35 Tampa Bay restaurants to take an-out-of-towner, and what to get

La Segunda Bakery

What to get: Cuban and a guava pastry
Multiple locations
Sorry but guava pastelitos like abuela used to make and a cafe con leche to warm the soul is a necessity if you're going to show anyone around Tampa. The mothership is in Ybor, but you'll do fine at the Kennedy Boulevard and recently-opened St. Petersburg spot, too.
Photo via La Segunda Bakery/Instagram

SuperNatural Food & Wine

What to get: Breakfast sandwich and sour doughnuts
305 E Polk St., Tampa, 813-758-6230
Offered from 7:30 a.m.-2:29 p.m., SuperNatural's breakfast menu and doughnuts are its staple, along with its selection of mighty wine available any time. The breakfast sandwich, which celebrity chef Alton Brown recently called the "best I’ve ever had," is made with fresh focaccia bread roll and egg with the option to add cheese and bacon (BEC is where it's at). The doughnuts are made with cinnamon sugar, organic flours and single-origin spices, but most importantly, it’s all vegan!
Photo via SuperNatural Food & Wine/Instagram

The Baithouse

What to get: Drunken Shrimp
45 Causeway Blvd, Clearwater, 727-446-8134
Enjoy the ocean air while peeling back drunken shrimp––tender shrimp sauteed in a creamy bourbon creole reduction served with toasted ciabatta bread. The Baithouse also offers other specialties like catch of the day, tavern fare and a wide selection of beer and drinks. If you want some hands-on action, the restaurant offers the space and materials to catch your own fish in the Mandalay Channel.
Photo via The Baithouse/Facebook

Big Ray’s Fish Camp

What to get: The grouper sandwich
Multiple locations
While striding down the Riverwalk (or driving through south South Tampa) make a stop for hearty grouper sandwiches and a side of garlic parm fries at this Bay area gem.
Photo via Big Ray’s Fish Camp/Facebook

Dunedin Brewery

What to get: Wings
937 Douglas Ave, Dunedin, 727-736-0606
As one of Tampa Bay’s many breweries, Dunedin Brewery is the oldest microbrewery in Florida and hand-crafts their brews in 14 barrels at a time, but also offers others recognized beers everyone can enjoy, especially its wings, served with two out of nine in-house crafted dipping sauces. If you're there late, try and catch a concert, too.
Photo via Dunedin Brewery/Facebook

Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish

What to get: Smoked Fish
1350 Pasadena Ave. S, St. Petersburg, 727-381-7931
Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish is, well, famous for a reason. Its four to six hour process cooks and smokes fish to perfection. Its fantastic flavors have been featured in Guy Fieri’s “Diners Drive-Ins and Dives'' and The New York Times’ “Taste of America.”
Photo via Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish/Google Maps

Ulele

What to get: Oysters
1810 N Highland Ave., Tampa, 813-999-4952
The view of the Hillsborough River almost beats the taste of the Native-inspired spot’s fresh oysters–heavy emphasis on almost. Seriously, the grilled oyster here are mandatory. Plus, walk it all off on the nearby Tampa Riverwalk.
Photo via Ulele/Instagram

King of the Coop

What to get: Nashville hot chicken
Multiple locations
King of the Coop offers fat chicken sandwiches ranging in spiciness, from naked to “Coop’s Fury,” its signature Nashville hot with added habanero. The King also offers chicken and waffles, hot chicken-topped fries and more. Slides include southern staples coleslaw, collard greens, hush puppies and mac and cheese. Thanks to a rapidly expanding tendie empire, you can now get the King in Seminole Heights, South Tampa, Wesley Chapel and St. Petersburg (with a Westchase location on the way).
Photo via King of the Coop/Facebook

Pop Goes the Waffle

What to get: Cheeto Waffle Dog
5004 Tangerine Ave. S, Gulfport
Enjoy a waffle batter covered corn dog dusted in Cheeto dust at Pop Goes the Waffle’s brick and mortar store and its food truck. If you’re daunted by this combo, try any other of the restaurant’s specialties, like its five different kinds of waffles with different choices of toppings, including a plant based Cinnamon Toast Liège waffle.
Photo via Pop Goes the Waffle/Facebook

Carmine’s

What to get: Carmine's baked chicken
1802 E 7th Ave., Ybor City, 813-248-3834
A tri-cultural experience, one of Ybor City’s iconic 7th Avenue restaurants has an eclectic range of choices from bistec de palomilla to baked ziti for the cultured foodies of your group. The baked chicken is a family table staple served with black beans, rice and Spanish house salad.
Photo via Carmine’s website

Saigon Deli

What to get: Bahn Mi and a Vietnamese coffee
3858 W Waters Ave., Tampa, 813-887-3888
This extremely busy deli is nothing short of a haven for Vietnamese cuisine. The Banh Mi is packed perfectly inside the French baguette and affordable enough to have three.
Photo via Google Maps

Mel’s Hot Dogs

What to get: Mighty Mel
4136 E Busch Blvd., Tampa, 813-985-8000
Arguably one of Tampa Bay's most famous hot dog spots, Mel's is a classic go-to staple for Chicago dogs and reuben glizzies.
Photo via Google Maps

The Getaway

What to get: View and a cocktail
13090 Gandy Blvd. N, St. Petersburg, 727-317-5751
With a sandy beach for the kiddos and a tiki hut to match, there's big time tropical vibes at St. Pete's The Getaway. Grab a cocktail and lookout for dolphins.
Photo via Google Maps

La Teresita

What to get: Anything off the daily special
3248 W Columbus Dr., Tampa, 813-879-9704
The two-story Cuban restaurant serves traditional dishes of the latine family’s roots, which carry a rich background of resilience through a time of turmoil for their home country. Catch the Tuesday special for the crowd favorite “ropa vieja” (shredded beef). Bonus points if you can find the spot Bourdain sat at when he was there.
Photo via Google Maps

Florida Bakery

What to get: Colada, one of the most Florida coffees you can drink
3320 W Columbus Dr., Tampa, 813-870-0756
Share a round of colada (Cuban espresso) at this homegrown bakery. A caffeine buzz and a sugar rush from 5 for $1 churros is all you need before taking on the Bay (pack a Cuban for lunch is you've got a long day ahead).
Photo via Google Maps

The Columbia

What to get: Paella, deviled crab croquet
Multiple locations
Dive into the history of Ybor with food that commemorates the Cuban culture the city was built upon. Get an authentic experience, and don't forget the paella at the oldest restaurant in the U.S. (Ybor City location), then scoot over to the Columbia Cafe at the Tampa Bay History Center where the devil crab croquettes are a must-get.
Photo via The Columbia website

Rick’s on the River

What to get: A cold beer and a cover band
2305 N Willow Ave., Tampa, 813-251-0369
Whether you pull in by boat or car, this no frills waterfront staple on the Hillsborough River is the perfect place for you and the gang share a pitcher, and grab a tray of oysters, or just take in some local cover band since the bar has live music daily.
Photo via Rick’s on the River website

Al’s Finger Lickin’ Good BBQ

What to get: Doesn’t matter, as long as it’s a collard green day
1609 Angel Oliva Senior St, Ybor City, 813-956-0675
From concession stand to sit-in staple, the people of Ybor hold nothing but high praise for the Tennessee-style BBQ joint. From ribs, and pulled pork, you really can't go wrong here, but a safe bet is always the daily specials.
Photo via Google Maps

El Cap

What to get: World Champ Burger
3500 4th St. N, St. Petersburg, 727-521-1314
Located on busy 4th Street North in St. Pete, El Cap’s “World Champ Burger” has been voted as the Bay area’s no. 1 hamburger.
Photo via El CapFacebook

Wat Mongkolratanaram Temple

What to get: beef soup
5306 Palm River Rd., Tampa, 813-621-1669
The temple’s Sunday morning market is a drive-thru experience with a great selection of Thai meals, especially the soups. Pair your broth with a Thai tea and shrimp fresh rolls.
Photo via Wat Mongkolratanaram of Florida/Facebook