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Restaurant news
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By CHRIS SHERMAN
Published December 7, 2005
Who's on top in the new Zagat Survey? The 2006 guide to America's Top Restaurants taps Beach Bistro of Anna Maria, Restaurant B.T. of Tampa, followed by SideBern's for top ratings from Zagat readers.
Other restaurants were stacked up at 26: the Six Tables group and Black Pearl from Dunedin, Pane Rustica and Armani's of Tampa; Selva Grill, Bijou Cafe and Euphemia Haye from Sarasota. Favorable mentions also went to Tampa's Bern's, Ceviche, Columbia, Mise en Place and Pelagia.
This is not a full survey as Zagat does in bigger cities. Perhaps the next time Zagat does Central Florida (covering Tampa Bay as an adjunct to Orlando), readers and writers of the little maroon books will find their way to Cafe Ponte, Cafe Alma and Roy's, among others.
Turning tables
Sushi is back in Largo. Sushi Spot Noodle World, 3665 E Bay Drive, (727) 507-7400, has taken over corner mall space occupied by one of Largo's sushi pioneers. The noodle menu includes 15 dishes of egg, rice and Shanghai noodles as well as macaroni and spaghetti stir-fried and steamed with shrimp, squid, pork and sauces from curry to garlic oil. . . . Bay Street in Tampa's International Plaza has added an uptown sushi bar, Cafe Japon, (813) 873-2949, sleek as an iPod and stocked with plasma screens and slick sushi rolling for shoppers. . . . After 15 years, Tucson's Grill & Cantina is still in the same place, 13563 ICOT Blvd., Clearwater, (727) 530-0637, with blackened meats and shrimp and Southwest spices. A revised menu unveiled for its anniversary offers more adobo, chimichurri, pork verde, fish tacos and, of course, blackened salmon wraps.
Ceviche, Tampa's talk 'n' tapas bar, has crossed the bay in a stylish two-tone revival of one of downtown St. Petersburg's original watering holes in the old Ponce de Leon Hotel. The menu covers 60 small plates of Spanish treats from mussels to quail and big pans of paella and zarzuela. It's at First Street and Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, (727) 209-2302. . . . Less alcoholic and just as hip the 4th Street Granola Bar, 230 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg, (727) 251-7137), a new munchery and outlet for the granolas of Margaret Guidicessi. She makes eight mixes, from a Plain Jane oatmeal, cinnamon and such, to Chunky Monkey, with chocolate and peanut butter, sold in quart and 10-pound quantities.
- Chris Sherman can be reached at 727 893-8585 or sherman@sptimes.com
[Last modified December 6, 2005, 10:06:06]
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