4th Street Shrimp Store

The 4th Street Shrimp Store, which has a first rate website complete with menus and history and photos, is one of those places that’s all dolled up like a tourist trap but isn’t really: it serves pretty good seafood and is crowded with locals at all times. It is a “store,” too. In addition to the seating for meals at the full bar, outside in front, in an area inside near the bar and in a large back room, there is a small fish market where you can buy whatever is fresh that day, which usually includes basics such as shrimp (of course) and snow crab.

In the tradition of any southern seafood restaurant, they have all-you-can-eat specials on different days. Mondays are all-you-can-eat fried clams. (I’ve done that several times which is why I’m dieting now.) Tuesdays are all-you-can-eat snow crab, which is what I had last time. Now, if you’ve never eaten snow crab, do try it. Dip its sweet meat into your cup melted, salted butter and it’s a beautiful taste. But be forewarned: eating a snow crab is a bit of a challenge. It’s not as simple as breaking into a lobster or into the monster claws of an Alaskan king crab. Breaking the arms of a snow crab at exactly the right mid-point, and gently pulling until the meat comes out in one big piece is an acquired skill…and a messy learning experience. Fortunately, the Shrimp Store provides you with a complete roll of paper towels for damage control.

If you check out the menus on their website, you’ll note that they have early bird specials (3pm to 6pm), a kids menu, and some food for landlubbers, plus every traditional Floridian seafood restaurant favorite you can think of. Of course, being true to their name, they have shrimp prepared almost any way you can imagine. My favorite shrimp deal there, and also their best meal value, is on Wednesdays, when it’s all-you-can-eat shrimp either boiled or fried. When I go for that, I’m sure they lose money.

The Shrimp Store is located at 1006 4th St. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727-822-0325). They’re open for lunch and dinner, Sunday and Monday, 11am-8:30pm, and Tuesday through Saturday, 11am-9pm.