CL regularly presents focused listings of the best dining options in Tampa Bay's neighborhoods. This week we're giving you a guide to restaurants and bars in the Grand Central District of St. Petersburg.
BEAK'S OLD FLORIDA 2451 Central Ave., St. Pete, 727-321-9100, www.beaksoldflorida.com. A favorite hangout spot for locals, this quirky restaurant and bar is filled with wall-to-wall kitsch and tacky Florida souvenirs. The menu of "upscale comfort food" includes Southern and Floribbean-inspired selections. Enjoy live music whether you're dining inside or outside on the spacious patio.
THE BURG BAR & GRILL 1752 Central Ave., St. Pete, 727-894-2874, theburgbar.com. Burgers are both the focus of the bar and its crowning glory. At their most basic, these burgers are perfect hand-formed patties griddled quick and crisp on the outside, the inside tender and dripping with just the right amount of rendered fat. —Brian Ries
THE CAKE FACTORY AT PERC 2444 Central Ave., St. Pete, 727-498-8870, grandcentralperc.com. The Cake Factory and Central Perc are now a joint cafe/cake shop in Grand Central. Offering coffee drinks, large breakfast and lunch menus, freshly baked pastries and custom cakes.
CAPPY'S PIZZERIA 2900 First Ave. N, St. Pete. 727-321-3020, cappyspizzaonline.com. New York and Chicago-style pizza lovers can finally dine under the same roof at this quaint neighborhood pizzeria. Being a converted house, Cappy's has a very homey appeal. What's also appealing is that Cappy's won Creative Loafing's PZZA Tournament of Slices a few seasons ago. They must be doing something right.
CRAFTSMAN HOUSE GALLERY AND CAFE 2955 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-323-2787, craftsmanhousegallery.com/cafe. Located in the renovated kitchen of the Craftsman House bungalow, this charming cafe serves up coffee and espresso drinks, smoothies, beer, wine and a variety of snacks and sweets that change daily. Sip tea on the front porch or relax in the courtyard.
GEORGIE'S ALIBI 3100 Third Ave. N, St. Pete, 727-321-2112, georgiesalibi.com/stpete. It's a sports bar, it's a restaurant, it's a dance club! A restaurant by day that transforms into an alternative lifestyle club by night, Georgie's offers an extensive menu of tasty finger foods, sandwiches, salads and homemade dinner specials. Great drink specials every day and the bartenders definitely don't skimp on the liquor. I recommend the Bloody Mary and infamous Long Island Iced Tea.
LA NUEVA CABANA 48 31st St. N, St. Pete, 727-327-8108. Not your typical Latin cafe, Nueva Cabana specializes in cuisine from the Dominican Republic and serves it up buffet style so diners can get their fill. Dine in for a huge luncheon feast and try the stewed pig feet or mondongo (similar to Mexican menudo).
NITALLY'S THAI-MEX CUISINE 2462 Central Ave., St. Pete, 727-898-8424, thai-mex.net. If you liked what you tasted at Nitally's Saturday Morning Market booth, then just wait until you try the Thai specialties or unique Thai-Mexican fusion dishes at their restaurant. "There's Thai fried rice laced with smoky chorizo, each sticky bite infused with the slick fat of the sausage, and panang mole, an exceptionally rich dish built on red curry and Mexican mole, tied together with coconut milk into a seamless, baffling, delicious union of two cuisines rarely fused together." —BR
NO NAME JAVA 2060 Central Ave., St. Pete, 727-741-2249, nonamejava.com. This wholesale coffee roasting company is certainly making a name for itself locally, with an array of coffees sourced from all over the globe. Now you can enjoy their specialty coffee drinks on the front porch of their tiki hut-looking building (it's bright yellow — you can't miss it). No Name's coffees can also be purchased online and shipped to your doorstep.
PICNICS & MORE 1939 Central Ave., St. Pete, 727-824-2833. A BBQ joint with a plethora of smoked meats, fish and Southern-style side dishes. Come hungry.
QUEENSHEAD RESTAURANT AND EUROBAR 2501 Central Ave., St. Pete, 727-498-8584, thequeensheadbar.com. It's largely British gastropub fare peppered by American fine-dining influence, with dishes that range from seared scallops with brussels sprouts and bacon to chicken curry with a corn fritter. —BR
QUICK Q BBQ 3441 Central Ave., St. Pete, 727-321-0301, quickqbarbq.com. If it breathes, they probably smoke it. Featuring smoked ribs, chicken, wings, ham and mullet, as well as Southern-style sides like collard greens, mac n' cheese and butter beans. Huge portions to be found, so bring your appetite. Desserts include homemade rum cake, fruit cobblers and layer cakes.
THE REX PUB 2061 Central Ave., St. Pete, 727-822-2337, therexbar.com. The "American cousin" to the Independent, with over 20 American craft brews on tap, plus a wide selection of bottles. The place is small with a more relaxed vibe than that of The Independent in the heart of Downtown St. Pete, but the bartenders are just as knowledgeable and accommodating. Be sure to check out their Foursquare deals.
TACO BUS #2 2324 Central Ave., St. Pete, tampatacobus.com. The sister to the original bus-turned-kitchen in Seminole Heights, serving freshly prepared, authentic Mexican fare — tacos, burritos, tamales, etc. — for next to nothing. Do yourself a favor, skip Taco Hell and head over here instead.
WILD CAJUN BLUE CRAB AND SHRIMP 2005 Central Ave., St. Pete, 727-642-6365. Proving you don't need tables, chairs or even plates to keep customers, Wild Cajun is a popular little walk up restaurant in Grand Central. There always seems to be a line in front of this tiny building sporting a simple chalkboard menu and a window where orders are placed. Serving fresh, Cajun-style seafood, including spicy boiled crab and shrimp, jambalaya and crab cakes at very reasonable prices.
This article appears in Jun 23-29, 2011.