The Best Restaurant in The Tampa Bay Area, Florida

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Fresh Gulf seafood is plentiful—raw bars serving oysters, clams, and mussels are everywhere. Tampa's many Cuban and Spanish restaurants serve paella with seafood and chicken, boliche criollo (sausage-stuffed eye-round roast) with black beans and rice, ropa vieja (shredded flank steak in tomato sauce), and other treats. Tarpon Springs adds classic Greek specialties. In Sarasota the emphasis is on ritzier dining, though many restaurants offer extra-cheap early-bird menus.

Cassis American Brasserie

$$$$

If you drop in for a drink at what is one of the best happy-hour spots in St. Petersburg, it's worth sticking around for dinner. Casual French options include croque monsieur, but there are also more elaborate entrées like bouillabaisse or Atlantic salmon served with smashed peas, baby-carrot confit, and an orange-coriander glaze. The wine list is formidable, and the cocktails are a Friday-evening draw for local movers and shakers. Given the location on bustling Beach Drive, the people-watching here is second to none. If you're around in the morning, stroll over to the attached Cassis Pizza and Market for a pastry and some coffee, or, later in the day, a hand-tossed pizza or sandwich.

170 Beach Dr. NE, St. Petersburg, FL, 33701, USA
727-827–2927
Known For
  • Bustling Beach Drive location
  • Happy-hour deals, especially on good wine
  • Dog-friendly outdoor dining (including a "mutt menu")

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