Editor's Note: And they say he's never satisfied! Looking back at 15 months of reviews by CL food critic Brian Ries, from January 2006 to the present, it's striking just how many of the places he's visited have wound up receiving 3-star (good) reviews or above. Yes, the air gets a little rarefied above the 3's: Only four restaurants won a rating of 4, and only one hit the (almost) top with 4.5. But his tastes are nothing if not eclectic. In the 3.5 reviews alone, the favorably regarded spots range from a St. Pete hamburger joint to a South Tampa bastion of high-end, inventive cuisine. The only thing these praiseworthy restaurants have in common is that they set out to do something well and succeed. Keep this list handy next time you're looking for the best tastes in Tampa Bay. Or check our Dining Guide, where 3-star-and above restaurants get listed on a rotating basis every week. (And for a list of every restaurant you can think of, hit Good Eats at tampa.creativeloafing.com.)

4.5 STARS (Outstanding)

Cafe Ponte

13505 Icot Blvd., Clearwater; 727-538-5768, cafeponte.com. 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., 5:30-9 p.m. Tues.-Thurs., 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., 5:30-10 p.m. Fri., 5:30-10 p.m. Sat.

4 STARS (Excellent)

Armani's Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay

2900 Bayport Drive, Tampa, 813-207-6800, armanisrestaurant.com. 6-10 p.m. Mon.-Thurs., Fri.-Sat. 6-11 p.m.

Café Bistro at Nordstrom

International Plaza, 2223 N. West Shore Blvd., Tampa, 813-875-4400; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Thurs, 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sun.

Ceviche

10 Beach Drive, St. Petersburg, 727-209-2302. 5 p.m.-Midnight Tues.-Thurs., 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Fri.-Sat., 5-10 p.m. Sun.

Thai Sweet Basil

3875 Northdale Blvd., Tampa, 813-961-8898. 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 4-10 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; 4-9 p.m. Sun.

3.5 STARS (Very good)

Craftsman House

2955 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-323-2787. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Sat., noon-5 p.m. Sun.

Dagwood's

33135 U.S. 19 N., Palm Harbor; 727-771-6403, dagwoods.us.com. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Thurs., 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sun.

Dairy Inn

1201 Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd. N., St. Petersburg; 727-822-6971; 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Thurs., 10:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun.

Hook's Sushi Bar & Thai Food

1210 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N., St. Petersburg, 727-898-4665, hookssushi.com. 11 a.m.-2 p.m, 5:30-10 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 5:30-10 p.m. Sat.-Sun.

Mellow Mushroom

10959 Causeway Blvd., Brandon, 813-685-1122, mellowmushroom.com. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun-Thurs., 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Fri.-Sat.

Ponte's Tuscan Grill

2544 N. McMullen Booth Road, Clearwater, 727-724-5716. 5-10 p.m. Mon.-Thurs., 5-11 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 4-9 p.m. Sun.

Primi Urban Café

27 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg, 727-895-4909. 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 5-9 p.m. Mon.-Sat

SideBern's

2208 W. Morrison Ave., Tampa, 813-258-2233. Mon.-Sat., 6-11 p.m.

Z Grille

269 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-896-3101. Tues.-Sat., 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 5-10 p.m.

3 STARS (Good)

Acropolis Greek Taverna

1833 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City, 813-242-4545, acropolistaverna.com. 11 a.m.-midnight Mon.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-3 a.m. Fri., noon-3 a.m. Sat., and noon-midnight Sun.

Brasa Grill

6507 W. Waters Ave., Tampa, 813-886-7858. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sun.

China Yuan

8502 N. Armenia Ave., Tampa, 813-936-7388. 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Tues.-Thurs., 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri.-Sat.

First Choice Southern Barbecue

10113 Adamo Drive (S.R. 60), Tampa, 813-621-7434. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Sat.

Fly Bar and Restaurant

1202 Franklin St., Tampa, 813-275-5000; 11:30-3 a.m. Mon.-Fri., 5:30 p.m.-3 a.m. Sat.-Sun.

Grass Root

2702 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, 813-221-ROOT, thegrassrootlife.com. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Wed.-Sat.; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun.

Marlin Darlin'

2819 West Bay Drive, Belleair Bluffs, 727-584-1700. 4-10:30 p.m. Sun.-Thurs., 4-11 p.m. Fri.-Sat.

Middle Grounds Grill

10925 Gulf Blvd., Treasure Island, 727-360-4253, middlegroundsgrill.com. 5-10 p.m. Sun., Tues.-Thurs., 5-11 p.m. Fri.-Sat.

Mise En Place

442 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, 813-254-5373, miseonline.com. Tues.-Thurs., 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 5-9:45 p.m.; Fri., 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 5-10:45 p.m.; Sat., 5-10:45 p.m.

Pizze Rustica

1003 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg, 727-895-3050. 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Sat.

Ratchada

270 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg, 727-821-7733. 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 5-10 p.m. Mon.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 5-11 p.m. Fri., 5-11 p.m. Sat., 5-10 p.m. Sun.

Restaurant Hapa

3970 Tampa Road., Oldsmar, 813-749-8400. 6-10 p.m. Tue.-Sat.

Rigatoni Tuscan Oven

3437 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, 813-879-7000, cateringbyrigatoni.com. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.

St. Bart's Island House

1502 S. Howard Ave., Tampa, 813-251-0367. 5:30-10 p.m. (bar open until 1 a.m.) Tues.-Thurs., 5:30-11 p.m. (bar open until 1 a.m.) Fri.-Sat.; 5:30-10 p.m. Sun.

Seven 17 South

717 S. Howard Ave., Tampa, 813-250-1661, 717south.com. 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 5-10 p.m. Mon.-Thurs., 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 5-11 p.m. Fri., 5-11 p.m. Sat.

Sunshine City Grill

1330 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg, 727-896-6090. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; 9:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun.

Sushi Rock Grill

1163 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N., St. Petersburg, 727-898-7625, sushirockgrillinc.com. 5:30-10 p.m. Sun.-Mon, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. 5:30-10 p.m. Tue.-Thurs., 5:30-11 p.m. Fri.-Sat.

Tampa Bay Brewing Company

Centro Ybor,1600 E. Eighth Ave., Ybor City, 813-247-1422. 11 a.m.-midnight, Mon.-Thurs., 11-2 a.m. Fri.-Sat., 1 p.m.-midnight, Sun.

Wild Fish

28910 U.S. 19 N. Clearwater, 727-239-7700. 4-10 p.m. Sun.-Thurs., 4-11 p.m. Fri.-Sat.

Urban Explorer's Handbook 2007

Sensory Overload Edition

Click here for the other senses

Taste