There's no excuse for not eating exciting food when you go out. The Bay area dining scene is exploding with great flavors for any budget.
This is part six of a six-part series in CL's annual Food Issue; check out part five, which features the 10 very best restaurants in Hillsborough. Earlier in the week, we published my picks for the 20 best bargain restaurants in Hillsborough and Pinellas, as well as the staff and I's favorite tastes.
The Black Pearl of Dunedin via Facebook
THE BLACK PEARL
Reviewed 08/09/12, 4 stars
Chef Chris Artrip has retired some dishes under the new ownership in order to go more seasonal, but this 38-seat gem is still every bit as romantic. The classic cuisine is fresh and impeccably sourced, prepared with care and downright delicious, and the tarte Tatin est magnifique. 315 Main St., Dunedin, 727-734-3463, theblackpearldunedin.com.
Shanna Gillette
CAFE PONTE
01/10/13, 4.5 stars
A kitchen consistently turning out food at a very high level, beginning with fresh, locally sourced ingredients that deliver multilayered flavors. So, whether you order the seasonal tasting menu or à la carte, chef Chris Ponte’s namesake remains at the apex of the Bay area’s dining options. 13505 Icot Blvd. #214, Clearwater, 727-538-5768, cafeponte.com.
Shanna Gillette
CARETTA ON THE GULF
05/23/13, 4 stars
The Sandpearl’s flagship restaurant offers sophisticated eats with sunset views and breaking waves. Its menu is driven by fresh, seasonally inspired ingredients that he keeps simple. “Everything has a way it wants to be cooked,” he proclaims. And luckily for diners, he’s cracked the code. Sandpearl Resort, 500 Mandalay Ave., Clearwater Beach, 727-674-4171, sandpearl.com.
Locale Market via Facebook
THE CHEF'S TABLE AT FARMTABLE KITCHEN
03/05/15, 4 stars
You can’t top the theatrics of an exclusive eight-course tasting dinner with wine pairings. Each course lets a different chef strut his stuff in an intimate private dining room for up to 10 guests. The communal seating connects guests to each other and to the foodstuffs of local farmers and artisans. Locale Market, 179 Second Ave. N., St. Petersburg, 727-523-6300, farmtable.tocktix.com.
Chip Weiner
GATEWAY TO INDIA
02/20/14, 4 stars
From the moment you enter, you know you’re in for a special treat. Whiffs of curry spices fill the air. The entrées feature a wide range of Indian specialties across the heat spectrum through the tang of vinegary vindaloo or a creamy tomato-based tikka masala. 8300 Bay Pines Blvd., St. Petersburg, 727-828-9977, gatewaytoindiastpete.com.
David W Doonan
THE MILL
08/27/15, 4 stars
Chef Ted Dorsey’s cuisine demonstrates a culinary mind in command of exciting juxtapositions of flavor. Every plate at The Mill brings a surprise and carefully calibrated balance of tastes. It’s an adventure you never want to end. 200 Central Ave. #100, St. Petersburg, 727-317-3930, themilldtsp.com.
Chip Weiner
PIZZERIA GREGARIO
03/12/15; Best in Show & Best Italian-style (Pinellas)
Who knew Safety Harbor has five-star, world-class pizza? Like a great composer, Greg Seymour takes the same pizza “notes” available to all the region’s other pizza parlors and delivers a peak experience. The house-made sausage launches this into the culinary stratosphere. 400 Second St. N., Safety Harbor, 727-386-4107, pizzeriagregario.com.
Chip Weiner
IL RITORNO
04/03/14, 4.5 stars
Tasting the apps confirms something magical is happening — a relaxed vibe that’s turning out plates to make the head spin. Inventive entrees and desserts follow from Il Ritorno’s David Benstock. The portions are delicate (no piles of spaghetti with red sauce). But if you seek bold but nuanced flavors, this is your kind of Italian. 449 Central Ave. #101, St. Petersburg, 727-897-5900, ilritornodowntown.com.
Lisa Mauriello
SOUZOU
09/24/15, 3.5 stars
Souzou’s interior sets the mood; the interplay of architectural textures is ravishing. Not to mention there’s stellar sushi, skillfully interpreted Asian fusion for a modern crowd to share, and cocktails with an arresting spin. 435 Fifth Ave. N., St. Petersburg, 727-823-4050, souzoufusion.com.
Chip Weiner
Z GRILLE
11/14/13, 3.5 stars
Zack Gross, the “Z” in Z Grille, reputedly has an attitude. All I can say is, “Thank goodness.” It permeates the décor and, more importantly, audacious flavors that shape every dish coming out of his kitchen from Dr. Pepper ribs to deviled egg explorations. 104 Second St. S., St. Petersburg, 727-822-9600, zgrille.net.
This article appears in Jun 16-23, 2016.