Fan guide to downtown dining

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 5, 1999

There are almost 100 restaurants in downtown St. Petersburg between Tropicana Field and the bayfront to give fans a variety of choices for food and drink before or after a game.

Downtown restaurants are listed by category of food served, followed by a brief description of their offerings.

Meals served are indicated by abbreviations: B(reakfast), L(unch), D(inner) and E(vening — after 10). Sun. indicates open on Sunday; all are open Monday through Saturday except as noted. Some stay open later on game nights.

American

• ACL Restaurant, 1750 Central Ave.; (727) 823-6183. Sandwiches, outdoor seating. L, D, E.
• AJ’s Deli Cafe, 111 Second Ave. NE; (727) 821-4151. Hot dogs, sandwiches. B, L, D, Sun.
• Atwater Cafeteria, 895 22nd Ave. S.; (727) 823-7018. Southern cooking. B, L, D.
• Benson’s Antiques & Coffee Emporium, 244 First Ave. N; (727) 823-6065. Sandwiches, salads, deserts, coffees, outdoor seating. B, L, Sun.
• Cafe 333, Hilton St. Petersburg, 333 First St. S; (727) 894-5000 ext. 53. American continental. B, L, D Sun.
• Cafe 1001, 1001 First Ave. N; (727) 894-4238. Entrees, sandwiches. L, D.
• Central Coffee Shoppe, 530 Central Ave; (727) 821-1125. B, L.
• Chatterbox Restaurant, 56 M.L. King (Ninth) St. N; (727) 823-0605. Sandwiches, grill. B, L.
• Church’s Chicken, 1401 16th St. S; (727) 821-2644. Fried chicken. L, D, E, Sun.
• Cullen’s, 330 First Ave. S; (727) 894-2278. Soup, salad, bread, coffees, sweets. B, L, takeout only.
• Firehouse Bar & Grille, 260 First Ave. S; (727) 895-4716. Wings, sandwiches, outdoor seating. L, D, E.
• Fruits N Things, 360 First Ave. N, (727) 822-2627. Soups, sandwiches. B, L.
• Gold’s Coffee Shop, 336 First Ave N; (727) 822-4922. Soups, sandwiches. B, L, Sun.
• KFC 1760 M.L. King (Ninth) S; (727) 825-0792. Chicken. L, D, Sun.
• Midtown Sundries, 200 First Ave. S.; (727) 502-0222. Sandwiches, snacks, entrees, live music. L, D, E, Sun. Opening mid-March.
• Ollie’s Grille, 111 Second Ave. NE; (727) 822-6200. Sandwiches, steaks, chops, seafood. L, D.
• The Patio Grill, 270 First Ave. N; (727) 894-4200. Greek/American, grilled, outdoor seating. L, D, Sun.
• Silver King Tavern, 1114 Central Ave.; (727) 821-6470. Seafood, sandwiches, entrees, steaks. L, D, E.
• South Gate Coffee Shoppe, 29 Third St. N; (727) 823-7071. Sandwiches, outdoor seating. B, L, D Sun.

Asian

• #9 Bangkok Thai Restaurant, 571 Central Ave.; (727) 894-5990. Thai. L, D.
• China House Fast Food, 800 Third Ave. S; (727) 895-1684. Chinese, ice cream. L, D.
• Crab House, 811 M.L. King (Ninth) St. S; (727) 823-5030. Crabs, Chinese, takeout only. L, D.
• Hong Kong Buffet, 890 Third Ave. S; (727) 898-1388. Chinese buffet. L, D, Thurs.-Sun.
• Son’s Cafe, 1100 Central Ave.; (727) 894-2427. Vietnamese and Chinese. L, D Tues.-Sat. L, Sun.

Barbecue

• Baker’s Hogley Wogley Open Pit Bar-B-Q, 1035 M.L. King (Ninth) St. S; (727) 894-0069. Barbecue, takeout only. L, D, E.
• Connie’s Bar-B-Q, 1795 16th St. S; (727) 894-3258. Barbecue, takeout only. L, D, E.
• Rib Master, 1100 16th St. S; (727) 822-8700. Barbecue, Southern, takeout only, L,D.

Coffees, sweets, bakery and bagels

• Bakery at Redwoods, 243 Central Ave.; (727) 827-5600. Baked goods and light lunch, outdoor seating. B, L, D.
• Cafe Monet & Gallery, 1027 Central Ave.; (727) 894-7379. Sandwiches, soups, salads, bakery, outdoor seating. B, L, Mon.-Fri.
• Daily Grind, 111 Second Ave N.; (727) 824-0866. Coffees, wraps, light meals, outdoor seating. L, Sun.
• Gourmet Bagels and Pizza, 501 First Ave. N; (727) 827-0696. Bagels, pizzas, coffees, teas, sandwiches, outdoor seating. B, L, Mon.-Fri.
• St. Pete Bagel, 249 Central Ave.; (727) 822-4092. Bagels, sandwiches, gourmet coffee. B, L, Mon.-Fri.
• Sweet Tooth’s, 1431 Central Ave. (727) 550-8898. Ice cream and pound candy. noon-midnight Mon.-Sat., noon-6 p.m. Sun.
• Theo’s Deli and Bagel, Inc., 689 Central Ave.; (727) 821-8077. Sandwiches, bagels, salads. B, L, Mon.-Fri.

Contemporary

• Alfresco, Renaissance Vinoy, 501 Fifth Ave. NE; (727) 894-1000 ext. 2144. Casual Floribbean sandwiches and entrees, outdoor seating. L, D.
• Apropos Bistro & Bar, 300 Second Ave. NE; (727) 823-8934. New American, entrees, sandwiches, water view, outdoor seating. B, L, D, E.Bay
• Gables Restaurant, 136 Fourth Ave. NE; (727) 894-7163. Sandwiches, fine dining, outdoor seating. L, D, breakfast Sun. only.
• Garden Restaurant, 217 Central Ave.; (727) 896-3800. Mediterranean, fine dining, outdoor seating. L, D, Sun.
• Grand Finale, 1101 First Ave. N; (727) 823-9921. New American, salads, entrees. L, D, E.
• Heimann’s, 1 Beach Drive SE, Bayfront Tower; (727) 827-0200. Fine dining, European gourmet, beer and wine only. D, Wed.-Sat.
• Marchand’s Bar & Grill, Renaissance Vinoy, 501 Fifth Ave. NE; (727) 894-1000 ext. 2136. Mediterranean grill. L, D, E, Sun.
• The Moon Under Water, 332 Beach Drive NE; (727) 896-6160. British Colonial, Indian and Middle Eastern foods, outdoor seating, water view. L, D, E, Sun.
• Ovo Cafe, 515 Central Ave.; (727) 895-5515. New American, desserts, salads, personal pizza. L, D, E, Sun.
• Redwoods, 247 Central Ave.; (727) 896-5118. Pacific rim, Hawaiian, fine dining, reservations only. D, E.
• Terrace Room, Renaissance Vinoy, 501 Fifth Ave. NE; (727) 894-1000 ext. 2136. Contemporary American, seafood and pasta. B, L, D, E, Sun.

Health

• Blue Moon Cafe, 27 Fourth St. N; (727) 895-1493. Sandwich, salads, outdoor seating. B, L.
• Judy’s, 208 Fourth St. N; (727) 822-5542. Soups, sandwiches, salads and desserts. L.
• Little Fruit Basket, 533 Central Ave.; (727) 822-4475. Frozen yogurt, coffee, smoothies, fresh fruit, take out only. L.
• Lonni’s Sandwiches, Etc., 133 First St. NE; (727) 894-1944. Natural foods, soup, sandwiches. L.
• MJ Smoothy’s, 8 Fourth St. N; (727) 821-5084. Smoothies, sandwiches, wraps, outdoor seating. L, Mon.-Fri.
• Tamarind Tree, 537 Central Ave.; (727) 898-2115. Sandwiches, salads, soups, smoothies, beer and wine, outdoor seating. L.

Italian

• Bertoni, 16 Second St. N; (727) 822-5503. Casual upscale L, Mon.-Fri. D, Mon.-Sat.
• Bruno’s in the City, 526 Central Ave.; (727) 826-6716. Casual. L, D, E, Mon.-Fri. D, E, Sat.-Sun.
• Cafe Lido, The Pier, 800 Second Ave. NE; (727) 898-5800. Pasta, seafood, water view, outdoor seating. L, D, E.
• Fettuccini’s, 211 Second St. S; (727) 826-4722. Fine dining, entrees, seafood, pasta, steaks, outdoor seating. L, D, Sun.
• Fortunato’s, 259 Central Ave.; (727) 381-4888. Pizza, salads, entrees, outdoor seating. B, L, D, Sun.
• Jo Jo’s In Citta, 200 Central Ave.; (727) 894-0075. Pasta, seafood, outdoor dining. L, D, Sun.
• Mama Leeann’s Casa D’napoli, 954 First Ave. N; (727) 822-7073. Casual. L, D.

Nightspots

• The Big Catch, 9 First St. NE; (727) 821-6444. Drinks. 8 p.m. Thur.-Sat.
• Budious Maximus, 1111 Central Ave.; (727) 898-8525. Light food, drink. E, Tues.-Sun.
• Camel Club, 1110 Central Ave.; (727) 821-6470. Light food, drinks. 9 p.m. Wed.-Sat.
• The Lobby Bar, 217 Central Ave.; (727) 896-3800. Drinks, outdoor seating. E, Tues.-Sat.
• A Taste for Wine, 241 Central Ave.; (727) 895-1623. Beer and wine, light foods, outdoor seating. 1 p.m. Tue.-Sun.

Pizza

• Domino’s, 385 Eighth St. S; (727) 896-3030. Pizza, sandwiches, carry-out and delivery only. L, D, E.
• JJ’s Subs, Salad and Pizza, 405 Central Ave.; (727) 898-2300. Pizza, sandwiches, salads. L.
• Mike Alstott’s A-Train Pizza, 711 Third Ave. S; (727) 898-7246. Pasta, wings, subs, outdoor dining. L, D, E, Sun.

Sandwiches

• Angie’s Cafe, 200 First Ave. N; (727) 823-6437. Sandwiches, salads, outdoor seating. B, L, D, Sun.
• Blimpie, 360 Central Ave.; (727) 896-5000. Sandwiches, soups, salad, ice cream, outdoor seating. B, L, D, Mon.-Fri.
• Brown Bag Sandwich Shop, 1939 Central Ave.; (727) 894-1131. Sandwiches, salads, soups, outdoor seating. L Mon.-Fri.
• Chicago Deli, 277 Central Ave.; (727) 822-6553. Sandwiches, salads, soups, outdoor seating. L.
• Coney Island, 250 Ninth St. N; (727) 822-4493. Sandwiches, hot dogs. L, D, Mon.-Fri. L Sat.
• Devil Dawgs, 1437 Central Ave.; (727) 502-0011; Sandwiches, hot dogs. L, D.
• The Deli, 658 Central Ave.; (727) 895-9267; Sandwiches, soup, salad. L, Mon.-Fri.
• Dome Grill, 561 Central Ave.; (727) 823-5090. Grill, Greek, entrees, outdoor seating. L.
• The Express Gourmet, 624 First Ave. S; (727) 896-3122. Sandwiches, salads, takeout and delivery only. L.
• Gaslight Deli & Sandwich Shop, 445 First Ave. N; (727) 822-2564. Sandwiches, salads, soups. B, L, Mon.-Fri.
• The Pier food court, 800 Second Ave. NE; (727) 894-1133. Hot dogs, pizza, sandwiches, ice cream, pastries, cookies, candy, outside seating. B, L, D.
• Quizno’s, 1 Progress Plaza, Suite 150; (727) 894-2222. Sandwiches, outdoor dining. B, L, Mon.-Sat.
• Sandwich Boutique, 212 Beach Drive NE; 826-3493; Sandwiches, soups, entrees. B, L, Mon.-Thurs. B, L, D, Fri.-Sat.
• Subway, 25 M.L. King (Ninth) St. S; (727) 898-3109. Sandwiches, salads. L, D, E.
• Telly’s Deli, City Center, 100 Second Ave. S; (727) 896-6175. Sandwiches, salads, soups. B, L, Mon.-Fri.

Seafood

• Finest Seafood Restaurant, 860 Third Ave. S, St. Petersburg; (727) 822-4070. Seafood, chicken, sandwiches. L, D.

Spanish and Caribbean

• Cha Cha Coconuts, The Pier, 800 Second Ave. NE; (727) 822-6655. Caribbean sandwiches and entree, water view, outdoor seating. L, D, E, Sun.
• Columbia Restaurant, The Pier, 800 Second Ave. NE; (727) 822-8000. Spanish casual dining, sandwichs, entrees, salads, water view, cigar bar. L, D, Sun.
• Hilda La Tropicana, 320 First Ave. N; (727) 898-9902. Cuban, outdoor seating, beer, wine. l, D.
• Tangelo’s Grille, 226 First Ave. N; (727) 894-1695. Caribbean, sandwiches, salads, specialty hot sauces, outdoor seating. L, D, Sun.

Sports and food

• Extra Inning Ballpark Cafe, 1850 Central Ave.; (727) 896-9872. Steaks, seafood, sandwiches, entrees, drinks. L, D, E, Sun.
• Ferg’s Sports Bar & Grill, 1320 Central Ave.; (727) 822-4562. Wings, sandwiches, drinks, outdoor seating. L, D, E.
• Wannabe’s Grill and Bar, 140 Fifth St. N; (727) 821-4404. Sanwiches, entrees, wings. L, D, E, Mon.-Fri. D, E Sat.

Steaks

• Julian’s at the Heritage and lounge, 256 Second St. N; (727) 823-6382. Fine dining, steaks, seafood. D, E, Sun.
• Keystone Club, 320 Fourth St. N; (727) 822-6600. Fine dining, steaks, chops. L, D, Mon.-Fri., D, Sat.-Sun.

-- Compiled by Chris Sherman and Sandra Davies