojo Pork platter with
plantains; Braised Boneless Short Ribs and
a Black Angus N.Y. Strip Steak with chimichurri
sauce.
The “Sharing Sides” Hot Skillets are