With a stunning, beachfront downtown, plentiful Gulf of Mexico seafood and pan-Latin culinary influences, St. Petersburg restaurants have a unique "Floribbean" appeal. Even though St. Petersburg is an artistic city with world-class fine art museums, the ideal backdrop for a memorable seafood dinner is the aqua blue beauty of St. Petersburg's Tampa Bay. Colombia Restaurant on the Pier, a popular St. Petersburg attraction, boasts Spanish and Cuban influenced seafood dishes in an upscale setting with incredible views, while Chacha's Coconuts, on the top of the Pier, boasts nearby Caribbean influences. Kitschy St. Petersburg beachside gems like Crabby Bills, feature fresh local seafood (including signature conch fritters and iconic grouper sandwiches) and daily beer specials. In addition to Latin, Caribbean and seafood restaurants, St. Petersburg's many excellent Italian restaurants pay aromatic homage to the city's 19th century Italian immigrants.
Japanese, Steakhouse, Sushi. Arigato Japanese Steakhouse operates three St. Petersburg/Tampa locations, in Clearwater, Tampa and St. Petersburg. At all three Arigato Japanese Steakhouse restaurants you'll find the same popular concept of teppanyaki style Japanese cooking- six courses, prepared by a personal expert Japanese chef right at the table on a traditional teppanyaki grill. Arigato Japanese Steakhouses also feature an extensive list of specialty cocktails and sake.
Bella Brava
515 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Italian. With an emphasis on Tuscan traditions, Bella Brava restaurant serves up all manner of Italian cuisine, from wood-fired pizzas to takes on fresh local St. Petersburg/Tampa seafood. Popular amongst St. Petersburg/Tampa restaurant goers for its spacious outdoor balcony dining area and its dual cocktail lounges on each floor of the restaurant, Bella Brava is also revered by the happy hour crowd.
Columbia Restaurant - St. Petersburg
North East 800 2nd Ave., St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Spanish, Cuban. The original Columbia restaurant of south Florida has been around for over 100 years and encompasses an entire city block. While considerably smaller, the St. Petersburg location of the Columbia Restaurant brings that award-winning tradition of Spanish/Cuban cuisine and top wines to the St. Petersburg waterfront. With 360 degree views of Tampa Bay from floor to ceiling windows, Columbia Restaurant of St. Petersburg is considered one of the most relaxing - and romantic - St. Petersburg dining destinations.
E&E Stakeout Grill
100 Indian Rocks Rd N, Belleair Bluffs, FL 33770
Steakhouse, Contemporary American. The big sister restaurant of St. Petersburg/Tampa's Guppy and Mystic Fish, the E&E Stakeout Grill has been around since the 1980's, and continues to see success in the St. Petersburg/Tampa restaurant scene for its continental Southwestern approach to fresh meats and local seafood. With a daily, changing specials menu, E&E Stakeout Grill also features a hand picked wine list and a substantial array of specialty cocktails from the E&E Stakeout's full bar.
Guppy's
1701 Gulf Blvd, Indian Rocks Beach, FL 33785
Seafood, Contemporary American. Alongside sister St. Petersburg/Tampa area restaurants, E&E Stakeout Grill and Mystic Fish, Guppy's offers a global fusion menu with a strong emphasis on local fresh ingredients - especially seafood. The specials menu at Guppy's changes daily, based on availability and seasons. Guppy's is located on the waterfront and features a newly renovated full bar as well as sunset dining nightly.
La Cachette de la Plage
321 Gulf Blvd., Indian Rocks Beach, FL 33785
French, Contemporary French. La Cachette de le Plage is an intimate French bistro with an extensive menu of traditional French dishes and a nightly specials menu with a focus on the preparation of fresh local seafood. But the most interesting feature of this distinctive St. Petersburg/Tampa restaurant is their wine policy. One might expect a high-end French bistro to be a bit pretentious, but La Cachette de le Plage encourages guests to bring their own wine, in particular vintages from nearby specialty wine shops, and charges no corkage fee.
Madfish
5200 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
Seafood, Steakhouse. The second St. Petersburg high-end seafood restaurant opened by chef Dan Casey, Madfish caters to the hotel and convention crowds of the St. Petersburg Beach area with Casey's takes on fresh local seafood, and the occasional steak, all in a unique setting reminiscent of a neon-lit dining car on a classic train. The menu at Madfish features Latin and Caribbean influences, as well as an innovative dessert menu.
Marchand's Bar and Grill
Renaissance Vinoy, 501 5th Ave. N.E., St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Mediterranean. Marchand's Bar and Grill is perched on the Tampa Bay waterfront inside the famed Renaissance Vinoy Resort. The restaurant has been on the Tampa culinary scene for quite some time, racking up a decent list of accolades for cuisine and atmosphere, both being described frequently as "elegant." The menu at Marchand's Bar and Grill is mostly lighter Mediterranean fare with continental influences, largely consisting of local ingredients and heavy on fresh seafood.
Maritana Grill
Don CeSar Beach Resort & Spa, 3400 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
American. Located inside the iconic Don CeSar Resort and Spa, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, the Maritana Grill is one of Tampa's most elite restaurants. The Maritana Grill has distinctive décor, with lavish aquariums doubling as the walls, and a swanky menu of American contemporary cuisine. This posh Tampa restaurant is a destination for locals and visitors seeking a refined dining experience.
Pacific Wave Restaurant
211 2nd St. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33602
Seafood, Fusion / Eclectic. Fusion is the name of the game at the Pacific Wave Restaurant, with Pacific Rim flavors and French techniques coming together in the preparation of both fresh, local seafood and ingredients from around the globe. Pacific Wave Restaurant, located in downtown St. Petersburg, is frequently lauded by St. Petersburg/Tampa publications as one of the area's best culinary experiences.
Sea Porch Cafe
Don CeSar Beach Resort & Spa, 3400 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
Caribbean, Mediterranean. One of several restaurants in the Don CeSar Beach Resort and Spa of St. Petersburg/Tampa area fame, the Sea Porch Café offers a laid back dining experience, serving fresh local ingredients and seafood in contemporary American preparations with Mediterranean and Caribbean influences. The Sea Porch Cafe, as the name suggests, also features vistas of the Gulf of Mexico.
