Water's Edge

For a bite to eat after seeing Weeki Wachi, head west on Route 50 and discover a way to Old Florida and delicious seafood. This colorfully painted restaurant stretches far beyond its mainstays of grouper and shrimp specialties with extensive pasta, chicken, meat, and sandwiches. Grouper, prepared any of 10 ways, is always excellent.

6024 Cortez Blvd. Weeki Wachi, FL 34607 Phone: 352-597-5457

GameWorks

The restaurant (Jax Grill) and bar (Hop Scotch) at this fun factory are secondary attractions to the massive, 128-game arcade designed by Steven Speilberg. Jax Grill has solid offerings like grilled swordfish, baby-back ribs, and a tasty meat loaf, along with quesadillas, fish-and-chips, pizza, and burgers. The Hop Scotch lounge has many imported beers.

1600 E. 8th Ave. Ybor City

Tampa, FL 33605 Phone: 813-241-9675

Bern's Steakhouse

The elegance at Bern's is legendary, and many feel it's Tampa's best restaurant. Chef-owner Bern Lexer ages his own beef, grows his own organic vegetables, roasts his own coffee, and maintains his own saltwater fish tanks. Cuts of topmost beef are sold by weight and thickness. The wine list includes nearly 7,000 selections (with 1,800 dessert wines).

1208 S. Howard Ave. Hyde Park

Tampa, FL 33606 Phone: 813-251-2421

(in Florida call 800-282-1547

Dish

A Tampa favorite, here you get an empty dish which you fill with your choices and take to a large teppanyaki station. There a chef stir-fries your chicken, pork, beef, fish, and veggies while you watch. The price depends on how many trips to the grill station you take.

1600 E. 8th Ave. Ybor City

Tampa, FL 33605 Phone: 813-241-8300

Bon Appetit

Known for its creative fare, this restaurant has views of the Intracoastal Waterway and the gulf. European-trained chefs/owners Peter Kreuziger and Karl Heinz Riedl offer salads and light entrees as well as such selections as broiled rack of lamb in herbal pecan crust and seafood mixed grill with vegetable remoulade sauce.

148 Marina Plaza Dunedin, FL 34698 Phone: 727-733-2151

Too Jay's

Knishes and roast brisket with potato pancakes are the mainstays at this kosher-style delicatessen. Other selections include salmon cakes, shrimp pesto, and shepherd's pie. Be sure to try the eclair, a house specialty.

141 2nd Ave. N.

St. Petersburg, FL 34698 Phone: 727-823-3354

Bridie Gannon's Pub & Eatery

In a town known for its Greek food, you might be suprised to find an Irish pub, but as soon as the fresh Irish soda bread gets to your table, you know you're somewhere special. The menu includes staple Irish dishes such as bangers and mash, corned beef and cabbage, and shepherd's pie.

200 Tarpon Ave. Tarpon Springs, FL

34689

Phone: 727-942-3011

Armani's

This Italian rooftop restaurant has great view of Tampa Bay, and one of the best sunset views on the gulf. Pastas include black pepper pappardelle with scallops, shrimp and lemon pepper sauce. Another must-try is the signature veal scallopini Armani. The roast rack of lamb is a house specialty.

Hyatt Regency Westshore

6200 Courtney Campbell Cswy

Tampa, FL 33607 Phone: 813-207-6800

Columbia

Built in 1905, this impressive structure with airy dining rooms and a sunlit courtyard takes up an entire city block. The paella may the best in Florida, and the Columbia 1905 salad is legendary. The menu has Cuban classics such as ropa vieja and arroz con pollo. Flamenco dancing happens on most nights.

2117 E. 7th Ave. Ybor City

Tampa, FL 33605 Phone: 813-248-4961

Louis Pappas' Riverside Restaurant

This waterside restaurant allows a breathtaking view of the Anclote River. Dishes include moussaka, chicken spanakopita, and dolmades. There's a delicious selection of Florida classics like stuffed shrimp and grouper. Or try something Italian like the chicken Alfredo or marsala.

10 W. Dodecanese Blvd.

Tarpon Springs, FL

34689

Phone: 727-937-5101

Chateau France

Built in 1910, this Victorian house today provides a most pleasant dining experience. Try traditional French dishes such as coq au vin and Dover sole meunière. Filet mignon is a specialty, in five variations nightly. Chocolate souffle and tableside-prepared flaming crepes suzette are not to be missed.

136 4th Ave. N.E. St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Phone: 727-894-7163

Kojak's House of Ribs

Since it first opened in 1978, this casual eatery has been voted a Tampa favorite year after year in local polls. Day and night the three indoor dining rooms and outdoor dining terrace are crowded with hungry patrons digging into tender barbecued ribs. There's chicken on the menu as well, with sides of coleslaw, potato salad and juicy corn on the cob.

2808 Gandy Blvd. Tampa, FL 33611 Phone: 813-837-3774

Kaiko Japanese Restaurant

Sit at the counter or grab a table and relax for some authentic Japanese food. The appetizer menu gives you many choices, for instance fried tofu, vegetable sushi, and sashimi. Traditionally prepared sushi and makimono (rolled sushi) are specialties here. Entrees include teriyaki-grilled chicken, beef, and seafood and are accompanied by rice, miso soup and a salad.

7245 McMullen Booth Rd.

Clearwater, FL 33611

Phone: 727-791-6640

Bernini

In the former Bank of Ybor City building, this trendy restaurant has a class-A look and daring entrees like crispy duck with raspberry-pepper glaze and goat cheese potato cake, veal lasagna and grilled oregano swordfish. The Caesar pizza is among the elite of the wood-fired pizzas.

1702 E. 7th Ave. Ybor City

Tampa, FL 33605 Phone: 813-248-0099

Abodo Grill

The Mexican fast food here is prepared unlike any nationwide chain. A main specialty is the beef chipotle burrito. Also worth trying are the roast pork burritos and grilled mahi tacos. And don't forget the excellent guava turnovers. The restaurant serves over-the-counter with seating indoors and under umbrellas on the patio.

167 2nd Ave. N. St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Phone: 727-823-8226

Bonefish Grill

Live jazz and a great sampling of local seafood are trademarks of this popular restaurant near downtown. Rock shrimp fettuccine diablo and wood-grilled grouper are popular offerings. Sauteed Mussels with lemon wine sauce is a top-notch appetizer. And if you don't care for fish, you're still covered; the pork tenderloin Portobello piccata is unbelievable.

5901 4th St. N.

St. Petersburg, FL 33703

Phone: 727/521-3434