Restaurants
These restaurants fit my taste for independently owned establishments with tasty food, pleasing ambiance, friendly staff, ethnic authenticity, inventive dishes, and reasonable prices. A “big reputation” isn’t enough for me to list a restaurant. As I discover other restaurants with these characteristics, I’ll be adding and reviewing them. If you know of ones you think I would enjoy, please let me know by either comment or email. If I like it, I’ll list it and perhaps, eventually, write a blog post on it. I visit restaurants anonymously and pay for my own meals. Advertisers receive no favored treatment.
ST. PETERSBURG
ASIAN
ABC Seafood
A Taste Of Asia Restaurant
Banh Mi Saigon
Ben Thanh Vietnamese Restaurant
BKK Thai Cuisine and Sushi Bar
Chiang Mai Thailand Restaurant
Ha Long Bay Vietnamese Cuisine and Dim Sum restaurant
Hook’s Sushi
Ichiban Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar
King & I Restaurant
Lucky Star Chinese Restaurant
Mekong Vietnamese Restaurant
Pho 97 Oriental Restaurant Thai Kitchen
Thai-am Restaurant
BAKERIES/SWEETS
Cafe Mozart
Schakolad Chocolate Factory
BBQ/SOUL(Got a suggestion? Let me know, and I’ll go check it out!)
BEER/WINE
Shep’s Deli
Uncorked Fine Wines & Accessories
BREAKFAST
Central Coffee Shoppe
Frog Pond
Frog Pond
Munch’s Sundries & Restaurant
Skyway Jack’s Restaurant
BURGERS
El Cap
COFFEE/TEA
The Globe Coffee Lounge
Hooker Tea Company
Marketplace Express
CUBAN/SPANISH(Got a suggestion? Let me know, and I’ll go check it out!)
FANCY
Cafe Alma
Ceviche Restaurant
Columbia Restaurant
Red Mesa
ICE CREAM
Ali-oop’s Superscoops
Dairy Inn
Dick & Janes Old Tyme Ice Cream
Old Farmer’s Creamery Ice Cream
INDIAN
Ajanta Indian Cuisine
Green Chili Indian Bistro
ITALIAN
Bella Brava
Cafe Cibo
Mazzaro’s Market
LUNCH
Chattaway’s
Craftsman House
European Goodies
Kopper Kitchen
Lonni’s Sandwiches Etc
Lucky Dill
Maria’s Greek Family Restaurant
Nitally’s Thai-Mexican Fusion Cuisine
Rollin’ Oats Natural Cafe
Stella’s Deli & Gelato
Stone Soup Cafe
Tangelo’s Grille
MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EASTERN
Jo-El’s Delicatessen & Marketplace
Zeko’s
MEXICAN
Carmelita’s
Nuevo Vallarta
PIZZA
Cappy’s Pizzeria
Fortunato’s Italian Market
Valentino’s Little Italy
Vito & Michael’s Pizzeria
PUBS (with excellent food)Moon Under Water
Old Northeast Tavern
Madeleina Cottage Restaurant
SEAFOOD
4th Street Shrimp Store Restaurant & Market
The Bayou
Dockside Dave’s
Island Seafood Market & Bistro
Mid Peninsula Seafood Market and Restaurant
Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish
WATERFRONT (and other vistas)
Caddy’s on the Beach
Fresco’s
Friendly Fisherman
O’Maddy’s Bar and Grille
Spinners Bistro Restaurant |
TAMPA
ASIAN
China Yuan
Jasmine Thai
Pho Quyen
Sa Ri One Korean Bulgogi Restaurant
Sawatdee Thai Cuisine
Sukhothai Restaurant
TC Choy’s Asian Bistro
Trang Viet Cuisine
BAKERIES/SWEETS
Alessi Bakery
Mauricio Faedo’s Bakery
BBQ/SOUL
Wholly Smokes Bar-B-Que
Jazzy’s BBQ
Jimbo’s Pit Bar-b-que
Quincy Restaurant
BEER/WINE
Hyde Park Express
Vintage Wine Cellars Inc
BREAKFAST
La Ideal
Nicko’s Fine Foods
Pach’s Place
BURGERS(Got a suggestion? Let me know, and I’ll go check it out!)
COFFEE/TEA
Fourth of July Cafe
Caracolillo Coffee Mill
El Molino Gourmet Coffee Shop
La Tropicana Cafe
Sacred Grounds
CUBAN/SPANISH
Brocato’s Sandwich Shop
Cafe Don Jose
Ceviche Tapas Bar & Restaurant
FANCY
Mise En Place
Oystercatchers
ICE CREAM
Bo’s Ice Cream
INDIAN
Angithi Indian
ITALIAN
Antonios Pasta Grille
LUNCH
3 Palms Grille & Gallery
Cafe European
J Alexander’s Restaurant
Cafe Hey
NoHo Bistro
Wine Exchange
MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EASTERN
Shish Kebab & Turkish Cuisine
MEXICAN
el Rincon Mexicano
Taco Trailer (El Taconazo)
PIZZA(Got a suggestion? Let me know, and I’ll go check it out!)
PUBS (with excellent food)
Front Porch Grille
Skipper’s Smokehouse
SEAFOOD(Got a suggestion? Let me know, and I’ll go check it out!)
WATERFRONT (and other vistas)
Colonnade
Taste of Boston
Ricks on the River |
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{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
I have a suggestion for Cuban. Its called the Floridian on Treasure Island Causeway. Very small little place, they have the best cuban sandwiches on this side of the bay. Cuban soup is fantastic and the devilled crab rolls are out of this world.
I also have a suggestion for Mexican. It is called V.I.P Lounge and it it a little hole in the wall on Gulf Blvd in Treasure Island (next door to Ricky T’s)
Parking can be a challenge as well as getting a table. But you find out why once you eat there. And the Sangria and Top shelf Magarita’s are delicious as well.
Pizza: Rizzottos Italian Villa on Seminole Blvd.x Park Blvd. in TJ Maxx shopping plaza.
Sushi: Jimmy’s on Seminole Blvd. just North of 54th Avenue
Burger or smoked wings: Angry Pepper on 113th Street/Duhme road just North of Madeira Beach causeway
Leslie, thanks! I will definitely try all three of these. I’ve had a hard time finding good Cuban and Mexican on this side of the bay–the Tampa side abounds in both. I really do appreciate the suggestions and will follow them up.
Hilton
Hi Hilton. I just stumbled on your web site. You might want to try these restaurants out too:
Johnny’s Mediterranean Pizza and Restaurant at the corner of 30th Ave N and 28th St N in St Pete. Click to see the review in the St. Pete Times back in 2006 that led to us trying this place. Don’t go expecting a lot of ambiance. It is a hole in the wall kind of place that used to be a gas station years ago. It’s draw is the good home style, cheap and plentiful food. Definitely try their pizza. It has a unique crust, which isn’t really deep crust — but isn’t NY style either. Very good.
Cajun Cafe on the Bayou in Pinellas Park. It is located on Park Blvd just a little West of the Wagonwheel and Mustang Flea Markets. It really feels like you are eating at a place in the back woods of a Louisanna Bayou. Their crab cakes are fantastic and they have a really good bread pudding desert. Bread pudding is not something I would normally order, but this stuff is like nothing I’ve ever had. It is served warm and you definitely want to share it or plan to take 1/2 home.
Los Mariachis Mexican Restaurant on Ulmerton Road in Largo (there’s one in Clearwater too, but I’ve never been to that one). Most reviews seem to find it the way we do: very good and inexpensive. There are a few reviews that complained, but I think there is always going to be people that disagree. We have tried many Mexican restaurants in Pinellas County and this is the only one we like enough to keep going back. Their salsa is smooth and spicy — not chunky and mild. The chips and salsa can be addictive, so I have to remember to go easy to leave room for the main course. Service is very good and food is prepared very fast.
Thanks, Mike I will definitely try them out. I’ve been to Cajun Cafe on the Bayou and really enjoyed it. I’ve been waiting to go back and take some snaps before I write it up. Thanks for commenting and making suggestions.
Hilton
For breakfast try Dave’s Restaurant, 2339 9th St No.
Hilton,
For great Cuban food try Habana Cafe, 5402 Gulfport Blvd S., Gulfport, FL.
Hilton,
One last restaurant for you to try. Harvey’s 4th Street Grill, 3121 4th St No., St. Pete. They do a fabulous Sunday brunch.
Oh how about one more recommendation for a Spanish restaurant. Pepin Restaurant, 4121 4th St. No., St. Pete
Hi Hilton! I have always had great food from China City on 4th St in St Pete. What do you know about their history? (Besides being the oldest Chinese restaurant in St Petersburg). Would love to see a review!
The Lucky Dill Deli in Palm Harbor at Alt 19 and Alderman Rd (as best I recall) has the absolutely best burger I have ever had in my life! BIG. I had the one topped with fried green tomatoes and bleu cheese I think. OUT of this WORLD! And I think it was only 6 or 7 bucks and came with homemade fries!!
Jim, thanks for the tip. That sounds delicious–love the idea of fried green tomatoes and bleu cheese together. Never have heard of that combination before.
Great list but if you are looking for a Pizza, Giannis in St Pete. I don’t know if you have tried the Italian Margherita Pizza but it would hold its own against NYC pizza and yes, I have lived in NYC – the cheesesteaks are also good
Also Yummys in Gulfport has great hotdogs (all types from chicago to slaw) and the food is better than decent
Here are some of my recommendations:
Chinese: Ivory Mandarin Bistro in Dunedin on Main Street. They also have a separate Chinese menu for the adventurous, you have to ask for it specifically and I think it’s written in Chinese. The pepper fried squid and taro with pork fatback is to die for.
Thai: 9 Bangkok on Central Avenue.
Pizza: Yes, Gianni’s is delicious.
Indian: Taste of Punjab on Park Boulevard.
Hey, thanks for the tips! I’ll try those soon. 9 Bangkok is excellent, for sure. I’ll check out Punjab soon…!!!
For authentic mexican tacos, try Taqueria El Maguey at 4327 66th Street North. The lengua and barbacoa are very good as is the tortilla soup. They also make the best guacamole in town.
YUMMY HOUSE, Waters just East of Armenia, Chinese like I have never tasted before. The whole menu is great, good soups, pot dishes, noodles and rice, great ducks and chickens a la chinois. Alway full of Asian customers. Order seafood hot and sour soup, or seaweed and tofu soup.
I think Cafe Don Jose on 56th St, Tampa, closed and/or sold out.
Ah, too bad. Thanks for letting me know. I don’t get over to Tampa much any more. I did just recently, though, and stumbled upon a new, really good Indian buffet way down on 56th St. Going to write it up soon: MAYURI’s Indian Restaurant.
This is a great list. I recently moved to Orlando from Fort Wayne and found the food to be excellent out here.