Originally a bait house serving iced beer and hot dogs to the fishermen whose boats sailed each day from Blind Pass to scour the waters of the gulf, Woody's dates to 1945. Still a fixture in its original St. Pete Beach location, it is revered by the locals, who are its chief patrons, along with a few savvy tourists. Though it sits above a seawall overlooking the water, there's no real sand "beach," but let's not allow a technicality to discourage us: It's the restaurant's lively demeanor, its mellow mood, and friendly, tanned and laid-back staff that provide that priceless "beach ambience," anyway. Probably the best dish is the Ultimate Woody Burger, a fat grilled burger fortified with bacon, fried onions, mushrooms and Swiss or American cheese. At $6.50, it's a bargain. Finish with sprightly homemade Key lime pie.
Woody's Waterfront Outdoor Restaurant, 7308 Sunset Way, St. Pete Beach, 727-360-9165.
This article appears in Sep 25 – Oct 1, 2003.