BEST FINE DINING 1200 Chophouse, St. Pete Beach THE BLACK PEARL, DUNEDIN The Restorative, Dunedin Fortu, St. Pete Il Ritorno, St. Pete Allelo Juno & the Peacock Bin 6 South St. Pete • $$$ Tucked off a busy strip of Central Avenue, this elegant restaurant offers a fresh breath of air from the bustle. There’s a focus on charcuterie and wine, but the rest of the menu is equally exciting, from sea scallops with sweet potato puree to handmade pasta with wild boar ragu. SAUVIGNON WINE LOCKER & AMERICAN TRATTORIA St. Pete • $$$ Upscale Americana is the name of the game at this Beach Drive stunner. Oysters Rockefeller, lobster tail escargot and crab Louie lend an unmistakable whiff of old-school American opulence that’s coupled with an incredible wine list. After dinner, pop into the next-door cocktail bar, Pluma Lounge, for a nightcap. JUNO & THE PEACOCK Clearwater • $$ This unassuming Clearwater gastropub delivers big flavors with an ambitious, globe-trotting menu and an elevated cocktail program that offers creative spins on the classics. Dinner includes dishes like shrimp toast with spicy tomato broth, fried cauliflower with coconut caramel and a decadent smoked lamb belly carbonara. THE LITTLE LAMB GASTROPUB St. Pete • $$$ The Warehouse Arts District is home to this sprawling cocktail bar, restaurant and bourbon lounge. Designed with distilleries in Scotland and Kentucky in mind, the 16,000-square-foot space features indus-trial touches and sleek modern decor. An ambitious menu includes dishes like bucatini with lobster, Calabrian chiles and burrata. THE URBAN STILLHOUSE With wood paneling, tall bookshelves and royal blue banquettes, it’s easy to see where the place gets its name. Daytime or night, it’s a great space to linger over plates of salmon with charred scallion gnocchi and Duroc pork schnitzel with mushroom demi-glace. THE LIBRARY • St. Pete • $$ The menu at this petite New American restaurant in Dunedin is always changing and has wooed locals and critics alike. The kitchen’s creativity never ceases to impress, with dishes like carrot soup with harissa and hazelnuts, Parmesan creme brulee and black truffle panna cotta. THE RESTORATIVE • Dunedin • $$ ROCOCO STEAK • St. Pete • $$$ One of the best spots for a classic steak-house meal, this downtown St. Pete restaurant excels with a creative menu of upscale New American fare and an award-winning wine selection. There’s also a great happy hour, with dishes like beef tartare with sesame garlic aioli and sweet and savory meatballs. VISITSPC.COM 89
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