Seafood in Tampa
 

Hi, all! As a newcomer to Tampa, I am now in the happy position of hosting visitors, and they all want to eat fresh sefaood while they're here. The local paper, usually my source for this kind of info, isn't very helpful. Can anyone recommend some places, please? Casual is preferred, price not a big factor, views of sunset or anything else not necessary. Hyde Park, Soho, Palma Ceia would be easiest neighborhoods for us, but we could venture farther afield as well; in fact, we do plan to take our guests to St. Pete.
Thanks a bunch!

I am heading to St Pete in a week, and can't wait to go back and eat seafood at Leverock's there. It has been consistenly good for many years. It is located in the downtown St Pete Beach area, right by the bridge that crosses the causeway (Cory Ave or something like that, I think).

Might want to check the Florida board at chowhound.com.

In Tampa, try Rattlefish, Oystercatchers, Ahi Tuna, St. Barts, Skippers. For a good cheap grouper sandwich go to Mott & Hester deli. Better chains: Bonefish and Bahama Breeze.

I'm sure I've missed a few but those will get you started. There are more seafood restaurant selections in St. Pete. Among the best of the high-end in SP are Salt Rock Grill and Island Way Grill. The Z-Grill downtown has good fish tacos.

Welcome to Tampa.

Thanks so much, TG, I hoped you'd reply! That's an excellent list.

I will look at chowhound, too, bookhall, it's just a pain to wade through the entire state's threads.

Leverock's was also recommended to me by a neighbor, simpson, so it's on the list.

One huge benefit of hosting guests is finding new places to take them! Thanks again, all.

I have not been yet, but I have heard raves about Rattlefish. I like both Bonefish and Bahama Breeze. I wanted to try Crabby Bills but heard that it had gotten violations from the local health inspector, and when I looked up the site, sure enough, they had. No thanks! Will have to try the others on TG's list!

E, here's another suggestion. There's a place on Bayshore Blvd. called the Colonnade, it's been there for eons, growing and growing to keep up with customers. A notable local architect created this nautical cypress bulkhead in the late 60s or so, it's quite interesting inside. Unfortunately, the food, once good, has become institutional. Buses arrive with elderly tourists, it's more like an assisted living dining room than a restaurant. Regardless, it will soon bite the dust, making way for condos. Sigh.

BUT...they have a stone-crab special now and with the view and the amenities (2 soggy side veggies and corn and blueberry muffins) it would be a good place to take guests. Once stone-crab season is over, I'd cross them off your list.

Thanks, TG, we've already been to the Colonnade--you're exactly right about the food, although it will be a shame to lose it just the same. Driving by, we always marvel at all the people seated in there--of course, they seat everyone by the windows, so it looks packed!
Anyway, didn't know about the stone crab special, and since we could walk over there, it's a contender.

It may be a little far from Tampa, but I would suggest Tarpon Springs for Greek food. I still remember eating an excellent seafood stew at one of the waterfront Greek restaurants even though it has been over a decade since the memorable event. Wonderful.

Yes, Sorry to tell you Colonade fans, but they are going the way of the wrecking ball to make way for condos - like the rest of our area! Bummer. Also, all of the Leverocks are also defunct...is the original one at the end of Corey Ave. on St. Pete Beach still open? Better call first.

If you take Hwy 60 straight across the Courtney Campbell Causeway to Clearwater Beach you will find some great seafood. As mentioned, Island Way Grill is on the right at the first traffic light after the big bridge, and Shells has taken over the Leverocks on the south end of Clearwater Beach. Shells is good, with nice view of small beach, intra coastal water and bridge.

For fun on the beach and some really good Grouper, sit outside at the Palm Pavilion at the north end of Clearwater Beach just behind the fire station. It is at the opposite end of the parking lot from Frenchy's. Yes, many say Frenchy's is best, but it is always too crowded and loud for me. The Palm Pavilion is also very busy but not so such a crowded feel and they have good small combo/music outside. Very nice local crowd mixes with tourists. Casual (swimsuits with cover up casual enough?)and spectacular powder white sand, beach and sunsets.

If you want a nice water view and not go all the way over to Clearwater Beach, the Oyster Catcher behind the Hyatt is good food (pricey) and great view. Also, Castaways on the causeway is good. They have a wonderful Coconut rice that is yummy as a side to their excellent fish dishes.

Tarpon Springs is a very good place for authentic Greek food as well as shrimp and octopus. Hellas is the biggest and most colorful restaurant with lots of "Opas!" but for down home Greek food, my Greek friends recommend MYKONOS, a small Ma & Pa type of place on the main drag as well.

Just a couple of added notes: Right there in Tampa, along Howard Avenue, you will find more restaurants per square inch than anywhere. Some of them have been named in previous posts, but you might like to check all of them along the avenue. At last check, I think there are around 30 or so on that one street.

As for Leverock's, it's an institution in St Pete, but it serves what I would call "average" seafood dishes. Not bad, and reasonably priced, but not the top end either. It also appears that some of their locations are being closed, so that might be a warning.

Without a doubt, Salt Rock Grill is one of the best for quality seafood. Another that doesn't sport quite the ambience, but has outstanding seafood, is the E&E Stakeout Grill on Indian Rocks Road in Largo (north of St Pete). They have a limited selection of seafood, but whatever they have is top notch.

The Bonefish Grill on Gulf to Bay Blvd in St Pete is also good -- not gourmet, but lots of good seafood selections. And if you are into Cajun food, the Cajun Cafe on the Bayou in Seminole has some pretty good selections.

Also, I'd be remiss without mentioning Guppy's, Lobster Pot, and Keegan's all along Gulf Boulevard in the Indian Rocks-Redington Beach areas. There's plenty for you to pick from in either Tampa or St Pete areas.

I have to make a correction that is a slip of the lip I've made before. When I mentioned the Bonefish Grill, which I like, I was thinking ahead about the Hogfish Grille, which is the one on Gulf to Bay Boulevard in Clearwater. The Bonefish Grill is in St. Pete on north 4th Avenue, as I recall, and is very good. Sorry for the error.

We haven't been yet, but there's also a Bonefish Grill on Henderson in Tampa. We have a gift card to use so will probably try it soon.

Thanks everyone for such great ideas! We love to go out, so keep the ideas coming, we'll make use of them long after our guests have departed!

We ate at a Bonefish Grill in Northern VA. It was excellent for a chain restaurant. They have a shrimp appetizer they call their "signature" dish. It was superb. ((b))

Bonefish Grill is expanding, hurrah for them. They are also on McMullen Booth and Enterprise, just 3 miles north of HYw 60 in Clearwater. They are yummy, but not on the water.
I would still opt for the beach, seafood always tastes better when you can see the water from whence they came! ;o).

Bonefish is owned by the Outback Steakhouse group, which began in Tampa with the first Outback and the Carrabas chain. Outback bought the first Bonefish restaurant and the concept from a restaurant called Bonefish in St. Petersburg on 4th Street. It hadn't been opened long at all when they bought it, less than a year I'd guess.

We're checking out the Bonefish near us on Saturday--hope it's good, even without a view;-)

The one on Henderson? It's very good. I love their mangrove room dividers. It's quite pleasant. I like their pick-a-fish/pick-a-sauce.

The very same! Sounds great...