DINING
out
North Pinellas continued
178 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019
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.
$$, CM, X, C, W.
Sages West Bay Bistro,
883 West Bay Dr., Largo, (727) 585-6600.
Patty has created the ideal family-style
bistro that features traditional Italian food
in an attractive atmosphere that makes you
feel at home. The Tortellini in Pink Sauce is
fabulous, and the pizza can be ordered with
either thick or regular crust. You’ll love
eating here any time of day.
Open Mon-Sat 11 AM-9 PM.
$-$$, CM, X, C, W.
Salt Cracker Fish Camp,
25 Causeway Blvd., Clearwater Beach,
(727) 442-6910. This Southern dockside
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.
$-$$, X, W.
Salt Rock Tavern,
3689 Tampa Rd., Oldsmar, (813) 336-4977.
This Baystar Restaurant combines a unique
menu of casual dining with 21 craft beers
Fri-Sat 4:30 PM-1 AM and special occasions.
$-$$, 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-10 PM. $-$$, E, X, C, W.
Palm Cafe at the
Dunedin Fine Art Center,
1143 Michigan Blvd., Dunedin, (727) 298-3322,
ext. 237. There are lots of reasons to go here
for a quick breakfast or lunch. You can dine
either alfresco or indoors, and you can eat a
delicious palette of healthy fare even starving
artists can afford. Start your day with lox and
bagels, enjoy a roasted beet salad, or have a
Cuban sandwich for a mid-afternoon snack.
Whatever you order will be freshly made
of top-quality ingredients. Open Mon-Fri
9 AM-3 PM plus 5-9 PM Fri and
Sun 9 AM-2 PM. $, CM, X, C, W.
Palm Pavilion,
10 Bay Esplanade, Clearwater Beach,
(727) 446-2642. Voted “The Best of St. Pete/
Clearwater” and also “Best of Tampa Bay.”
Overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, the Palm
Pavilion has been a famous Clearwater
Beach landmark since 1926. Amid its
nostalgic architecture, guests enjoy casual
dining indoors or outside on their deck,
where they can experience spectacular
sunsets. Happy hour on weekdays is from
4-7 PM. Visit their website to view the music
calendar. Open Sun-Thurs 10:30 AM-10 PM,
Fri-Sat 10:30 AM-11 PM. $$, CM, E, X, W.
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.
$-$$, E, X.
Pico Rojo Charcoal Rotisserie,
2475 McMullen Booth Rd., #E (accessible via
Enterprise Rd.) Clearwater, (727) 474-3826.
Known for its healthy, natural, delicious
food with Latin American flair, this
restaurant is also child-friendly, vegetarianfriendly
and offers carry-out. All-natural
chicken is marinated in spices and roasted
in an ecological charcoal rotisserie oven.
Complementary sides include fried yuca,
tostones, sweet plantains, hearty rice and
Kao Thai Kitchen,
7199 66th St., North Pinellas Park,
(727) 350-3722. This Thai restaurant in
Pinellas Park serves lunch and dinner
and features all the standard Thai items
along with some tasty dishes such as Beef
Massaman Curry and Salmon Ga Prow. You
can choose chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, squid,
tofu or vegetable for any of their classic
preparations. The lunch special comes with
an egg roll and fresh salad. Try tapioca balls
for dessert. Open Mon-Thurs 11:30 AM-3 PM
and 4:30 PM-9 PM, Fri 11:30 AM-3 PM and
4:30 PM-10 PM; Sat 4 PM-10 PM and
Sun 4 PM-9 PM. $$-$$$, X,C,W.
Marguerite’s Cafe & Catering,
405 Plaza Drive, Dunedin, (727) 734-7040.
This charming eatery next to the Dunedin
Library offers indoor and outdoor
dining with sidewalk seating. Breakfasts,
sandwiches, fresh innovative salads,
soups and entrées make for a delightful
experience. Open Mon-Fri 7:30 AM-5 PM;
Sat-Sun 8 AM-3 PM. $.
Marina Cantina Tequila Bar
and Grille,
25 Causeway Blvd., Clearwater Beach,
(727) 443-1750. Right in the heart of
Clearwater Beach, this Baystar restaurant
has fabulous views and phenomenal
Mexican fare at bargain prices. Try the
iron pan cornbread and the Beef Barbacoa
Quesadillas with a house margarita or
some sangria. This is a gathering spot for
the young and hip set. Open Mon-Thurs
4 PM-10 PM; Fri 4 PM-11 PM;
Sat 11 AM-11 PM; and Sun 11 AM-10 PM.
$$, RS, X, W.
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 Road (at
Enterprise Road), Clearwater, (727) 791-6640.
Sushi lovers rejoice. Nhan Nguyen carries
on a tradition of delicious freshness for
the wide selection of appetizers, Japanese
dinners and noodle dishes, fresh from the
sea sushi rolls, makimono and sashimi,
deliciously seasoned hibachi, bento boxes
and more that she serves at her elegantly
decorated restaurant. Open for dinner
Sun-Thurs 4:30 PM-12 AM and