DINING VisitSPC.com/Dining BODEGA KUBA COCINA latin/caribbean BODEGA • St. Petersburg; $ • What was once just a tiny Cuban walk-up spot in St. Pete’s EDGE District is now a fully expanded sit-down restaurant, but the popularity of the grab-and-go window hasn’t waned one bit. Around lunchtime, a line still stretches down the street with fans who come from all over for the refreshing agua frescas, fruit smoothies, hearty lechon platters toppling with juicy roasted pork and one of the best Cuban sandwiches in town. CASA TINA • Dunedin; $$ • Dining at this downtown Dunedin Mexican restaurant is like stepping into a multi-sensory Oaxacan wonderland, outfitted with colorful artwork, dangling star lanterns and the occasional aerial performance artist. Popular dishes include the pescado a la Veracruzana, topped with a bright and juicy sauce of tomatoes, onions, capers and olives and the chiles en nogada, a traditional dish from the Puebla region in Mexico that comes draped under a creamy brandy walnut sauce and a shower of pomegranate seeds. KUBA COCINA • St. Pete Beach; $ • Maybe it’s the gorgeous mural outside the restaurant, or the way the sun hits the shaded patio tables at sunset, or the punch packed by the fruity sangrias that resemble adult-sized Capri Sun pouches — some-thing here just clicks. The schtick at this casual St. Pete Beach takeout restaurant is contemporary Cuban cuisine with a spin. The menu is designed with the grab-and-go beachgoer in mind and features handhelds like lobster empanadas, sandwiches and other snacks — and sangria — to-go. CASA TINA RED MESA • St. Petersburg; $$ • The flagship location on Fourth Street opened in 1995 and the Mexican mini chain has since expanded with the more casual offshoots: Red Mesa Cantina, in downtown St. Pete, and Red Mesa Mercado, in St. Pete’s EDGE District. At the original spot, you’ll find a polished atmosphere to accompany the creative takes on regional Mexican and Southwest-ern cuisines. The Mercado location is where you might head on a sunny weekend afternoon for a quick lunch and the buzzy downtown Cantina is a great place to turn it up over a round of potent margaritas. WILD CHILD • St. Petersburg; $$ • This buzzy, tropical-themed restaurant has quickly become one of the most popular hot spots in St. Pete. With a spacious — and covered — outdoor dining setup, a creative menu that touches on bright Caribbean flavors (snapper ceviche with watermelon and plantain chips; jerk octopus with Meyer lemon jam) and a cocktail menu heavy on rum and mezcal, the restaurant feels a lot like the ‘burg’s very own tropical oasis. Weekend brunch offers a nice excuse to linger over dishes like tres leches French toast and eye-openers, which include pineapple, watermelon and grapefruit mimosas. french CAFE LARGO • Largo; $$$ • For more than 35 years, this iconic restaurant has charmed local diners with its elegant, white tablecloth setting and classic French fare. Following a recent ownership switch some things have changed (the menu still leans heavily French with some deviations), but the restaurant still imbues an old-world European dining ambiance that’s hard to beat. Dishes like duck a l’orange, beef tartare and a perfect creme brûlée still deliver that undeniably French experience diners crave. CASSIS • St. Petersburg; $$ • This French-Ameri-can hybrid feels in many ways like the anchor of Beach Drive NE and with escargot, moules frites and 84 AMERICA’S BEST BEACHES
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