23 small-town restaurants worth the road trip from Tampa

Blue Marlin Seafood

121 Historic Bridge St., Bradenton Beach, 941-896-9737
Located in one of the nation’s oldest fishing communities, Blue Marlin offers an intimate dining experience just over an hour away from Tampa. Enjoy live music, hand crafted cocktails and diverse small plates, salads and fish options.
Photo via Blue Marlin Seafood/Website

Bon Appetit Restaurant and Bar

148 Marina Plaza, Dunedin, 727-733-2151
Founded four decades ago, Bon Appetit provides a near undefeated setting for delectable cuisine, craft cocktails and special moments with special people just 50 minutes away from Tampa. This restaurant is a tad more upscale than the rest, offering dishes like bouillabaisse, rack of New Zealand lamb, lobster tails and more.
Photo via Bon Appetit Restaurant and Bar/Facebook

The Bridge Tender Inn & Dockside Bar

135 Bridge St., Bradenton Beach, 941-778-4849
Open seven days a week, The Bridge Tender has three settings to choose from: the Packer Bar which has 18 TVs to watch sport events, the Tiki Bar with a relaxing tropical vibe and the dining room where you can order anything on the menu at any time.
Photo via The Bridge Tender Inn & Dockside Bar/Instagram

Brgr Kitchen & Bar

10800 Gulf Boulevard, Treasure Island, 727-322-7040
If you’re looking for a more sophisticated burger experience, hop in the car for an almost 50 minute drive to reach Brgr Kitchen & Bar. Here you will enjoy custom seasoned burger grinds, paired with house-made sauces and bread baked fresh by a local boutique baker.
Photo via Brgr Kitchen & Bar/Website

Fred’s Market Restaurant

2120 Harden Blvd, Lakeland, 813-752-7763
This buffet offers southern comfort food in many combinations with four different menus. After a 40 minute drive, you’ll be able to enjoy homemade breakfast casseroles, golden fried chicken, Jack Black oak smoked pork ribs and more. And no one will judge you if you take a food nap in the parking lot.
Photo via Fred’s Market Restaurant/Facebook

Hawaiian BBQ

17788 Aprile Dr., Land O' Lakes, 813-575-9598
There's poke everywhere, but Hawaiian BBQ is the closest thing to the country stores found on the Kamehameha Highway drive that dominates the road during a drivefrom Honolulu and Haleiwa. A 30-minute drive from Tampa will lead you to healthy and fresh dishes always served with white rice, soybean, vegetables and that macaroni salad plus Spam and BBQ chicken musubi.
Photo via Hawaiian BBQ/Website

Hog Island Fish Camp

900 Broadway, Dunedin, 727-736-1179
Enjoy all things local with the fresh catch at Hog Island Fish Camp. Ranging from fried gulf oysters to a whole fried snapper, the Hog offers dishes fit for a perfect beach day.
Photo via Hog Island Fish Camp/Facebook

Little Habana Cafe

13350 Lincoln Rd., Riverview, 813-672-5111
Experience authentic Caribbean flavors with Little Habana’s pollo asado, bistec salteado and liver with peppers and onions along with guava, mango or papaya juice. If you are still wanting more after your meal, go for the desserts, including regular flan, coconut flan or tres leches.
Photo via Little Habana Cafe/Facebook

Mykonos

628 Dodecanese Blvd., Tarpon Springs, 727-934-4306
Walk into the bright blue doors of Mykonos and be immersed in Greek flavors with dishes like the restaurant’s lamb fricassee and cucumber-tomato salad, seasoned with green onions, parsley and olive oil.
Photo via Mykonos/Facebook

Norma’s Plant City Cuban Sandwich Shop

120 N Collins St., Plant City, 813-704-6015
Chef Andy brings creative dishes to a pretty simple concept. Just 35 minutes away from Tampa, this more-than-a-sandwich-shop has Cuban sandwiches, Mojo Chicken wraps, blackened chicken tacos, Cuban style bowl and salads.
Photo via Norma’s Plant City Cuban Sandwich Shop/Facebook

Pancho's Villa Mexican Restaurant

32804 Pennsylvania Ave., San Antonio, 352-588-3037
Established in 1994 as a small family restaurant with good homestyle, authentic Mexican food, Pancho’s has become a local favorite with its fresh and tasty flavors. The restaurant serves homemade Tex-Mex dishes as well as street-style tacos and sides, and a great selection of beer, margaritas and sangria.
Photo via Pancho's Villa Mexican Restaurant/Facebook

Pho Hoang

3827 U.S.-Hwy-301 S Unit C3, Riverview, 813-280-9944
Perfect to warm you up on the rainy days to come, Pho Hoang offers countless combinations of toppings for pho, rice noodles and rice platters in just a short 15 minute drive.
Photo via Pho Hoang/Facebook

Pizzeria Gregario

400 2nd St. N, Safety Harbor, 727-386-4107
Pizzeria Gregario is open from Thursday to Saturday, from 5:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m or until the dough runs out. Its mission is to serve the most nutrient dense food, free from chemical inputs. Try staples like The Bestia, Not Roni or its spicy four cheese pizza. And never skip the salt garlic, lemon and olive oil "schmoo."
Photo via Pizzeria Gregario/Facebook

The Restorative

420 Patricia Ave., Dunedin
The almost 40-minute drive is worth it every time as you will experience a different menu every time you visit. The team including husband and wife chef owners Jason & Erin "Cricket" Borajkiewicz changes its menu two to three times a week and reservations are required as the restaurant has less than 10 dining tables (please don't no-call no-show if you score a seat). Its kitchen bar—where you can watch your food being made in front of your eyes—is open for a limited number of walk-ins each night.
Photo via The Restorative/Instagram

Seaworthy Fish + Bar

1110 Pinellas Bayway S, Tierra Verde, 727-623-0468
Enjoy fresh bites, sips and views in a cozy nautical setting while trying Seaworthy staple dishes like seared scallops with bucatini carbonara and a whole fried fresh catch plated atop coconut rice or a snappy green papaya slaw.
Photo via Seaworthy Fish + Bar/Website

Star Fish Company

12306 46th Ave. W, Cortez, 941-794-1243
Star Fish serves everything seafood either fried, grilled, blackened or sauteed and its location on Sarasota Bay provides the Florida waterfront views that many travel far to see, in this case over an hour drive. No starfish on the menu though (that's illegal, brother).
Photo via Star Fish Company/Website

The Joinery

640 E Main St., Lakeland, 863-337-4583
This modern food hall offers a wide selection of cuisines through its different vendors, including poke, pizza, tacos, ice cream, ramen and Japanese street food. Additionally, it provides different drinking options with beer, wine, cocktails and flights.
Photo via The Joinery/Facebook

The Limani

776 Dodecanese Blvd., Tarpon Springs, 727-945-8100
Located in the center of Greek culture in the Tampa Bay area, The Limani offers authentic, casual fare dining with outdoor seating and a walk-up window.
Photo via The Limani/Facebook

Ukulele Brands

4805 Land O' Lakes Blvd., Land O' Lake, 813-995-0608
Enjoy classic southern dishes like gator tails, frog legs, cajun fried chicken sandwich and more just 35 minutes away from Tampa in a casual “old Florida” setting.
Photo via Ukulele Brands/Website

Water Oak Grill

201 Main St .Suite 100, Safety Harbor, 727-286-6919
This neighborhood seafood and steak bar just 25 minutes away from Tampa focuses on fresh ingredients to create dishes like its seared ahi tuna nachos, braised octopus, fresh caught Florida grouper and hogfish. Its bar offers craft cocktails and beers, and ready-to-pour wine.
Photo via Water Oak Grill/Facebook