A seafood grill in a big pink hotel on the Gulf of Mexico? You won’t find fish tanks, tropical-colored dinnerware or old world stuffiness here. Shor American Seafood Grill in Clearwater Beach’s Hyatt Regency Resort is a fresh restaurant for a youthful crowd. The menu itself reinforces this casual vibe by encouraging you to “Catch ‘em, Shuck ‘em, Fire ‘em.”
I was invited to enjoy a relaxing evening watching the sun set over Clearwater Beach among the wood and linen décor. Dinner began with a golden loaf of pretzel bread served with sea-salted butter. Our appetizers included delicately seared Ahi with spiced peanut sauce, American crab cake with arugula and daikon slaw with lime sauce and a Pancetta Sea Scallop with sofrito hash. The tuna and peanut sauce was a simple and delicious combination, and the crab cake was outstanding with an appropriate ratio of crab meat to fillers. I found the scallop to be a tad chewy and the sofrito hash, though it sounds novel, did not impress me much — Spanish flavors used in central Florida cuisine is not new. Next was a fresh and light Caesar salad with anchovies on top.
Chef Brad Gillespie has created a highly accessible menu designed with customer preference in mind. You choose your protein, seasoning and sauce. Mine was a six-ounce filet with Montreal seasoning and House Made steak sauce. For a side dish, I chose green beans innovatively seasoned with ginger. The steak’s seasoning was subtle; allowing the flavor of the meat to shine where the sauce, however, was bold. I was surprised by the price points; most of the protein choices are about $20-26 with a side dish. Not very different than some of our favorite chain restaurants.
The meal finished with three desserts: an individual Key lime tart, a strawberry and orange miniature trifle and a rich flourless chocolate cake with fresh whipped cream. All delicious and small enough to finish. The trifle was my favorite for the powerful fruitiness.
Hyatt Regency Resort Clearwater Beach and Shor American Seafood Grill are perfect for one of those “stay-cations.” And be sure to enjoy the sunset.
This article appears in Jun 3-9, 2010.