By Nanette Wiser
With season here, we see oodles of new restos, cafes and coffeehouses popping up, menus refreshing and dozens of choices for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Clearwater’s popular Outpost611 Eatery & Taphouse will now offer food for purchase at the John Gegle Grand Lobby bar prior to performances at Ruth Eckerd Hall. And Kahwa will open a new location on Fourth St. in 2023. We say aloha to Dr. BBQ, Munch’s and The Mill (for now). For your Super Bowl party at home, order beer growlers and wings to go from Sea Dog Brewing Co. Treasure Island; 727-954-7805. Order ahead for pick-up Sunday, 2/12. Choose your sauce (Hot Buffalo, Sweet Thai Chili, Sea Dog Blueberry BBQ or Teriyaki) and fly away home. TO GO WINGS: 25 wings for $36 / 50 wings for $70 / 100 wings for $125 Comes with a side of blue cheese or ranch.
CHEAP EATS When I’m homesick for In-N-Out Burger, I like to drive through Steak & Shake for the classic burger and fries or Tyrone’s Portillo’s for Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef, and burgers. Now that El Cap has a new owner, I plan to revisit their classic burger as well. Goose’s house wings in Largo. Look on social to find where Te Invito and Sea Dog Catering Co. (formerly Sea Dog Cantina) food trucks for authentic Mexican. Original Flavor 1889’s Neopolitan-style pizzeria, Paesano’s and Brooklyn Pizza fulfill my Italian pie cravings.
Burger at Steak & Shake 
Tasty Options at Portillo’ls
GULF BEACHES Treasure Island’s Sea Dog Brewing Co. will debut new menus this month, including a Sea Pup menu for kids are hosting a Super Bowl party. There’s music Fri.-Sat. 5-8pm and Sun. 2-5pm in the downstairs bar. Breakfast rocks, from bennies to burritos, and the brewpub serves Kahwa coffee. They’ll compete in the Treasure Island Chili Cook Off 2/17. The Crabby’s group has opened Guilty Sea Pub & Sports Bar in Indian Rocks and bought Dunedin’s Bon Appetit. Slyce in Indian Rocks, Madeira and St. Pete Beach has happy hour Mon.-Fri. 11am-6pm and live music Fri. and Sat. The Helm’s new brunch and elegant cocktails al fresco on the beautifully decorated patio covered with sea sails is a bit of heaven.
BUTTERMILK EATERY On Roosevelt Blvd., check out breakfast at Buttermilk, especially the corned beef skillets skillets (green peppers, onions, and shredded cheddar-jack), Kijafa French Toast stuffed with sweet cream cheese and Michigan cherries, topped with walnuts and powdered sugar and the Florentine Benedict (crispy bacon, spinach, sliced tomatoes, and poached eggs on a grilled English muffin, topped with hollandaise sauce.) Serving breakfast and lunch.
GOOD INTENTIONS Wine, beer, craft cocktails and the best new vegan fare in town, from apps to dessert. Serving brunch, lunch and dinner, you’ll savor the cremini Bolognese, Korean BBQ glazed tempeh (served over coconut jasmine rice, accompanied by a siracha cashew crema, a sesame daikon slaw and topped with toasted cashews) and other creative dishes. Happy hour 3-7pm. Hours are limited; check their social for dinner, weekend afternoon bar or brunch.
THE PEARL When Treasure Island’s fine dining and wine haven moved to Gulfport, we were devastated as it was just a kiss away. Chef Karim is worth the drive. We love the Coquilles St. Jacques sea scallops sautéed in a white wine cream sauce topped with Swiss cheese and the mussels’ sautéed in a white wine, with tomatoes in garlic broth and a lime beurre blanc as well as the Mediterranean Pasta (sun dried tomatoes, spinach, artichoke hearts, feta cheese and black olives, sautéed in extra virgin olive oil, garlic and tossed in linguini and lobster pasta in a garlic, Sherry cream sauce). The filet and rack of lamb are superb as are the Moroccan dishes such as Chicken Harissa and Lamb Tagine (slow braised lamb, cooked in Moroccan spices & fresh herbs and served with couscous.
