THE BLACK PEARL churns out a large number of vegetarian and vegan dishes that have spent time over fire, from the harissa-grilled carrots to roasted pineapples in a brown sugar and rum glaze. THE OZONA PIG • Palm Harbor; $ • Right in the center of historic Ozona, this homage to Memphis-style southern barbecue is a casual and family-friendly spot with a robust local following. Folks come for the low-and-slow pulled pork and brisket plates toppling with stick-to-your-ribs sides like baked beans, slaw and deviled eggs. The house special banana pudding (or, as they call it here, the “southern creme brulee”) is a favorite for dessert, as are the coconut creme and peanut butter pies. TED PETERS FAMOUS SMOKED FISH local classics BOB HEILMAN’S BEACHCOMBER • Clearwater Beach; $$$ • Take a step back in time at this Clearwater Beach mainstay, which offers a taste of a glamorous and bygone era. Start with a Beach-comber Classic martini or a Harvey Wallbanger and move on to Clams Casino, escargot in a buttery Madeira sauce and jumbo shrimp cocktail. The restaurant features several different dining areas, including the intimate main room, which often features live piano performances. Diners come for the fresh seafood, quality steaks and the “Back to the Farm” fried chicken — served with whipped potatoes, a vegetable side, pan gravy and old-fashioned cream slaw. BOB HEILMAN’S BEACHCOMBER American restaurant in Dunedin. Reservations for the petite dining room can be made through Tock, an online ticketing system, but there’s usually some room for walk-ins at the bar. A husband-and-wife team run the show here and the duo has won over locals and critics alike for their ambitious menu and welcoming, cozy atmosphere. The kitchen’s creativity never ceases to impress with dishes like halibut rillettes with wonder toast, a soft egg and dill and for dessert, blue cheese panna cotta with pickled strawberries and pistachio. bbq DR. BBQ • St. Petersburg; $ • Barbecue pitmaster and television personality Ray Lampe is a part-owner of this operation, a sprawling bi-level restaurant in St. Pete’s EDGE District. The menu is billed as “new American barbecue,” which includes a wide-reaching menu of smoked meat and seafood, from brisket and pastrami to pork belly and salmon. This is not carnivore-exclusive territory: The kitchen TED PETERS FAMOUS SMOKED FISH • St. Petersburg; $ • For nearly 70 years, the smell of smoked fish, suntan oil and saltwater has been synonymous with this beloved Pasadena Avenue restaurant. The mostly outdoor spot sports a sun-kissed crowd: weekend beach trippers, families with kids in tow and longtime regulars, many of whom have been frequenting the restaurant for several decades. Everyone comes for the smoked fish — mahi, salmon, mackerel and mullet. But they’re also here for the German-style potato salad, vinegary and studded with bacon; frosty mugs filled with light beer; and one of the area’s best cheeseburgers. VISITSTPETECLEARWATER.COM 89
Gulf To Bay St. Pete Clearwater FL Gulf To Bay St. Pete Clearwater FL 2022: Page 87
