DINING
out
North Pinellas continued
178 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | MAY/JUNE 2019
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 7 AM-10 PM daily for
breakfast, lunch and dinner. $-$$, X, W.
Salt Rock Tavern,
3689 Tampa Rd., Oldsmar, (813) 336-4977.
This Baystar Restaurant combines a unique
menu of casual dining with 21 craft beers
on tap and other bar favorites. Everything
from their “Just Caught Fish” with smoked
gouda grits to their Double Cut Bone-In
Pork Chop are prepared with flair, as are
their flatbreads, burgers and salads. Try their
“Snap, Crackle, Pop” Beer Cocktail for a
real treat. Open Sun 10 AM-9 PM (including
Brunch from 10 AM-2 PM); Mon-Thurs
4 PM-10 PM; Fri 4 PM-11 PM; Sat noon-11 PM.
$$-$$$, RS, CM, X, C, W.
Seaweed Steaks, Seafood & Sushi,
2819 West Bay Drive, Belleair Bluffs,
(727) 584-1700. Seaweed, a new addition
to Belleair Bluffs, is a contemporary steak
and seafood experience where dishes are
prepared in either the main kitchen, sushi
or raw bar. Enjoy the relaxing atmosphere,
eclectic Asian-flair menu and signature
cocktails. Complete with a wine cellar,
outdoor patio and a full tiki bar, there is
something for everyone. Open Mon-Thurs
4 PM-10 PM, Fri-Sat 4 PM-11 PM, Sunday
3 PM-9 PM. $$-$$$, RS, X, C, W.
Terrace Cafe at Bon Appétit,
148 Marina Plaza, Dunedin Marina,
Dunedin, (727) 733-2151. Enjoy casual,
alfresco waterfront dining at one of the area’s
finest restaurants. Watch the boats, dolphins
and pelicans while you order from the Bon
Appétit dining room menu’s selection of
salads and entrées, including specialties
such as Dover sole and rack of lamb. Open
daily for lunch and dinner Sun-Thurs
11:30 PM-9 PM, Fri-Sat 11:30-10 PM
and brunch Sun 11 PM-4 PM, weather
permitting. $-$$, RS, X, W.
Thai Spice Restaurant,
2475 McMullen Booth Rd. #B (at SW corner
of McMullen Booth and Enterprise Rds.),
Clearwater, (727) 791-7050. Owner Pannee
Farooque serves fresh, healthy, authentic
Thai cuisine, as well as Thai food with an
American flair. Her chef creates dishes
to order that can be flavored mild, medium
or spicy to suit your taste. The ambience is
trendy, and the service is hospitable. Dine
in, take out or arrange for delivery. Open for
lunch Mon-Fri 11:30 AM-2:30 PM; dinner
Mon-Fri 4:30-9:30 PM, Fri-Sat 4:30 PM-10 PM.
Closed Sundays. $$, CM, V, MC, W.
Wildflower Café,
1465 S. Ft. Harrison Ave, Ste. 105,
Clearwater, (727) 447-4497. Having gained
a reputation for excellence over many
years, this delightful café is known for
its Vegetarian Tomato Basil Bisque; The
Vermonter salad of greens and spinach with
white cheddar, bacon, cherries, pecans and
Fuji apples; and breakfast specials such as
Pan y Vino Brick Oven Pizza & Wine Bar,
369 Main St., Dunedin, (727) 734-7700.
This intimate downtown wine bar and bistro
is a relaxing place to break bread and lift a
glass. Owners Tina and Javier Avila, of Casa
Tina (next door), serve their artisan pizza
that is cooked in a brick oven, soups, salads,
skillet specials and delicious desserts, along
with a wide selection of wines, beers and
coffees. Available for private parties. Open
Tues-Thurs and Sun 5 PM-9 PM, Fri-Sat
5 PM-11 PM. Closed Mondays. $-$$, 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. $-$$, X, C, W.
Pisces Sushi & Global Bistro,
799 Highland Ave., Dunedin, (727) 216-6764.
This international tapas and sushi restaurant,
voted Best Tapas and Sushi in Tampa Bay,
is the place to be in beautiful downtown
Dunedin. Chef James Keene’s talents shine
with his imaginative menu that mixes classic
sushi with globally inspired dishes made
with fresh, untreated seafood and ingredients
to satisfy your taste buds. Enjoy candlelit
dining, a full liquor bar and sushi bar. Open
Tue-Thurs 4 PM-10 PM, Fri-Sat 4 PM-11 PM,
happy hour Tue-Sat 4PM-6 PM.
Closed Sun-Mon. $-$$, 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.
Salt Cracker Fish Camp,
25 Causeway Blvd., Clearwater Beach,
(727) 442-6910. This Southern dockside
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.
$$, RS, CM, X, W.
Ocean Blue Asian Fusion,
2475 McMullen Booth Rd. (at Enterprise Rd),
Clearwater, (727) 791-6640. Sushi lovers
rejoice. Nhan Nguyen carries on the same
tradition of delicious freshness as Charlie did
in this location. She has tweaked the menu
with a wide selection of appetizers, Japanese
dinners and noodle dishes, fresh from the
sea Sushi rolls, Makimono and Sashimi and
has also added deliciously seasoned Hibachi,
bento boxes and other new items.
Open for lunch Mon-Fri 11:30 AM-3 PM,
dinner Sun-Thurs 4:30 PM-12 AM and
Fri-Sat 4:30 PM-1 AM and special occasions.
$-$$, 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 takeout 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. $-$$, E, X, C, W.
Palm Cafe at the
Dunedin Fine Art Center,
1143 Michigan Blvd., Dunedin, (727) 298-3322,
ext. 237. There are lots of reasons to go here
for a quick breakfast or lunch. You can dine
either alfresco or indoors, and you can eat a
delicious palette of healthy fare even starving
artists can afford. Start your day with lox and
bagels, enjoy a roasted beet salad, or have a
Cuban sandwich for a mid-afternoon snack.
Whatever you order will be freshly made
of top-quality ingredients. Open Mon-Fri
9 AM-3 PM plus 5-9 PM Fri and
Sun 9 AM-2 PM. $, CM, X, C, W.
Palm Pavilion,
10 Bay Esplanade, Clearwater Beach,
(727) 446-2642. Voted “The Best of St. Pete/
Clearwater” and also “Best of Tampa Bay.”
Overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, the Palm
Pavilion has been a famous Clearwater
Beach landmark since 1926. Amid its
nostalgic architecture, guests enjoy casual
dining indoors or outside on their deck,
where they can experience spectacular
sunsets. Happy hour on weekdays is from
4-7 PM. Visit their website to view the music
calendar. Open Sun-Thurs 10:30 AM-10 PM,
Fri-Sat 10:30 AM-11 PM. $$, CM, E, X, W.