For a restaurant that serves a $5 hot dog, Alesia is a stunning place to eat, with clean lines and the kind of effortless, casual beauty you despair of ever accomplishing in your own house. Same with the hot dog, a massive link of sausage nestled in a toasty baguette, drizzled with rich sauce and covered in a gentle blanket of Gruyere cheese, with an impeccable tomato bisque on the side. Add in excellent pho, a killer banh mi and other Vietnamese treats, along with a smattering of French-inspired sandwiches, and you have a meal that will cost you well under $10 and taste better than most high-end restaurants, in a setting to match. 7204 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-345-9701, alesiarestaurant.com.
This article appears in Sep 22-28, 2011.