By Nanette Wiser
Light up your life with some of my favorite dishes from downtown St. Pete and Gulf Beaches and be sure to check out this issue’s restaurant spotlights on Sea Dog Brewery, The Helm, Chill’s and 82 Degrees @The Saint.
Nothing warms the heart like an underwater dining experience spent with the ones you love at St. Pete Beach’s RumFish Grill, one of the island’s best restaurants featuring Christmas and New Year menu specials and events. Looking for a great gift? Now through Dec. 20, when you purchase a $100 RumFish Grill Gift Card you’ll be gifted too with a $20 Bonus Card! (www.rumfishgrill.com/menu/specials) Make your reservations now for the Coast New Year’s Eve Party at Tradewinds Island Resorts with DJ Lorenzo, a buffet and full open liquor bar.
Dining at Parkshore Grill is always a pleasure, thanks to Steve Westphal (who also owns Island Grill) and Chef Tyson Grant. With valet parking, an exquisite bar with waterfall wall, hand-crafted cocktails, and curated wine list, this is the place to see and be seen. From steaks to seafood, oysters to ahi, the plates are works of art. Sunday brunch is perfect for entertaining visitors who are foodies. Best of show are Crab & Grouper Cake Benedict (Creamed Spinach, Hollandaise, Potato Hash) and Banana Brioche French Toast with Applewood Smoked Bacon.
Reserve your holiday party or Christmas meal-to-go now at The Club at Treasure Island, where Chef Paul Daubert whips up his festive fare for six or 12-14. In addition to live entertainment Friday-Sunday, you can dine and drink in style with a Boca Ciega Bay view at The Marker fine dining and poolside at The Club for lunch and brunch (bottomless mimosas and Bloody Mary $16/2 hour) in dining area. We love the shrimp and grits, fried chicken and waffles and Eggs Benedict with the Hawaiian mimosa (coconut rum, pineapple juice, bubbly) for brunch. Chef Daubert’s chargrilled filet with tarragon compound butter and charred onion, snapper Greek style, rack of lamb with rosemary demi and seafood platter or pasta reflect his award-winning days at other restaurants and yacht clubs. Check the Club’s social media for New Year plans; you can see the Treasure Island fireworks from here.
Jake’s Coastal Cantina’s new menu is a wow, from the Korean Burrito to the Quesabirria Tacos and Beach Crab Quesadilla with chihuahua cheese. At Sea Grapes Wine Lounge, we adore the duck rillettes with blueberry thyme jam, house-made mustard and pickled veggies and the dessert cheese boards with signature chocolate, macaroons, spiced cashews, house-made caramel dip with apples and bonbons. Order for your holiday party or beach picnic now.
Cider Press Vegan Gastropub has reopened on Third Ave. N, full of Southern/Cajun dishes from shrimp po’boy to the Shrimp Étouffée followed by a refreshing Pimm’s Cup (Sprite, cukes, strawberry, mint).
Why not take the Cross Bay Ferry to Tampa from downtown St. Pete for a taste of Tampa? Amalie Arena Lightning games are hot…and so are the new dining options. Wicked Oak Barbeque will serve Que-Ban is ham, Bubba’s slow smoked award-winning pulled pork, salami, Swiss cheese, pickles, and homemade barbeque sauce; Loaded Mac + Cheese topped with Bubba’s slow smoked award-winning pulled pork. Shredded cheese and jalapenos; slow smoked 813 Wings and Wicked Taters is Bubba’s slow smoked award-winning pulled pork on a bed of tater tots with queso, shredded cheese, and jalapenos.
