HILLSBOROUGH
Tampa
Carrollwood/Northwest Tampa
Kaisen Sushi, 12785 N. Dale Mabry, in Mission Bell Square (813-969-3848). This friendly, casual and tiny cafe offers exceptionally fresh, artfully prepared, delicious and value priced sushi. What more can you ask for? A must-try is the calamari, thick slices of succulent grilled squid served in a dark, smoky sauce. Sweet grilled eel and seared tuna are excellent, and ask if they have toro, the choice, fatty tuna. Bargain "no-sushi" dinners offer enormous portions of tempura and teriyaki. $$
La Maison Basque, 3621 W. Waters Ave. (813-932-1922). Chef Felix Piedra turned this strip shopping center storefront into a cozy dining room with an open kitchen, where he prepares the Spanish/French influenced cuisine of the Basque region. The menu has a European feel, with dishes like fresh chicken breast sauteed in brandy cream sauce, and imported wild rabbit cooked in Galician albarino wine, but surprising ways with seafood put this place on the map. Seafood paella, overflowing with lobster, grouper, clams, shrimp and squid is the house specialty, along with black grouper stuffed with squid and dressed with a cream sauce made of squid ink. $$
Sukhothai, 8201 N. Dale Mabry (813-933-7990). Thai dishes and an elegant Eastern ambiance combine to create a romantic adventure. A class operation. $$
Tampa — Davis Islands
Estela's Mexican Restaurant, 209 E. Davis Blvd. (813-251-0558). Enjoy traditional Mexican specialties while dining al fresco or inside this charming cantina. Excellent fresh salsa, smoky enchiladas and tasty margaritas are menu highlights. Great lunch specials and no less than 25 dinner combinations. Fresh fruit and carrot juices are squeezed to order. $
Pink Flamingo, 210 E. Davis Blvd. (813-251-2928). The Islanders know this is the place to go for breakfast or lunch. Wake up to a "Healthy Start," a big bowl of fresh, seasonal fruit tossed with low-fat strawberry and banana yogurt, topped with granola, and your choice of a jumbo muffin or bagel for $5.65. Your mouth will water for hot-off-the-grill sandwiches, like the Island Club, packed with turkey, ham and bacon, sliced avocado, tomatoes and melted Swiss cheese on pumpernickel bread with a light, creamy mustard sauce. Breakfasts range from $2.45 to $6.75., lunches from $4.75 to $6.45. $
Tate Brothers Pizza, 233 Davis Blvd., Suite A (813-251-2767). This casual eat-in/takeout pizza place is family-owned and operated. No Ragu and frozen bread dough here. Sauces, meatballs and crusts are homemade. Toppings are fresh and good quality, like first-rate cheeses, pepperoni and, God bless them, fresh garlic on the pizza! Yummy breadsticks, soft and dripping with butter. Calzones as big as the plate are a meal in themselves. $
Downtown Tampa
Mise en Place, 442 W. Kennedy Blvd., Suite 250 (813-254-5373). Owners Marty and Marianne Blitz create a culinary happening in this smart brasserie-style eatery. Billed as a "Neo-American Bistro," Mise En Place is located just across from the University of Tampa. $$$
East Tampa
V.P.'s Country Barbecue and Catering, 7117 U.S. 301 N. and Sligh Ave. (813-626-1996). Vasko and Emilia Popov bring a bit of Bulgarian spice to old-fashioned American barbecue. Lamb, pork, beef and ribs are slow roasted, smoked and spiced with the chef's secret sauce. Picnic under palm-thatched shelters among wide-spreading oak trees or go inside and see the spotless barbecue kitchen. Whole, spit-roasted lambs are a catering specialty. $ 1/2
Tampa — Hyde Park
Ceviche Tapas Bar and Restaurant, 2109 Bayshore Blvd. (813-250-0203), on the ground floor of the Royal Condominium. The owners of Le Bordeaux turn their attention to Spain, with authentic tapas and great sangria. Start a theater date with a few tapas and a glass of wine, and return later for dinner entrees, like wood-roasted baby lamb. Open after 5 p.m., closed Sunday and Monday. $$$
Evos, 609 S. Howard Ave. (813-258-EVOS). Who says fast food has to be bad for you? This is the scene for some of our favorite fast food, like crispy air fries, all-fruit smoothies and great tasting, healthy burgers and chili, so flavorful, you'll never believe they're low in fat and cholesterol. $
Gourmet Pizza Company, 610 S. Armenia Ave. (813-258-1999). The word "gourmet" gets tossed around far too casually. We think it should be reserved for places like The Gourmet Pizza Co. where quality, creativity and flavor really shine. The classic pie is great. That's a given. But give your taste buds a thrill with specialty pies like Thai chicken, with crisp veggies and spicy peanut sauce, or the steak gorgonzola, with sliced rib eye, caramelized red onions and fresh mushrooms sprinkled with tangy blue cheese. Green salads, pastas and stromboli-like cazollis round out the menu. Twelve-inch pies range from $10.70 to $12.90. $
Le Bordeaux, 1502 S. Howard Ave. (813-254-4387). For Provencale cuisine, you can't get better. Meats and fish are fresh, and a blackboard menu that changes daily always has a great selection. $$$
McHale's ChopHouse Barbecue With Style, 808 S. Howard Ave., next to Tuscan Oven (813-250-9809). Don't let a few classy touches, like cloth napkins and big, comfy booths, fool you. This is bodacious, down-home barbecue. Juicy, succulent Texas brisket, authentic St. Louis-style ribs, smoked duck, great grilled steaks, even pan-seared salmon are all done right and served with fresh, homemade dipping sauces. Try the aged prime rib, dry rubbed with fresh spices and herbs, and slowly roasted over a hardwood fire, served with mashed potatoes and rich beef gravy subtly flavored with Cajun spices. Sandwiches cost $6.25 to $7.99, and entrees range from $11 to $17. $$
The Old Meeting House, 901 S. Howard Ave. (813-251-1754). For more than a half-century, this beloved institution has been delighting people with good old American diner food. Blue plate specials, such as tasty meat loaf, roasted chicken and roast beef are served on blue plates at prices around $5. We love their big, thick hamburgers. Hearty breakfasts are served till 11 a.m. Treat yourself to a malt with homemade ice cream. Cash only, with an on-site ATM. Open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day. Breakfast served till 11 a.m. $
SideBern's, 2208 Morrison Ave. (813-258-2233). Chef Jeannie Pierola, one of the shining stars of Tampa Bay's dining scene, creates a cuisine that is both luscious and lustrous and serves it in a sophisticated setting that manages to be both worldly and witty. The chef grabs premier ingredients from around the globe and blends them into deeply flavorful and texturally exciting dishes, like a mignon cut of tuna and rare Kumomoto oysters wok seared with shiitake mushrooms in a cognac sauce, served with truffled potato puree and baby bok choy, or, for meat-eaters, a duo of short ribs and hanger steak with an orange rosemary ginger steak sauce, horseradish glazed potatoes, and a side of roasted carrots and parsnips. From soup to nuts, it's a tour de force of fine dining at surprisingly affordable prices. Menu entrees range from $13.91 to $18.91 $$$
Sole Mio, 3201 S. Dale Mabry (813-902-1222). Forget about those tasteless, cardboard-crust franchise pizzas. This is pie the way it should be: crisp, fragrant, hand-tossed crust topped with rich, homemade red sauce and deli-quality toppings like real Parma prosciutto, ripe tomatoes, fresh arugula and basil. We love the deep, rich flavors of the chicken and artichoke pie. To really indulge, be sure and ask for a cup of the homemade garlic butter sauce. Twelve-inch pies range from $6.95 to $10.45. Try their great deli sandwiches and antipasto too. $
Tuscan Oven, 808 S. Howard Ave. (813-251-0619). A wood-burning oven is the heart of the kitchen, adding flavor and crusty texture to breads, pizzas, roasted meats, seafoods and vegetables. Try slow-cooked Osso Buco or creamy four cheese pasta and for dessert, a warm, sweet polenta bread pudding with seasonal berries. Dinner entrees range from $6.99 to $12.99 $$
Tampa — Seminole Heights
Ansley's Natural Marketplace, 402 Sligh Ave. E. (813-239-2700), and 3936 Kennedy Blvd., Tampa (813-879-6625). Large, natural food stores with exceptional produce. The Sligh location also has a bakery with good whole-grain breads, carrot loafs and such. Good takeout prepared foods with plenty of flavor and variety. $
Rigo's Eatery, 6607 N. Florida Ave. (813-236-7446; www.rigoseatery.com). This arty little eatery is terribly tiny. Good thing they have a big garden patio out back. Inside, you can order scrumptious breakfast and brunch foods like made-to-order French toast and waffles, eggs Benedict, breakfast sandwiches and more. Lunch and dinner offer big, tasty sandwiches, several "meals-in-a-minute" for the on-the-go diner, and for dessert, old-fashioned ice cream sundaes with plenty of ooey-gooey toppings. Not too hungry? The easygoing atmosphere makes it a swell place to stop for a cafe con leche and slice of tiramisu while you read the Weekly Planet. $
South Tampa/Palma Ceia/Interbay
Bec's, 6211 S. MacDill Ave. (813-837-2700). This tiny place (three tables inside, more on a charming outdoor patio) is open seven days a week. Grab-n-go morning drivers will love the palmlettes, calzone-like breakfast sandwiches stuffed with delicious combos of eggs, meat, cheeses and veggies. For brunch, try baked egg souffles with a variety of meats, cheeses and veggies, or baked French toast with cinnamon custard and a topping, either banana pecan or Vermont cinnamon apple, both with whipped cream. Lox and bagel lovers will appreciate the generous Nova platter. For lunch, try dough-zers, big, overstuffed pockets with tasty, creative fillings. $
Fuji Sushi Bar and Japanese Restaurant, 1155 S. Dale Mabry (813-282-9098). Look for traditional Japanese dinners like katsu, fried beef, chicken or pork cutlets, along with shrimp and vegetable teriyaki on the menu, with a sushi bar offering daily lunch and dinner specials. Bento boxes are the best buy. Isobeage, seasoned, grilled salmon rolled with seaweed paper, is a treat. $$
Kojak's House of Ribs, 2808 Gandy Blvd. (813-837-3774). If you want excellent barbecue on your plate in just minutes, this could be the spot for you. Barbecue lovers will dig the tender slabs of pork ribs, the chopped or sliced pork and beef dinners with sides of fresh corn-on-the-cob, homestyle baked beans and slaw like Ma used to make. $$
Lola Jane's Crawfish Inn, 5712 S. MacDill Ave. (813-805-0312). Good-natured informality is as abundant as flavor in the little house at the south end of MacDill Avenue, where Lola Jane and hubby Gardner re-create the food and atmosphere of their family table. Enjoy absolutely authentic muffaletta and po-boys, outstanding jambalaya and crawfish pie, great red beans and rice, and a marvelous crawfish etouffe with roux made to your special order. High quality and low dough are the house rule. Salads and sandwiches cost $2.95-$6.95. Hot foods like gumbo and etouffe range from $5.95 to $7.25. Homemade pecan pie or bread pudding ranges from $1 to $2.25. All food packaged for carryout. Screen porch has three tables if you can't wait. No alcohol. $$
New City Bistro, 3333 S. West Shore Blvd. (813-805-0250). Roger and Terri Lenzi, chef/owners of the popular New City Diner, turn their talents to delicious bistro dining with their New City Bistro. The New American menu changes often, but exciting flavor combinations and skillful preparation remain constant. Look for dishes like Moroccan-spiced salmon with feta couscous salad, goat-cheese stuffed filet mignon or fresh herb rub on grilled rack of lamb. A wine bar with more than 60 affordable labels and especially tasty appetizer assortments make this a pleasant place to linger. Entrees range from $10.95 to $17.95.$$
The Press Box, 222 S. Dale Mabry (813-876-3528). Here's a place where single women, and the entire baseball team, will feel equally comfortable with the friendly waitstaff. Hefty burgers are always a feast, but keep a keen eye on the daily specials; they're some of the best deals in town. Good price on suds with some great wine prices, too. $$
Shula's Steak House, 4860 W. Kennedy Blvd. in the Wyndham West Shore Hotel (813-286-4366). This place is just what you'd expect from a football great; an emphasis on sports and red meat in an elegant masculine setting. Outstanding steaks including the 48-ounce Porterhouse (finish it at one sitting and your name goes up on the wall). Also recommended: barbecued, bacon-wrapped shrimp, carpaccio, lobster cocktail, gorgonzola-tomato salad. Voted Best Business Lunch in 1996. $$$
Yoko's Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar, 3217 S. MacDill Ave. in Beechwood Plaza (813-835-4311). Great sushi bar, comfortable seating with an innovative dinner menu and plenty of fresh sushi and sashimi. The house roll is a winner. Sample lunch specials for some of the best eating around. $$
Tampa Int'l Airport/ Courtney Campbell Causeway
Armani's, Hyatt Regency Westshore, 6200 Courtney Campbell Causeway (813-281-9165). A romantic Italian enclave of fine dining. You must not leave without trying the awesome antipasto bar, the homemade pastas and their decidedly decadent desserts. The cuisine is prepared by a master chef, trained in Italy, who keeps getting better and better. Pasta dishes are excellent, as is the fresh seafood. Have an after-dinner drink on the cozy outdoor patio. Good wine list. $$$
Oystercatchers, 6200 Courtney Campbell Causeway, in the Hyatt Westshore complex (813-281-9116). Oystercatcher's incredible Sunday brunch buffet has it all: a nearly unlimited assortment of salads and antipasto, made-to-order omelets, waffles, pastries, grilled steak, fresh shrimp and oysters, great coffee and champagne, and the Dessert Table To Die For, with everything made from the finest ingredients. Seating in a beautiful seaside dining room and attentive service make this all-you-care-to-eat buffet a serious luxury. Costs $26 for adults, $14.50 for children 4 to 11 years old, free for children 3 years old and under. $$ brunch/$$$ dinner
Roy's, 4342 Boy Scout Blvd. (813-873-7697). This chain restaurant bases its menu on the cuisine of famed Hawaiian chef Roy Yamaguchi, who describes his style as French-inspired Euro-Asian. So look for plenty of Pacific fish, such as opa, ono, butterfish, seared mahi mahi (dolphin fish) with grilled fresh oyster Chinese black bean sauce, or seared Hawaiian fish in roasted macadamia lobster sauce. Beef lovers will go for slow-braised and charbroiled short ribs of beef with natural jus and butter sauce. A large, well-executed wine list complements the menu. $$$.
Town N Country
Nicki's Omelette & Grill, 6805 W. Hillsborough Ave. (813-888-9365). This unpretentious little diner serves bargain-priced breakfasts that will fill you up for under a fiver, seven days a week. Folks line up for the fluffy omelets. Choose from a huge menu variety or design your own omelet from a list of meats, cheeses and vegetables. $
Satsuki Japanese Cuisine, 5537 Sheldon Road (813-884-4128). This small, refined little restaurant is at once exotic and homey, clean as a whistle and affordable. The sushi bar seats eight, serving fresh, well-prepared sushi with daily specials. Menu offerings include soba and udon, delicious Oriental noodles in spicy broths. Try tempura-udon, well-prepared shrimp tempura served alongside a bowl of thick noodles in hot, fragrant broth. Asian beers, hot or cold sake and green tea ice cream round out the meal. Dinner entrees under $10. $
Tampa — Busch Gardens/USF/Temple Terrace
Angithi Fine Indian Restaurant, 2047 E. Fowler Ave. (813-979-4889). Discover a whole new world of delicious exotic flavors at this north Tampa find. Sample the crisp samosas, succulent, moist tandoori-baked meats, and hot and spicy curries. Cool the fire with a smooth and fruity mango lassi drink. Plenty of vegetarian selections and a nice lunch buffet for a mere $6.95. $$
Taj, 2734-B Fowler Ave. (813-971-8483). Regulars will tell you it's the best Indian food in town. There are a number of good curries, from sweet kormas to spinach, prepared with vegetables, lamb, beef or seafood. Have plenty of naan, their addictive bread, and some luscious ice cream. $$
Trang Viet Cuisine, 1524 E. Fowler Ave. (813-979-1464) and 8502 N. Armenia Ave. (813-931-5119). Lunch and dinner daily. Tasty, healthy Vietnamese cooking with a French flair, featuring fresh, home-grown herbs and daily market specials. Weekday lunch specials are a bargain. Lively dinner menu, like "cook your own" seafood fondue, or chicken in a clay pot. Homemade desserts are special. Try banana cake (banana and coconut cake topped with peanuts). Beer & wine. $
Vallarta Mexican Restaurant 9255 N. 56th. St. (813-987-2720). The Jimenez family puts plenty of tasty dishes on the table, all served with zesty homemade salsa and guacamole. Large portions of well-known favorites like chimichangas, quesadillas, burritos and taco salads make up most of the long menu, all made with better ingredients and fresher flavors than you'll find if you run for the border. Dinner platters will fill you up for under a tenner. Smaller lunch portions start at $3.50. $
Tampa — Ybor City
Bernini, 1702 E. Seventh Ave. (813-248-0099). Chef Thomas "Bob" Barfield presents innovative Italian cuisine in a classy, sophisticated setting. The menu changes daily, so expect surprises, but favorite standards include gourmet wood-fired pizzas, especially the one with marinated chicken, smoked mozzarella, fresh tomatoes and oregano and a spicy three-chili oil, and Chef Bob's lamb shank, slow-braised in Marsala and red currant lamb broth. $$$
Green Iguana Bar & Grill, 1708 E. Seventh Ave. (813-248-9555). Cheap eats in a rowdy setting. The food is surprisingly good for a place where the focus is on drinking, loud music and the usual watering hole mating rituals. Try the grouper sandwich. $
PINELLAS
Clearwater
Caramba's Restaurante Mexicano, 1842 Drew St. (727-446-7469). There's a new menu and it's better than ever. This former Best of the Bay recipient features Mexican cuisine at its authentic best. On arrival, one should immediately turn to the pescados y mariscos portion of the menu and order one or more of their awesome fresh fish creations. Grouper a la Veracruzano, a traditional favorite, is done in true Mexican style. $$
Kozy Korner, 5251 110th Ave. (727-572-6396). This casual restaurant has been a longtime family favorite for years because of its good value and low prices. The extensive breakfast menu, served all day, features homemade biscuits, pancakes, muffins and coffee cakes. Try the Kozy Special, two eggs, bacon and sausage, home fries, juice, coffee and choice of toast, pancakes or biscuit, for under $5. $
Yanny's, 1258 Highland Ave. S. (727-446-5797). Recommended for breakfast/brunch. Yanny's has fresh-squeezed fruit or vegetable juices, scrumptious three-egg omelets, old-fashioned pancakes, or the famous French toast, dipped in a crepe batter and dusted with powdered sugar. Be sure and try a cup of homemade yogurt, the freshest, healthiest, most delicious live-culture, whole-milk yogurt you'll ever taste. Closed Mondays. $
North Clearwater/Countryside
Joto Japanese Restaurant, 2549 Countryside Blvd. (727-796-2022) and 310 S. Dale Mabry, Tampa (813-875-4842). Belly up to the sushi bar or grab a seat on the floor while a kimono-clad waitress serves traditional Japanese dishes. Try the special sushi and sashimi platters. $$
New York Bagel Boys, 2566 McMullen-Booth Road (727-797-9891). Recommended for breakfast/brunch, N.Y. Bagel Boys prove man cannot live by bread alone. Wonderful bagels (big, dense, crispy and flavorful) are made on site, slathered with flavored cream cheeses or topped with eggs, omelets, ham, Kosher salami, pastrami, lox. They serve lunch too, with traditional N.Y. deli fixings. $
Pulcinella Ristorante, 2475-E McMullen-Booth Road (in the Oakbrook Plaza) (727-669-9512). If you've ever visited Italy, you'll feel right at home with Chef Carmine's exquisite, authentic Italian menu prepared with the finest imported ingredients. You must try fresh arugula with olive oil and paper-thin slices of bresaola, an incredibly delicate, slightly nutty beef, cured prosciutto style. Then sample pastas to make you swoon, like rigatoni with fresh, imported porcini and very expensive white truffle oil, or the rigatoni al Amatriciana, pasta in fresh tomato sauce flavored with basil, onion and bacon. Entrees from $9 to $14 offer incredible quality at bargain prices. $$
Downtown Clearwater
Caryl's Natural Foods, 805 S. Fort Harrison (727-446-6587). Smoothies are newly popular, but nothing new. Caryl's has been serving them up for 20 years, and they're some of the best anywhere. Try the tropical frappe: whipped pineapple and coconut juice, piña colada yogurt and banana. Fresh fruit and vegetable juices, too. Big selection of fresh, healthy eats, salads, meatless sandwiches, and soups made daily. $
Harrison's Grill & Bar, 401 S. Fort Harrison Ave. (727-449-2942). Harrison's has become a favorite after-work spot for American favorites, like nachos and wings, hamburgers, grouper sandwiches, steaks and pastas, but don't mistake this for a franchise fern bar. Almost everything here is made fresh in the kitchen. Try the hot bacon dressing on a house salad along with homemade soup, or fill up a heartier appetite with juicy, slow-roasted prime rib. Entrees range from $4.85 to $14.95. $
O'Keefe's, 1219 S. Fort Harrison Ave. (727-442-9034). This restaurant draws a bigger crowd on St. Pat's Day than the Boston parade. As you might guess, corned beef and cabbage is big on the menu, and it's fork tender, but throughout the year the average diner is more apt to be munching on one of their justly-famous burgers (or trying their sandwiches, hot dogs, steaks or seafood).$$
Tri-City/St. Pete-Clearwater Airport/Feather Sound
Thai Basil, 4445 East Bay Drive (727-532-6108). This unassuming cafe offers a heaping helping of tasty Thai food with a young attitude. Try their fresh, zingy cheese rolls, a tasty combination of cream cheese, shrimp, carrots and green onions wrapped in a spring roll and fried golden, dipped in sweet raspberry sauce, or toasted tortillas stuffed with a spicy filling, fried and dipped in sweet chili sauce. Best menu bets are grilled lamb chops with basil sauce, anything with chili jam, vegetarian fried rice with tofu, as well as traditional Thai dishes like pad Thai and curries. Most entrees are $6-$8.
Dunedin
Bayou Bistro and Mudbug Lounge, 456 Causeway Blvd. (727-736-6467). Chef/owner Karen Thomas serves up some fine Cajun food in this funky restaurant and bar. Everything is fresh and made from scratch, right down to the blackening spices on the thin-sliced, gator tail filet. Don't pass on dessert, a huge slice of bread pudding with spiced rum sauce, or is that yum sauce? Oversize appetizers are priced from $3.95 to $6.95, po boys $5.25 to $7.25 and entrees $9.25 to $13.95 $
Benedict's, 2676 Bayshore Blvd., inside Causeway Plaza (727-736-1600) Recommended for breakfast/brunch. What else would you expect but a tasty and nearly unlimited variety of fluffy poached eggs set atop a toasted English muffin, slathered with a creamy lemon sauce and your choice of ham, crab meat, bacon? But there's more: sweet selections like Belgian chocolate pancakes or zesty flavors like huevos ranchero, all served in enormous portions. $
The Black Pearl, 315 Main St. (727-734-3463). With only 13 tables, this classy cafe turns out some of the freshest, most creative cuisine in the Bay area. Owner Kathleen LaRoche goes the extra mile to secure fresh, prime ingredients. Chef Karen Schluntz turns it into cuisine that dazzles the eye as well as the taste buds. Every selection, from crab cakes to duckling, will delight you. $$$
Kelly's For Just About … Anything, 319 Main St. (727-736-5284). Whether it's for breakfast, lunch or dinner, this casual, ambient, award-winning eatery is the shining star on the Dunedin culinary scene. It's funky, fun and you can dine under the stars. Breakfasts are unique; lunch and dinner specials, seafood, beef and poultry, are always consistently good. Better than that, they're done with a flair. $$
Gulf Beaches/North
Crabby Bill's, 412 First. St., Indian Rocks Beach (727-595-4825). Want better than Long John Silver, cheaper than Red Lobster? Head for Crabby Bill's. Super fresh seafood, ice cold beer and seasonal specials keep the tables full and the diners happy. $$
Frenchy's Cafe, 41 Baymont St. and 419 Poinsettia, Clearwater (727-446-3607 and 461-6295). You'll love the crunchy crust on thier award-winning grouper sandwich, and the fun, casual beach atmosphere. $$
Nadia's Restaurant & Bar, 2721 Gulf Blvd., Indian Rocks Beach (727-596-7222). You'll find well-prepared Continental cuisine, fine French and American wines and attentive service in this charming seaside cottage. Classic cream and wine sauces bathe fresh seafoods, veal, beef and ostrich. Try the crab and shrimp in a creamy Pernod sauce. Entrees range from $11.95 to $19.95. $$
Gulf Beaches/South
Alfredino's on the Beach, 7141 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach (727-367-9999). If you've ever been to Italy, then you'll appreciate the true taste of fine Italian cuisine served by Alfredo and Maria Elena Quatraro in this cozy and charming restaurant. If you've never been to Italy, then this is the place to discover what real Italian cuisine is all about. Heavenly pastas bathed in sauces prepared fresh when you order, and the Quatraros also serve beef dishes, such as filet in red wine demi-glace, and perhaps the best-prepared fish on the beach, like grouper topped with crab in a Dijon wine sauce. For dessert, try caramel-glazed bananas Foster prepared at your table. Entrees range from $8 to $22. $$
Captain Kosmakos, 9610 Gulf Blvd., Treasure Island (727-367-3743). Brothers Kosmos and George Kosmakos bring a touch of Greece to a mostly American menu stacked high with classic favorites. Greek specialties, especially the baked chicken and Greek salad, are noteworthy. Other winners: steaks, chops, duckling, fresh seafood and stuffed lobster. $$
Der Eisenhut, 357 Corey Ave., St. Pete Beach (727-367-6495). Schnitzels, sauerbraten "Hotel Lowenhof," and an Oktoberfest platter with the best brats, pork, potato salad and red cabbage you've tasted. Schaller & Weber products from the deli take out and a fabulous beer collection including Bitburger, Spaten and Weisse. $$
La Croisette, 7401 Gulf Blvd. (across the Pasadena Causeway), St. Pete Beach (727-360-2253) One of the best breakfasts on the beach, every day of the week. Flaky, buttery homemade croissants accompany a nearly unlimited assortment of fluffy omelets. Outstanding home fries and incredibly light pancakes are menu highlights. $
The Lobster Pot, 17814 Gulf Blvd., Redington Shores (727-391-8592). Has been serving fresh finfish and shellfish for nearly 20 years now. The focus, of course, is lobster but other treasures of the Gulf are nicely done. Black grouper, snapper and a variety of crustaceans are ever-present on a menu that has some interesting daily attractions. Don't leave without checking out the chowder. $$$
London Pride, 336 Corey Ave., St. Pete Beach (727-360-4863). Gerry and Krysia Goodwin offer a wide range of authentic British food, candy and gifts. Fresh scones, pork pies with jelly, and beef pasties. Curries, jams, cereals, Birds trifle mix, treacle toffee and crisps. $
Snapper's, 5895 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach (727-367-3550). This beautiful little bistro is more than just another pretty face. There's serious chefing going on in the kitchen, where a variety of fresh Atlantic fish are being turned into mouthwatering dishes like cashew-and-coconut-crusted mahi-mahi, or pepper-crusted crusted tuna, seared and served on a bed of bright spring greens with an imaginative and exciting blueberry teriyaki glaze. Carnivores will love veal and pork meatloaf, and steaks are cooked on an oak-fired grill. $$
Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish, 1350 S. Pasadena Ave., South Pasadena (727-381-7931). Hot smoked fish dinners with all the trimmings have made this a renowned eatery the world over. Smoked fish spread by the pound, delicious Manhattan style clam chowder, real German potato salad and one-third pound jumbo burgers make this casual indoor-outdoor eatery a must. Peters also boasts one of the cleanest kitchens in eight districts. $$
Yoji Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar, 4615 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach (727-367-6762). Open for dinner only. Teppan yaki chefs perform tableside as they cook softshell crab, shrimp, filet, lobster and chicken in spicy sauces on an iron grill. Be sure and try gyoza (traditional sauteed dumplings) and fresh selections from the sushi bar. Entree prices run from $7.95 to $26.25. $$
Gulfport
Backfin Blue Cafe, 2913 Beach Blvd. S. (727-343-2583). Closed Tuesdays. Quaint little Cafe with classy food, in the heart of an arty district. Great prime rib and meat loaf, excellent fish. Don't miss the corn puree with lump crabmeat or the crab cakes. Great desserts, too. Laid-back, casual and definitely tasty. $$
The Habana, at 5402 Gulfport Blvd. S.(727-321-8855). Authentic Cuban foods, with the menu topping out at $10.95. Owner Jo Hastings was born in Cuba but grew up here. She serves traditional Cuban food with a today-twist, like roast pork with cumin, laurel and grilled onions, as well as mojo. Chicken breast done palomilla style and catfish with a plantain crust. $
La Cote Basque Winehouse, 3104 Beach Blvd. (727-321-6888). Expect affordable French foods au gratin, braise and others, plus continental-style dining with prices that are easy to live with. $$
PierHouse Grill and Pepper Co., 5401 Shore Blvd. S. (727-322-1741). The bright tropical dining room offers a great view of Gulfport's pier, and the menu offers hamburgers, steaks, pasta, sandwiches and homemade soups. Best buys are daily specials that show off fresh seafood, like shrimp and grouper in a spicy broth of tomatoes, garlic, onions, olives and peppers over fettucine. Want more fire? The house makes its own hot sauce, and will spice up your entree, on request. Entrees range from $4.95 burgers to $14.95 sirloin masterpieces. $$
Largo
Cafe Largo, 12551 Indian Rocks Road (727-596-6282). A continental style eatery popular with locals as well as tourists for many years. There's great attention to detail paid to the menu as well as the service. Check for monthly specialty dinners that feature a fine taste of French cooking. $$$
Pastino's, 11750 Clearwater-Largo Road (727-559-0506). Pastino's calls itself a neighborhood pizzeria, but when was the last time you saw gnocchi with wild caribou at your corner joint? Pastino's menu runs from mild to wild. Pizzas include Wild Bill's Western steak special, the taco pizza, and even a lobster supreme pizza with lobster, sun dried tomatoes, garlic, basil and olive oil, topped with white cheddar and mozzarella. Pasta dishes range from linguine with clam sauce to ravioli with exotic wild game stuffing. Entrees are priced from $5.95 to $15.45. $$
Sushi Fune, 10801 Starkey Road, in the Bardmoor Village (727-319-6627). Fune means "boat," and here you'll sit at the bar as a small fleet of sushi-bearing boats sail past you. Prices are signified by the colors of the plates. Chef Tony will offer you plenty of friendly advice about what's available. The menu also offers dinner entrees like tempura, teriyaki and sukiyaki. Look for green mussels baked in a special wasabi sauce and cooked baby octopus marinated in special seasonings. $$
Palm Harbor
Palm Harbor Natural Foods, U.S. 19 & Curlew Road, in the Seabreeze Shopping Center (727-786-1231). Belly on up to the "Full Belly Deli." Soups and sandwiches are good and good for you. $
Picasso's Palate, 3430 East Lake Road, East Lake Woodlands Shopping Center) (727-772-0707). This arty cafe serves up eye-opening breakfasts that are worth getting out of bed for seven days a week. Good omelets and eggs Benedict, fresh fruit and yogurt parfaits, or indulgences, like cream cheese and fruit stuffed between slices of French toast. $
St. Larry's, 34980 U.S. 19 (727-786-0077). St. Larry's feels like a chummy private club, with small, intimate dining spaces, a great bar and plenty of hobnobbing among the patrons, but don't worry; they'll be only too glad to have you join the fun. An eclectic menu that changes daily can offer anything from smoked lobster egg roll with fresh blueberry sauce to angus filet sauteed with cultivated and wild mushrooms in a brandy brown sauce and topped with Maytag Blue Cheese. Fish lovers can look for dry-packed scallops and large shrimp sauteed in a rich Asiago cream sauce or authentic Maryland crab cakes. The extensive bar offers a great wine list and a huge collection of single malt scotch. $$
Pinellas Park
Cajun Cafe, 8285 Park Blvd. (727-546-6732). Drive past Wagon Wheel Flea Market and pull off onto the dirt road where Cajun Cafe sits on a backwater bayou. There you will find tattooed men and darlin' women playing zydeco tunes on the jukebox and washing down fiery gumbo or jambalaya with Dixie beer. Don't miss the searing barbecue shrimp or the crawfish cornbread, full of fire and mudbugs. Good po-boy sandwiches, gator bites and boudin sausage served with beans and rice. $$
La Teresita Restaurant, 7101 66th St. (727-447-4240). Stepchild of Tampa's famous eatery since 1976, this local Cuban coffee and sandwich shop features quick meals at rock bottom prices. There's the requisite Cuban sandwich and plenty of classic dishes, like picadillo, roast pork, Russian trout and liver done Italian style; all for under a fiver. $$
Regina's Philippine Cuisine, 9727 66th St. N. (727-544-6182). Ever tried this flavorful cuisine? If not, you're in for a culinary awakening. There are plenty of daily specials made with fresh, crunchy veggies and perfectly cooked noodles. A range of sweet, sour, salty, etc. Cash only. $$
Safety Harbor
Green Springs Cafe and Gathering Place, 122 Third Ave. N. (727-669-6762). This quaint neighborhood cafe, housed in a cozy, old wooden house hides a secret — there's a CIA-trained chef in the kitchen, turning out deeply delicious dishes like lamb porterhouses, fine cuts of rich lamb, pan-roasted with a port wine reduction and served with wilted greens, or Pacific salmon topped with a lush lobster sauce and baked with asparagus and spinach en papillote or in a paper sack. For a meal in a bowl, order the spicy gumbo made with dark, delicious roux, loaded with chicken and chunky vegetables. Entrees range from $11.25 to $18.75. $$
Safety Harbor Resort Cafe, 105 N. Bayshore Drive (727-726-1161). If you think eating healthy means giving up delicious flavor, then you need to try the spa meals at this renowned resort. The casual cafe offers imaginative appetizers, like grilled portobello mushroom with candied figs and Maytag bleu cheese drizzled with aged balsamic vinegar or try pan-fried lump crab cakes with mango and scotch bonnet aioli garnished with carrot hair and frizzled leeks. Dinners range from guava-glazed and grilled duck breast served with sweet potato pancakes and sauteed greens with chili-vinegar drizzle to a rich seafood bouillabaisse seasoned with allspice and sherry. Lunch entrees 7.50-$9.95, dinners $11.50-$16.50. $$
St. Petersburg
Central St. Pete/Tyrone
Ajanta Indian Cuisine, 5005 34 St. N., inside Mirage Hotel (727-525-1181). Once upon a time, you had to drive to the far side of Tampa to taste the savory, seductive flavors of Indian cuisine, but no more. Ajanta serves up a fine feast of dishes that celebrate the Indian tradition of using a large variety of very fresh spices to turn foods as simple as lentils or potatoes into surprisingly sophisticated dishes. Be sure and try tandoori chicken, or like jinga masala, shrimps bathed in a subtly spicy sauce, and check out daily lunch specials and the Sunday buffet. $$
Biff-Burger of 49th Street, 3939 49th St. N. (727-527-5297). Heavenly fries (our "Best of the Bay") are crispy with just the right amount of grease, steaming hot and cheap, cheap, cheap. There are burgers out the wazoo, and you can be sure they'll make 'em just the way you want. Calories may be high, but prices are always low. $
Kopper Kitchen, 5562 Central Ave. (727-345-6339). Start your day with one of their excellent omelets or the morning special that includes one egg, sausage or two pieces of crisp bacon, potatoes or grits and toast. $
Little Italy Pizza, 3523 49th St. N. (727-522-2717/727-525-1029). You'll have to elbow your way through the crowd of neighbors to get a table at this family-operated pizzeria. This casual, strip-mall storefront packs 'em in with full-flavored pizza, but don't leave without one of the tastiest hoagies and subs we've had, made on crisp, crusted bread with top-notch meats and cheeses. $
Saffron's Caribbean, 1700 Park St. N. (727-345-6400). Saffron's sister team offers authentic jerk chicken and more, with spices that will take you to Jamaica. Appleton steak and curry dishes to satisfy the fussiest island connoisseurs. $$
Downtown St. Pete
Alfresco at The Vinoy, 501 Fifth Ave. N.E. (727-894-1000). This Floribbean-style restaurant is one of the best-kept secrets in town with its authentic conch fritters and curried remoulade, grilled grouper and good pasta dishes including a superb seafood linguine. Spicy cold peel-and-eat shrimp along with one (or two) of their imported beers makes for a nice poolside lunch. $$$
Chateau France, 136 Fourth Ave. N.E. (727-894-7163). An old Victorian mansion is a very special setting for a very special dinner. Dine on authentic French cuisine prepared by a Cordon Bleu-trained chef, served in intimate, private rooms. You can blow the budget on dishes like beluga caviar or Dover sole imported from the Canal De La Manche, or dine deliciously but reasonably on roasted duck breast in orange Grand Marnier sauce, or chicken medallions sauteed with Camembert and fresh herbs. Plan ahead to enjoy a very special dessert for two: an authentic souffle au chocolat. Most appetizers run $9 to $12. Most entrees, which include baby vegetables, Gruyere cheese potatoes and signature salad, range from $15 to $29. $$$
The Garden, 217 Central Ave. in Jannus Landing (727-896-3800). This art-full little cafe is noted for its support of the local scene. Home-grown works grace the walls, and local jazz bands play in the quaint brink patio. Menu favors fresh Mediterranean flavors, with splendid paellas, polentas, frittatas and pastas. Tajine, long-simmered Moroccan stew with complex flavors, is a real find. $$
Grand Finale, 1101 First Ave. N. (727-823-9921). This creative bar and bistro is mere blocks from the Tropicana Field of dreams, but light years away from hot dogs and Cracker Jacks. Instead, you'll find one of St. Petersburg's premier destinations for fine dining. The style flirts with Asian ingredients fused with French accents. Try sophisticated starters like seared foie gras drizzled with black pepper caramel, and entrees like seared red snapper served with black truffle risotto or grilled pork tenderloin served with curry-scented and caramelized root vegetables. Entrees $15-$24. $$
Hilda La Tropicana, 320 First Ave. N. (727-898-9902). Just across from Williams Park in downtown St. Pete, this homey Cuban Cafe serves up hefty portions of good-as-anything-in-Tampa Cuban sandwiches, roast pork, yucca with mojo, great fried plantains, well-spiced Milanesa steak, black bean soup and empanadas. Lunch and dinner are served six days a week. $
Moon Under Water, 332 Beach Drive (727-896-6160). Sit on the open verandah, nursing a Guinness as the moon rises over the bay at this capital pub. Moon Under Water celebrates the days when the sun never set on the British empire, with Indian curries, Middle Eastern dishes and the most smashing fish and chips in these waters (served only at dinner Tuesday and Friday.) Extensive beer list. $$
Ovo Cafe, 515 Central Ave. (727-895-5515). Dessert waffles, salads and pierogi are best bets, but don't pass up the savory soups and smoked Gouda sandwich. Have an espresso or cappuccino to top it all off before grabbin' that late night stogie and scotch. $$
Sahara Cafe, 624 First Ave. S. (727-898-4455). Check out this minuscule cafe for healthy, high-quality and especially flavorful food at low-dough prices. Homemade pita breads overflow with fillings, like "Makanik," a huge pita wrap made with spicy beef and lamb sausage, pine nuts, onions, tomatoes and lemon juice for just $3.69. Salads and vegetarian platters, like "Tiropita Platter," a special blend of feta cheese and seasonings baked in a phyllo crust, served with Greek salad, and hummus, are real deals at prices from $3.25 to $4.75. Pastries made with pistachio nuts, honey and phyllo are outstanding. $
Northeast St. Pete/Gateway
Babalu, 9246 Fourth St. N. (727-576-7414). It's not swank, just swell. Yes, The Babalu is the veritable definition of a "joint." No-account decor, low-class atmosphere, cold beer and gut-busting quantities of low-dough food, with almost everything from salad dressings to side dishes homemade from scratch, have made this place a neighborhood favorite for years. Our favorites are the all-you-care-to eat nightly specials, like crispy battered grouper or barbecued ribs. $
Bonefish Grill, 5901 Fourth St. N. (727-521-3434) Bite into the Bonefish for a beautiful dining room, lively atmosphere and tasty wood-fire-grilled fish with lemon butter sauce, lime tomato garlic, or fresh mango salsa, or try daily specials, like the exceptional talapia with butter, white wine and caper sauce. Juicy, boneless pork chops in red wine glaze top the menu for meat eaters. Cajun chicken egg rolls are a great starter, with plenty of spice and crunch. Large entrees include bread, house or Caesar salad, and two side dishes, making prices from $12.50 to $17 an excellent value. $$
The Crab Shack, 11400 Gandy Blvd. (727-576-7813). On the St. Pete side of the Gandy Bridge sits a rundown shack filled with crabs so fresh they'll bite your toes. Blue crab, gold crab, stone crab, soft-shell crab; if it's got claws, they'll cook it! Don't miss the skewers of honey-barbecue shrimp, or the mouthwatering house specialty, Snapper Corvina, a 2 and1/2-pound whole snapper deep fried. Any fresher, and this fish would still be swimming. $$
Fourth Street Shrimp Store, 1006 Fourth St. N. (727-822-0325). This longtime neighborhood favorite packs them in with seafood that's fresh, fast and value priced. Nothing fancy, just the basics: fresh fish, shrimp and grouper; broiled, fried or blackened; and ice-cold beer. You can't beat the $2.95 fish sandwich for lunch. Entrees range from $3 to $11.99. $
Fred's Famous Bar-B-Que, 4351 Fourth St. N. (727-822-3733). Fred really does have a whole slew of national and international awards, but the best testimony to his barbecue is the crowd of neighbors who pack this place nightly, chowing down on meaty, fall-off-the-bone pork ribs, grilled or smoked chicken, smoked brisket, sausage and corned beef. Sauces are sweet, but overall, flavors are spicy. Be sure and try extra-thick milkshakes. Dinners start at $7.50. $$
Red Mesa, 4912 Fourth St. N. (727-527-8728) This casually ambient eatery features regional Mexican and Southwestern cuisine. Black bean soup is nicely seasoned with fresh cilantro and epizote topped with chopped onion. There's tortilla crusted grouper with pineapple ancho cream, shrimp with garlic and chilies, fresh ceviche and Oaxaqueno-style fondue with chorizo. An adventure in cuisine by Chef Chris Fernandez. $$
Ringside Cafe, 2742 Fourth St. N. (727-894-8465). Local and national rhythm and blues acts every night in a funky old wooden house with better-than-average bar food. Best menu bets are black angus hamburgers, fresh grouper sandwiches and chili cheese fries. Ringside also has $1 drafts, $1.50 bottles. $
Rollin' Oats Whole Foods Market and Cafe, 2842 Ninth St. N. (727-821-6825). A great addition to the St. Pete scene, this combination market-cafe features vegetarian and vegan specialties. For salad lovers there's a generous Middle Eastern hummus salad and a house salad of mixed greens with a melange of veggies and good dressings made in house. $
Stone Soup Cafe, 4122 16th St. N. (727-526-2975). What else would you expect from a place named Stone Soup but fresh, homemade soups? How about healthy salads, fruit smoothies and tasty sandwiches packed with plenty of fresh fixings. Try the turkey breast on swirl bread, dressed with provolone cheese, avocado, red onion, bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayo. Salads and sandwiches range from $4.75 to $5.25. Daily specials available. $
Siam Garden Thai Restaurant, 3125 Ninth St. N. (727-822-0613). Wake up your tired taste buds with the spicy flavors of Siam Garden's dinner entrees. Choose from favorite noodle dishes like pad Thai, or try something special like crispy, deep-fried frog legs in garlic black pepper sauce or whole fried snapper served in a chili-garlic sauce. Plenty of good, inexpensive lunch entrees too. $$South St. Pete
Basta's Ristorante, 1625 Fourth St. S. (727-894-7880). An outstanding Italian restaurant. Chef Frank Basta orchestrates the kitchen while Mario concentrates on the fine details. Superb scampi, seafood dishes and excellent service. $$$
The Chattaway, 358 22nd Ave. S. (727-823-1594). This little wooden building at different times served as a grocery store, a gas station and a trolley stop. It's since become a local historical landmark and a great place to stop for a good "Chattaburger" (burger with all the fixings) and some of the coldest draft beer in town. The ambiance of the eatery perfectly fits the image of early St. Pete. $
Tierra Verde
El Pass-O Cafe/Mad Pepper Co., 1120 Pinellas Bayway, Suite 114 (727-867-6267). Brioon Enterprises are the hot heads responsible for setting Tierra Verde on fire with the spicy tastes of chipotle shrimp and great daily specials. Beef for burritos is slow roasted. Ask for a sampling of their homemade hot sauces. Entrees cost $8.95-$13.95. $$
Native Seafood and Trading Co., 5901 Sun Blvd., at Shopper's Village of Isla Del Sol (727-866-8772). Just off the beach, Native Seafood is a tropical paradise just waiting to delight you with good service, well-chosen wine list and some of the best fresh fish in these waters. You'll rave about the smoked shrimp spread, the oak-planked salmon and the daily specials grilled over hardwood. It's definitely worth trading with the natives. Prices range from $6.95 to $18.95. $$
Tokyo Bay Restaurant, 1501 Sun Blvd., Bayway, in Isla Del Sol's Shopper's Village (727-867-0770). Chef Eiji "Jose" Sonogi slices up a sushi jamboree at this casual sushi haunt a stone's throw from Pinellas' south beaches. Try the Yumbo Combo II with California rolls, tuna and salmon, or really live it up with his Japanese Fishing Boat. You'll catch an eyeful (and a mouthful) of exotic cargo, including nigiri tuna, uni sushi and three superb rolls. $$
Tarpon Springs
Costa Restaurant, 521 Athens St. (727-938-6890). This intimate 120-seat inexpensive gem serves broiled snapper or octopus with garlic and oregano and traditional Greek entrees like dolmades, and lamb baked with orzo pasta and you-peel-'em shrimp. $
Hellas, 785 Dodecanese Blvd. (727-943-2400). Talk to the locals; they'll tell you this is the best food in town. Sample the Saganaki (flaming cheese) and pickled octopus, but don't stop there. Have a Greek salad with fresh feta, a bowl of avgolemono (lemon and egg soup), one of the fresh fish dishes, then finish with a plate of just-baked Greek pastries (baklava, bougatsa and chocolate flogeres) from their bakery next door. $$
Mr. Souvlaki, 510 Dodecanese Blvd. (727-937-2795). Take a weekend, or just a lazy Sunday afternoon to browse through the Tarpon boutiques, then stop for lunch or dinner; but definitely souvlaki, a delectable shish kabob marinated in Mr. Souvlaki's secret herb-spice blend in a blanket of warm pita bread, topped with ripe tomatoes, onion and a remarkable tzatziki sauce. $$
OUTER LIMITS
The Academy, 3131 Flightline Drive, Lakeland (863-648-2004). Talk about adventures in dining! The American Culinary Arts program serves a gourmet lunch or dinner every Monday through Thursday at Lakeland Regional Airport, about a 40-minute drive from Ybor at other than rush hour. A four-course gourmet lunch is served at noon for $9.95 plus tax. A four-course gourmet dinner is served at 7 p.m. for $16.95 plus tax. The menu changes daily, and all dishes are prepared entirely from scratch by advanced student chefs. Reservations are required at least a month in advance. A map can be faxed to you. $$
This article appears in Apr 5-11, 2001.
