Article By Peter A. Roos
My Favorite Places
I often get asked what my favorite restaurant is and I always find it a hard question to answer. We get to eat out a lot, and we have found there is usually a dish each of our favorite venues prepares that keeps us coming back. We originally came to the beaches for our son to attend Admiral Farragut Academy as a day student, and we had every intention of going back to the mainland once he graduated. Jordan is 47 now, and we are still here.
The barrier islands have long been a haven for casual dining, with a plethora of bars and restaurants offering famous local grouper sandwiches and some outstanding hamburgers. Willy’s, PJ’s Oyster Bar, Boulevard Burger and The Reef are good examples. Two others, Crab Daddy’s and Shark Tales International flavors have blossomed in the 21st century, with a number of excellent Thai and Sushi places (they seem to go together here), Nori Thai Basil Leaf in St. Pete Beach, Thai Am 2 at John’s Pass and Sushi-Rock Grill in Isla Del Sol.
Mexican options like Treasure Island’s VIP and St. Pete Beach’s Agave and Grand Hacienda, with full liquor bars, and Taco Bus, the closest on the beach to Mexican fast food. If you like Cuban food, we suggest Barracuda’s on the beach, or Pipos on Bay Pines near the VA (or in Downtown St. Petersburg and in South St. Pete). Between those, you can definitely save a trip to Ybor City. There are Greek favorites available daily at Skidders in St. Pete Beach, and the best Gyro sandwiches and Greek salads can be found at Odise’s St. Pete Beach Mediterranean Deli. The closest place to find flaming cheese is the Neptune Restaurant in Gulfport,but Spiro’s in South Pasadena usually has the best lamb shank this side of Tarpon Springs.
Italian too has been a constant favorite, ranging from family style, dine-in places that have been here for a quarter century like Genaros in Pass-a-Grille, Tony & Nello’s in Tierra Verde, Vito & Michael’s Gourmet Pizza and Pasta, Carino and Gigi’s. Notable Italian additions in the last decade are Verducci and Tottorosso in north St. Pete Beach and Caruso, just last year in Treasure Island.
There are a number of popular finer dining establishments too.
Local favorites…
Middlegrounds in Treasure Island, named after one of the prime fishing areas in the gulf, Rumfish Grill in St. Pete Beach with a 33,000-gallon aquarium built with ‘Tanked’ on the Animal Planet and the relocated Island Grill in Tierra Verde are favorites. I would be remiss if I did not mention theMaritana Grill at the Don Cesar, which has recently been reimagined and reopened by chef Emily Ferrari.
There are also a handful of ‘bistro’s’ that tend to specialize in higher quality menus, and consistently get top ratings in their reviews. The Pearl in Treasure Island, Sola and Madfish in St. Pete Beach come to mind. The Pearl has a Moroccan flavor, Sola offers mostly locally sourced better quality fish, meats and wild game and all three have real chefs in the kitchen.Madfish, a top-rated fish, seafood and amazing steakhouse, hidden inside a shiny diner, is featured separately in this issue.
There are a number of bar and restaurant combinations that offer popular upgraded menus. Sea Dog Brewery, Sea Hag and Shrimpy’s Blues Bistro at the Blind Pass bridge are prime examples, as are Caddy’s around the corner and Captain Bill’s in ‘downtown’ Treasure Island. Gators on John’s Pass and Billy’s Stone Crab in Tierra Verde. Sea Hag added a second St. Pete Beach location, on Gulf Boulevard, taking over the short-lived upscale Selene. We went for dinner recently and sat in the bar, where Boston Bob was entertaining. It was a fine, reasonable meal and although busy, it somehow seemed less noisy than we had remembered.
Pizza is a food group all to its own on our beaches, and against all odds it would seem, new pizza purveyors are arriving in the south beaches as we speak. Britt’s coal fired pizza in Treasure Island is expanding Britt’s Caféinto what was a beach supply store across from the Bilmar resort. Within a single block you can try Feola’s, Gigi’s, Caruso’s or Original Pizza.
In St. Pete Beach, A Slice of New York has moved off of Corey Ave., into what was most recently ‘The Roost” at 7141 Gulf Boulevard. Grand opening is planned for December 7-8th with dining options indoors and al fresco in addition to local delivery from 5PM to 4AM. The kitchen has been completely rebuilt to accommodate the pizza ovens, and the stovetop, grill and fryer were retained to allow for menu expansion.
Eight blocks south, two new pizza places are planned almost across the street from each other. Slyce is expanding south from Indian Rocks and Madeira Beach into the south most of the rebuilt stores on the west side of Gulf Blvd in front of thePost Card Inn. Directly across the street in what was most recently Fetishesfine dining, the sign is already up for Mad Monkey Pizza. Billed as the ‘Subway of Pizza Parlors’ this concept is brand new. An oven that cooks personal pizzas in 90 seconds, including a gluten free option, while you are settling up and getting your beverage.
Long time readers have read our feature stories about Chill on Corey Ave. before. We have followed Ruthie since 2011, when she started Steam, a little coffee shop two blocks west. Chill is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, with a delicious, creative menu, a premium full liquor bar, all you can eat Sunday brunch with an expansive Bloody Mary bar. Monday nights are prime rib nights., There’s live music Wednesday – Saturday with Carl or Tony on the piano and occasional dueling pianos at 9PM on the odd Saturday night.
Corey Ave., (74th) the main downtown street of St. Pete Beach was closed for months this summer, while being rebuilt and Blind Pass Road where they intersect is still a construction zone.
We have already been to a number of Sunday markets on Corey and brunches at Chill. The food is good as ever, and the best of their incredible staff have hung in through the long hot summer. Visit chillstpetebeach.com for more details. PN