Gulfport is St. Pete's well-known hidden gem, a tiny insular community overlooking sheltered waters and the historic Gulfport Casino building. Dress is distinctly linen and flip-flops along the few blocks of Gulfport's core, but the concentrated and diverse restaurants promise more than your usual casual fare.
Here's a list of CL's Gulfport dining recommendations.
BACKFIN BLUE CAFE 2913 Beach Blvd. S., Gulfport, 343-2583 or backfinbluecafe.com
Casual seafood cuisine — including popular Maryland crab cakes — are served in Backfin's converted house and out on the big screened-in deck built onto the side.
BELLINI'S TAPAS Y MAS 2832 Beach Blvd. S., Gulfport, 327-4222 or bellinisonline.com
Attached to the back of La Fogata, Bellini's is a surprisingly chic and urban oasis compared to the largely homey and casual Gulfport scene. The menu features modern American small plates along with distinctly South American tapas to enjoy with your martini on the lounge couches inside.
Many more after the break:
This article appears in Apr 28 – May 4, 2010.