Thuy Le is the owner of three St. Petersburg establishments: Thuy Café, La V and Nouvelle Beauty Bar. If you’ve patronized any of these businesses, chances are you’ve seen the proprietress. The Vietnamese-born restaurateur (her name is pronounced Twee Lay) stands out in a crowd. She’s gorgeous, gregarious and likes a good party. Last summer, when she opened her first salon –– the 2,700-square-foot Nouvelle Beauty Bar on Central Avenue –– the business’s opening day reception included live music, wine, sake, mimosas, champagne and spring rolls courtesy of La V. “I love people,” says Le, who lives downtown with her 6-year-old son. “It makes me happy to see them happy.” Le, 34, followed her brother to St. Petersburg 15 years ago. She opened her first restaurant (Thuy Café) in 2001, long before trendy Vietnamese fusion infiltrated St. Pete’s dining scene. Tucked away in a strip mall off U.S. 19, Thuy Cafe is revered for its banh mi sandwiches and boba tea. Its upscale successor, La V, has developed a similarly fervent following since opening three years ago in downtown St. Petersburg. Once a dirty pool hall, La V is now a popular destination for pho lovers and vegetarians alike. The restaurant’s modern décor (long, white feather lamps), traditional dishes (stick-to-your-ribs noodle soup) and unusual refreshments (avocado smoothies) are a direct reflection of its owner: part warm-and-cozy and part cutting-edge chic.
Best place to unwind: RUBY’S ELIXIR. “I like to sit outside, listen to the live music and watch the craziness go by on Friday and Saturday nights. Usually I’ll order a Porn Star to drink. I don’t know what’s in it, maybe Raspberry vodka? Whatever it is, it’s good.”
Best place to let your kid burn off energy: NORTH SHORE POOL. “I live in an apartment building downtown and they haven’t finished building our pool yet. North Shore is easy. The staff is friendly and you feel safe there.”
Best place to score high fashion at a low price: THE TRUNK STYLISTS on Central Ave. “They have boutique items without boutique prices and they get new shipments every week. I got a very cool vest there once.”
Best late-night grub: THE OYSTER BAR on Central. “They serve food until 1 a.m. I can walk there after work and sit at the bar with a friend. It’s very low key. The new owner (Josh Cameron) is personable. You feel comfortable the second you walk in.”
Best hangover food: THE PHO AT LA V. “After you’ve had a good girl’s night out it’s the perfect comfort food. It fills you up and refreshes you.”
Best guilty pleasure: WILLIAM DEAN CHOCOLATES at International Plaza. “It’s not just the chocolates, it’s the fillings. They fill these custom chocolate pieces raspberry and caramel. It’s like heaven in your mouth.”
Best place to stretch out: ARIA HEALTH + WELLNESS INSTITUTE. “I go for the yoga. They customize their classes. They have a menu of classes to choose from. It’s a good place for chiropractic care and pain management.”
Best reason to cheat on your diet: CAVATELLI BADA BING at GRATZZI ITALIAN GRILLE. “They cook this big pot of cheese right at your table on a little burner. The fire is flaming up in the air and you know the pasta is fresh because it’s being prepared right in front of you.”
Best restroom when you’re in a pinch: CAFÉ DEL MAR on Central. “I go out quite a bit on Central, so I’ve gotten to know some of these little secrets. I just found out about sneaking up to the restroom at Café Del Mar. It’s clean and no one knows about it.”
Best place to reflect: The big rock out in the water off 73rd Ave and Gulf Blvd, not far from Waffle House. She remembers sitting there one eerie night when “it was foggy out, but I could still see the sky. It was a unique experience.”
Best place to get pampered: NOUVELLE BEAUTY BAR. “Who wouldn’t relax with a glass of wine and someone washing your hair or rubbing your feet? What more could you want in life?”
Best reason to cross the Howard Frankland: SAIGON DELI on Waters Avenue in Tampa. “Oh god, it’s very much a greasy spoon kind of place and the prices are so inexpensive. It’s very mom and pop, but it’s always packed. I’m crazy about their Banh Mi sandwich.”
Best place to go on a date: A TASTE FOR WINE on Central. “They have all these big comfy chairs and couches. I think it would be the perfect place to go on a first date. I haven’t had one there yet, but I have it in the back of my mind that I’d like to go!”
This article appears in Mar 5-11, 2015.