Florida Trend’s newest bill of Golden Spoon winners were announced last week, ICYMI. In conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the annual restaurant awards, Florida Trend Restaurant Editor Chris Sherman explored the Sunshine State dining scene’s past and present, plus his predictions for the future.
Hint: barbecue tacos and pizza, all-hours dining and even more beer.
As for the awards themselves, 13 Tampa Bay restaurants took home Golden Spoons — Rusty’s Bistro (Clearwater), Caretta on the Gulf (Clearwater Beach), The Black Pearl (Dunedin), Salt Rock Grill (Indian Shores), FarmTable Cucina (St. Petersburg), Il Ritorno (St. Pete), Parkshore Grill (St. Pete), Sea Salt (St. Pete), Cena (Tampa), Edison: Food+Drink Lab (Tampa), Pané Rustica Bakery & Cafe (Tampa), Pelagia Trattoria (Tampa), and Rooster & the Till (Tampa) — while 10 others were recognized in the Best New and Hall of Fame categories.
Acqua Alta (Clearwater), The Reading Room (St. Pete) and The Hall on Franklin (Tampa) were named as Best New destinations this year, and Hall of Fame honors went to Cafe Ponte (Clearwater), Bob Heilman’s Beachcomber (Clearwater Beach), Marchand’s Bar & Grill (St. Pete), Maritana Grille (St. Pete Beach), Bern’s Steak House (Tampa), Columbia Restaurant (Tampa), and Mise en Place (Tampa).
It’s kinda neat that the three newcomers also scored Best of the Bay mentions from CL back in September. Remember seeing these?
