Fabrizio Aielli’s must-visit seafood palace at the Sundial serves up products from the sea with high style and perfect execution, from branzino to sea urchin to the restaurant’s namesake salts. And oh, the oysters: There’s a whole separate raw bar menu devoted to them, their provenance ranging from Alaska to Cape Cod. But our favorites come fried. In Aielli’s inspired version — billed as ‘Crispy Oyster’ on the Starters menu and accompanied by a tequila-corn-jalapeno remoulade — the marvelous mollusks are as crispy as promised while retaining all the fresh briny tenderness an oyster-lover craves. The jalapeno adds a bit of extra bite, and the corn tastes fresh off the cob. It’s summer on a plate.
Food & Drink
Fodder & Shine may have had a bit of a hard time finding its identity in burgeoning but not completely avant-garde Seminole Heights. But, while chef Greg Baker had to tweak his authentic Florida cracker cuisine to appease the unseasoned palates of thought-they-were-brave foodies, the restaurant’s bar offerings plus video games and pool table have made it a pretty great spot to kick it into the late night. 5910 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, 813-234-3710, fodderandshine.com
Runners Up: Einstein Bros Bagels, Clearwater Bagels
Runners Up: Alessi Bakery, Bake‘n Babes
Hey, sometimes you’re just not in the mood for another hoppy IPA or citrus-smoked bacon whatever. Cigar City’s getting the jump on the burgeoning cider and mead markets the same way it got ahead of the Bay area craft beer curve, and is putting out the area’s best stuff as a result. From sweet summery ciders to more subtle, textured concoctions and a fearless attitude toward experimenting with the ancient (and misnamed, really) “honey wine” known as mead, the staff at this casual Ybor City brewery and tasting room is friendly, skilled and schooled. If you’re willing to be curious and more than a little fearless yourself when it comes to new flavors, they’ll help you find a new obsession in something you’ve never tasted before. 1812 N. 15th St., Ybor City. 813-242-6600, cigarcitycider.com
Runners Up: Urban Brew & BBQ, 4 Rivers Smokehouse
