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Tasty food, but save room for dessert
By KATHY SAUNDERS © St. Petersburg Times, published March 14, 2001 TREASURE ISLAND -- Foxy's wants to be there when tourists need a meal -- when they arrive early from an overnight flight or when they pull into the city after every other restaurant is closed. But it's also a popular gathering place for locals who want to dine any time of the day. I stopped by after breakfast one weekday morning to pick up a menu. The restaurant was so busy that I had to wait a few minutes to get someone's attention. We ordered takeout the same night. The only decision I couldn't make over the phone was dessert. "You really need to see our selection when you get here," said the hostess. And be forewarned -- the dessert counter is beautiful. It's right at the hostess counter, and it's the first thing you see when you walk in the front door. We were delighted that the cakes also tasted as good as they looked. We got a slice of white chocolate Oreo cheesecake ($2.95) and a slice of chocolate with fresh strawberries, pudding and lots of whipped cream ($3.50). The desserts are huge and most of the selections, including a popular carrot cake, are baked fresh at Foxy's. We got dinner, too. The chicken parmesan ($8.95) was filling. It included a very large, thick piece of chicken that was breaded and baked with mozzarella cheese and a serving of marinara sauce that covered my side of pasta as well. I cut the chicken in half and warmed the leftovers for lunch the following day. I did, however, have a slice of cheese pizza. It looked too good to pass up. My children devoured it -- including my 2-year-old, who had never eaten pizza before. The crust had a nice consistency and the sauce was a bit sweet. We left the linguine with Italian sausage ($9.25) to my husband for fear we'd all have heartburn for the night. But it wasn't as spicy as we thought. The grilled peppers and onions gave it a nice texture, and the sweet marinara sauce kept the heat factor in check. Both dinners came with two slices of buttered toast -- soft inside and crunchy on the outside. But the house specialty is garlic pizza bread ($3.50). "It's almost like a white pizza with garlic and Parmesan cheese," said Sher Ozzie of the side dish. She and other family members have operated Foxy's for most of the last 20 years. Her father, Ron Orzechowski, opened Foxy's at the same location. The restaurant was sold for two years and the name was changed to Big Daddy's. Orzechowski bought it back four years ago and gave the restaurant a face lift. The renovations aren't quite finished. "We're thinking about putting tables outside," said Ozzie. The restaurant owners said they want to be part of downtown Treasure Island's revitalization. Meanwhile, Foxy's is still selling plenty of its wings and ribs along with specialty pizzas, hoagies, sandwiches, soups and salads. The dinner menu includes grouper, meatloaf, fried shrimp, roast beef and a New York strip steak. We've taken our children into the restaurant for dinner in the past. It's a kid-friendly place that offers a children's menu that includes grilled cheese and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Foxy's Cafe
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
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From the Times Taste section From the features wire |
