DINING
out
176 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017
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
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. $$, RS, CM, X, W.
Nauti-Nancy’s Food Shack
and Crows Nest Pub,
700 Eldridge St. (one block west of Myrtle
Ave. on the Pinellas Trail), Clearwater,
(727) 446-3717. Dine indoors or at the Crow’s
Nest Patio Bar at this fun, funky eatery.
The food is cooked to order, and includes
daily specials, a Raw Bar and favorites such
as their Beef Martini, Shrimp-n-Grits, 4-4-4,
and Bread Pudding. Open for lunch, dinner,
plus music and appetizers with your drinks
on the patio Tues-Thurs 10 AM-10 PM;
Fri & Sat 10 AM-12 AM; Sun 10 AM-7 PM.
Free delivery to locals. $, CM, E, D, X, C, W.
Ocean Blue Asian Fusion,
2475 McMullen Booth Rd. (at Enterprise
Rd), Clearwater, (727) 953-9828. Sushi lovers
rejoice. New owner Nhan Nguyen carries on
the same tradition of delicious freshness as
Charlie did when this was his Kaiko Japanese
Restaurant/Ocean Blue. Nhan has tweaked
the menu with a wide selection of appetizers,
Japanese dinners and noodle dishes, fresh
from the sea Sushi rolls, Makimono and
Sashimi and has also added deliciously
seasoned Hibachi and other new items.
Open for lunch Mon-Fri 11:30 AM -3 PM,
dinner Sun-Thurs 4:30 PM-12 AM and
Fri-Sat 4:30 PM-1 AM and special occasions.
$-$$, 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. $-$$, E, X, C, W.
traditional Chinese cuisine. They serve
authentic dishes, recently adding dim sum
dumplings to the lunch menu. They also
serve traditional Peking Roast Duck, Salt
and Pepper Eggplant, Honey Walnut Shrimp
and Sizzling Beef Strip with Black Pepper
Sauce. Their noodle dishes, such as Hong
Kong Style and XO Seafood Chow Fun are
fabulous. You will love their prices. Open
Sun-Thurs 11 AM-9:30 PM, Fri-Sat
11 AM-10 PM. $$-$$$, X, C, W.
Julian’s Little Italy,
Coastal Shopping Center, 916 Patricia Ave.
at S.R. 580, Dunedin, (727) 734-8989. Julian
Adams’ casual Italian café with a warm
vibe is one of Dunedin’s best kept secrets.
The well-appointed décor is comfortable
and inviting; and the secret family recipes
are made in house from the heart with love,
care and attention. Enjoy appetizers and
salads, baked pastas and sauté, plus ovenbaked
pizzas. Julian’s is gluten-free friendly.
Reservations are suggested for parties of five
or more. Open for lunch and dinner
Mon-Thurs 11 AM-9 PM, Fri-Sat 11 AM-10 PM
and for dinner Sun 4-9 PM.
$$, CM, X, C, W.
Kao Thai Kitchen,
7199 66th St., North Pinellas Park,
(727) 350-3722. This Thai restaurant in Pinellas
Park serves lunch and dinner and features all
the standard Thai items along with some tasty
unique dishes such as Shrimp in the Pot, Pork
Ribs Panang Curry and Had Yai fried chicken.
You can choose chicken, pork, beef, shrimp,
squid, tofu or vegetable for any of their classic
preparations. Don’t miss their tapioca balls in
creamy coconut milk for dessert. Open Mon-
Thurs 11:30 AM-3 PM and 4:30 PM-10 PM,
Fri 11:30 AM-3 PM and 4:30 PM-10 PM and
Sat 4-10 PM. Closed Sunday. $$-$$$, X,C,W.
Kelly’s-chica-boom-room,
319 Main St., downtown Dunedin,
(727) 736-5284. Chef Christopher Falzon
and his brother Dion Falzon are the new
owners of their favorite hometown restaurant
and bar, the former Kelly’s for Just About
Anything! and Chica-Boom Room. They are
tweaking the menu for lunch, dinner, the
same great brunch and late night dining with
healthy gourmet fare, created with fresh,
local ingredients and served in a fun, eclectic
atmosphere either inside or on the newly
expanded and redesigned patio, which is
available for parties. They have also extended
the hours, Mon-Thurs 8 AM-1 AM; Fri, Sat &
Sun 8 AM-2 AM. $$, RS, X, W.
Marina Cantina Tequila Bar and Grille,
25 Causeway Blvd., Clearwater Beach,
(727) 443-1750. Right in the heart of
Clearwater Beach, this new Baystar
restaurant has fabulous views and
phenomenal Mexican fare at bargain prices.
Try the iron pan cornbread and the Beef
Barbacoa Quesadillas with a house Margarita
or some Sangria. This is a gathering spot for
the young and hip set. Open Sun-Thurs
4 PM -10 PM, Fri-Sat 4 PM-11 PM.
$$, 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
Frenchy’s South Beach Cafe,
351 S. Gulfview Blvd., Clearwater Beach,
(727) 441-9991. This addition to the Frenchy’s
restaurant family is right in the heart of
Clearwater Beach. It has the same great food
and prices for which Frenchy’s has become
famous. The Key West bistro atmosphere
offers open-air dining and an unbeatable
view of both the beach and our fabulous
sunsets. There is a full bar and the best
grouper sandwich you will ever have.
Open Sun-Thurs 11 AM-11 PM.
Fri-Sat 11 AM-12 AM. $-$$, CM, X, W.
Happy’s Bayou Bites,
431 Skinner Blvd. (S.R. 580), Dunedin,
(727) 240-1102. Happy and Mark Jordan’s
new casual eatery serves homemade and
made-to-order Low Country and Cajun, and
Florida Cracker cuisines from a food trailer
embellished with a cracker-style facade near
the Pinellas Trail. Enjoy Po’Boys, Gumbo, a
Muffaletta, or one of their weekly specials
with beer or wine at a brightly colored picnic
table under the oaks, or take-out. Open
Wed-Thurs 11 AM-4 PM, Fri-Sat 11 AM-6 PM.
$, E, V, MC, D, W.
Hog Island Fish Camp,
900 Broadway (Alt. 19), Dunedin,
(727) 736-1179. Chef Walt and Jane
Wickman’s new eatery, just northeast of
their popular Olde Bay Café & Dunedin
Fish Market at the Dunedin Marina, has an
inviting, Old Florida vibe with a nostalgic
collection of vintage boats, fresh local
seafood, creative menu selections, plus a full
liquor bar with 21 area beers on tap. Dine on
locally sourced hog fish, grouper and mullet,
Southern fried chicken served family style,
venison, fried green tomatoes, shrimp and
grits and other favorites. Open Sun-Thurs
11 AM-10 PM and Fri-Sat 11 AM-11 PM.
$-$$, E, X, C, W.
The Honu Restaurant,
516 Grant St., Dunedin, (727) 333-7777. This
“lei’d”-back cafe features island favorites, such
as Loco Moco, a turkey burger, poached egg
and spinach, and Kilauea, a mountain of black
rice, pork, red pepper and carrot lava flow on
baby kale. Try the Big Island Salad with citrus,
bacon, chicken and macadamia nuts with
ginger pineapple dressing. Open Tues-Sat
11 AM-9 PM, Sun 11 AM-4 PM, Closed Mon.
$$, CM, E, V, MC, C, W.
Hot Dogs on Main,
505 Main St., Dunedin, (727) 408-5103. Susan
Norton and Nick Annenos invite you to
take out or dine alfresco on their “gourmet
fun in a bun!” Offerings include everything
from Chicago, chili, veggie and organic dogs
to Vienna sausages, as well as Italian beef
sandwiches, fresh salads and Hershey’s ice
cream. Open Tues-Sat 11 AM-6 PM and only
on Sundays during special fairs and events.
$, X, C, W.
Island Way Grill,
20 Island Way, Clearwater, (727) 461-6617.
Whether you make a selection from the sushi
bar, the oak-fired pit or join them for Sunday
brunch, the Island Way Grill will satisfy every
taste. This Clearwater favorite offers amazing
harbor views and an eclectic menu that blends
continental, Pacific Rim and island cuisines
with a pan-Asian twist. Open Mon-Thurs
4 PM-10 PM, Fri-Sat 4 PM-11 PM,
Sun 11 AM-10 PM. $$$, RS, X, C, W.
Ivory Chinese Bistro,
2192 Main St. (S.R. 580), Dunedin,
(727) 734-3998. This is the home to great
s
North Pinellas continued