SALT ROCK GRILL RUSTY BELLIES WATERFRONT GRILL TIKI DOCKS SKYWAY BAR & GRILL RUSTY BELLIES WATERFRONT GRILL • Tarpon Springs; $$ • While checking out the historic Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks, take a stroll down busy Dodecanese Boulevard to this waterfront spot, which sports a large outdoor patio with views of Tarpon Bayou and Anclote River. A tiki bar features rum-heavy spins on Trader Vic tiki classics while the restaurant’s proximity to the docks is a nod to the owners’ focus on fresh Florida seafood. Steamed Cedar Key clams, peel-and-eat shrimp and a fresh catch selection including grouper, American snapper and fried mullet filets highlight the local seafood selection. SALT ROCK GRILL • Indian Shores; $$ • At this iconic Indian Shores spot, the dock-to-restaurant line is literal: Peek outside to the dock below and you’ll probably catch one of the owners’ fishing boats hauling in the day’s fresh catch. The kitchen also boasts a large selection of hand-cut steaks, which are aged for several weeks before getting grilled over natural oak and citrus wood. The restaurant’s impressive wine list features an extensive collection of bottles to choose from. The outside patio deck overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway is the best spot to close out an evening. TEAK/PIER TEAKI • St. Petersburg; $$ • Part of an expansive 26-acre entertainment district, the St. Pete Pier includes several waterside restaurants with fantastic views, but nothing beats the rooftop scene at Pier Teaki, which offers an unparalleled 360-degree vista of the downtown St. Pete skyline and Tampa Bay. While the upstairs tiki-themed lounge features bar snacks like tuna bowls and pretzel bites, more elevated options can be found one floor below, at the nautical-themed restaurant Teak, where composed plates include a pan-seared salmon with mustard-balsamic glaze and short ribs with a ginger guava sauce. TIKI DOCKS SKYWAY BAR & GRILL • St. Petersburg; $ • The Polynesian-themed bar and grill in St. Pete’s Skyway Marina District sits inside the Maximo Marina and sports a sprawling waterfront setting with plenty of outdoor seating. The food menu features raw oysters and smoked fish spread, peel-and-eat shrimp, sandwiches and seafood platters while a tropical-leaning drink menu includes potent margaritas, rum punch cocktails and tiki classics like mai tais and painkillers. WOODY’S WATERFRONT CAFE AND BEACH BAR • St. Pete Beach; $$ • With views of the Gulf of Mexico, this St. Pete Beach mainstay has earned a well-deserved spot on the local's circuit. Fans come for the laid-back scene, beach bar food and potent happy hour cocktails. Fried clam strips, served with a lemon wedge, are a popular dish, as are the tangy, smoky Buffalo wings and the fried shrimp baskets with spicy fries. Most of the seating is outside, at covered picnic tables right on the seawall. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a pod of dolphins frolicking right in front of you. VISITSTPETECLEARWATER.COM 81
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