I will be in Charleston for Easter brunch and was wondering which one will be the both good for food and overall experience: Magnolia's, The Grocery, Hominy Grille, or perhaps somewhere else/new? (I do have reservations for Husk, The Macintosh, O-Ku for dinner)
I ate @ The Grocery for dinner on my last visit and loved it!
Thanks!

Went to an amazing cheese tasting event @ Cheese Please in Tampa (on Manhattan a little south of Euclid). It opened a year ago and it turns out they have these things every Friday. Last nights was all Spanish cheeses and I was in heaven.
It is run by this fabulous couple, Michael & Carlos, who made the tasting esp. fun.
Check it out:
http://cheesepleasetampa.com/

Todd -- I am going to email you too as I don't think I am on your list. I joined the Hounds for the ABC Seafood jaunt a year or so ago but sometimes I bow out because of the non-meat eating thing. I love me some seafood though!
--Stacey

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ABC Seafood Restaurant
2705 54th Ave N Ste 3, Saint Petersburg, FL 33714

I have sampled many, many of the St. Petersburg pizza offerings in the Old Northeast area and am SO looking forward to Pete's Wood Fired opening.
I also agree with Todd about Paci's and depending on where you live, its South Tampa location isn't too bad.
That being said, I think the best and most consistent of what I have tried for NY-style on our side of the bridge is Astra's on 16th St by 22nd Ave N. The place is not much to look at but the texture and flavor of the pies is decent -- closed on Sundays though.

Thanks everyone for the feedback! Probably heading to TBD and will let you all know how well it went over for the b'day.

My friend's husband is a huge meat eater -- loves it and can really put it away and as his birthday is July 4, I thought I would take us all out to one of the many Brazil-style steakhouses. Of all of them around the Tampa Bay area, any strong preferences?
Also, I don't eat meat so the salad bar is a big factor.
Thanks!
Stacey

Well now you are just being cruel!
Seriously, this Ozzie' s place appears to do all-you-can-eat blues so I may be headed over there soon!
(Also, Manderley, I lived in the city myself in the late 80s to mid 90s. We should try to grab a drink some time and reminisce!)
--Stacey

Oooh, do tell! I live in St Pete, but will gladly drive across the state for blue crabs served as Manderley describes!
Used to live in Daytona Beach (a LONG time ago) and there was a great place there that just dropped them on the table, but haven't found anything like that in a while.

I am heading over from St Petersburg to Orlando for the next couple of days and wanted to hear any news about Restaurant Week. Already read the Weekly's Salivation Army blog but looking for some additional Hound advice.
http://blogs.orlandoweekly.com/index....
I will be staying at the Grand Cypress.
Thanks!

You probably already know this, but they don't serve booze in the Magic Kingdom. Found that out the hard way myself...how one can survive a day in "stroller" hell without even a glass of red I'll never know!

Great news. And like the article says, Valentine's Day is perfect timing! Feel the love!

Sweet Polly, I have like 10 of the Kapok Punch glasses and the recipes for it and the corn fritters. We should get the Tampa Bay Hounds together and do a Kapok dinner--relish tray and all!!

Funny, Todd.
I was referencing what Nicky Brooklyn said about Bud on tap--didn't want anyone to think the RR was on draft--because that would be too good to be true.
I'm someone who prefers most beer on draft but since the option was Bud tap or Rolling Rock bottle--something I rarely see @ FLA joints, I went with the old 33.

Went this weekend and it was pretty great. Food & selection were both good, and they had Rolling Rock in the bottle! But tables were not easy to come by and the wait was long.
You stand in line to order your food with just one person working the bar/counter and then you get the impression that they cook orders in batches so a bunch come out at once. Not bad, but if you aren't part of one bunch, you end up waiting for the next one.
I talked to someone while in line and he said once "season" passes, the experience is much better.
But us locals know that is true with much here in the Tampa Bay area, right?

Made a mistake--place is on 16th Ave N.

If you are looking for a nice place in St Pete for a beer and sandwich and don't feel like going downtown, check out Stone Soup Cafe & Pub on MLK.
http://www.stonesoupcafe.com/
My friend and I had some great beers and the food was homemade and amply portioned!
The whole place has a nice vibe (esp. on a brisk day) and we got a chance to talk to the owner -- cool guy who seems to care about the quality of product and experience.
Great bar too and they now have a full-liquor license.

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The Stone Soup Cafe
4130 16th St N, Saint Petersburg, FL 33703

Todd
I used to live in Sem Heights and heard all the raves when Cappy's came there--tried it a few times and didn't really care for it. I love both Paci's and Pizzaiolo Bavaro though they are different animals. And as I work in downtown Tampa, they are thankfully both an option for me.
I'll give the Cappy's in St Pete a try though.
Thanks!

I have read all the great pizza recs for Tampa (and have tried and loved many ) and was wondering if anyone knows of any pizza joints that are on par with either a Paci's or a Pizzaiolo Bavaro across the Bay?