When you go to St. Petersburg and Clearwater, you’ll quickly find out that it’s more than just a pretty place with sugary beaches and beautiful sunsets. Foodies are lucky because the food scene is growing and new restaurants are opening all the time, making it easier to find the best restaurants in St. Petersburg and Clearwater.
They range from small, cozy beach “shacks” to family-owned restaurants, some of which have an ethnic flavor, to chic, high-end bistros and restaurants.
When you visit these sunny shores, you won’t have to worry about going hungry because there are so many options. Some new places, like The Reading Room and Brick and Mortar, are worth going to because they have a lot of tasty options and a nice atmosphere.
Pia’s Trattoria in Gulfport, where you can enjoy fine Italian cuisine in an Old World setting, is still one of the best restaurants in St. Petersburg and Clearwater. Fine dining is also available at Il Ritorno, Café Ponte, and Birch and Vine, all of which are in the historic Birchwood Inn.
Sea Salt St. Pete is a great place for seafood lovers because it has a large raw bar and lots of fresh seafood. It’s hard to pick just 10 options, but here are a few that are sure to make your taste buds sing.
We apologize in advance for any cravings caused by this article. If you enjoy our blogs, make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Scroll down to learn more about the top 10 best restaurants in St. Petersburg and Clearwater.
From Casual to Elegant, The Best Restaurants in St. Petersburg and Clearwater.
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We hope that our list of the 10 best restaurants in St. Petersburg and Clearwater, helps you plan a fantastic trip to the city.
1. Pia’s Trattoria
In charming Gulfport, where it looks like an Italian village, Pia’s gives a new meaning to “Old World charm meets la dolce vita.” Freshly made salads, tasty paninis, and a large selection of hearty pasta dishes with tasty sauces, along with tasty chicken, veal, and mussels, make for a satisfying meal.
There aren’t many places to sit inside, but that’s fine because most of the action happens on the cozy brick patio. There are daily specials and important staples like Pia’s Pesto Verde, her secret Neapolitan green pesto pasta, and a variety of fresh antipasti and salads.
You can’t go wrong with anything you order.
Recommended for Best Restaurants because: It’s elegant and comfortable, and it has a real Italian feel. The deal is sealed by the good food.
Expert tip: It’s elegant and comfortable, and it has a real Italian feel. The deal is sealed by the good food.
2. Caretta on the Gulf
Caretta on the Gulf is the AAA four-diamond restaurant at Sandpearl Resort. It is on Clearwater Beach. This elegant restaurant is right above the beach and has both indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a private dining room.
There is also a ceviche bar, a private wine room, a lounge, and a bar at the restaurant. This classy restaurant is named after the logger-head turtles that live in the area. They serve seasonal seafood and traditional American food, and Sunday Brunch is their most popular meal.
Brioche French toast with candied orange cream and maple syrup is at the top of the list of options. Other favorites are freshly baked pastries, eggs, pancakes, omelets, and more.
The smoked salmon station is always a hit, and kids under 12 can eat for free at the breakfast buffet during the week. One of the best restaurants in clearwater st petersburg.
The lunch and dinner menus have a lot of different things to choose from, like sushi and a raw bar, as well as salads, soups, sandwiches, seafood, and more. Desserts are way too much!
Recommended for Best Restaurants because: Caretta on the Gulf is an elegant beach restaurant with a great wine list, beautiful views of the sunset, and tasty food.
Expert tip: In addition to their regular menu, they have an all-natural, organic menu with organic wines that go perfectly with each dish.
3. Il Ritorno
Since 2014, Il Ritorno has been offering Italian food with a new twist to discerning foodies in downtown St. Petersburg, just steps away from some of the city’s best attractions.
This bistro made Tampa Bay Times’ list of the “Top 10 Restaurants in Tampa Bay 2019” because the food is not only tasty but also looks good. David Benstock, the owner and chef, has made a very appealing menu that always features seasonal ingredients.
This is based on his belief that “food should be fresh, exciting, textural, and an all-around memorable experience for everyone.” People rave about the octopus Puttanesca, which is served as an appetizer, and the pancetta-spiced duck breast, among other things.
New menus are printed every day with a wide range of fresh options. Open for dinner only.
Recommended for Best Restaurants because: One of the most popular restaurants in the area serves real Italian food in a nice setting.
Expert tip: The menu changes almost every day so that they can use the freshest ingredients and make delicious Italian dishes. Make sure to ask your server what you should do.
4. Café Ponte
Café Ponte is a trendy New York-style restaurant with high Zagat ratings and a spot on the Tampa Bay Times’ list of the “Top 10 Restaurants of Tampa Bay 2019.” It serves modern American food with Italian, French, and Asian influences.
This is one of the most popular restaurants in the area. It was started by Executive Chef Christopher Ponte, who went to the famous Cordon Bleu cooking school in Paris.
Even though the menu changes often, soups, salads, burgers, pizzas, and a list of tempting main dishes and desserts are always popular. For people who have never been to a restaurant before, a six-course tasting menu is a good way to get a taste of what’s on offer.
Between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m., you can choose from a four-course tasting menu.
Recommended for Best Restaurants because: Café Ponte is the perfect place to eat because it has a classic, upscale atmosphere and serves delicious food to match.
Expert tip: Between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m., they have a special that includes soup, salad, any main course from the menu, and dessert for just $36.
5. The Reading Room
What used to be a Christian Science Reading Room is now one of the area’s most popular restaurants. Fresh vegetables from the restaurant’s own garden are used to make tasty food that changes all the time and is served in an airy dining room with a hint of wood smoke scent.
Small plates are popular because they are easy to share, while larger plates feature chicken, steak, seafood, and veggie options.
The cocktail menu is full of different drinks with funny names. It changes often and features juices mixed with berries, liqueurs, and other things.
You can buy reds, whites, Proseccos, and Champagnes by the glass or by the bottle from a large wine list that also changes with the seasons.
Recommended for Best Restaurants because: Fresh food, a great menu, drinks that taste “yummy,” and a nice atmosphere. Who could want anything else?
Expert tip: The restaurant will only hold your reservation for 15 minutes, so it’s important to be on time.
6. Birch and Vine, The Birchwood
The award-winning Birch & Vine is tucked into the 1920s Birchwood Hotel, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is known as one of the best restaurants in town.
In addition to fine dining, this place has a large list of wines, beers, and signature cocktails. Under the watchful eye of Executive Chef Lee Aquino, dishes are made with organic ingredients and change with the seasons.
You’re sure to have a great meal here, starting with appetizers like soups, salads, sandwiches, and burgers and ending with entrees like fresh seafood, ribs, steak, and more that will make your mouth water.
Desserts that are rich and full of tasty treats are the perfect way to end a meal.
Recommended for Best Restaurants because: The changing seasonal menu is made with organic ingredients from nearby farms, and the wine list is very good.
Expert tip: Ask about their private dining room and the special places in the garden where small groups can sit.
7. Noble Crust
Noble Crust is a great place to eat because it has tables inside and outside, an open kitchen, and a stylish, modern setting. They are known for making Italian food with a little “vibe” from the South.
You’ll taste Italian food like you never have before. As you might expect, there are a lot of specialties on the menu, including a nice range of pizzas.
Pepperoni, sweet fennel sausage, spicy soppressata (dry salami), pickled peppers, and caramelized onions are mixed with fontina and parmesan cheeses and a spicy tomato sauce to make the signature Noble Pig.
There are a lot of appetizers, salads, seafood, and meat dishes to choose from on the menu. There are some sweet treats on the menu, so save room for dessert. Brunch is also popular with foodies because it has a lot of breakfast classics like waffles, eggs Benedict, and a lot more.
Recommended for Best Restaurants because: You can’t beat the tasty food served in a stylish but laid-back setting.
Expert tip: For dessert, you should try the warm chocolate budino. It’s a warm pudding with salted caramel, whipped cream, and a cookie crumb crust.
8. Sea Salt St. Pete
Since it opened in 2015, Sea Salt St. Pete, which is in the trendy Sundial Shopping Center in downtown St. Petersburg, has had a classy vibe and good food.
A large raw bar, freshly caught seafood made with high-quality ingredients, and appealing presentation are just the beginning of a memorable culinary journey you’ll go on here.
Entrees like the fresh catch of the day, ahi tuna, swordfish, grouper, Faroe Island salmon, and more are followed by appetizers like oysters, shrimp, scallops, and octopus. There are more than 40 kinds of oysters on the menu, and there is even an oyster sommelier.
It’s one of the best choices in the area. Brunch is turned into a “event” by a creative raw bar with fresh shrimp, oysters, and other breakfast favorites. Of course, you don’t have to drink Mimosas, Bellinis, or Bloody Marys.
Recommended for Best Restaurants because: It’s hip and trendy, and you shouldn’t miss the 80-foot-long raw bar.
Expert tip: Happy Hour is from 4 to 6 p.m. and lets you try some of their specialties and drinks for half price.
9. Brick And Mortar
Hope Montgomery and Jason Ruhe, who used to be full-time caterers, came up with the idea for Brick & Mortar in 2015. The restaurant opened in 2015 with a charming setting to show off its unique “new American” food.
The “rustic-chic nook,” as it calls itself, serves seasonal food along with craft beers and wine. Repurposed wooden pallets and cool terracotta flower pots give the place a romantic feel, and, if the weather is nice, people often sit on the sidewalk.
There are a lot of options for both meat and seafood, and regulars love the burgers with truffle fries. Small plates are great for sharing, especially when you get one of their tasty salads to go with it. The great service and knowledgeable wait staff are also a big draw.
Recommended for Best Restaurants because: This restaurant was named one of the “Top 10 Restaurants of Tampa Bay 2019” by Tampa Bay Times.
Expert tip: On the weekends, you should call ahead because there aren’t many seats.
10. Bella Brava
If you want burgers with a Tuscan twist, tasty appetizers, pizzas, and pasta, as well as a view of Tampa Bay, you’ve come to the right place. Pizzas, flatbreads, and calzones are cooked in a wood-stone oven.
Outdoor seating in the style of Europe and great service are just extras. Since it opened in 2005, this hometown trattoria has been serving American and Italian favorites to both locals and tourists. You can choose from soups, salads, pasta, seafood, and meats.
Try the creamy, traditional gelato or the tasty, traditional tiramisu for dessert. The experience is made better by a long list of wines and signature drinks.
Recommended for Best Restaurants because: You’ll love the hip vibe and the mix of old-world Italian taste and new-world style.
Expert tip: Ask for a table on the patio so you can see the beautiful water of Tampa Bay and the busy Beach Drive.
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FAQs About Best Restaurants and Cafes in St. Petersburg and Clearwater
What food is Saint Petersburg Florida known for?
Petersburg, FL. Sunshine City is on the Gulf Coast of Florida, so seafood is a must. Fresh oysters, coconut shrimp, tuna tartare, and crispy calamari are just some of the delicious seafood dishes you can get at 400 Beach Seafood and Tap House and The Maritana Grille.
Does St. Petersburg have good food?
Even though it is known for its seafood, it has a diverse food scene with fusion cuisines and flavors from around the world. So, if you want to start planning your food adventure in this city, check out our list of the best places to eat.
What is the most popular street food in St. Petersburg?
Pita’s Shawarma is one of the most popular foods sold on the street in St. Petersburg.
What are the best restaurants in St. Petersburg and Clearwater?
Does Clearwater have nightlife?
Even after the sun goes down, the lively spirit of St. Petersburg and Clearwater doesn’t stop. You can sing your favorite songs at karaoke, dance the night away, or try flights of craft beers. All of these are great ways to spend a night out on the town.
Tell Us In The Comments About One Of Your Favorite Best Restaurants in St. Petersburg and Clearwater!
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