Florida's Best Restaurants

Robert W. Tolf | 12/1/2005

There have never been more trying -- if not tragic -- times in the 39 years of Golden Spoon Awards with wind-swept and water-drenched damage to restaurants all over the state. In the northwest, Pensacola Beach was hit hard and was without power for weeks, and when some recovery was made, Hurricane Dennis swept it away, striking at the beginning of the busiest season. Then Hurricane Wilma dealt a blow to the southern part of our state.

Hamilton's in Panama City Beach finally surrendered after waiting and waiting for insurance compensation to reconstruct. Angelo's in Panacea was blown into the bay -- a total loss -- but Angelo Petrandis and his son, Thomas, are determined to rebuild. Other 500 Best restaurants bit the beach on both coasts, while others struggled to survive.

But the 44,000 Florida restaurants -- with sales this year of some $20 billion -- do more, much more, than merely survive. They thrive, led by those hardy, happy veterans this year entering the Hall of Fame: The Columbia in its 101st year; Joe's Stone Crab, 93 years young; The Biltmore, now an octogenarian; and the youngest, Bob Heilman's, only 58 years old.

Beach Bistro6600 Gulf Dr.
941/778-6444Holmes BeachBern's Steak House1208 S. Howard Ave.
813/251-2421TampaBiltmore*1200 Anastasia Ave.
305/913-3201Coral GablesBob Heilman's Beachcomber*447 Mandalay Ave.
727/442-4144Clearwater BeachThe Breakers1 S. County Rd.
561/655-6611Palm BeachBrooks500 S. Federal Hwy.
954/427-9302Deerfield BeachCafe L'Europe331 S. County Rd.
561/655-4020Palm BeachCapt. Anderson's5551 N. Lagoon Dr.
850/234-2225Panama City BeachChalet Suzanne3800 Chalet Suzanne Dr.
863/676-6011Lake WalesChef Allen's19088 N.E. 29th Ave.
305/935-2900MiamiColumbia*2117 E. 7th Ave.
813/248-4961TampaCriolla's170 E. County Hwy. 30-A
850/267-1267Grayton BeachDarrel & Oliver's Cafe Maxx2601 E. Atlantic Blvd.
954/782-0606Pompano BeachEuphemia Haye5540 Gulf of Mexico Dr.
941/383-3633Longboat KeyFour Seasons Resort2800 S. Ocean Blvd.
561/582-2800Palm BeachJoe's Stone Crab*11 Washington Ave.
305/673-0365Miami BeachManuel's on the 28th390 N. Orange Ave.
407/246-6580OrlandoMark's City Place700 S. Rosemary Ave.
561/514-0770West Palm BeachMark's Las Olas1032 E. Las Olas Blvd.
954/463-1000Fort LauderdaleMark's Mizner Park344 Plaza Real
561/395-0770Boca RatonMark's South Beach1120 Collins Ave.
305/604-9050Miami BeachMcGuire's Irish Pub600 E. Gregory St.
850/433-6789PensacolaMichael's on East1212 East Ave.
941/366-0007SarasotaMise en Place442 W. Kennedy Blvd.
813/254-5373TampaNorman's21 Almeria Ave.
305/446-6767Coral GablesRenaissance Vinoy Resort501 Fifth Ave. N.E.
727/894-1000St. PetersburgThe Ritz-Carlton4750 Amelia Island Pkwy.
904/277-1100
100 S. Ocean Blvd.
561/533-6000
280 Vanderbilt Beach Rd.
239/598-3300Amelia Island
Palm Beach
NaplesVictoria? & Albert's(Walt Disney World)
Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
407/939-3463Orlando* New Hall of Fame winner

Andrew's 228228 S. Adams St.
850/222-3444?TallahasseeBeach Walk2996 Scenic Hwy. 98 E.
850/650-7100DestinBud & Alley's2236 E. County Hwy. 30-A
850/231-5900SeasideCafe Margaux220 Brevard Ave.
321/639-8343CocoaCafe Ponte13505 Icot Blvd.
727/538-5768 ClearwaterCalifornia GrillDisney Contemporary Restaurant
407/824-1576 OrlandoCasa D'Angelo1201 N. Federal Hwy.
954/564-1234Fort LauderdaleChez Pierre1215 Thomasville Rd.
850/222-0936TallahasseeChristini's Ristorante Italiano7600 Dr. Phillips Blvd.
407/345-8770OrlandoHue*629 E. Central Blvd.
407/849-1800OrlandoJackson's400 S. Palafox St.
850/469-9898PensacolaMaritana Grille3400 Gulf Blvd.
727/360-1881St. Pete BeachMatthew's at San Marco2107 Hendricks Ave.
904/396-9922JacksonvilleOcean Grill1050 Sexton Plaza
772/231-5409
Vero BeachPacific Time915 Lincoln Rd.
305/534-5979
Miami BeachRestaurant B.T.

1633 W. Snow Ave.
813/831-9254
TampaRiver House301 S.W. Third Ave.
954/525-7661
Fort LauderdaleSideBern's2208 W. Morrison Ave.
813/258-2233TampaSunfish Grill2771 E. Atlantic Blvd.
954/788-2434Pompano Beach32 East32 E. Atlantic Ave.
561/276-7868Delray BeachLuxury Resort RestaurantsCasa Monica Hotel /
95 Cordova*95 Cordova St.
904/827-1888
St. AugustineThe Colony Dining Room1620 Gulf of Mexico Dr.
941/383-5558Longboat KeyRitz-Carlton3300 S.W. 27th Ave.
305/644-4680Coconut GroveRitz-Carlton455 Grand Bay Dr.
305/365-4500Key BiscayneRitz-Carlton1111 Ritz-Carlton Dr.
941/309-2008Sarasota* New Golden Spoon winner

Abe & Louie's2200 W. Glades Rd.
561/447-0024Boca RatonBellini Restaurant487 Main St.
727/733-5449DunedinBosphorous108 S. Park Ave.
407/644-8609Winter ParkThe Brick Restaurant3585 St. Johns Ave.
904/387-0606AvondaleCabana El Rey105 E. Atlantic Ave.
561/274-9090Delray BeachCaffé Andiamo500 Sawgrass Village Dr.
904/280-2299Ponte Vedra BeachCapital Grille(International Plaza)
2223 N. Westshore Blvd.
813/830-9433?TampaCasa Ludovico1710 Alt. U.S. 19
727/784-7779Palm HarborCobblestones at the Creek108 Julington Plaza Dr.
904/230-6744JacksonvilleJake's Stone Crab(Royal Palm Plaza)
514 Via de Palmas
561/347-1055 Boca RatonLemongrass Restaurant9846 Old Baymeadows Rd.
904/645-9911JacksonvilleLiang's Bistro
17515 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.
813/978-1225
TampaMagnolias1356 Hwy. A1A
321/779-0165Satellite BeachMax's Grille Coral Gables2 Aragon Ave.
305/567-2600Coral GablesOpium14445 N. Dale Mabry Hwy.
813/908-8800TampaPane Rustica3225 S. MacDill Ave.
813/902-8828TampaRigatoni Tuscan Oven3437 W. Kennedy Blvd.
813/879-7000TampaRistorante Luna Rosa
& Pink Moon Bar2096 N.E. 2nd St.
954/429-8386Deerfield BeachRon Jon Surf Grill(Ron Jon Cape Caribe Resort, Port Canaveral)
1000 Shorewood Dr.
321/328-2830Cocoa BeachSelva Grille1345 Main St.
941/362-4427Sarasota

Restaurant Guide

Packaged with this month's Florida Trend, print subscribers will receive Florida Trend's fifth annual Great Florida Restaurant Guide, featuring Robert W. Tolf's reviews of the 500 Top Restaurants in the state, including Golden Spoon winners and the Best New Restaurants.

To purchase additional copies of Florida Trend with the Great Florida Restaurant Guide, please call 1-800-829-9103 or visit the Bookstore.

Tags: Dining & Travel, Around Florida