GRATZZI ITALIAN GRILLE 211 Second St. S, St. Pete, 727-623-9037, gratzzigrille.com. The newly reopened Gratzzi Grile offers a lush menu of Northern Italian natives with a New American accent — authentic Italian fare like creamy polenta and risotto as well as homemade pastas.
THE HANGAR RESTAURANT & FLIGHT LOUNGE 540 First Street SE, St. Pete, 727-823-7767, thehangarstpete.com. The Hangar's list of dishes is innocuous enough to fit into a mundane hotel restaurant, with a few key exceptions that make all the difference. Best of the bunch, however, is an almost perfectly realized version of chicken and waffles. The deep-fried chicken — a split breast — is coated in crunchy, golden brown batter and doused in rich milk gravy dotted with minuscule specks of sausage, plopped down onto a massive Belgian waffle. —BR
INDIA GRILL 409 Central Ave., St. Pete, 727-894-1100, indiagrillinc.com. Located in the most happening section of downtown St. Petersburg, India Grill has little to recommend it in the way of decor, but plenty in the way of dining, with especially good vegetarian options. Try anything in the delicious, creamy-tomato makhani sauce, naan, biryani rice and of course, tandoori chicken.
JOEY BROOKLYN'S FAMOUS PIZZA 210 First Ave. N, 727-822-6757. No frills here. Walk up to the small counter and order by the slice or the whole pie. Another favorite post-bar stop for locals and concertgoers.
THE KING & I THAI 445 Central Ave., St. Pete, 727-898-8056, thekingandithairestaurant.com. It bills itself as a Thai eatery (which it does quite well), but it's secretly one of the best sushi spots in St. Pete.
MANDARIN HIDE 231 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-231-4007, mandarinhide.com. Mandarin Hide is an experience that's just the thing for mixology that references the past but flirts with innovation. Like Tito's Pig, one of the small list of signature cocktails, which transforms a sweet and simple vodka drink into a serious cocktail thanks to the addition of a bright burst of jalapeno heat tempered by cool cucumber. —BR
MARCHAND'S BAR & GRILLE AT THE RENAISSANCE VINOY 501 Fifth Ave NE, St Pete, 727-824-8072; marchandsbarandgrill.com. Marchand's Bar and Grill is decorated in slick marble and wood, offering four-star hotel service and creative cuisine. One of the best happy hours around at Marchand's Bar, serving budget sushi rolls from 5 to 7 p.m. This luxury resort hotel also serves an incredible all-you-care-to-eat Sunday brunch in one of the most beautiful dining rooms in the South. Give yourself plenty of time to graze through the breakfast selections, carve d meats, fresh seafoods, gourmet entrees, an eye-popping selection of luxury fruits and a dessert display by a deliciously talented pastry chef. —BR
MIDTOWN SUNDRIES 200 First Ave S., St. Pete, 727-502-0222, midtownsundries-florida.com. Midtown Sundries offers a wide variety of standard bar food such as chicken wings, stuffed potatoes, hamburgers & deli sandwiches in addition to dinner choices. The restaurant also has antique billiard tables, numerous video games to keep the kids and adults entertained and 32 television sets.
THE MOON UNDER WATER 332 Beach Drive NE, St. Pete, 727-896-6160, themoonunderwater.com. Think British colonialism via Disney World and you'll know the vibe of Moon Under Water. The food is a modern take on pub fare, with occasional touches of the Middle East (good tabouleh and hummus) and India (serviceable curry, great pappadom). The classics — fish and chips or Guinness steak — are worth a visit and match well with the amber beauties dispensed from a dozen taps.
NOLA CAFE 300 Beach Drive NE, #128, St. Pete, 727-498-8978, nolacafe.com. Get the feel of being in the French Quarter (minus the pigeon poop). Savor the warm beignets covered in powdered sugar with a piping hot cafe au lait for breakfast. For lunch and dinner, try the jambalaya, gumbo, crawfish etouffee, Po'Boys, or any one of the many Cajun and Creole classics served here. And where else in Tampa Bay are you going to find turtle soup or an alligator burger?
PACIUGO GELATO 300 Beach Drive NE, St. Pete. 727-209-0298, paciugo.com. No matter what time of the year, this place is a dessert hot spot on Beach Drive, offering an array of gelatos and sorbets that are made in-house. I recommend the olive oil and black pepper flavor for a sweet and savory treat.
PINCHO Y PINCHO 10 Beach Drive, St. Pete, 727-209-2302, cevichetapas.com. Owned by Ceviche's Gordon Davis and crew, Pincho manages to look just like a traditional Spanish tapas joint without the polish and bustle of its big brother next door. You'll find the same food, with a few additions based on the "pincho" bread based tapas of the Basque region.
