HILLSBOROUGH/BRANDON
BEN'S FAMILY RESTAURANT, 704 E. Brandon Blvd. (813-685-5501). Family-style home-cooked meals are the restaurant's specialty; it does all three meals well, five days a week, with light, fluffy pancakes and plenty of hot coffee for breakfast, excellent fresh sandwiches and salads for lunch, and a dynamite dinner of hot white meat turkey dinner with stuffing and gravy. $
JO-TO JAPANESE RESTAURANT, 905 Lithia-Pinecrest Road (813-684-0221). Belly up to the sushi bar or grab a seat on the floor while a kimonoclad waitress serves traditional Japanese dishes. Try the special sushi and sashimi platters. $
SIMPLY THAI RESTAURANT, 875 E. Bloomingdale Ave. (813-681-4470). Family-owned, tiny restaurant puts big flavors out on the table for lucky suburban diners. Start with mushroom delight as an appetizer, then move on to an exotic main dish called twice cooked duck, and finish with good desserts, like sweet cinnamon chips. $
TAMPACARROLLWOOD/NORTHWEST TAMPAHO HO CHOY CHINESE RESTAURANT, 5229 Ehrlich Road (813-968-4749). If freshness and flavor are more important to you than merely consuming mass quantities, head to Ho Ho Choy for fresh seafood, tasty vegetarian dishes, and those tantalizing, tiny plates of dumplings, fish, fowl and meats, soups and sweets, perfect for brunch or grazing. $$
JASMINE THAI RESTAURANT, 13248 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa (813-968-1501). No doubt this is one of Tampa's best Thai eateries. The dominant Thai influence, Indian-Chinese, with an added emphasis on fresh herbs and spices such as cilantro, garlic, lemongrass, mint and chilies, make this a cuisine to savor; almost like no other. $$
KAISEN SUSHI, Mission Bell Square, 12785 N. Dale Mabry (813-969-3848). This friendly, casual and tiny cafe offers exceptionally fresh, artfully prepared, delicious and value priced sushi. A must-try is the calamari. Bargain "no-sushi" dinners offer enormous portions of tempura and teriyaki. $$
SPLASH! AN OCEAN GRILL, 3973 Van Dyke Road, Lutz (813-269-8611). Country-style gone chic, the Lutz restaurant's oak-grilled seafood is seawater fresh and its service exemplary. Go early and hang at the convivial bar, nursing a fancy cocktail, like sparkling white sangria. For dinner, order chunky, sherry-flavored lobster chowder followed by pan seared, sesame crusted tuna. $$$
CENTRAL/WEST TAMPA
DONATELLO, 232 N. Dale Mabry (813-875-6660). Some of the area's best Northern Italian cuisine also exhibits some of the finest service in town. Favorites include capellini d'Angelo, agnolotti with cream and Parmesan and an excellent prosciutto di Parma. Be sure to have at least one of the desserts: Napolean cake, chocolate-drenched profiteroles, tiramisu or, depending on the day, the fresh fruit tarts. $$$
JIMBO'S PIT BAR-B-Q, 4103 W. Kennedy Blvd. (813-289-9724). Real down-home pit barbecue is gussied up with Jimbo's own secret seasonings and sauces and served in heapin' portions. Fill up on smoked pig ribs, chicken, sliced pork or beef and ham, along with homemade beans and coleslaw and always a hot slice of homemade apple pie. $
VALENCIA GARDEN SPANISH RESTAURANT & LOUNGE, 811 W. Kennedy Blvd. (813-253-3773 or www.valenciagarden.com). Founded in 1927, it has been operated continuously by members of the same family at the same location just west of downtown. Its menu still offers traditional Cuban Spanish fare, but more contemporary dishes have been added as well to appeal to modern diners. A sure winner: ropa vieja, shredded beef in tomato-y sauce, and flan, washed down with Cuban cafe con leche. $ lunch, $$ dinner
TAMPA – DAVIS ISLANDS
220 EAST, 220 E. Davis Blvd. (813-259-1220). A well-run neighborhood restaurant with experienced owners and outstanding fare. 220 East has consistently delightful dishes including excellent pastas, crisp salads and homemade desserts. Order grilled portabella mushrooms or satay chicken appetizers, followed by blackened chicken Alfredo or simple fettuccine Alfredo and finish with upside down apple pie. $$
PIPO'S LATIN CAFÉ, 238 E. Davis Blvd. (813-258-8100). Pipo's traditional Cuban boasts large servings, modest prices and the best mojo roast pork in the bay area, made with a family recipe. Or, try favorites like black bean soup or Cuban sandwiches. Finish with creamy flan. The restaurant also features dancing in its outdoor plaza on weekends. $
THAI ISLAND, 210 E. Davis Blvd. (813-251-9111). Thai Island is better than your local joint. There is nothing to look at but white walls and ceiling, so concentrate on the food. The southern Thai influenced food is unafraid of powerful punches of garlic and basil (pad kra proa – 8.95), hefty amounts of lime and chili (yum talea – 12.95), or rich coconut milk and Indian spices (massaman beef curry – 9.95). $$
DOWNTOWN TAMPA
ALGUSTO TORTILLA & SALSA, 912 W. Kennedy Blvd. (813-250-3500). Zingy, fresh and tasty Mexican fare based on tried-and-true recipes collected from the owners' families in central Mexico. Start at the salsa condiment counter, with its collection of mild to super-hot and spicy salsas, matched with crispy, handmade chips. Next, graduate to the Botanas Platter appetizer, which entails three different dishes – a flauta, a burrito, an enchilada and quesadillas. As an entrée, order the excellent chicken drenched in red mole sauce. Flan dessert provides a fulsome finish. $
CAFÉ EUROPEAN, 113 Hyde Park Ave. (813-254-9458). Small, humble café with a big following that likes its British-inspired dishes, such as bangers and mash (sausage and mashed potatoes), and other culinary favorites, like a primo quiche and excellent salmon salad. At dinner, try pork chops, and finish with hot fruit crumble. $ lunch/$$ dinner
FOUR GREEN FIELDS, 205 W. Platt St. (813-254-4444). Jolly Irish tavern with an authentic, $25,000 thatched roof is hard to miss on the edge of downtown Tampa. Party hearty with a young crowd of hard chargers and dine on authentic fare, such as Irish potato leek soup or Irish stew, washed down with a thick, dark Guinness. $
GRILLE 29, 615 Channelside Dr. (813-221-2929). This glamorous newcomer to downtown Tampa on the waterfront at Channelside boasts an unusual menu featuring standards like steaks, fancy salads and pasta, interspersed with plebian comfort foods like chicken potpie and macaroni and cheese. Start with "Salad 29," greens mixed with fruit and Gorgonzola, order as an entrée a rare sirloin steak topped with crab Béarnaise, and finish with honey roasted pear tart. $$-$$$
EAST TAMPA
BIG JOHN'S ALABAMA BBQ, 5707 N. 40th St. (813-626-9800). The tender chopped pork sandwich will spoil you forever, but if you must, order the slab of pork ribs as well, accompanied with cinnamon-flavored baked beans and coleslaw or potato salad. It's just a hole-in-the-wall but a friendly one, so eat in or takeout. You'll not find any better barbecue anywhere in the Bay area. $
FLOYD'S, 5223 N. Orient Road (866-502-7529 or www.hardrockhotelcasinotampa.com). Good, Italian influenced food can be had at Floyd's, in a hip setting of monumental design. Try the Tuscan chicken and the calamari for two overused dishes done better than you would expect. They take credit cards, so you can enjoy a nice meal after filling the Seminole nation's coffers with your cash.
TAMPA – HYDE PARK
42ND STREET BISTRO, 516 S. Howard Ave. (813-253-0042). Plenty of food and action at this 1940s-style New York bistro. Not only some of the best martinis and Manhattans in town, but gourmet pizzas, salads and entrees are innovative as well as downright delectable. Superb desserts; perfect for after the theater, open late. $$-$$$
BELLA'S, 1413 S. Howard Ave. (813-254-3355). After nearly 20 years, this South Howard favorite still packs 'em in with tasty pasta and casual ambiance. Start with lobster bisque, then test the fine fettuccine Bolognese, or pasta il mare, shrimp and scallops with leeks and mushrooms in a roasted tomato cream sauce. Save room for molten chocolate cake! $$
BERN'S STEAK HOUSE, 1208 S. Howard Ave. (813-251-2421). Outstanding, internationally acclaimed restaurant with a half-million bottles of wine in its cellars, 62 different cuts of fabulous prime, aged steaks, dozens of varieties of the finest caviar, plus newer menu items that appeal to more modern sensibilities. $$$$
CEVICHE TAPAS BAR & RESTAURANT, 2109 Bayshore Blvd. (813-250 0203). A hip spot for family, lovers and late-nighters, this place is regularly open until the wee hours with a delightful menu of Spanish snacks, or tapas. Best dish: Berenhana parilla, grilled eggplant baked with portobello mushrooms, tomato, olive oil and Manchego cheese; or try a selection of cold snacks. Save room for dessert – the dense flan is a treat. $$
CICCIO & TONY'S RESTAURANT, 1015 S. Howard Ave. (813-251-8406 or www.ciccioandtonys.com). Modern eatery takes its cue from California cuisine, offering fresh and frisky wraps, salads and stir-fries. But it also manages to produce good pasta, a decent, thin-crusted pizza dotted with fresh basil, and more complex dishes, like Parmesan veal with sautéed spinach and mushrooms in lemon Pinot Grigio sauce. $
TAMPA – SEMINOLE HEIGHTS
FRONT PORCH BAR & GRILLE, 5924 N. Florida Ave. (813-237-5511). A funky, friendly neighborhood restaurant with an eclectic menu offering everything from plain old hamburgers to chicken Marsala and trout topped with rum raisin sauce. Start with the excellent chicken quesadillas washed down with beer, order comfort food like pot roast or meat loaf and finish with a chocolate raspberry cake. $ lunch $$ dinner
VIVA LA FRIDA CAFÉ Y GALERIA, 5901 N. Florida Ave. (813-231-9199). Art in food and decor, La Frida specializes in fresh, flavorful Mexican fare. Its interior is graced with colorful reproductions of artworks of the late Frida Kahlo and originals produced by local artists as well. Order the bleu cheese salad, chicken enchiladas, and for dessert, the delightful mini chocolate almond chimichangas. $$
SOUTH TAMPA/PALMA CEIA/INTERBAY
CAFÉ PARADISO, 4205 S. MacDill Ave. (813-835-6622). Delectable Northern Italian cuisine can be had in this cozy trattoria-style ristorante. Pastas are fresh, veal is simply exquisite and seafood is, well, magnifico! $$
CASTELLANO & PIZZO ITALIAN GOURMET FOODS, 4200 S. Henderson Blvd., Tampa (813-289-5275). Five generations built this excellent deli, founded in Ybor City and now located in South Tampa. Terrific pasta takeout like the "pasta fantasia." That's rigatoni, bathed in creamy sauce, and dotted with fresh tomato, verdant broccoli crowns and fat coins of bracciole-sausage, pine nuts, raisins, ham and Romano cheese. Or try lasagna, several varieties of green salad, a cinnamon-y rice pudding and fancy cheese and wine. $
FUJI SUSHI BAR & JAPANESE RESTAURANT, 1155 S. Dale Mabry (813-282-9098). Look for traditional Japanese dinners like katsu, fried beef, chicken or pork cutlets, along with shrimp and vegetable teriyaki on the menu, with a sushi bar offering daily lunch and dinner specials. Bento boxes are the best buy. Isobeage, seasoned, grilled salmon rolled with seaweed paper, is a treat. $$
JO-TO JAPANESE RESTAURANT, 310 S. Dale Mabry (813-875-4842). Belly up to the sushi bar or grab a seat on the floor while a kimono-clad waitress serves traditional Japanese dishes. Try the special sushi and sashimi platters. $
KOJAK'S HOUSE OF RIBS, 2808 Gandy Blvd. (813-837-3774). If you want excellent barbecue on your plate in just minutes, this could be the spot for you. Barbecue lovers will dig the tender slabs of pork ribs, the chopped or sliced pork and beef dinners with sides of fresh corn-on-the-cob, homestyle baked beans and slaw like Ma used to make. $$
TOWN N COUNTRY
CATCH TWENTY-THREE, 10103 Montague St., Tampa (813-920-0045). Casually upscale eatery in the Westchase's West Park Village. This seafood spot features standard Floribbean cuisine in a perfect first-date atmosphere. Try the delicious shredded pork and plantains, the unusual, Caribbean-style "shrimp scampi" or any of Catch's excellent fresh fish.
SATSUKI JAPANESE CUISINE, 5537 Sheldon Road (813-884-4128). This small, refined little restaurant is at once exotic and homey, clean as a whistle and affordable. The sushi bar seats eight, serving fresh, well-prepared sushi with daily specials. Menu offerings include soba and udon, delicious Oriental noodles in spicy broths. Try tempura-udon, well-prepared shrimp tempura served alongside a bowl of thick noodles in hot, fragrant broth. Asian beers, hot or cold sake and green tea ice cream round out the meal. $
NORTH TAMPA
FLETCHER'S BACKSTREET GRILLE, 508 W. Fletcher Ave., (813-265-4244). Sports fans will appreciate Fletcher's Backstreet Grille, with its big-screen TV visible from every table and on-site sports radio show; but it offers so much more, as the fare is unusually accomplished, especially for a sports-oriented restaurant. Try its crispy, overloaded quesadillas, or a filet mignon. $
FRANK-EL RESTAURANT, 4812 E. Busch Blvd. (813-989-3663). This one-room wonder puts on a hearty, Southern-style buffet and a gut-busting Sunday brunch. The barbecued ribs are terrific, the vegetables cooked to a frazzle the way they should be, and if the pound cake were any fresher, it would be downright insulting. $
THE JERK HUT, 1406 E. Fowler Ave. (813-632-9551 or www.jerkhut.net.). Humble Jamaican-style eatery with an impressively complex menu, its fare true to its Caribbean inspiration. Added incentive: Big mounds of food for hardly any money. The adventurous should try the radioactively-hot pepper shrimp for an appetizer. entrées are favorites like curried goat and jerk pork. Finish with addictively moist, dark rum cake. $
MEL'S HOT DOGS, 4136 E. Busch Blvd. (813-985-8000). The Vienna beef that owner Mel Lohn buys are skin-popping good. In our opinion, these are the best in town. Have it all the way! $
SUSHI TSU, 15317 Amberly Drive (813-910-9404, www.sushitsu.com). Careful ordering at this casual North Tampa restaurant will produce terrific sushi and sashimi dishes. Its best dishes are an effervescent sunomono salad, and an appetizer called "TNT mussels," New Zealand mussels baked in wasabi. The special called "volcano" sushi – made with crab, avocado, cucumber and salmon, bathed in a creamy sauce and set mountainous, and still warm, on rice – willl blow out your taste buds. $
TAMPA – YBOR CITY
BERNINI, 1702 E. Seventh Ave. (813-248-0099). Innovative Italian cuisine in a classy, sophisticated setting. The menu changes daily, so expect surprises, but favorite standards include gourmet wood-fired pizzas, especially the one with marinated chicken, smoked mozzarella, fresh tomatoes and oregano and a spicy three-chili oil. $$$
CARMINE'S SEVENTH AVENUE, 1802 E. Seventh Ave. (813-248-3834). Old-style Spanish restaurant with some of the area's best Cubans, a terrific veggie Cuban made with marinated red peppers; good, hot homemade pizza; and dynamite black bean soup. $
CAULDRON RESTAURANT, 2302 E. Seventh Ave. (813-248-5694). One of the area's best authentic sources of West Indian cuisine. A hefty selection includes curry goat, oxtail, jerk chicken and pork, stew beef, and that wonderful marinated fresh fish called escovitch. And don't forget the Red Stripe. $$
THE LAUGHING CAT RESTAURANT, 1820 N. 15th St. (813-241-2998). Chef Franco Lore's 35 years of experience in Europe, the Middle East and New York underlies the complex, showy fare at this modest Ybor City restaurant. Terrific lunch buffet with hot and cold entrées, intricate specialties from a variety of cuisine available from the 130-item dinner menu. $ lunch, $$$ dinner
OUTER LIMITS
THE BRANCH RANCH DINING ROOM, 5121 Thonotosassa Road, Plant City (813-752-1957). Your taste buds will thank you for stopping at this traditional southern restaurant, which has been a fixture among the locals for decades. Order baked ham or country fried chicken, with all the family-style accompaniments. $$
SAINT SEBASTIAAN BELGIAN MICROBREWERY RESTAURANT, 1320 Commercial Way (U.S. 19), Spring Hill (352-666-2141). Serge Van Limbergen and brewmaster Leen Sterkens bring a 250-year-old Belgian brewing legacy to Spring Hill, where the Saint Sebastiaan Belgian Microbrewery Restaurant serves up tradition, freshly yeasted libations and intense geography lessons with every meal. Sample any of the restaurant's Belgian-style beers as well as Belgian specialties like the portobello toast, salad Ardennes, or savory stew. Don't forget to complete your meal with blond beer ice cream! $$
PINELLASCLEARWATER
CARAMBA'S RESTAURANTE MEXICANO, 1842 Drew St. (727-446-7469). There's a new menu and it's better than ever. This former Best of the Bay recipient features Mexican cuisine at its authentic best. On arrival, one should immediately turn to the pescados y mariscos portion of the menu and order one or more of their awesome fresh fish creations. Grouper a la Veracruzano, a traditional favorite, is done in true Mexican style. $$
HOGFISH GRILL, 1800 Gulf to Bay Blvd. Clearwater (727-446-7027). Casual eatery with homey barbecue and well-priced seafood with the quality flair of the restaurant's fancier cousins on the beach (c.f. Salt Rock Grill). Try the catch of the day with its sweet potato and fried green tomato sandwich tower, the fried okra and the barbecued chicken, and don't forget to start your evening off with the ever-popular and undeniably different BBQ shooter.
JOHNNY'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT, 2907 S.R. 590, Clearwater (727-797-2940). Local Italian joint with a reputation for the best pizza in town, and they ain't just whistlin' Sinatra. Come for the pizza, stay for the other delights, especially the Johnny bread with it's delicious, garlicky dipping sauce, fresh, crunchy bruschetta, heaping salads and homey pasta dishes.
LE BOUCHON BISTRO, 796 Indian Rocks Road, Belleair Bluffs (727-585-9777). This cozy corner bistro has an outstanding wine list featuring excellent lesser-known French vintages. Their nightly specials are the crème of the crop, but the fluffy-yet-filling braised beef crepes and homemade, Provincial-style pizzas are also top-notch, Don't forget to save room for some of Le Bouchon's homemade French pastries. $$$
NORTH CLEARWATER/COUNTRYSIDE
GRILLSMITH, 2539 Countryside Blvd., Suite 6, Clearwater (727-726-6061). Amazing appetizers, lunches, and low-priced cocktails give way to indifferent dinner entrées at this brand new high-end franchise. Stylish and friendly, GrillSmith is a great place for light fare, but it's still working out its main-course kinks. While you're waiting, try the delicious firecracker shrimp appetizer or the yummy chicken and black bean fritters. $$$1/2
NEW YORK BAGEL BOYS, 2566 McMullen-Booth Road (727-797-9891). Recommended for breakfast/brunch, N.Y. Bagel Boys prove man cannot live by bread alone. Wonderful bagels (big, dense, crispy and flavorful) are made on site, slathered with flavored cream cheeses or topped with eggs, omelets, Kosher salami, pastrami, lox. They serve lunch too, with traditional N.Y. deli fixings. $
SUKHOTHAI, 2569 Countryside Blvd. #3 (727-724-2995). Thai dishes and an elegant Eastern ambiance combine to create a romantic adventure. A class operation. $$
TRI-CITY/ST. PETE-CLEARWATER AIRPORT/FEATHER SOUND
AIRPORT VARIETY STORE, 4600 Roosevelt Blvd. (727-531-7000). Locals know this nondescript redbrick convenience store is just a disguise for a great Cuban cafe. Victor Lopez Sr. took it over 25 years ago and began serving the food he'd developed at his restaurant in Cuba. Since then, his family has expanded and remodeled the building, but the recipes remain classic: terrific pressed Cuban sandwiches, roast pork, crab cakes, flan and daily specials. $
CARMELITA'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT, 5042 East Bay Drive (727-524-8226). Fresh, homemade Mexican flavors at bargain prices. The best appetizer is the crunchy, tasty taquito. Combo platters are heaped. Sopa de tortillas, chicken-rice-corn soup, makes a meal in itself. Be sure and try sangria soda, a great alcohol-free choice for lunch or the designated driver. $$
DUNEDIN
CAFÉ ALFRESCO, 344 Main St. (727-736-4299). You'll enjoy leisurely meals on the patio overlooking the Pinellas Trail. Menu specialties include crisp fresh salads and creative pastas. Don't miss the delicious ice cream creations. $$
IRIS' FAMILY RESTAURANT, 234 Douglas Ave. (727-734-0779). Homey, family-operated restaurant specializes in simple American fare. Take time for a cheap, leisurely breakfast of scrambled eggs, grits, bacon and toast; if you're there at dinnertime, order the moist meatloaf or a sloppy Joe sandwich, a paragon of its ilk. Handmade pies, apple, pecan or chocolate cream, are popular with the restaurant's many spoiled regulars. $
GULF BEACHES/NORTH
CRABBY BILL'S, 401 Gulf Blvd., Indian Rocks Beach (727-595-4825). Want better than Long John Silver, cheaper than Red Lobster? Head for Crabby Bill's. Super fresh seafood, ice-cold beer and seasonal specials keep the tables full and the diners happy. $$
DOMENIC'S CAPRI ITALIAN RESTAURANT, 411 Mandalay Ave., Clearwater Beach (727-441-1111). Domenico Forlini's long tenure as one of Clearwater Beach's best chefs pays off in delectable fashion. Great wine list, honored annually by Wine Spectator magazine, a variety of different homemade pastas, all terrific, along with homemade bread and salad dressings, fine mussel dishes and soups, and several well-done desserts, such as chocolate-chocolate cake or tiramisu. $$$
HEILMAN'S BEACHCOMBER, 447 Mandalay Ave., Clearwater (727-442-4144). People don't come here for trendy food but for old-fashioned favorites like charcoal-grilled steaks, delicately flavored seafood dishes and the house specialty, a complete dinner of traditional pan-fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy and creamy coleslaw. It's worth a visit just to taste this perfect rendition of the South's most famous dish. Most entrees range $14-20 with soup or salads, bread and sides. $$
GULF BEACHES/SOUTH
CAPTAIN KOSMAKOS, 9610 Gulf Blvd., Treasure Island (727-367-3743). Brothers Kosmos and George Kosmakos bring a touch of Greece to a mostly American menu stacked high with classic favorites. Greek specialties, especially the baked chicken and Greek salad, are noteworthy. Other winners: steaks, chops, duckling, fresh seafood and stuffed lobster. $$
CARINO'S NORTHERN ITALIAN CAFÉ & LOUNGE, 9524 Blind Pass Road, St. Pete Beach (727-360-8502). Friendly local favorite whose chef/owner learned to cook in Milan. Order as an appetizer the excellent smoked trout or try any of the fine soups or the house salad. One of the best entrées is veal scaloppine piccata, followed by fruit sorbet for dessert. $$
DELOSA'S PIZZERIA, E. John's Pass Village, 12801 Village Blvd., Madeira Beach (727-398-4657). This cozy pizzeria is located in an area known for catering to tourists, but that doesn't mean it isn't good. In business since 1983, the place is highly recommended by locals, as well snowbirds. Excellent crust and sauce from the family make the difference. Have a side of ziti with red sauce while you're at it. $$
GULFPORT
BACKFIN BLUE CAFÉ, 2913 Beach Blvd. S. (727-343-2583). Quaint little Cafe with classy food, in the heart of an arty district. Great prime rib and meat loaf, excellent fish. Don't miss the corn purée with lump crabmeat or the crab cakes. Great desserts, too. Laid-back, casual and definitely tasty. Closed Tuesdays. $$
THE HABANA, 5402 Gulfport Blvd. S. (727-321-8855). Authentic Cuban foods, with the menu topping out at $10.95. Owner Jo Hastings was born in Cuba but grew up here. She serves traditional Cuban food with a today-twist, like roast pork with cumin, laurel and grilled onions, as well as mojo. Chicken breast done palomilla style and catfish with a plantain crust. $
MID PENINSULA SEAFOOD MARKET & RESTAURANT, 400 49th St. S. (727-327-8390). Buy seafood fresh at the retail counter to cook at home, try the steaming, takeout dinners, or eat in the modest dining room. Best dishes are the swell seafood gumbo, the beer-garlic onion rings and the combination platters, like a hefty helping of fried grouper and six fat shrimp. Simple, but the freshest fish you'll ever taste. $
LARGO/SEMINOLE
PICKLE BARREL RESTAURANT & DELI, Oxford Square, 9520 Seminole Blvd., Seminole (727-398-4673). Little New York Style deli tucked away in a strip shopping center is a neighborhood fixture offering substantial fare, like corned beef, pastrami and liver sandwich trio, sided with crispy, yummy potato pancakes. Finish with a rice pudding smooth and creamy as Marilyn Monroe's perfect skin. $
ROSE & CROWN BRITISH PUB, 12580 Walsingham Rd., 727-593-7673. The Brits are out in force at this cozy tavern. Packed with soccer fans on game night, the restaurant transforms itself into a quiet corner pub suitable for limeys as well as yanks looking for a great bite. Try the excellent chef or shepherd's pie (one is topped with crust, the other with bubbling mashed potatoes and cheese), and the flaky, golden-brown fish and chips. Wash it all down with one of the many British beers to be found on tap. God save the Queen.
PINELLAS PARK
ATHENIAN'S FAMOUS GYROS & CHICKEN, 5320 Park Blvd. N. (727-544-5740). This longtime favorite serves up meal-size sandwiches of fluffy pita bread folded over a fragrant mound of spiced, grilled meat, onions, tomatoes and tzatziki, a cooling sauce made of non fat yogurt and cucumbers. Great grilled chicken, too, and all at bargain prices. $
ROGER'S REAL PIT BAR-B-QUE, 6851 66th St. N. (727-544-6671). Smoky oak grill produces tender pork sandwiches, terrific baby back ribs and even low-cal items, like delightful shrimp kebobs with sweet-and-sour sauce and a simple butterflied chicken breast. Huge salad bar with more than 50 items will appeal to light eaters and vegetarians. Regardless of your meat preference, leave room for apple pie. $
SAFETY HARBOR
GREEN SPRINGS CAFÉ & GATHERING PLACE, 122 Third Ave. N. (727-669-6762). This quaint neighborhood café, housed in a cozy, old wooden house hides a secret – there's a Culinary Institute of America-trained chef in the kitchen, turning out deeply delicious dishes. $$
THE WHISTLE STOP GRILL & UDDERLY COOL ICE CREAM, 915 Main St. (727-726-1956 or www.whistlestopgrill.com). Longtime local favorite has new owners and an accomplished selection of dishes, from a primo barbecued pork sandwich all the way to tortilla wraps and grouper dinners. Save room for gooey ice cream treats, soft-serve sundaes and rich malts and shakes, along with hard ice cream available in dozens of flavors. $
ST. PETERSBURGCENTRAL ST. PETE/TYRONE
EL MAGUEY TAQUERIA, 4327 66th St. N. (727-547-9366). If you're tired of the talking Chihuahua, check out this true Mexican taqueria, where good food will fill you up and low dough prices will leave you with plenty of change in your pocket. This Spartan, but spotlessly clean little eatery serves meal-size burritos grandes, bursting with meat, beans and rice, along with three fresh, homemade and hot-as-hell salsas, tasty tamales filled with pork in green sauce, good chilies rellenos. Cash only. $
SAFFRON'S CARIBBEAN, 1700 Park St. N. (727-345-6400). Authentic jerk chicken and more, with spices that will take you to Jamaica. Appleton steak and curry dishes to satisfy the fussiest island connoisseurs. $$
DOWNTOWN ST. PETETHE GARDEN, 217 Central Ave. (727-896-3800). This art-full little cafe is noted for its support of the local scene. Home-grown works grace the walls, and local jazz bands play in the quaint brick patio. Menu favors fresh Mediterranean flavors, with splendid pastas. Tagine, long-simmered Moroccan stew with complex flavors, is a real find. $$
GIOIA ITALIAN DELI, BayView Tower, 100 First Ave. S., Ste. 110, St. Petersburg (727-892-9400 or www.gioiadeli.com). Downtowners are lucky to be able to buy fare prepared by Jerry Boucher, a well-trained and highly experienced chef whose fresh, creative and expertly prepared dishes go down easy. Try any soup or one of the sophisticated sandwiches, such as a portabella mushroom, caramelized onion, arugula and provolone cheese on panini, and finish with a fluffy handmade tiramisu. $
GRATZZI, BayWalk, 199 Second Ave. N. (727-822-7769). Gratzzi offers BayWalk's only entry in the serious dining category, offering a lush menu of Italian fare like creamy polenta and risotto as well as homemade pastas paired with offerings from the huge, wood-fired rotisserie, slowly roasting ducks, chickens and massive pork chops. Entrees range from triangles of pasta layered with lobster, to chicken sautéed with pungent porcini mushrooms. $$
NORTHEAST ST. PETE/GATEWAY
STONE SOUP CAFÉ, 4122 16th St. N. (727-526-2975). What else would you expect from a place named Stone Soup but fresh, homemade soups? How about healthy salads, fruit smoothies and tasty sandwiches packed with plenty of fresh fixings. Try the turkey breast on swirl bread, dressed with provolone cheese, avocado, red onion, bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayo. Daily specials available. $
SUNSET GRILL, 2996 Ninth/MLKing St. N. (727-823-2382). Happy days are here again down at the Sunset Grill. No McTasteless here! These burgers are handmade from fresh beef. Order up thick and creamy hand-dipped milkshakes, just the way the Fonz likes 'em! Nice selection of sandwiches and sides too. Bop on over and eat on the patio. Live music weekends from 7 to 11 p.m. $
SUSHI ROCK GRILL, 1163 Ninth/MLKing St. N. (727-898-7625). Glamorous but casual, chic destination of St. Pete's go-go young set, the restaurant offers a varied menu of oriental cuisine from six different countries; it features 40 kinds of sushi along with more mainstream favorites, like cashew chicken, teriyaki beef and an excellent dish called "Sushi Rock Soup" pairing mushrooms and veggies with hearty chunks of seafood. $$
TIERRA VERDE
CRAZY CONCH CAFÉ, 1110 Pinellas Bayway S. (727-865-0633). A neighborhood café that boasts an accomplished kitchen and a dedicated cadre of regulars who know good food when they taste it. Start with pan-roasted oysters as an appetizer, try Sally's endive salad and as an entrée, the delightful Steven's shrimp and grits with brown gravy, which was a circle of fat, fresh shrimp seated around a mound of showy grits, slathered with a moat of expertly made gravy. Dang, it's good! Dessert changes by the day, but you can bet whatever it is, it'll be delectable. $$$
TOKYO BAY RESTAURANT, Isla Del Sol's Shopper's Village, 5901 Sun Blvd., Bayway (727-867-0770). Chef Eiji "Jose" Sonogi slices up a sushi jamboree at this casual sushi haunt a stone's throw from Pinellas' south beaches. Try California rolls, tuna and salmon. You'll catch an eyeful (and a mouthful) of exotic cargo, including nigiri tuna, uni sushi and three superb rolls. $$
This article appears in Jun 2-8, 2005.