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Top 200 Restaurants - Southwest
Alfano’s
1702 Clearwater-Largo Road
727/584-2125
Neighborhood favorite since the early 1980s soars to the Italian-American heights with careful preparation of most classics, perfect pastas and a caring, knowledgeable staff in charge of a splendid, reasonably priced wine cellar and a fine selection of grappas.
Lunch and dinner: $
Bob Heilman’s Beachcomber
447 Mandalay Ave. 727/442-4144
Now in their second half century of pleasing their legions of loyal fans, the Heilmans must be doing something, many things, right -- such as providing piano music and keeping the back-to-the-farm chicken dinner on the menu and enlivening it with more modern culinary departures.
Lunch and dinner: $
Tio Pepe Restaurante
2930 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd. 727/799-3082
One of the great Spanish restaurants in Florida and still serving the classics in grand style, from white and black bean soups to bacon-wrapped shrimp and overloaded plates of paella, followed by flan and accompanied by sangria or a Spanish wine.
Lunch and dinner: $$
DUNEDIN
Bon Appetit
150 Marina Plaza 727/733-2151
Gulffront panorama views are dramatic at any time of the day, but also great for sunset-watching when you can dine in great style on continental offerrings with a few nouvelle twists. They also have a boat cruising the bay and a motel next door.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner: $$
Kelly’s for Just About ... Anything
319 Main St. 727/736-5284
Chef-owner Virgil Kelly cut his culinary teeth at Sabal’s next door, and he’s having a lot of fun in this happily funky setting, serving good wines with his homemade everything, from duck sausage to eggplant-portobello-tomato Napoleons, flavorful salsas and sauces. Breakfast, lunch and dinner: $
FORT MYERS
Peter’s La Cuisine
2224 Bay St. 941/332-2228
The most sophisticated setting in town and one of the most sophisticated menus in southwest Florida, one with nouvelle French accents complementing
contemporary interpretations.
Lunch and dinner: $$
Johnny Brown’s
Gulf Harbour Yacht & Country Club
15000 McGregor Blvd. 941/433-4525
The spirit of Addison Mizner is alive and well in this waterfront memory bank named for Mizner’s pet monkey and featuring fine pastas, seafood with a variety of sauces, duck Chambord and jerk-spiced chicken. Lunch and dinner: $$
HOLMES BEACH
Beach Bistro
6600 Gulf Dr. 941/778-6444
With unerring skill and a multitude of talents owner Sean Murphy has assembled a staff of great competence and a wine cellar of great distinction and depth, inspiring the kitchen crew to create consistently exciting interpretations of his “Atlantic Rim” culinary escapades. (For more of the same, check into the Bistro at Island’s End in Anna Maria at 10101 Gulf Drive, 941/779-2444.) Dinner: $$
LAKE WALES
Chalet Suzanne Country Inn & Restaurant
Hwy. 27 and Chalet Suzanne Road 941/676-6011
A state treasure that continues with all flags flying to stay on the high ground with Larry Stafford in charge of the unique restaurant which is in absolute top form, with good wines and Alice in Wonderland accommodations for those who overindulge.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner: $$$$
LONGBOAT KEY
The Colony Restaurant
Colony Beach & Tennis Resort,
1620 Gulf of Mexico Dr. 941/383-5558
Into its second quarter century as a premier tennis center and home of contemporary continental cuisine with annual festivals celebrating stone crab, wines and tropical fare in a stunning room perfect for the nightly ritual of sunset-watching.
Lunch and dinner: $$
Euphemia Haye
5540 Gulf of Mexico Dr. 941/383-3633
Unique in every sense, with owners Ray and D’Arcy Arpke always striving to perfect an outstanding menu, while organizing cooking classes to share the discoveries and delights. The second floor Haye Loft with live entertainment is perfect for lite bites and incredible desserts. Dinner: $$$
Harry’s Continental Kitchen
525 St. Judes Dr. 941/383-0777
For 20 years Harold and Lynn Christensen have been steadily growing their catering business, expanding into a very active deli and take-out and adding a restaurant where the operative words are freshness and friendliness.
Lunch and dinner: $$
MARCO ISLAND
Marek’s Collier House Restaurant
1121 Bald Eagle Dr. 941/642-9948
Chef-proprietor Peter Marek is preparing his classics in a most historic setting, the home of Captain Bill Collier who probably never saw the likes of lobster thermidor, sautéed scallops or rack of lamb come out of his kitchen. Dinner: $$
NAPLES
Bistro 821
821 5th Ave. S. 941/261-5821
Owner Chip Shumway runs a class act with a young crew of enthusiastic chefs and servers who execute with precision and professionalism their mission of providing the locals with boredom-breaking food at all levels. Good wines. Dinner: $$
Chardonnay
2331 N. Tamiami Trail 941/261-1744
A garden-embraced gazebo that’s distinguished by the glories of Gallic cuisine supplied by the joint talents of owners Rene Nicolas and Jean-Claude Martin, who have a staff of compatible servers and a good wine list. Dinner: $$$
Ritz-Carlton
280 Vanderbilt Beach Road
941/598-3300
A superluxe star in Restaurant, Grill and Cafe with a fine wine cellar, a superlative level of service and the kind of kitchen expertise one has learned to expect when putting on the Ritz. The Sunday jazz brunch is special. Brunch and dinner: $$$$
Terra
1300 Third St. S. 941/262-5500
The terrific twosome of Tony Ridgway and Beirne Brown continues its winning ways with a Mediterranean approach to the grilling of quality seafood and meats, operating with great skill an adjacent deli-wine shop, Tony’s Off Third, with sidewalk tables for lunching and munching.
Lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch in season: $$
PALMETTO/ELLENTON
Crab Trap
U.S. Hwy. 19, Terra Ceia Bridge, Palmetto 941/722-6255
4815 Memphis Road, Ellenton
941/729-7777
Casual rustic retreats with cracker menus of gator tail, perch, shad roe and crab in many wondrous ways. Lunch and dinner: $$
PINELLAS COUNTY GULF BEACHES
The Lobster Pot
17814 Gulf Blvd., Redington Shores
727/391-8952
Eugene Fuhrmann is the omnipresent owner who takes the pride of Maine waters to the ultimate, steaming, sautéeing, stuffing and saucing the red knights of the banquet table. Swordfish and snapper are also worth the trip and so too is the key lime pie. Dinner: $$$
Salt Rock Grill
19325 Gulf Blvd., Indian Shores
727/593-7625
An immensely popular and striking remake of Le Pompano with well-schooled grill chefs committing chicken, steaks and fillets of fish to the open pit flaming with citrus and oak. Dinner: $$
The Wine Cellar
17307 N. Gulf Blvd., North Redington 727/393-3491
Despite the high volume popularity and the extensive catering business, this is still a splendidly evocative setting with a series of Old Country rooms and outstanding cuisine with good wines. Dinner: $$
SARASOTA
Bistro 41
7252 S. Tamiami Trail 941/923-4511
Andre Lavigne is gone from this ultra-casual storefront, but wife Lana is still in charge with chef Gary Danek, and together they define their claim to be “that French bistro with an Italian accent and new American attitude.” Lunch and dinner: $$
The Bijou Cafe
1287 First St. 941/366-8111
Owner-chef Jean-Pierre Knaggs presides over a downtown historic sentinel from the past with great style and substance. Start with crab cakes and proceed to his veal breakthroughs or one of his waist-watching entrees. Lunch and dinner: $$
Cafe L’Europe
431 St. Armand’s Circle 941/388-4415
Pace-setter of the prestigious circle with a veteran staff, good wines and menu with reliable seafood and such standbys as salmon perigourdine and good ole liver and onions. (For an informal, waterfront spinoff, check their Cafe on the Bay in Longboat Key at 2600 Harbourside Drive.)
Lunch and dinner: $$$
David Michael’s
328 John Ringling Blvd. 941-388-4429
Named for the chef-owner, ably assisted by wife Dot in the handsome second-deck with al fresco balcony and a menu they characterize as “flavors of the harvest and tastes of the planet,” which they execute and deliver with great style and good fun.
Lunch and dinner: $$
Michael’s on East
1212 East Ave. 941/366-0007
Still the best show in town and certainly the best catering service and party venue with main room a splendid throwback to Manhattan supper club and Normandie era ships. Service is the best in the area. Lunch and dinner: $$$
Michael’s Seafood Grille
214 Sarasota Quay 941/951-2467
Partners Michael Klauber and Philip Mancini from
the in-town Michael’s on East have another winner
on the waterfront, one with a Down Under Jazz Club and the same kind of professional service and supervision as the parent. Lunch and dinner: $$
SIESTA KEY
Ophelia’s on the Bay
9105 Midnight Pass Road 941/349-2212
Owners Stan and Jane Ferro, manager Judi Gallagher and chef Ryan Boeve are the team behind this captivating waterfront delight with good soft shells, pork chops and pompano baked in the bag. Dinner: $$
The Summerhouse
6101 Midnight Pass Road 941/349-1100
Over-achieving executive chef-owner Paul Mattison and partner George Perrault are in charge of this stunning indoor-outdoor landmark as well as the informal Coasters and Sarasota Bread Company
while running a fine cooking school.
Dinner and Sunday brunch in season: $$$
ST. PETERSBURG/ST. PETE BEACH
Keystone Club
320 Fourth St. N. 727/822-6600
Downtown discovery for peerless prime rib, but don’t sell short the steaks, the fresh fillets of fish or those gator nuggets as kickoff to the feast. Lunch and dinner: $$
Maritana Grille
Don CeSar Beach Resort
3400 Gulf Blvd. 727/360-1881
The 1928 Pink Palace on St. Pete Beach is extremely well-served by this signature sensation with dramatic aquatic-inspired decor and a talented executive chef, Eric Neri, to host chef table performances in his kitchen. Fine wines.
Dinner: $$$
Native Seafood & Trading Company
5901 Sun Blvd. 727/866-8772
Pedro Alvarez is the very definition of “hands-on” owner, designing and decorating his superb space with seafood market, spiffy service and his own “Scratch & Sniff” test with the seafood brought to the table before it proceeds to the kitchen. Dinner: $$
Pepin
4125 Fourth St. N. 727/821-3773
Prime location for power lunches and authentic Spanish dinners built around fresh fish, quality beef and pork, and fine Spanish wines. Lunch and dinner: $$
Renaissance Vinoy Resort
501 Fifth Ave. N.E. 727/894-1000
A magnificently restored and reborn landmark with top-rank Marchand’s Bar & Grill, The Terrace Room and Alfresco doing so many things to perfection, including special menus, wine tastings and banquets, that it had to be initiated into the Top 20 this year. Breakfast, lunch and dinner: $$
TAMPA
Armani’s
Hyatt Regency Westshore
6200 Courtney Campbell Causeway
813/281-9165
Hyatt at its highest, from penthouse location to the top performance of staff, front and back, that masterminds the memorable osso buco, Barolo-blessed filet mignon and the stunning array of desserts. Dinner: $$$
Bern’s Steak House
1208 S. Howard Ave. 813/251-2421
Our perennial Golden Spoon winner is not resting on laurels, not with the signing on of cutting edge chef Jeannie Pierola, who’s doing marvelous things at SideBerns as well as introducing caviar bar, cheese-aging cave and shellfish display in the open-to-all kitchen. Dinner: $$
Columbia Restaurant
7th Ave. and 21st St. 813/248-4961
Florida’s oldest restaurant is forever young with today’s generation of the founding Gonzmart family always looking for ways to improve -- and to expand with spinoffs across the state, most recently in Disney’s Celebration. Lunch and dinner: $$
Mise en Place
442 W. Kennedy Blvd. 813/254-5373
Chef-owners Marty and Maryann Blitz are the leading proponents of New Florida, New World, New Everything cuisine on the west coast, with a fine selection of wines and innovations that are always in overdrive. Lunch and dinner: $$
Oystercatchers
Hyatt Regency Westshore
6200 Courtney Campbell Causeway
813/281-9116
Water-tickling fish house of great class and dash with seafood selections so extensive and varied that you could dock here for weeks and never get bored. Lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch: $$$
