Not many people get to say that they grew up in St. Petersburg these days. County Commissioner Charlie Justice is one. He grew up in west St. Pete, closer to Treasure Island than downtown, an area that used to be spotted with large parks that are now strip malls and subdivisions. The former Florida lawmaker is by no means an old guy (he’s 46), but he was born in time to go to Webb’s City as a kid. “On a special Saturday,” he said, “we’d get the caramel corn at the front. There’d be the chickens playing tic-tac-toe on the second floor.” Justice has seen a lot of good eateries come and go, and knows which have had staying power. And even though he’s seen much of the green space go away in his part of town, he and his wife and two daughters know exactly how to get away from the sprawl.
Places that have stuck around a long time — and for good reason: HARVEY’S on FOURTH STREET. “We love Harvey’s.” THE TAVERN AT USF. “Still one of the best places you can get a blackened grouper sandwich in Pinellas County.”
Where to pick up cannoli ingredients: MAZZARO’S.
Best-kept seafood secret: MID-PENINSULA SEAFOOD. “It’s very low-key, it’s not a Beach Drive-type place. It’s fresh off the boat. Don and his crew do an incredible job.”
And if you do end up on Beach Drive: BELLA BRAVA, THE MOON UNDER WATER.
If you just want to grab a sub on the way to the beach: WILLIAMS SUB SHOP on Tyrone & 38th Ave. N. “It’s an institution. It’s been there since I was at least a teenager, but probably before that. That family has had that for years out there, and they’ve been able to withstand Subway. All thoses other places have come and gone right across the street, and Williams is still right there.”
Worthwhile watering hole: HORSE & JOCKEY PUB. “We’re more pubbing than clubbing.”
Who should cater your party: O’BISTRO. “I had them cater an event when I was working at USF, and people were blown away because it wasn’t the standard two or three places everyone gets their catering from.”
Where to get lunch if you’re in downtown Clearwater: THE COLUMBIA on SAND KEY. “It’s an easy lunch from downtown.”
Best breakfast on the northern beaches: MAGGIE MAE’S. “You get there at the right time, the sun’s coming up, and you feel like you’re on vacation.”
Required pizza: TOBY’S LITTLE ITALY. “It’s been there since I was a kid and it’s still one of the best places around.”
Where to talk politics: KAHWA SOUTH.
Where to switch off: CEDAR KEY. “That is one of our favorite weekend places in the world.”
Easiest beach to get to (if you know how): UPHAM BEACH. “Partly because it’s so easy to get to from west St. Pete, a straight shot out from 75th Ave. … there are some nice little coves there that my girls like to play in.”
Where to see a gator: SAWGRASS LAKE PARK. “You’re gauranteed to see gators. And if you get back on the wooden path, if you just kind of close your eyes and pretend the traffic is a river, you wouldn’t know that [Interstate] 275 is two minutes away and [US] 19 is two minutes away.”
Playground for the little ones: BAY PINES PARK.
Playgrounds for Fido: WALTER FULLER PARK & ABERCROMBIE PARK.
Best romantic weekend getaway: PONCE DE LEON HOTEL. “Cool hotel, very reasonable, and you’re in the heart of everything.”
Where to stay on the beach: THE ALDEN. “Really nice setup there, and you’re kind of in the middle of St. Pete Beach.”
Best reward for well-behaved children: FRAY’S DONUTS. “It’s a different texture than your usual Dunkin’ or Krispy Kreme.”
How to kill a few hours if you’re a bookworm: HASLAM’S BOOK STORE.
Best place to ruin a diet: DAIRY INN.
Best date night away from downtown: CAFE PONTE.
Best shortcut from St. Pete to Clearwater: “I will take 49th Street all the way to US 19, jump on 19 there, and then I’ll get off on Belleair… It’s a tree-lined road. If you don’t get behind a slow guy you’re good. It’s a much nicer drive than Gulf-to-Bay.”
Best scenic route: Gulf Boulevard between St. Peter Beach and Clearwater Beach. “You just have to get into the mindset that you can’t drive 45.”
Best dessert counter: FRIDA’S.
Best place to camp: HILLSBOROUGH RIVER STATE PARK. “The kids loved hiking on the river and seeing some gators there.”
