Tandoori Girl's Profile
Tampa Foodies - where are they?
I guess you'll just have to get out more, girl. Or leave town.
Clearwater Beach/Tampa restaurant suggestions
I like the Island Way Grill and I like that Sushi restaurant others have mentioned (although the atmosphere is a little dry). And the Beachcomber is like stepping into the past, ala 60s. If you like chicken livers, you will be happy there. Frenchys for the tourists or grouper lovers. There is a fascinating Mexican taco place on Drew Road further inland, you will have to search this site for the name. I would take the drive to Guppys as their food is soooo good. Don't need to worry about reservations, they always manage to fit you in. In Ybor, the columbia is well worth the gaga trip, and their black bean soup is definitely the best around. The bar is world class, and the flamenco dancers are oo-lala. There is a Greek place that is good for dinner, and Carmine's is OK, very Tampa. For breakfast, go to the Lighthouse Donut shop in Indian Rocks -- if you get there early they have a key lime pie donut that is so good but it will be gone by 9A. Small menu and small place but fun -- walk around "downtown" Indian Rocks before you leave, there's a florida art gallery in the hood.
Tampa/St. Pete Birthday Dinner Fri w/ Cocktails beforehand--any suggestions?
St. Barts in Tampa for dinner is my first thought. They have a bar and music. Rather intimate, not big and loud -- though the music can be on the loud side but only in the bar. Food is terrific. Have desert around the pool in this converted Hyde Park house on Howard Avenue (restaurant row).
Cocktails beforehand...hmmm. I'd suggest a mojito at Spain in downtown Tampa. Or maybe some wine at Ceviche.
NYC Foodie, 1 night in Tampa- casual
How about going to Oystercatchers where you can enjoy a tranquil view of the bay? You will be just five minutes from the airport. Also close to the airport is Jimbo's BBQ, La Teresita cuban restaurant (although I'm not sure if it's open Mondays). If you want to dine in a more lively atmosphere GrillSmith is very lively. There are many places but will you have a car? If not you might be limited in where you go.
40th anniversary in St. Augustine, FL
I think carriage rides are really romantic. and st. augustine's old streets are going to have you rocking. the casa monica has a very nice restaurant. that would be my choice but I've never been there. it looks so romantic and i've heard it's good. there is a place that i like there called the A1A Ale House. It is in an old building and has a nice view of the bridge, i recall. be sure to visit anastasia island beach.
12 Meals in Tampa/St. Petersburg
Oddly, I went to Las Margaritas today. I say oddly because I don't go that often and lo and behold, the day i go, you ask. And it wasn't as good as the last time. I think you have to know what to order. Last time I ordered the liver which is cooked in this particular style, the same at all the cuban restaurants. and it was excellent. Today I had trout ala rusa and it was not particularly good. the beans were good and the yuca was good but that did not make up for the mediocre trout ala rusa. maybe teresita is on its best behavior after having been cited for serving non-grouper. The "grouper" on the menu has been typed over with "fish". you know, you just never know what's going on at a restaurant. Too bad about El Toro. La Cabana del Tia is really great, be sure to give it a try. And try Agave on St. Pete Beach.
12 Meals in Tampa/St. Petersburg
I apologize for responding to this post which dates from February. This is just an exercise in writing because I doubt the original poster is still waiting for their trip to Florida.
Intimate Wedding Dinner, St Petersburg
Italian and beach are an unlikely combination. One place for seafood that I'd recommend that is excellent is Guppy's in Indian Rocks Beach. I think if you call them ahead of time, and if you could eat before 7P, then they could sit all of you in one of their rooms. The key would be eating at a time when others are not eating, and to arrange this ahead of time.
12 Meals in Tampa/St. Petersburg
1/seafood -- Dockside Dave's in St. Pete Beach
2/BBQ -- First Choice in Brandon
3/cuban -- las margarita's on Hillsborough Ave. near Dale Mabry
4/ethnic -- La Cabana del Tio in Clearwater (mexican)
5/fancy -- Berns
Downtown St. Pete when you're at the Dali Museum, go for lunch at The Chattaway, an outdoor burger place that's an institution. Very close to the museum. I think they also have grouper sandwiches.
Salads for lunch - Tampa Bay
Woody's is on S. Dale Mabry just south of Publix at Neptune. It's an institution in S. Tampa, and just like S. Tampa it's a little boring. But it's cheap, the menu is mostly salads, a few sandwiches, a couple of different soups every day.
Weekday Brunch St. Pete Beach
Did you mean "fun drinks" instead of drunks? An inadvertent typo but maybe the absolute truth? There are not a lot of beachfront locations in SPB for restaurants as the beach is built up with condos and hotels. How about the Don Cesar Hotel? It would be pricey but is a wonderful location. And their drinks are very good.
I'm now browsing with IE and still can't reply
I realize I'm not supposed to create a new topic but I can't reply to my old one. So what's the problem? I'm sort of out of my element here. Need some qualified help.
I hit REPLY but nothing happens.
This is a problem that's happened since you updated your server. Now when i hit reply there's a little shift in text but no window for my post. I'm using Safari on a mac with 10.2.8 system software.
I will try using IE and see if that helps.
Can anyone recommend a market/grocery store that delivers in Tampa?
I admit to liking Kojak's better. Although those people who run Jimbo's are just about the nicest people around, always providing lots of food for nonprofit events.
OK, now I also admit that I really don't like Q very much at all :)
French Bakery in Tampa area?
How about Pane Rustica? You could take the Crosstown and get off on Bay to Bay Blvd. Go east a few blocks and turn south on MacDill. Pane Rustica is just a few blocks up on your right back in the strip mall.
French Bakery in Tampa area?
Joan, I had assumed the Cafe De Paris Bakery is related to the one in Indian Rocks Beach, which I think is the original one. Do you know?
St. Pete Beach / Tampa recs . Thanks & a follow up report
gosh. you came all the way to florida to eat at durango's?
Got any Dog-Friendly reccs/St. Pete area?
Foxy's on Treasure Island allows dogs on their outdoor front porch area.
Branch Ranch closed
I was partial to their eggplant casserole. I've tried to make it but could never duplicate it. I probably held back on the butter and they just piled it on. they really starting going downhill and the salads would sit back in the cooler waiting for tourists to arrive by the busloads and when the little salad plates landed on the table, the lettuce was wilted. I recall a few nasty edges on tomatoes that looked putrid. but that eggplant casserole still has me salivating. I have a feeling if you walked into their kitchen you'd never eat there again. they tried to make it seem like grandma was cooking but they were always serving soooo many people. i don't know why they folded other than they've been really awful for a long time. but they'd still bring in the geriatric crowd by the busload.
TOP LATE NIGHT DINING IN FLA
I think it is a safe bet that the best late night dining in FL is in Miami. It is hard to find a good spot late at night along the St. Pete beaches. My husband and I ended up at Foxy's on Treasure Island one night and I think it was about 12:30. I was glad they were open but it was nothing to write home about.
Ybor is usually still hopping in the wee hours but I'm not sure what's open late. The Columbia maybe? And serving food? No, I don't think so.
I guess I could start driving at 8:30 from Tampa to catch the wee hours in SoBe. Or maybe someone else has some other suggestions for this side of FL.
Best Eats in Tampa/St. Petersburg
dream, your post is a little open-ended. Will you be taking a cab to these "fun activities" and local sites? Tampa is not a great city for traveling by cab. It is spread out and you really should consider renting a car if you want to get out and about or you will be paying a pretty premium for those cabs.
But if you don't rent a car, then your hotel is next to the airport, sort of in the middle of a lot of nothing, but with two major malls very close by, and a little hub of four large restaurants across the street. These will be your best bet, within walking distance. International Plaza has a very popular food court that is open-air with the feel of a tropical upscale bazaar. The parking lot around the mall gets absolutely packed with cars as this 30-ish crowd shops first, only to be "seen" later in the food court. That said, there is a Cheesecake Factory and at least 5 other restaurants in the food court. You can easily walk there. Inside the mall, Nordstroms has an interesting in-store restaurant that has excellent food and nice atmosphere. It serves wine by the glass. There is a California Pizza Kitchen in the mall as well. The little hub of four restaurants is across from International Mall at Lois Avenue -- Flemings, Roys, can't recall what else. Then if you walk from International Mall to Westshore Mall along Westshore Blvd. (this is about a mile walk through a safe neighborhood), there are restaurants at Westshore Mall in their food court, and some major restaurants next to the parking lot that is behind the Steak and Ale on Westshore. Mama Mia's would not be for you as it is family style. There is a new fish place that I've heard is good, and an asian restaurant (what's the name, anybody?!?).
Unless you can get in a car and drive, you are pretty much looking at chain places and large touristy/suburban restaurants, or else pricey ones like the one at your hotel. If you feel up to splurging on a cab, you could take one to Channelside then take the trolley into Ybor City. There are many restaurants in Ybor and it is very lively. But be careful. Lots of drunks there. I can't tell if you're a man or woman but single women be wary and be safe.
St. Augustine - help, please
I still salivate when I recall my fish dish from A1A. I love the upstairs balcony. Saltwater is nice, low-key, good location. There's a fried fish place across the bridge that people stand in line for. Mac-somethings. Dunno caps. what a wonderful city it is. cheers.
Decadant desserts in Tampa?
Panne Rustica had some incredible looking cupcakes on its pastry counter last week. I almost broke my diet -- almost!
For cheap good eats (but alas no cupcakes that I recall) go to Don Pan on Dale Mabry just a block north of Kennedy Blvd. The single expresso is about double what you get at Panne Rustica for half the price. The pastries and desserts are really incredible and very reasonable. And if you go for lunch you can have an arrepa. I think Don Pan is one of the Tampa areas most under-appreciated spots. you will love it.
Someplace good in Tampa near Performing Arts Center or airport?
channelside OK? you're kidding right? this is what tampa created for the cruise boat tourists. It's like tampa's own disney. all glitzy, brand-new, good lighting, parking garages.
BBVL, I ended up at las Marg. myself. I had liver italian style. glad it worked out.
Estelas in Tampa
I can't exactly recall. It's in the very corner of a strip mall.
If you want good tacos and a place where they do actually make their tortillas, go to La Cabana del Tio, 1709 Drew Street in Clearwater. It is the real thing.
Dive Bar resturants along east coast
booohooooohooooo :( it is always so sad when one of the old standbys bites the dust.
Estelas in Tampa
Wishbugger, I have tried this place and they were not making their tortillas and I asked them if they made theirs and they said no, that you can find what they use in their market. They do make their gorditas which are a corn meal based thick sort of tortilla. I thought the place was good thought a little heavy on the salt. But very good.
Someplace good in Tampa near Performing Arts Center or airport?
yeah. for the most, they're fine. Fly in downtown is a little dicey because it's a changing neighborhood (new shiney condos and old deserted buildings) but there's always a crowd and tables outside, parking's nearby.
And watch yourself in Ybor. Park in the city garages, they're policed and cheap, and just be careful. Sometimes drunks patrol the streets and beat up on people. For real!
