DINING VisitSPC.com/Dining THE LITTLE LAMB THE LIBRARY THE RESTORATIVE DR. BBQ BRICK & MORTAR • St. Petersburg; $$ • Since 2015 this restaurant has wooed locals with its charming, cozy ambiance and ambitious, always creative menu. A popular spot for date nights, the small restaurant can fill up quickly, so reservations are always a good idea. Don’t skip out on the braised short ribs with homemade noodles, the tuna tartare served with crispy shrimp chips or the B&M burger, a strong contender in the genre, served on a pretzel bun and topped with bacon jam, sharp white cheddar, arugula and aioli. THE LIBRARY • St. Petersburg; $$ • With gorgeous wood paneling, bookshelves that stretch almost as high as the tall ceilings and plush royal blue banquettes to cozy up in, it’s easy to see where the place gets its name. But The Library is also home to an excellent restaurant sporting a creative New American menu. The spot gets lively during brunch, when light fills the sprawling dining room space and guests linger over plates of crispy-fried Brussels sprouts with ricotta salata, pork belly Benedicts and the not-to-be-missed fried green tomato BLTs. THE BLACK PEARL • Dunedin; $$$ • Always a strong contender when it comes to celebrating special occasions, this elegant and upscale restaurant sits tucked away on downtown Dunedin’s Main Street. The elevated New American and French menu features decadent dishes, from a white truffle-laced lobster risotto to a crispy-seared duck breast served with duck confit ravioli. Food this good doesn’t come cheap, but for anniversaries and special dates, this is the place to splurge. THE LITTLE LAMB • Clearwater; $$ • This unassuming Clearwater gastropub off McMullen Booth Road delivers big flavors with an ambitious, globe-trotting menu and an elevated cocktail program that offers creative spins on the classics. A dinner menu designed with snacking and sharing in mind starts with dishes like shrimp toast with spicy tomato broth and fried cauliflower with coconut caramel before moving on to larger plates like a roasted chicken with cheddar grits and local greens and a pork porterhouse served with fried green tomatoes, dirty rice and a pickled apple salad. THE RESTORATIVE • Dunedin; $$ • An always-changing menu keeps it fresh at this charming New 88 AMERICA’S BEST BEACHES
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