Tampa Bay Area Guide - Find. Eat. Drink.

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Where Local Chefs Eat, Drink, & Shop

White sand beaches, swaying palm trees and the original home of Hooter’s. Even though The Tampa Bay area holds the bragging rights to launching many national chains, we’re here to help you bypass the obvious and go where the locals go.

For a more authentic experience, here is where the local chefs recommend you eat, drink and shop.

Tampa Bay Area Guide

November 12, 2013

- St. Pete | Enjoy Arts & Tastes

- 12 Things | Miami

- Chef Chad Johnson | Sidebern’s

- Sam’s Fresh Seafood | Dunedin

- Chef Brandon McGlamery | Luma On Park

- Gulf & Florida Stone Crabs

- The Find. Eat. Drink. Guide

Photo Credit: Fifth World Art [flickr]

WHAT: Encompasses Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs

WHERE: West Coast of Florida

CAVEAT: Hurricane season is June through September

LOCAL EATS: Stone Crabs, Deviled Crabs, Grouper

LOCAL DRINKS: Tampa Bay Brewing Beer, Cigar City Beer

Shops

Fresh-made pasta at Mazzaro’s Italian Market

Photo Credit: Find. Eat. Drink.

Mazzaro’s Italian Market

Don’t be surprised if you bump into many of the Bay Area chefs shopping here. Chef Chris Ponte calls this one of his favorite stores, “I could spend the day wandering around the shop perusing the specialty cheeses, gourmet coffee, handmade pastas and of course, end the visit with lunch.”

2909 22nd Avenue N, St. Petersburg, FL 33713

T: 727.321.2400 | www.mazzarosmarket.com

Farmers Market

Saturday Morning Market on the St. Pete waterfront

Photograph courtesy of Saturday Morning Market

Saturday Morning Market

“This is a great way to start your weekend,” says chef Tyson Grant. “Local farmers and artisans come out to showcase their product on the waterfront. Featuring live music and local foods.”

100 First Street Southeast, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

T: 727.455.4921 | www.saturdaymorningmarket.com

Wine & Spirits

B-21 has a broad wine and spirit selection

Photo Credit: Find. Eat. drink.

B-21

“Good European wine selection with a number of hidden gems,” says Jamie Wolff, owner of the highly-respected Chambers Street Wines in New York. The depth and breath at this Tarpon Springs store could keep you shopping for hours.

43380 US Highway 19 N, Tarpon Springs, FL 34688

T: 727.937.5049 | www.b-21.com

New American

Dinner at Cafe Ponte

Photograph courtesy of Cafe Ponte

Cafe Ponte

The menu changes often, but one dish you’ll always find is their mushroom bisque with black trumpet dust and a light truffle cream. Chef Tyson Grant says of owner and chef Chris Ponte’s cooking, “it shows why he is one of the top chefs in Florida.”

13505 Icot Boulevard, Clearwater, FL 33760

T: 727.538.5768 (make a reservation) | cafeponte.com

Oysters at Edison: food + drink lab

Photograph courtesy of Edison: food + drink lab

Edison: food + drink lab

Chef Jeannie Pieroloa describes the restaurant as a daily changing food and drink emporium, “We invent and reinvent dishes and cocktails that all feel familiar in one way or another, but instantly new at the same time.” Dishes she recommends are potato-crusted oysters and Pimenton-seared Florida Pompano.

912 W Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33606

T: 813.254.7111 (make a reservation) | edison-tampa.com

Modern season cuisine by chef Chad Johnson at SideBern’s

Photograph courtesy of SideBern’s

SideBern’s

Chef Chad Johnson works with local farmers for his seasonal menu with Mediterranean influences. Chef Zack Gross of Z Grille orders the cheese and charcuterie, but chef Greg Baker of The Refinery advises “get whatever is on the menu.”

2208 W. Morrison Avenue, Tampa, FL 33606

T: 813.258.2233 (make a reservation) | www.sideberns.com

Chef Greg Baker’s cooking at The Refinery

Photograph courtesy of The Refinery

The Refinery

“Chef Greg Baker does these cool plays on food,” Zack Gross says. “You’re not going to go to a place and eat duck hearts and peanut butter and marshmallow burgers, but that’s what you’re going to get here.”

5137 N Florida Avenue, Tampa, FL 33603

T: 813.237.2000 (make a reservation) | thetamparefinery.com

Chef Zack Gross’ famous deviled eggs at Z Grille

Photograph courtesy of Z Grille

Z Grille

The interior gives a nod to skateboarding with a wall shaped like a half-pipe. Chef Greg Baker recommends the signature deviled eggs, which change nightly. Chef Chris Ponte orders the pork short ribs, which are marinated in Dr. Pepper. [Get deviled egg tips from chef Zack Gross and try his California Deviled Eggs Recipe.]

104 2nd Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

T: 727.822.9600 (make a reservation) | www.zgrille.net

Quintessential Florida

Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish

Photo Credit: Find. Eat. Drink.

Ted Peters

This smokehouse has been around for 50 years serving Red Oak smoked fish, icy cold root beer, German potato salad and burgers. Chef Chad Johnson of SideBern’s calls their smoked fish dip sandwich with coleslaw “simple and perfect.” Chef Greg Baker says, “They are serving up some of the best smoked mullet known to humankind.”

1350 Pasadena Avenue South, South Pasadena, FL 33707

T: 727.381.7931 | www.tedpetersfish.com

Fresh local seafood at Frenchy’s on Clearwater Beach

Photo Credit: Find. Eat. Drink.

Frenchy’s

With four Clearwater Beach locations, you shouldn’t have trouble getting a table, but in high season they’re packed. Serving fish sandwiches, soups, salads and stone crabs in a laid back, flip-flops and board shorts atmosphere. Chefs Chris Ponte and Greg Baker recommend ordering the grouper sandwich.

Original | 41 Baymont Street, Clearwater, FL 33767 | T: 727.446.3607

Saltwater | 419 Poinsettia Avenue, Clearwater, FL 33767 | T: 727.461.6295

Rockaway | 7 Rockaway Street, Clearwater, FL 33767 | T: 727446.4844

South Beach | 351 South Gulfview Boulevard, Clearwater, FL 33767 | T: 727.441.9991

frenchysonline.com

International

Grilled octopus at Mykonos in Tarpon Springs

Photo Credit: Find. Eat. Drink.

Greek | Mykonos

With its azure blue awning and whitewashed exterior, this restaurant is what you’d expect to find in the historic Greek town of Tarpon Springs, which has the highest percentage of Greek Americans of any city in the United States. Across from the sponge docks and fishing boats on the harbor, chef Greg Baker recommends ordering the gryos and saganaki.

628 Dodecanese Boulevard, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689

T: 727.934.4306

Chinese | Yummy House

The style of food is from the Hong Kong and Southern regions of China. Known for their seasonal menus, chef Greg Baker loves the salt and pepper shrimp. It is BYOB.

2202 West Waters, Tampa, FL 33604

T: 813.915.2828 | www.yummyhousetampa.com

Mexican food at Red Mesa

Photograph courtesy of Red Mesa

Mexican | Red Mesa + Red Mesa Cantina

They are serving regional cuisine from Oaxaca. Chef Zack Gross loves to come here for breakfast, “They have a breakfast burger with chorizo, fried egg and spice and it is delicious.” You’ll see chef Paul Liptak here on the later side, “I love coming here for a cool margarita.”

Red Mesa | 4912 4th Street North, St Pete | T: 727.527.8728 | redmesarestaurant.com

Cantina | 128 3rd Street South, St Pete | T: 727.896.6372 | redmesacantina.com

Classic & Famous

The decor and extensive wine cellar at Bern’s Steakhouse

Photo Credit: Find. Eat. Drink.

Bern’s Steakhouse

The decor is neo-bordello, the steaks are the size of your head and the wine list dwarfs the Manhattan Yellow Pages, but people fly in from all over the world to experience this steakhouse that opened in 1956. Chef Zack Gross, of Z Grille, says, “You can get anything you desire here. You an go from the most awesome caviar to great cheese to a piece of meat to an incredible wine selection.” Ask for a tour and they’ll take you behind the scenes.

1208 S Howard Avenue, Tampa, FL 33606

T: 813.251.2421 (make a reservation) | www.bernssteakhouse.com

Florida’s oldest restaurant -- The Columbia

Photograph courtesy of The Columbia

The Columbia

Opened in 1905, this is Florida’s oldest restaurant, owned and operated by the 4th & 5th generation of the Hernandez Gonzmart family. Chef Greg Baker recommends getting a Cuban sandwich or their Shrimp Criollo. Chef Jeannie Pierola likes their signature 1905 Salad with slices of deli meats.

2117 E 7th Avenue, Tampa, FL 33605

T: 813.248.4961 | www.columbiarestaurant.com

Cocktails

Cocktails at Mandarin Hide

Photograph courtesy of Mandarin Hide

Mandarin Hide

For craft cocktails, chef Zack Gross likes to come to this downtown St. Petersburg bar with exposed brick walls, a chalkboard menu and antler-shaped chandeliers.

231 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

T: 727.231.4007 | mandarinhide.com

Wine

Bianchi’s Enoteca

Photograph courtesy of Bianchi’s Enoteca

Bianchi’s Enoteca

Chef Chad Johnson visits this wine bar for their rotating list by the glass, cheese and charcuterie. The cheeses range from Neal’s Yard Dairy in England to Winter Park Dairy in central Florida.

3215 S MacDill Avenue, Tampa, FL 33629

T: 813.837.2233 | www.bianchisenoteca.com

Beer

Cigar City Brewing

Photograph courtesy of Cigar City Brewing

Cigar City Brewing | Tampa Bay Brewing

Check out these two local small batch producers and visit their tasting rooms. Chef Zack Gross recommends trying one of the 25 to 30 beers on tap at Cigar City, “They are beers that you’re not going to find anywhere else.” Chef Chris Ponte likes the choices at Tampa Bay Brewing, which are brewed in a twelve barrel system.

Cigar City | 3924 W Spruce Street, Tampa | T: 813.348.6363 | cigarcitybrewing.com

Tampa Bay | 1600 E 8th Avenue, Tampa | T: 813.247.1422 | tampabaybrewingcompany.com

More Tampa

Download the F.E.D. iPhone app and get many more Tampa Bay area recommendations from chefs, sommeliers, bartenders and food artisans.

Contributing Pros

Chef Chad Johnson | SideBern’s

2208 W Morrison Avenue, Tampa, FL 33606

T: 813.258.2233 | www.sideberns.com

Chef Chris Ponte | Cafe Ponte

13505 Icot Boulevard #214, Clearwater, FL 33760

T: 727.538.5768 | www.cafeponte.com

Chef Greg Baker | The Refinery