Sloppy, hot chicken wings have a special place in our hearts' clogged arteries, but the hungry drunks have spoken, and they like two places that — along with a great booze selection and a comfortable spot to smoke — offer delicious Floridian/Floribbean specialties on their menu. Order the blackened grouper tacos or terrific burgers at Green Iguana (which, incidentally, has some of the best lunch prices at its Ybor location) or the all-you-can-eat stone crabs at Eddie's on Saturdays (4-10 p.m.). Eddie's, which seems to be just your typical strip-mall hang, also serves steamed mussels in garlic and wine sauce (!); sports a large game room with air hockey, two golf video games, Pac-Man, darts and foosball; a dozen TVs; leather sofas; and a bar in the game room where cigarette smoking is still allowed indoors. Green Iguana boasts a tropical-theme that'll go over big with your Parrothead uncle; pool tables; and a live band every single night at all three locations. Known for being jovial and laid-back, the Iguana is not the place you go when you want to forget you're in Tampa Bay, Florida.
Eddie's Bar and Grill, 1283 Bayshore Blvd., Dunedin, 727-734-2400; Green Iguana's, 4029 S. West Shore Blvd., Tampa, 813-837-1234; 1708 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City, 813-248-9555; and 7627 W. Courtney Campbell Causeway, Tampa, 813-288-9076.
This article appears in Sep 25 – Oct 1, 2003.
