Florida people, help me out with restaurant recommendations for Clearwater beach
- Thread starter Tenacious E
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That‘s not a ranking order that’s a general taste and texture order. No one other than a real expert is telling the difference between a cooked yellowfin snapper filet and a key west grunt once they’ve been fried. Any flavor difference is going to be more about how they’ve been handled and which one sat on the boat deck longest than what species it was when they’re within the categories.
As far as what fish I love the most it depends on what is being prepared. For baked and grilled dishes I absolutely love Pompano and its bigger cousin permit, but spadefish and lionfish work great as well. For standard southern fried in flour and corn starch fillets the best are either smaller snapper like yellowtail or beeliners or flounder. For fried fish sandwiches where you want a bigger and meatier chunk fried I prefer wahoo, Cobia or grouper. For English style fish and chips I prefer any shark that’s first been soaked in a half beer half milk solution or grouper. Grunts may Be the very best fish For Japanese tempura batter. For Mississippi style cornmeal batter, our saltwater gafftopsail is as good or better than farmed channel cats or wild flathead cats as the best fish for that prep. For ceviche, sushi, poke and other raw preps nothing beats a Florida bluefin, yellowfin or blackfin tuna than the best sockeye salmon at peak fattiness before their river runs. And for smoked fish I’m actually partial to Spanish and king mackerel over Amberjack, Cobia and mullet. Oh and for fish tacos, if you go traditional Mexican and fried I absolutely love mahimah, but my own created raw tuna tacos on a flour with havarti cheese, cherry tomatoes, mexican crema and tomatillo salsa are tough to beat.
We go to Crabbys on the Pass near our place on Treasure Island. Nothing spectacular but it's on the water across from Madeira Beach. We've never eaten a meal there but for just sitting by the water and watching dolphins and grabbing drinks and snacking on appetizers it's the superior option compared to the many tourist traps on the Johns Pass side. Don't get me wrong we spend a lot of time in Johns Pass, but there's no need to wait and pay a premium for the generic overpriced restaurants in there.
But ya, those restaurant conglomerates up and down the barrier islands are basically all the same. Crabbys group has a bunch and Caddy's has a bunch.
Still the best of any places up and down Gulf Boulevard we've encountered is Spinners in St Pete. Goes against the casual theme being sought in the original post, but man that place is awesome. Legitimately good and not just a generic tourist place. Be ready to spend though, their menu prices have gotten pretty out of control since our last stop in February.
We have been to Clearwater Beach around 10X. Always eat one meal at Frenchy's Rockaway. Sits right on the beach. Like the atmosphere. We have ate at several different places in area.
When my boys were adolescents, we went on a "guys only" trip to the Keys and went on a fishing charter. Got skunked except for grunts and a barracuda (my oldest son won the pool for "biggest fish" by catching that stupid thing). No option to cook the grunts at the hotel except for a grill. They were good, but I lost a few filets through the grates.
When my boys were adolescents, we went on a "guys only" trip to the Keys and went on a fishing charter. Got skunked except for grunts and a barracuda (my oldest son won the pool for "biggest fish" by catching that stupid thing). No option to cook the grunts at the hotel except for a grill. They were good, but I lost a few filets through the grates.
Grunts are great. One of the best fish for Japanese tempura frying (and despite being one of the smallest fish Americans would eat regularly as they’re essentially white and yellow perch sized for our Iowa friends, it’s far bigger than some of the favorite fish used in Japan which are bait sized fish) and great when fried whole as a pan fish or filtered into the best fish fingers around. Grunts and grits is a traditional dish for a reason.
Wow, I am impressed with your list. A lot of good information on it.
When my boys were adolescents, we went on a "guys only" trip to the Keys and went on a fishing charter. Got skunked except for grunts and a barracuda (my oldest son won the pool for "biggest fish" by catching that stupid thing). No option to cook the grunts at the hotel except for a grill. They were good, but I lost a few filets through the grates.
I've eaten barracuda more than a few times when I was younger. We'd keep the small ones. They're good eating.
some stuff-
1. Free Beach Ride phone number is 727-776-7553. They will take you from CWB down to StPB for a free will donation. This is a legit no BS number that you can (and will) check out when you get to CWB.
2. Frenchy's is garbage.
3. BLACKENED grouper.
4. Fresh fish can be purchased at John's Pass, and can be cooked to your preference at most restaurant's.
5. Our fav place to eat is Rum Fish Grill in StPB. Stop at Beachcomber and hit the sports bar for cheap drinks and tabasco flavored popcorn at happy hour. Also bands on the beach deck from 3 to 9.
Very surprised to see no mention of Island Way Grill.
islandwaygrill.com
Also, it doesn’t look like much but I was pleasantly surprised by the pizza from King’s Pizza on Coronado Dr.
Island Way Grill - Clearwater Beach, Florida - Island Way Grill
Welcome to island way grill! We take pride in our fresh seafood,delicious sushi, & hand-cut wood-fired steaks.island way grill is the perfect venue for any event or memorable waterfront dinner.
islandwaygrill.com
Also, it doesn’t look like much but I was pleasantly surprised by the pizza from King’s Pizza on Coronado Dr.
Is that the one owned by Mike Alscott just across the bridge? If so we really liked it.Very surprised to see no mention of Island Way Grill.
Island Way Grill - Clearwater Beach, Florida - Island Way Grill
Welcome to island way grill! We take pride in our fresh seafood,delicious sushi, & hand-cut wood-fired steaks.island way grill is the perfect venue for any event or memorable waterfront dinner.
Also, it doesn’t look like much but I was pleasantly surprised by the pizza from King’s Pizza on Coronado Dr.
I had no idea Alstott owned it! But yeah, that’s the one, I’ve been there three times and each visit was damn good.
Very good. One of my favorites, but I kinda forgot about it because we havent went the last two times in CWB. Good rec!
Yeah, Alstott and Dave Moore (retired Bucs TE) are partners in it with a few others
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Some good suggestions here. I’ll add two, not far from CWB. If you head a little bit South to Indian Rocks Beach, Keegan’s is fantastic. It’s a small place, so go early. The Char Broiled Octopus appetizer is amazing. Inland, Rumba in Clearwater is another great place.
Sticking to CWB here are a few more. Someone mentioned Badfins which is always solid. 3 Daughters opened a brewery on the third level above Hooters. Great place to sit for a few beers. And finally, don't sleep on Hogan's Hangout. It's a fun vibe with really good drink specials and each time we have grabbed a bite the food exceeded expectations. Now it's not Salt Rock Grill but it was good. It's also a great place to watch sports.
We don't head to Clearwater Beach too often because of how crazy expensive it is to park. Unfortunately SPB has matched it price wise so that's become a PITA as well.
We don't head to Clearwater Beach too often because of how crazy expensive it is to park. Unfortunately SPB has matched it price wise so that's become a PITA as well.
1.5 days in and this place is my jam, I have to say. Beautiful beaches. Beaches themselves aren’t too crowded but it is very busy around our hotel on the main drag. Beaches have a nice mix of people of all ages, races, and nationalities - not all old people. Food has been pretty good when I followed my heart, and there is live entertainment in the bar across the street from the hotel. This place is awesome, imho.
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I’m going to get booed off the stage, but I’ve had grouper twice now. The first time it was blackened. It was okay. Second time I had it fried. It was also okay. My son had a burger and I snuck a bite and wished I had ordered it both times. Guess I’m a midwestern boy at heart…
Same one across the street, surf side tap house. I asked if it was fresh and they said it was. Was I led astray?
Probably fresh frozen, or a novice chef. To each his own, I love blackened grouper.
There’s a good chance that at the touristy beach restaurants you weren‘t getting real grouper. They substitute in farmed striped bass regularly and get away with it as well as illegal wild caught snook. And I’ve been served cheap shi%*%y tilapia and even basa as “grouper” at those types of restaurants.
I’ve had most kinds of commonly eaten Florida/Caribbean fish and traveled and eaten fresh fish (some of which I’ve caught) from New Zealand, Australia, Maine, California, Vancouver/Seattle, Alaska, Japan, England, Scotland and Wales. And grouper as a whole are better than or equal to the very best wild caught Atlantic cod, Pacific blue cod, orange roughy, and suzuki. So they are tied with the very best meaty white fish out there.
Are they the best fish? Well for me it depends on the prep and What I’m in the mood for because all salmonids are great at more diverse preps everything from smoked to raw sushi meanwhile grouper I wouldn’t do any way other than fried, blackened or in a pan sautéed or broiled fish dish with a butter sauce or some kind. And I even love Louisiana/Mississippi/Arkansas/Tennessee fried cornmeal battered catfish when the mood strikes me.
It’s really good, but I grew up eating what I caught. At restaurants I’m a cheapskate, so sitting on the water eating a $12.95 grouper sandwich with fries and hush puppies and a cold beer is heaven. Eating a small $32 piece of grouper on a plate with rice and asparagus…not so much.
Dave Portnoy visited a bunch of Pinellas County pizzerias yesterday. Toby’s Little Italy and Madison Avenue Pizza are the ones I have seen so far.
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We don't go out for pizza much around here but I may have to try some of the places he was at. The pics look pretty good and many are close the Casa de DQ.
Toby’s Little Italy is good, and consistent. I’ve been driving over there around once a week from Tampa. I haven’t had Sardo’s on Ulmerton in a long time but it was always good. I have a few places that have been recommended in the Dunedin Eats FB group including Madison Ave that Portnoy visited yesterday that I have been meaning to try.
I once ate sushi with @Gonolz in St. Pete. True story.
Santoros near University of Tampa. He also went to Lee’s Grocery which is on the other side of the projects from me. Lee’s Grocery has terrible pizza.
It's in St Petersburg but I absolutely love this restaurant and go there every time in the area...
www.leverocks.com
Leverock's Great Seafood | Seafood Restaurant in St. Petersburg, FL
Roomy seafood house features traditional dishes plus an inventive special menu offered late-night.
www.leverocks.com
I love the obnox Surf Style gear. Best jingle ever!
Surf Style, Surf Style, something for everyone!
I only go to two places and they are both far from Tampa. For NY style, Toby’s Little Italy in St Pete. For Chicago thin crust, Puck’s & Pizza in Dunedin on Alt-19. Puck’s is a one man food truck with limited hours. The owner worked at Lou Malnati’s in Chicago and his pizzas are very good. Toby’s has been around for 50 years and is very good and consistent.
There are probably other places that are good but these two are so reliable that I haven’t tried anywhere else in ages. I will check out anything that Portnoy gives a good score.
The community scores on Portnoy’s app are usually pretty reliable. He says if a place has a hundred reviews and a rating in the high 7s or higher then it’s likely going to be good. They use the ratings from the app when they are pick places for him to visit.
I looked on the app for Wesley Chapel. There isn’t much there. Fresco Pizza in Lutz has 18 reviews a 7.4 rating. I’d give that a try if I lived near there.
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Toby’s 7.7
Barstool Pizza Review - Toby's Original Little Italy Pizza (St. Petersburg, FL) presented by Rhoback
Barstool Pizza Review - Toby's Original Little Italy Pizza (St. Petersburg, FL) presented by Rhoback
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Portnoy also visited more than a dozen Tampa Bay pizza spots including:
www.cltampa.com
- Brooklyn Pizza Company
- Cristino's Coal Oven Pizza
- Delosa’s Pizza
- DiGiorgio’s Pizzeria
- Forbici
- Joey Brooklyn’s
- The Nona Slice House
- Madison Avenue Pizza
- Marina’s Pizza & Pasta
- Lee’s Grocery
- Pipers Scratch Pizza Shop
- Sally O'Neal's Pizza Hotline
- Toby’s Little Italy Pizza
- The Violet Stone
- Santoro’s
Barstool’s Dave Portnoy was in Tampa Bay doing ‘One Bite Pizza Reviews’
He went to more than a dozen local shops.
