With the holiday season upon us, we'll soon be craving a steaming hot plate of food to warm our stomachs and souls. Try one of these restaurants for comfort on a plate (or in a bowl).
ALEX'S SOUTHERN BBQ 5362 W. Village Drive, Tampa, 813-269-0050, alexsbbq.com. This family-owned barbecue institution has been in business since 1995, so the Cooks family knows a thing or two about barbecue. Each menu selection is an original Cooks' family recipe, with signature ingredients, seasonings and homemade barbecue sauce.
BAILEY'S CATERING AND RESTAURANT 238 E. Davis Blvd., Tampa, 813-254-8018, baileycatering.com. A catering business as well as a restaurant, this is one of South Tampa's best bets for comfort food, "from around the States and around the globe." The menu changes nightly, and offers three choices of appetizer, soup, entree and dessert.
BOWLED RESTAURANT 3451 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg, 727-895-2695, bowledrestaurant.com. This brunch, lunch and dinner destination has become one of St. Petersburg's hot spots. The appropriately-named restaurant serves most items in a bowl, as the restaurant name indicates, from the Meatloaf to the Roasted Airline Chicken.
CAFE 100 100 Second Ave. S, St. Petersburg, 727-898-8686, 1cafe100.com. You won't forget the address of this spot, located inside the Northern Trust Bank Building. The eatery features comfort foods made from scratch, including homemade biscuits and apple pie, and offers daily chef specials. If you desire something healthy to accompany your selection, take advantage of the salad bar.
CASSIS AMERICAN BRASSERIE 170 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, 727-827-2927, cassisab.com. This popular downtown destination is named after a town on the French Riviera, and mimics its 1920s and '30s glamour. Its "continental comfort cuisine" combines the tradition of European and American culinary establishments.
DAILY EATS 901 S. Howard Ave., Tampa, 813-868-3335, dailyeatstampa.com. One of SoHo's top brunch destinations has an impressive selection of breakfast bowls and benedicts, or whatever type of breakfast item you're craving. Visit for lunch and try Mama Lanza's bread pudding topped with vanilla bean ice cream and butterscotch sauce for a sweet ending to your meal.
DATZ 2616 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa, 813-831-7000, datzdeli.com. A gastropub with a big-city vibe featuring regional comfort food selections in addition to craft beer, boutique wine and artisanal cheeses. Don't forget to stop by Foodie's Market on your way out.
DINER SIXTY WEST 2525 Gulf to Bay Blvd., Clearwater, 727-437-0255, diner60west.com. Step back in time and visit this nostalgic "classic family diner," located near the intersection of Route 60 and U.S. 19. Bring your appetite for a more-than-a-mouthful burger and thick milkshake. Fresh fruit is offered with every breakfast plate for the health-conscious.
GREEK TOWN GRILLE 1230 Cleveland St., Clearwater, 727-447-7800, greektown-grille.com. In the heart of downtown Clearwater is this authentic Greek restaurant owned by the Karamountzos family. Gaze at the beautifully-decorated dining room with high ceilings and rich colors. For a twist on traditional French fries, try the Greek fries, which are covered with feta cheese.
HA LONG BAY 5944 34th St. N, St. Petersburg, 727- 522-9988, ha-long-bay.com. Visit the Orient without leaving Pinellas County, at one of St. Petersburg's top destinations for Asian comfort food. This authentic restaurant offers the ultimate Asian comfort food, dim sum, all day long.
LEE ROY SELMON'S 4302 W. Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa, 813-871-3287; 2424 Tyrone Blvd., St. Petersburg, 727-347-5774; 34200 U.S. 19 N, Palm Harbor, 727-216-6566; 17508 Dona Michelle Drive, New Tampa, 813-977-3287, leeroyselmons.com. Named after the first Tampa Bay Buccaneer inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame, Lee Roy Selmon's legacy will remain alive in this barbecue and comfort food-oriented sports bar and family restaurant. Try Mama Selmon's meatloaf with fried green tomatoes or the Southern Style barbecue.
MADFISH 5200 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach, 727-360-9200, madfishonline.com. Recapturing the spirit of early 20th century visitors travelling to St. Pete Beach by railroad, this conveniently-located diner is the perfect destination to visit before or after a relaxing, or exhilarating, day on St. Pete Beach. Offering a twist on classic diner fare, for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
MUNCH'S RESTAURANT 3920 Sixth St. S, St. Petersburg, 727-896-5972, munchburger.com. Recently featured on Food Network's Diner's Drive-ins and Dives. After your meal, enjoy a slice of the homemade deep-dish apple pie a la mode, and grab a package of Necco wafers or coolie-cups on your way out. In addition to serving delicious diner fare, they raised over $3,000 for the St. Petersburg Police Fallen Officers Fund.
PETE AND SHORTY'S TAVERN 2820 Gulf to Bay Blvd., Clearwater, 727-799-0580; 7402 49th St., Pinellas Park, 727-549-8000, peteandshortys.com. A city tavern with a small-town vibe offering a variety of comfort foods and a full bar to wash down that comfort. Visit on a lazy Sunday evening for the Sunday Chicken Dinner.
PHO QUYEN 8404 Hillsborough Ave., Tampa, 813- 885-9424, phoquyen.com. Undeniably one of Tampa's most popular restaurants featuring authentic Vietnamese cuisine. Warm your stomach and soul with a steaming bowl of the hearty chicken curry and coconut cream soup, or the unique catfish fillet rice porridge.
SCHNITZELHAUS 4333 W. Waters Ave., Tampa, 813-884-5634, schnitzelhaustampa.com. Family-owned German restaurant in northwest Tampa, serving German comfort food in a comfortable atmosphere. The goulash soup, a stew-like creation of beef, onions, tomatoes and tangy spices, is a popular item. For dessert, try a German variation of the All-American apple pie, the Vienna apple strudel.
SKIPPER'S SMOKEHOUSE 910 Skipper Road, Tampa, 813-971-0666, skipperssmokehouse.com. Purchased by three Air Force friends in 1980, it has been a top concert venue (featuring a variety of genres) ever since. The menu is "Floribbean," an infusion of Florida, Caribbean and Louisiana cuisines, featuring an award-winning black bean gator chili. The architecture is Key West-inspired, with overturned boats in the yard and large murals.
TWISTED CORK GRILLE 3405 34th St. N, St. Petersburg, 727-525-2675, twistedcorkgrille.com. Located in the 34th Street Business District, this is an excellent spot to visit for a homestyle lunch or dinner. If you are craving barbeque and Italian, the pulled BBQ pork lasagna is your best bet, or try the Johnny Appleseed pork chop — no applesauce needed.
This article appears in Nov 3-9, 2011.
