If you don't live in the area, or if you haven't vacationed here before, you should definitely visit St. Petersburg, Florida. We have more than good beaches; St. Pete has such a great variety of tasty cuisine and a very fun, hip vibe. Do you like supporting local communities, Salvador Dali, farmer's markets, concerts in the park, gorgeous views of the beach and also views of Tampa Bay, modern and historic architecture, tattoos, amazing street art, some pretty talented local bands, and so much more? St. Pete has a little bit of something for everybody's taste.
As you can already tell, I'm getting ultra local today... I want to share some of my favorite places to dine in the vicinity, most of my haunts are located in St. Pete, a few along Gulf Blvd, and a couple in surrounding cities... It's all pretty close together here anyways, so I'd say almost all of the places I'm going to share are within about a 20 minute radius.
1.
Salt Rock Grill in Indian Shores:
THE BEST place to eat in town,
no doubt about it! I loved everything about my experience there. The cocktails before dinner were so deliciously sweet and tasty, their desserts are delectable, the main courses are well portioned and absolutely delicious. Their chef is a genius, pairing flavors and presenting great specials every evening. Not to mention, the service is exquisite, their wine cellars are impressive, and the views from the tiki deck are gorgeous during a sunset! The artwork on the walls is absolutely phenomenal, I hope to one day have my work featured there - until that day, I'll admire all of the brilliant pieces of work the artists are currently showcasing. I recommend Salt Rock for any occasion; after dinner I recommend a walk on the beach that is just right across the street and maybe a drink at a local dive named Mahuffer's that's right down the street.
2.
Taco Son in St. Pete (additional location in Tampa): If you like tacos, go to Taco Son, and order yourself some ASAP - you can thank me later. The steak is my favorite but all of the tacos are impressive. Serving up 100% authentic Mexican food, a family business originating from Sonora, Mexico - hence the name Taco
Son. Their salsa options include three delicious choices, I personally prefer the green salsa; it's the perfect addition to my taco loaded with veggies and perfectly seasoned steak! The murals on their walls are pretty sweet as well, I'm definitely envious of the talented artist that painted the St. Pete location. Don't miss out on savings, be sure to sign up for their text alerts and get discounts on the regular if you're local.
3.
Havana Harry's in Largo: You can score some ridiculously good Cuban food at this little dive. I crave their chicken sandwiches and espresso on the regular, I seriously wake up with a hardcore CRAVING for their food... it's that good! I highly recommend Havana Harry's after a day at the beach, the perfect lazy day grab and go food. The artwork on the semi outside, the artist that sits inside the place and paints on the regular, and all of the cool random pieces from local artists really pull me into the place as well. Plus, they offer huge portions, so there's that. Havana Harry's is a once a week thing in our house, you'll see why if you give it a try.
4.
Frenchy's Rockaway Grill in Clearwater Beach: If you are looking for a beautiful view to watch a sunset while eating a pretty decent meal, I recommend Frenchy's. The view from their beach side seating is absolutely stunning, I've seen pastel and bold sunsets from Frenchy's - never disappointed. I love the live music they have performing, their drink specials can be pretty great, and the food is typical American cuisine really but it's pretty delicious as well.
5.
Tsunami Japanese Steakhouse in St. Pete: The BEST Sushi in the St. Pete area, hands down. I'm a sushi connoisseur, while there are other great sushi places in town (I might even do a post on all of my favorites), Tsunami is by far my favorite spot for sushi. The fish always tastes fresh and even the simple hand rolls have a flavor that can't be compared. I highly recommend the Volcano roll, which is the one overflowing with tasty goodness in the picture. The environment is pretty with fountains and flashing, colorful lighting - it's a nice, casual Japanese restaurant... plus if you have a friend that isn't into the Sushi thing, their hibachi options are equally as tasty!
6.
Sea Breeze Island Grill in Redington Shores: One of my favorite spots to grab a drink and meal with a fabulous view of the inter-coastal waterway. They have some of the cheapest (and tastiest) mixed drinks on Gulf Blvd and their specials on food offer some great local food options. They also have really awesome art work in the restaurant, check out the paintings on the way to the bathroom, and be sure to use the salt scrub they offer - it will leave your hands feeling amazing. So basically, you'll get good food, great drinks, a spa treatment, and a beautiful view while visiting Sea Breeze - it's a pretty amazing place.
7.
Harvey's Fourth Street Grill in St. Pete- This little 4th St. grill is a great little local spot. I love stopping in here for a chicken sandwich and a drink. The inside is kind of dark, but a perfect spot for a hung over college kid or a family trying to find a place to eat after a day at Disney or the beach - nice and relaxing, definitely not over stimulating. The food is traditional American and won't disappoint.
8.
Bongo's Beach Bar & Grill in St. Pete Beach- If you are looking for a creative drink, then hit Bongo's. They have such a fun drink menu that I would recommend going there JUST for drinks and appetizers. Bongo's offers great appetizer options if you are looking for a light bite to eat - think coconut crusted shrimp, crab cakes, mango glazed scallops, hot wings, and the like. It's all incredibly tasty and the view of St. Pete Beach is unbelievable; you can even sit with your feet in the sand or in their cabana area and listen to some peaceful local music while watching the sunset. I've never stayed this late, but they are open til 3AM so it's a great place for a drink any time.
9.
Agave in St. Pete Beach- I'm kind of a big fan of Mexican food and tacos in general, so here's ANOTHER taco recommendation... But this one has margaritas on the menu, pitches of margaritas to be exact! I love Agave and their quaint little restaurant on St. Pete Beach. The flavors in their tacos are amazing, the only thing I would change about Agave is the service can be a bit lackluster at time - totally hit or miss. Regardless of where our waitress was during some of our visits, the food never disappoints and the banana margaritas are pretty dang tasty.
10.
Rumba Island Bar & Grill in Clearwater- While I've never been to the Oldsmar location, the Clearwater location is absolutely somewhere I would recommend everyone check out. This Caribbean restaurant is one for the books - the food always tastes fresh and the mix of island-y flavors are unbeatable. The rum selection they offer is fantastic as well. We dined on the patio during our visit and the only complaint I have about Rumba is it's location - it should definitely be nearby the beach. Other than that, I'm totally sold on the concept and highly recommend you visit.
