Okay, locals there! You know who you are... we are going to be staying across the road from Salt Rock Grille. Is that a good one? (Is that a nice part of the Island to stay on?) What other places could you recommend for really good seafood, fancy or not? Thanks, everybody!

ttt

Where are all my Florida buds?

Hey, Bonnie, didn't you get the memo that it's 'cane season down here?

I've heard the SR Grille is good but I've not been there. That's not in TI, is it? I was in TI last wknd. and we had bar food at Ricky T's at 11:30P. It was definitely better bar food. there is a place called Groupers just across the bridge at Blind Pass (s. end of TI). Just open for breakfast and lunch. Dockside Dave's just north of John's Pass on Madiera Beach is great for blackened grouper, but a little pricey. Joan has a restaurant in SP not too far from TI called Mid-Peninsula Seafood -- very VERY reasonable, your usual fried, grilled, blackened fishies from the Gulf. TI has a good Cuban sandwich shop -- dang if I can remember the name. Oooooh, Joan! What is it?

I made a special trip to Larry's Ice Cream in SP Beach. And I wish I wouldn't have gone because all I want to do now is go back and get some MORE. It was really unbelievably good. They had pies from the Don Cesar, wonderful!

I hear that lots of folks like Keegan's in Indian Rocks. My friends like a crab place called Slammers, also there. Cafe Ponte in Largo is high-end, very good.

Another good place, a little pricey, is the Island Way Grill in Clearwater.

Have a great time in Florida.

This topic was recently discussed. Do a search of this forum and you'll find plenty of suggestions.

Enjoy TI!

(Salt Rock Grill is way over-rated.)

Gekko... I already DID do a search......... found very little. Probably info is mixed in with major beach info...

Thank you, TG! You're the best... knew you'd come through for me!

Please understand that we are landlocked Coloradans who originally come from Oregon so we have a natural tendancy to gravitate to strange little "classic" beachy kind of restaurants. Having made that disclosure, I will say that we loved Crabby Bills - the original one, I think it was at Indian Rock, Indian Shores? It wasn't far away.

Honestly, I don't understand what Gekko is talking about. I live in the area and have been to the Salt Rock Grill many times. It's always been one of the best restaurants anywhere around here. It is, however, a bit pricey.

The comment that Dockside Dave's is pricey is hard to understand. Maybe the poster's point is that it's a bit pricey for what you get -- which is simple, usually fried, fresh seafood, served in a less than handsome dining room, noisy and a bit dingy.

The comment about Keegan's is right on. It's worth visiting up in Indian Rocks Beach. There's a nice little French restaurant in Madeira Beach called Cafe Paris. And by the way, you do understand that the Salt Rock Grill isn't in Treasure Island, don't you?

A couple of other good restaurants in Indian Rocks Beach are Gallace's Italian restaurant and Guppy's seafood restaurant. Lots of folks go to Shell's and it's supposed to have good seafood, but it's one of the few restaurants I've never been to. As for Crabby Bill's, the original one is in Indian Rocks Beach and is a plain, family style restaurant with plain but good seafood at reasonable prices.

That's a summary of my opinions, and I've lived in the area for 17 years. Good luck.

Hi Bonnie!

Well everybody has covered most of the good points - take note of what Wayne said, it doesn't sound like you're in Treasure Island - actually the Salt Rock is about 20-25 minutes drive north on Gulf Blvd, several towns away. And I too love the Salt Rock. I guess Gekko has that NYC experience to compare to...

That said, on TI, try Karim's Bistro for Mediterranean food, in the Thunderbird Motel. Also, every tourist must stop at Gator's on the Pass, preferably around the cocktail hour on a weekend. It's located beneath the John's Pass bridge (south side) and it's fun to sit and listen to live music while watching the boats navigate the bridge in the late afternoon. Try the 'gator! Good souvenir shopping across the water at John's Pass Village - hokey but heck you're a tourist right?

The Cuban sandwich shop TGirl is thinking of is called the Floridian, located on 107th in TI (the Causeway to the mainland). Excellent.

Now that you've lost all that weight, you probably don't eat big breakfasts out, but if you want to splurge, try the Frog Pond. Known for their huge plates, but try to go on a weekday to avoid the long wait.

Don't go to Shells unless you've run out of places, because Keegan's, Guppy's, even Dockside Dave's are much better. Crabby Bill's is good for oyster on the half shell....

Have a great time, if you get out to my place (not on the beach) you better say HI!

Wayne, Joan, ladies and germs: I do realize that we are staying in Indian Shores, not Treasure Island. (Long explanation, not worth going into! ) We will be right across the road from the Salt Water Grill, and are looking forward to drinking at their Tiki Bar and listening to live music there on the weekend. PLEASE tell me that that is a nice section of the beach to stay on! Does anyone know .... are there lifeguards on the beach there and is that area of the beach good for snorkeling, shelling and BAD swimmers?

We tried to eat at Guppy's when we were visiting St. Petersburg in January, but I believe that's where the line was so long that we went elsewhere! Will definitely make it this time........ it's my niece's fave.

I am going to print this thread out to shove in my purse, and if you think of anything else, please let me know. (Where to get the best fruit or Margaritas or fresh flowers for our cottage, anything you wanna tell me! )

Thank you, everybody!

Bonniebroad
Other than what has already been posted, we enjoyed:
Backfin Blue cafe in Gulport (the best!!)This is a bit of a drive but soooooo worth it! It's in a converted house and everything we had was wonderful. You can google and look up their website.
Canjan Grill on the Bayuo(sp?)in St Petersburg for Crawfish. Yummmmmmmm This is a place where you will dine on red plaid plastic tablecloths and the crawfish was really, really good.

...and, next door to Backfin Blue is the Peninsula Inn. Music on the porch, casual dining out back, or formal, major $$$ and multi-course fixed menu serious dining at 6 Tables inside. We haven't done their 6 Tables but have tried others in the area and it's just too much food for the average diner--good for a special occasion though. Dining on the back porch at Peninsula Inn has replaced Backfin Blue for our usual dining in Gulfport. When are you going SvelteBonnie? We will be there 4th of July week for a week of sailing...we could have a GTG!

I agree with Salt Rock being a good restaurant too...have a great time. You'll enjoy walking that beach!

Bonnie-- cj gave you some good recommendations for places that are a pretty long drive from where you will be staying. But to answer your burning question: There are usually no lifeguards along any stretch of the beach except occasionally at the established city beach areas. Never count on a lifeguard being present. But your area is completely safe to stay in, wander around to your heart's content, walk on the beach for miles, or whatever else you want. As for the quality of the water and whether the surf itself is safe, those beach areas are all about the same. The sandy bottom slopes very gently and offers lots of time to immerse yourself slowly as you walk out into the water. My only caution is that usually in July, the sting rays start coming out and schooling along the shallows of many of the beaches. You just have to look out for them and walk in the shallow water using what has become well known in this area as "the sting ray shuffle"--that is, sorta slide your feet along slowly in the sand rather than walking in the usual fashion when you are in the shallow water. Good luck.

Thank you, OO! I love that new nickname you gave me! We will be there June 18 through 25, so afraid we can't GTG this time, but hopefully in the future!!! So many of the restaurants sound great.... and my DH doesn't mind driving a few miles some nights for a good one! We're used to going to Emerald Isle here in N.C., and then driving up and down the Crystal Coast to all our favorite restaurants on the water!

Wayne, thank you for that info on the surf/beach. That's just how I've imagined it to be so that will be great. We're just not ocean/good swimmers ... I would never stick my toe in the surf at our Carolina beaches, but that's a whole other kettle of fish!

I really appreciate all the help I'm getting here, and I promise to do *restaurant reviews* when I come back....

Bonnie, there's a fun spot for drinky-poos called the Swigwam. It is in St. Pete Beach at the back of the hotel where the Shells restaurant is.

Another spot for great drinks is the VIP Lounge across the street from the Thunderbird. It's a younger crowd there, as at Ricky T's. They have veggie-mexican fare that is really pretty good. And for bar food, Ricky T's serves until the wee hours.

Joan, I went to Gator's for the first time last week (although I'd been to the Kingfisher many times in the far past). We had the most tasteless spicey wings I've ever had, but did not try the gator. Was certainly a lively place, as they had a Bike Fest contest (motorcycles). Older crowd (like me!), we had a good time but almost lost our hearing from the loud bands. Lucky we could get away to one of many outdoor decks. I agree it should be on Bonnie's list.

On Sunset Beach, TI, Caddy's food is mediocre to bad but it's a hopping spot with a really gorgeous view, right on the beach. Good place to watch the sunset. Drinks are cheap, stick with simple ones. Right now on Sunday nights from 6-9, the Ka'Tiki (across from Caddy's) has a terrific blues act (http://www.lizpennock.com). For free!!!

Bonnie, I hope you have a great time. Please think of your pals at fodors when you consume alcoholic beverages in moderation.