PATTI’S KITCHEN HAWKERS ASIAN STREET FOOD • St. Petersburg; $$ • An homage to Asian street food stalls, this lively restaurant in St. Pete’s EDGE District provides a fun excuse to sample and share from a variety of appetizer-style plates that draw inspiration through a thick and warming curry sauce. Sichuan-THE LIBRARY soup to start, several entrees and a fruit tart or house for date nights and the bar scene can often get lively, fueled by a creative list of libations ranging Don’t skip on the daily specials, which include a classic boeuf bourguignon on Tuesdays and tasty CASSIS • St. Petersburg; $$ • This French-Ameri-can hybrid feels in many ways like the anchor of Beach Drive; and with escargot, moules frites and a classic croque monsieur, there is plenty to satisfy any francophile. But the wide-reaching menu covers plenty of New American ground, too: burgers are topped with caramelized onions and gruyere, sea scallops are served with a braised short rib hash, and a blackened grouper sandwich is paired with remoulade and pineapple. The upscale casual bistro vibe inside the restaurant extends to the airy outdoor patio — the best spot to be on a sunny an umami-rich peanut sauce. Korean fried chicken wings are coated in a garlicky gochujang elixir and topped with crushed peanuts, sesame seeds and cilantro. The restaurant’s edgy, industrial chic design includes a large outdoor patio and airy bar space, perfect for taking in the sights and sounds of Central ASIAN BUYA RAMEN • St. Petersburg; $ • This modern, dimly-lit Japanese gastropub offers a short but standout selection of izakaya-style small plates, from grilled edamame and savory mushroom buns. The ramen is excellent, too, especially the tonkotsu PATTI’S KITCHEN • Pinellas Park; $ • This off-the-beaten-path foodie destination in Pinellas Park delivers big rewards for anyone in search of some seriously spicy noodle soups and Thai specialties. The tiny, nook-of-a-restaurant serves as an homage to the street noodles of Bangkok. What unique selection of dishes, each one carrying a boat noodle dish are more than enough reason to LEFT BANK BISTRO • St. Petersburg; $$ • This charming French restaurant, inside a renovated home, seeks to evoke the jazz and splendor of Paris’ left bank in the 1920s and pays homage to both the literary and artistic accomplishments of the era. Outside, the spacious patio provides plenty of options for a breezy al fresco meal. Inside, the dining feel as if you’re dining inside someone’s home. The French bistro menu includes all classics: silky chicken liver pâté, served with pickled fennel and caper berries; caramelized onion tarts; steak frites; boeuf bourguignon and a beautiful bouillabaisse, chock full of local seafood bobbing in a saffron-bone broth is paired with anything from crispy duck to braised short rib, pork belly and shiitake mush-rooms. An extensive Japanese whiskey selection provides the backbone for many cocktails and the shochu and sake collection offer plenty of variety for curious imbibers looking to explore something new. DOORIBAN • St. Petersburg; $ • St. Pete’s best bet for traditional Korean fare sits inside a former drive-through fast food restaurant, but the casual, exiting the kitchen here. To start the meal, a hodgepodge of banchan appears — a collection of side dishes that include spicy cucumbers, marinated of marinated beef bulgogi arrive, piled high with white rice and sauteed vegetables while hunks of come swimming in a hot and spicy red sauce THE BLACK PEARL • Dunedin; $$$ • Always a strong contender when it comes to celebrating special occasions, this elegant and upscale restaurant sits tucked away on downtown Dunedin’s menu includes plenty of exercises in decadence come cheap, but for anniversaries and special dates, PARTS OF PARIS • Safety Harbor; $$ • Set in a restored 1936 bungalow in the heart of downtown Safety Harbor, this modern French bistro imbues plenty of neighborhood charm. It’s a popular spot BRICK & MORTAR • St. Petersburg; $$ • Since charming, cozy ambiance, ambitious and often envelope-pushing menu and creative wine list that 83
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