DINING
out
North Pinellas continued
178 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018
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 and Sun 5 PM-9 PM, Fri-Sat
5 PM-11 PM. Closed Mondays. $-$$, E, X.
Pico Rojo Charcoal Rotisserie,
2475 McMullen Booth Rd., #E
(accessible via Enterprise Rd.) Clearwater,
(727) 474-3826. Known for its healthy, natural,
delicious food with Latin American flair, this
restaurant is also child-friendly, vegetarianfriendly
and offers carry-out. All-natural
chicken is marinated in spices and roasted
in an ecological charcoal rotisserie oven.
Complementary sides include fried yuca,
tostones, sweet plantains, hearty rice and
beans, and scrumptious asparagus. Their
well-priced, flavorful salads, sandwiches,
sauces, dressings, sangria, and desserts
are homemade from fine, fresh ingredients
and can be ordered family style. Catering
available. Open Mon-Thurs 11:30 AM-9 PM,
Fri 11:30 AM-9:30 PM, Sat 12 PM-9:30 PM,
Sun 12 PM-8 PM. $-$$, X, C, W.
Pisces Sushi & Global Bistro,
799 Highland Ave., Dunedin, (727) 216-6764.
This international tapas and sushi restaurant,
voted Best Tapas and Sushi in Tampa Bay,
is the place to be in beautiful downtown
Dunedin. Chef James Keene’s talents shine
with his imaginative menu that mixes classic
sushi with globally inspired dishes made
with fresh, untreated seafood and ingredients
to satisfy your taste buds. Enjoy candlelit
dining, live music Thurs-Sun, a full liquor bar
and sushi bar. Open Tues-Thurs 4 PM-10 PM,
Fri 4 PM-11 PM, Sat 12 PM-11 PM,
Sun 12 PM-10 PM; happy hour
Tue-Sat 12 PM-6 PM, Sun all day.
$-$$, RS, E, X, W.
Rumba Island Bar & Grill,
1800 Gulf to Bay Blvd., Clearwater,
(727) 446-7027 and 3687 Tampa Rd.,
Oldsmar, (813) 475-5974. Taste the flavors
of the islands, mixed with the freshest local
ingredients at Rumba Island Bar & Grill.
Local favorites include the Island-Style
Quesadillas and Jerk Chicken Wings for
starters; and the signature Rumba Salad
with Grouper, Runaway Bay Crab Cakes
and Caribbean Pulled Pork for an entrée.
Open Sun-Thurs 11:30 AM-10 PM,
Fri-Sat 11:30 AM-11 PM. $$, CM, X, C, W.
Sages West Bay Bistro,
883 West Bay Dr., Largo, (727) 585-6600.
Patty and Mike have created the ideal familystyle
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 $-$$, CM, X, C, W.
Saki – Endless Sushi & Hibachi Eatery,
35927 U.S. 19 N., Palm Harbor,
(727) 351-5615, and at 2643 Gulf to Bay Blvd.,
Clearwater, (727) 726-3937. The elegant
setting and gourmet food at this restaurant
will make you wonder how they can offer
unlimited dining at one low price. It is not
a buffet. Everything is cooked to order, but
Nauti-Nancy’s Food Shack
and Crows Nest Pub,
700 Eldridge St. (one block west of Myrtle
Ave. on the Pinellas Trail), Clearwater,
(727) 446-3717. Dine indoors or at the Crow’s
Nest Patio Bar at this fun, funky eatery. The
food is cooked to order, and includes daily
specials, a Raw Bar and favorites such as
their Beef Martini, Shrimp-n-Grits, 4-4-4,
and Bread Pudding. Open for lunch, dinner,
plus music and appetizers with your drinks
on the patio Tues-Sat 11 AM-10 PM;
Sun 11 AM-8 PM. Closed Mondays.
$, CM, E, D, X, C, W.
Ocean Blue Asian Fusion,
2475 McMullen Booth Rd. (at Enterprise
Rd), Clearwater, (727) 791-6640. Sushi lovers
rejoice. Nhan Nguyen carries on the same
tradition of delicious freshness as Charlie did
in this location. She has tweaked the menu
with a wide selection of appetizers, Japanese
dinners and noodle dishes, fresh from the
sea Sushi rolls, Makimono and Sashimi and
has also added deliciously seasoned Hibachi,
bento boxes and other new items.
Open for lunch Mon-Fri 11:30 AM-3 PM,
dinner Sun-Thurs 4:30 PM-12 AM and
Fri-Sat 4:30 PM-1 AM and special occasions.
$-$$, 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 takecxout
at his casual waterfront eatery. Enjoy wine,
beer or sangria with his chowder, salads,
ceviche, fish tacos, Cubans and desserts.
Open daily 10 AM-10PM. $-$$, E, X, C, W.
Palm Cafe at the Dunedin Fine Art Center,
1143 Michigan Blvd., Dunedin,
(727) 298-3322, ext. 237. There are lots of
reasons to go here for a quick breakfast or
lunch. You can dine either alfresco or indoors,
and you can eat a delicious palette of healthy
fare even starving artists can afford. Start
your day with lox and bagels, enjoy a roasted
beet salad, or have a Cuban sandwich
for a mid-afternoon snack. Whatever you
order will be freshly made of top-quality
ingredients and served just the way you
like it. Open Mon-Fri 9 AM-3 PM and
Sun 9 AM-2 PM. Closed Saturdays.
$, CM, X, C, W.
Palm Pavilion,
10 Bay Esplanade, Clearwater Beach,
(727) 446-2642. Voted “#1 Best Place for
Live Music” and also “Best of Tampa Bay.”
Overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, the Palm
Pavilion has been a famous Clearwater
Beach landmark since 1926. Amid its
nostalgic architecture, guests enjoy casual
dining indoors or outside on their deck,
where they can experience spectacular
sunsets. Happy hour on weekdays is from
4-7 PM. Visit their website to view the music
calendar. Open Sun-Thurs 10:30 AM-10 PM,
Fri-Sat 10:30 AM- 11 PM. $$, CM, E, X, W.
Pan y Vino Brick Oven Pizza & Wine Bar,
369 Main St., Dunedin, (727) 734-7700.
This intimate downtown wine bar and bistro
is a relaxing place to break bread and lift a
glass. Owners Tina and Javier Avila, of Casa
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-9 PM,
Fri 11:30 AM-3 PM and 4:30 PM-10 PM
and Sat 4 PM-10 PM and Sun 4-9 PM.
$$-$$$, X,C,W.
The Kitchen & Bar at Green Springs,
156 Fourth Ave. N., Safety Harbor,
(727) 669-6762. Set in a 1930s home with a
fireplace, this small and intimate restaurant
is known for its dishes that range from
Salmon Papillote to Drunken Flat Iron
Steak to a gigantic, 32-ounce to 34-ounce
Tomahawk rib-eye steak that is a delight to
behold. There are also small plates such as
gumbo and Greek scampi. You cannot order
the wrong thing here. Open for dinner
Tues-Thurs 4 PM-9 PM, Fri-Sat 4 PM-10 PM;
Sun 4 PM-8 PM; Brunch Sat-Sun 11 AM-2 PM.
$$$, RS, CM, X, C, W.
Marina Cantina Tequila Bar and Grille,
25 Causeway Blvd., Clearwater Beach,
(727) 443-1750. Right in the heart of
Clearwater Beach, this new Baystar
restaurant has fabulous views and
phenomenal Mexican fare at bargain prices.
Try the iron pan cornbread and the Beef
Barbacoa Quesadillas with a house
Margarita or some Sangria. This is a
gathering spot for the young and hip set.
Open Mon-Thurs 4 PM-10 PM;
Fri 4 PM-11 PM; Sat 11 AM-11 PM; and
Sun 11 AM-10 PM. $$, RS, X, 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-Sat 5:30 PM-10 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.