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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 20, 2008

SANDWICHES/ SALADS

ABELLA'S SANDWICH SHOP, 2141 34th St., Tampa; (813) 247-2231. A large sign next to Abella's grocery store warns drug dealers, muggers, prostitutes and thieves to stay away. Don't let it discourage you. Continue north to Abella's, the sandwich shop, about 200 yards down the road, and you won't be disappointed (unless, of course, you are one of the aforesaid). Although they carry the same name, the two businesses have different owners. Chicken dishes are popular, and no wonder. Large, meaty breasts come covered with a tangy tomato sauce or Cuban-style with thick slices of sauteed sweet onions on top. Daily specials include stew beef, curry goat, ox tails, barbecue ribs, pork chops, meatloaf and pepper steak. Entrees are served with red or black beans and rice, a simple shredded iceberg lettuce and tomato salad, and Cuban bread and butter. Many of the meat entrees also are available in sandwiches. ($)

BEARSS SANDWICHES, 14022 N. Florida Ave., Tampa; (813) 961-9486. This tiny, bustling deli specializes in piled-high sandwiches, about two dozen combinations, each around $4. Diners get their choice of bread: Cuban, rye, egg bread, wheat, hoagie rolls, pumpernickel and onion rolls. Popular choices include the porkless Cuban, with salami, cheese and ham; the Cordon Bleu sandwich, with a thick, lightly breaded chicken filet; and a Brazil Cariocca, which is a combination of hard salami, ham, American cheese and oregano. ($)

CAFE EXPRESS S.F.A., WestShore Plaza, eastern entrance to Saks Fifth Avenue, Tampa. Searching for bargains at Saks Fifth Avenue? Have lunch. Cafe Express offers a variety of salads, sandwiches and smoothies. The filling vegetable Cobb salad is an appetizing blend of greens, blue cheese, avocado, tomato, chopped egg, green peas and croutons. The smoked salmon wrap is served with a dill caper cream cheese, and the vegetarian wrap is stuffed with tomato, avocado, sprouts, zucchini, cucumber and red onion, served with a Dijon yogurt dressing. Smoothies are made with nonfat yogurt and come in a variety of fruity flavors. ($)

CALIFORNIA CICCIO, 190 37th Ave. N., St. Petersburg; (727) 898-8226. This delightful little haunt may look like a fast food joint, with only a handful of booths and a brisk takeout business. But the product is worth sitting down for, and some offerings are downright addicting. The kitchen plays with ingredients and flavors, blending cuisines of Asia, South America and the Mediterranean. The menu features wraps, pasta, infused stir-frys, pizzas and salads - all at bargain prices. ($)

CARROLLWOOD CAFE & DELI, 11606 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa; (813) 964-9008. Sandwiches are a mainstay of this cafe's menu, and you'll be tempted to try them all. Start with the Wall Street Reuben, a big bruiser with corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and Thousand Island dressing on Jewish rye bread. Or go with the Deli Trio, a classic combination of kosher corned beef, New York pastrami and Swiss cheese. Chicken noodle and Boston clam chowder are everyday staples, along with a third soup that changes daily. ($)

DELI NEWS CAFE, 680 Main Street, downtown Dunedin; (727) 735-0505. This popular lunch spot is sparkling clean and awash in colorful cartoon murals inside and out. The menu features a dozen hearty deli and specialty sandwiches, salads, soups and a tempting array of desserts. You'll also find daily lunch specials such as a meatball sub, chicken fajita wrap, Italian sausage or Greek gyros. ($)

EVOS, 609 S. Howard Ave., Tampa; (813) 258-3867 (check the telephone book for other locations). This casual eatery serves healthful burgers, wraps, fries and smoothies. Bite into the vegetarian soft taco and you'll get a flavorful serving of ground soy. Soy also is served up in the All-American Champ, a quarter-pound, charbroiled soy burger. Potato slivers are tossed in hot air, vastly reducing the fat content. Salmon shows up in a sandwich patty served with low-cal dill spread, as well as a wrap stuffed with basmati rice and grilled onions and peppers. ($)

LA CREPERIA CAFE, 1729 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City; (813) 248-9700. This European-style bistro proves you can stuff crepes with more than fruit and cream and turn them into a delicious meal. Some of the best combinations include the Jambalaya with shrimp, sausage, caramelized onions, green peppers, garlic and Tabasco; and the Turkey a la Brie, packed with roasted turkey, creamy Brie and tomatoes. If crepes don't tempt you, try the baguette or panini sandwiches, salads and pasta dishes. More than two dozen crepes are offered for dessert. Or, you can create your own. ($$)

LONNI'S SANDWICHES, ETC., 513 E. Jackson St., Tampa; (813) 223-2333. Lonni's pleases lunch crowds with giant sandwiches on wild-rice bread. Choices include Mango Breeze (brie, avocado, sprouts and chutney), Albuquerque Turkey (with Gouda, turkey and chipotle sauce), Curried Tropical Chicken Salad and others. ($)

MARC & DIDI'S DELI, 201 W. Platt St., Tampa; (813) 250-6272. Marc and Didi Zudar specialize in the humble and hearty sandwich and their lunch menu combos are belly-busters. We recommend the Turkey Pride, a thin-sliced breast with Thousand Island dressing, ripe tomatoes, bacon and provolone on pumpernickel. Another favorite is the West Coast, made with a creamy chicken salad and slices of fresh avocado, Gouda cheese and bacon. The kitchen cooks up flavorful deep-dish quiches: Lorraine, Chicken Portobello, Spinach-Tomato and Crab Artichoke. Huge salads include a Chef, Greek, Cobb and Garden Veggie - all big enough to split between two people. The Coconut Cream Pie is chock-full of fresh-grated coconut stuffed into a homemade pastry crust. ($)

MEL'S HOT DOGS, 4136 E. Busch Blvd., Tampa; (813) 985-8000. The hot dog is as much a part of life as breathing air, and Mel's - quite frankly - is king. Mel's dogs are created by Chicago's Vienna Beef Company from kosher-style whole beef cuts and contain no chicken, pork or soy bean. The beef is slowly smoked, so the casing "pops" when bitten into. Highly recommended is the Mighty Mel Hot Dog, a quarter-pound tuber on a poppy seed bun complemented with piquant relish, mustard and thinly sliced pickles. The basket includes a very good and generous portion of French fries, and wholesome-tasting coleslaw or oven-baked beans. ($)

PANE RUSTICA BAKERY & CAFE, 3225 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa; (813) 902-8828. This quaint south Tampa eatery continues to bake a reputation as the hottest Bohemian breadsmith around, and it recently added dinner to the mix. Pastas are a specialty, such as the Giant Open Faced Seafood Ravioli. Good choices include Cedar Roasted Salmon, spinach and chicken lasagna, pan-seared Filet Medallions, and stuffed Quail and Sausage. Be sure to check out the flatbread pizzas. ($-$$)

PINK FLAMINGO CAFE, 304 E. Davis Blvd., Tampa; (813) 251-2928. Breakfast starts at 7 a.m. on weekdays and includes about a dozen gut-busters. On the rich side is the Crab Cake Benedict, which replaces the traditional Canadian bacon with crab, and comes with home fries, hash browns or grits. Typical lunch specials are a tasty Broccoli and Chicken Alfredo Pasta, made with a buttery sauce that lingers over the florets and angel hair. The Spinach and Artichoke Quesadilla comes with a pair of crisp tortillas stuffed with sauteed spinach leaves, diced 'chokes, aromatic basil, garlic, tomatoes and Parmesan and mozzarella. Sandwich choices include the delicious Grilled Island Club. ($)

RUBEN'S CUBANS, 4941 E. Busch Blvd., Temple Terrace; (813) 989-2178. This friendly neighborhood deli and cafe specializes in sandwiches and hearty Latin fare at reasonable prices. In addition to its namesake, you'll also find roast pork, corned beef, ham and Swiss, roast beef, turkey club, Reuben, pastrami, steak, meatball, B.L.T., tuna, egg and ham salad. Entrees include tasty platters of yellow rice, black beans and plantains with a choice of roast pork, picadillo, palomilla steak or lemon pepper chicken. ($)

SAVVY JACK'S, 11401 N. 56th St. (in the Terrace Oaks Plaza), Temple Terrace; (813) 914-8804. This breakfast and lunch spot specializes in gourmet sandwiches, hot entrees and desserts. Sandwich choices include the Beef Chardonnay and the Virginia Ham Dijon, both topped with sauteed mushrooms; the Turkey Jack, a thin-sliced gobbler covered with melted jack cheese; a garlic-pressed Cuban; and a creamy turkey pecan salad sandwich with a side of cranberry sauce. Catfish comes three ways: pecan breaded and pan fried, blackened or grilled, served with two sides and a hot biscuit. Sides include red bliss potato salad, coleslaw, broccoli medley, cinnamon baked beans, cinnamon spiced apples, Greek potato salad, garlic home fries and a vegetable of the day. Try the apple pecan pie, cheese cake or brownies. ($)

SCHILLER'S DELI, 4327 El Prado Blvd., Tampa; (813) 839-6666. This German deli ranks high for simplicity and freshness in its sandwiches. Favorites include the Reuben, with fine quality sauerkraut and corned beef; the Bavarian, with Black Forest ham and Swiss; and the Schiller's U-Boat, with its variety of German cold cuts. ($)

WOODY'S FAMOUS GREEK SALADS AND GOURMET SANDWICHES, 1722 S. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa; (813) 254-2806. This south Tampa eatery specializes in deli sandwiches, homemade soups and an array of salads. Sandwiches include the Festivale (turkey breast on a toasted croissant with cranberry sauce, mayo, lettuce and cucumbers) and the Bleu Max (rare roast beef with a blue cheese sauce, garnished with lettuce, tomato, cucumber and sweet onion). In the mood for roughage? Try the Famous Greek, with lettuce, Greek potato salad, tomatoes, cucumbers, Greek olives, peppers, feta cheese, shrimp, beet, radish and scallion with Greek vinaigrette. ($)

WRAPPERS COURTYARD CAFE, 13505 Icot Blvd., Clearwater; (727) 531-5319. This indoor-outdoor restaurant has the ambience of a quaint European cafe, complete with beautiful tile work, a serene fountain and lush greenery. The menu focuses on healthful food, including more than a dozen wraps, salads, sandwiches and gourmet pizzas. Desserts and gourmet coffees round out the menu. ($)

WRIGHT'S GOURMET HOUSE, 1200 S. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa; (813) 253-3838. The place to pick up desserts when you want people to think they're homemade. In addition to concocting the yummiest sweets this side of heaven, this crew whips up one of the best Cuban sandwiches anywhere. Hot entrees, served cafeteria style, add to a slate of sandwiches that are standouts for their fresh ingredients. Not cheap, but worth the investment. ($-$$)

AMERICAN

ALLEY CAT'S CAFE, 2475 McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater; (727) 797-5555. Yes, meow memorabilia is wall-to-wall at this strip mall restaurant, and some dishes have feline names such as Black Cat Pasta. But it's the good food that keeps people coming back. The ingredients at this meandering bar/restaurant are fresh, and the staff is very tuned in to a diner's needs. For an appetizer, try the portobello quesadilla, four large wedges filled with melted cheeses and red peppers in addition to the beef-like mushrooms. The arugula salad (mixed greens with walnuts, bleu cheese and sliced apples in a lemon-olive oil dressing) is wonderful. Those with bigger appetites will enjoy the Top Cat, a 10-ounce sirloin with a Parmesan-topped broiled tomato. ($)

THE BALLYHOO GRILL, 7604 Ehrlich Road, Tampa (Citrus Park); (813) 926-2149. The Ballyhoo serves its seafood with a Florida flair, but that's not the only reason folks keep returning to this Citrus Park eatery. Daily lunch specials and a comfortable atmosphere make the Ballyhoo Grill a popular escape for seafood and steak lovers. The restaurant is a raw bar, too, offering oysters and steamed clams. Sandwiches, salads and hearty pastas also are served. ($)

BAHAMA BREEZE, 3045 N. Rocky Point Drive E., Tampa (north side of Courtney Campbell Parkway); (813) 289-7922. This restaurant in the Darden Restaurants Inc. chain, which also operates Olive Garden and Red Lobster, is a Tampa magnet. The outdoor bar is packed during the weekends. The restaurant offers a hearty selection of all-American staples - seafood, chicken, beef and pork - with a Caribbean accent. Large portions and moderate prices keep customers returning. There's live music seven nights a week. ($)

BAR LOUIE, 2223 N. West Shore Blvd., Tampa (at International Plaza); (813) 874-1919. Watching the Bucs implode isn't such a bad thing if you are chowing down on a burger and sipping a Guinness stout. Even without the football, consider it a done deal at Bar Louie in International Plaza. High-end television screens and good grub are the ticket here, including the Muffaletta sandwich, the PLT, and the gut-busting Black Angus burger. Beers on tap are musts: John Courage Amber, McEwann's, Sierra Nevada, Kirin, Pilsner Urquell, Yuengling and Boddingtons. ($)

BELLARTE, in the Radisson hotel, 12600 Roosevelt Blvd., St. Petersburg; (727) 572-7800. Hotel restaurants often can be an indigestible proposition, but that's not the case at Bellarte, one of the area's finer exceptions to the rule. This casually elegant restaurant prepares a piquant leek and potato soup, a tasty sirloin Carpaccio with capers and a lemon-truffle cream; fresh medallions of Tuna au Poivre; a hearty boneless Pork Chop; and for big appetites, the Mixed Grill trio of filet mignon, salmon and grouper served with lobster mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables. Seafood lovers shouldn't miss the Coquilles St. Jacques, large sauteed sea scallops in a heavenly Mornay sauce with black truffle duchess potatoes. ($$)

BOB HEILMAN'S BEACHCOMBER, 447 Mandalay Ave., Clearwater Beach; (727) 442-4144. The Beachcomber is a hit with both tourists and locals. Seafood is usually a wise choice, but the house specialty here is a traditional fried chicken dinner. ($$)

CABANA BAR & GRILL, 1590 Gulf Blvd., Sand Key in Clearwater; (727) 595-1807. Romance isn't on the menu, but with a setting like Cabana Grill & Bar, it's inevitable. The beachside restaurant offers music, spectacular sunsets and a view of the water. Tables are yards from the Gulf of Mexico, but diners can get even closer by opting for outside deck seating. Start with six grilled flatbreads served with a trio of toppings including oysters, Crimini mushrooms, goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes. As far as entrees, the pan-roasted Key West Snapper is a winner: a delicate, perfectly cooked fillet topped with passion fruit beurre blanc sauce and accompanied by asparagus. ($$$)

THE CAPITAL GRILLE, Bay Street at International Plaza, 2223 N. West Shore Blvd., Tampa; (813) 830-9433. The Capital Grille's menu is eclectic and contemporary, emphasizing steaks, seafood and poultry. The restaurant prides itself on serving prime, dry-aged meat, prized by steak aficionados because it gives the beef a more intense flavor. The signature 24-ounce porterhouse is served on a heated platter with a splash of au jus. For lunch, you can't go wrong with the half-roasted chicken. ($$$)

THE COLONNADE, 3401 Bayshore Blvd., Tampa; (813) 839-7558. This restaurant is a Tampa tradition. It is the place where generations of families have gone for Sunday lunch, and young diners might go to impress a first date. It has arguably the best view of Hillsborough Bay and downtown Tampa of any restaurant in the city. The family-owned establishment has been in business since 1935, and it shows with their successful formula of consistent food, fine bar and good service. The menu is large; try the oysters Rockefeller, the grouper Oscar and the fresh-baked Key lime pie. ($$)

FRESCO'S WATERFRONT BAR & GRILL, 300 Second Ave. N.E., St. Petersburg; (727) 894-4429. If location is everything, Fresco's should stay afloat for a long time. Formerly the Black Opal and Apropos, the building sits on the edge of the city marina, a stone's throw from the Vinoy resort and Museum of Fine Arts. Outdoor tables overlook a waterscape of sailboat slips, and diners enjoy cool evening breezes. Salads are deftly prepared and benefit from subtle homemade dressings, including the Insalata Della Casa. Entrees worth devouring are the Osso Buco, a large braised veal shank drenched in a wine reduction with mushrooms; fresh halibut with mashed potatoes and artichokes; blackened ahi tuna; and a whopping 21-ounce pork chop. ($$-$$$)

THE FRONT PORCH GRILLE, 5924 N. Florida Ave., Tampa; (813) 237-5511. This cozy eatery serves Sunday brunch as well as lunch and dinner. The menu features all-American favorites such as pot roast, burgers, pasta and salads. Then there's a bit of international flair with shepherd's pie, Cuban pork with black beans, chicken or eggplant parmigiana, and Thai chicken pizza. ($-$$)

GRILLSMITH, 2539 Countryside Blvd., Clearwater (in Countryside Square), (727) 726-6061; 1108 S. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, (813) 250-3850. This casual restaurant features New American food (the menu was created by Mise en Place's Marty Blitz) cooked on a fire - a gas grill for steaks, baby-back ribs, salmon and chicken with applewood smoked bacon. The eclectic menu also features grouper sandwiches, cheeseburgers, salads and dishes made with Creole sauces, Latin seasonings and Mediterranean mushrooms. Chocolate Cheesecake with raspberry sauce and whipped cream is a grand finale. (Consult phone directory for other locations.) ($$)

HARVEY'S 4TH STREET GRILL, 3121 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg; (727) 821-6516. Harvey's 4th Street Grill is the cool, comfortable alternative to Tampa Bay's fast-food wasteland. And its top-notch cuisine - at surprisingly affordable prices - will keep you coming back time and time again. Harvey's is always concerned about quality, and even the appetizers are prepared with care. Harvey's isn't just a restaurant. It's a casual and friendly neighborhood tavern that's perfect for watching the big game or gathering with friends for happy hour. There's even a late-night menu for those on the go and a Sunday brunch for late-risers. ($)

HATTRICKS, 107 S. Franklin St., Tampa; (813) 225-4288. Business folks are leaving their brown bags at home these days and heading to Hattricks for lunch. Shepherd's pie is Hattricks' pride and joy. Served piping hot, it's chock-full of ground sirloin, carrots, mashed potatoes and Guinness Stout gravy, topped with sizzling cheese. Daily specials also are popular. And there's plenty of sports action on the overhead monitors. ($)

JIMMY GUANA'S, 401 Second St., Indian Rocks Beach; (727) 595-8356. This casual waterside eatery offers breakfast, lunch and dinner in a tropical atmosphere. Shrimp is a specialty here. Peel and eat Shrimp Margaritaville comes boiled in a spicy seasoning. The delicious Island Coconut Shrimp is dipped in an orange-coconut batter and deep fried. Sandwiches include mahi-mahi and chicken (grilled or blackened) and an unusual yet tasty hoagie-style portobello cheese sandwich with sauteed mushrooms, peppers and onions. You'll also find pizza, pasta and salads. ($)

MAGNOLIA GRILLE, 600 Alternate 19 N., Palm Harbor; (727) 789-5464. This small cafe in old Palm Harbor specializes in Southern cooking. The menu features all types of scrumptious dishes, including fried chicken and fried green tomatoes, along with lumpy mashed potatoes and collard greens. Made-from-scratch desserts include peach, cherry and apple cobbler, pecan pie and hot fudge cake. ($-$$)

McDIVOT'S, 10706 Countryway Blvd., Tampa; (813) 814-9394. This seafood and raw bar has a sports motif and more than a dozen televisions. The menu is not extensive but offers a decent variety and a children's menu. Burgers and grilled sandwiches are generous and served with deliciously spicy curly fries. The deli sandwiches are whoppers, too, such as a piled-high grilled Reuben, baked ham and cheese, hot pastrami and BLT. But McDivot's specialty is wings, which come with your choice of 13 sauces, from honey barbecue to sweet and sour. Raw bar choices include oysters, steamed clams, peel and eat shrimp and Alaskan snow crab legs. ($)

MICHAEL'S GRILL, 11720 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa; (813) 964-8334. This is a friendly spot for fresh, high-quality seafood appetizers and entrees. Chef-owner Michael Reilly's personal touches make this restaurant a fine stop for savory crab cakes, She-Crab Bisque, Dream Baked Scallops and Chicken Little. Attractive desserts are too good to pass up. ($$)

MIDTOWN SUNDRIES, 200 First Ave. S. at Second Street South, downtown St. Petersburg; (727) 502-0222. This trendy yet casual restaurant and bar has plenty of billiard tables and lots of TV sets for sports fans. Start with Nachos Supreme with chicken or chili, a Grilled Chicken Quesadilla or grouper nuggets. Specialty sandwiches include Smothered Chicken, a juicy fillet topped with grilled onions, peppers, mushrooms and provolone cheese; French dip; Cajun chicken; and grilled tuna steak. If it's a full dinner you're after, you won't be disappointed in the entrees, from steak and ribs to seafood and pasta. ($)

MIMIS CAFE, 11702 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa; (813) 265-4460. Mimis serves all-American fare with a sprinkling of Crescent City dishes. The kitchen charbroils a 14-ounce rib-eye steak, braises meat loaf with hickory barbecue sauce, roasts turkey with cornbread dressing, and grills beef liver with mushrooms. There are six different burgers, plus sandwiches, pastas and salads. The West Coast Reuben is topped with tangy coleslaw instead of sauerkraut. Chicken Stir Fry comes in both Chinese and Thai style. Chicken Pot Pie is a favorite, with a tender pastry blanket. ($)

THE OAKS BAR & GRILL, 108 S. Lithia Pinecrest Road, Brandon; (813) 685-5257. Kick back and enjoy steaks, seafood, sandwiches, salads and pub grub at this casual, tin-roofed eatery. Fans swirl above diners on the enclosed wrap-around porch, and the bar sits at the center of the large, rambling Key West-style house. The specialty is a half-pound grouper sandwich on Texas toast, served fried, blackened or grilled. Lighter appetites should try the tasty Caribbean chicken salad, topped with pineapple rings and the restaurant's own Caribbean sauce. ($)

PALM RESTAURANT, 205 WestShore Plaza, at West Shore and Kennedy boulevards, Tampa; (813) 849-7256. High-end steaks and seafood grace the menu at this upscale chain. Indulge in huge Nova Scotia lobsters, prime aged steaks, chops or Italian favorites such as Veal Marsala. All Palm locations are decorated with caricatures and photos, from local politicians to pop-culture icons. ($$$)

PRESS BOX, 222 S. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa; (813) 876-3528. One of Tampa's better sports bars, with big-screen TV, huge Home Run Burgers, lots of cold beer and zesty service. Relief Pitcher specialities include a darn good Texas-style Hearty Chili, and the Buffalo Wings are appropriately spicy. Hearty sandwiches are killers. ($)

THE RINGSIDE CAFE, 2742 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg; (727) 894-8465. Originally a boarding house and later a boxing club, the Ringside Cafe has blossomed into one of St. Petersburg's more popular attractions. The Ringside boasts some of the best cuisine you'll find at any Tampa Bay area nightclub. Its extensive, eclectic menu offers an array of mouthwatering dishes. Nearly all the items at the Ringside are homemade, including the soups, pot pies and even some of the salad dressings. ($)

SALT ROCK GRILL, 19325 Gulf Blvd., Indian Shores; (727) 593-7625. Chef Tom Pritchard has found the formula for packing in the crowds. Giant steaks and seafood cooked over a wood-fired grill keeps them coming back. Order the Fire Roasted Lobster Tail or the Flair of the Grill (filet, pork, shrimp and lamb chops). Much of the seating (and the patio) offers a view of the Intracoastal Waterway. A dock offers space for those who visit by boat. ($$)

STONEWOOD TAVERN & GRILL, 17050 Palm Pointe Drive (in The Pointe at Tampa Palms), Tampa; (813) 978-0388. The menu at this bustling chain restaurant will please fans of seafood and juicy red meats. The plump New York Strip, filet mignon and other steaks are hand-cut and aged three weeks or more. Other finds are Pacific Cliffs Salmon, Pork Adirondack and Herb-Encrusted Lamb. Save room for dessert: Mint Chocolate Crepe (homemade crepe and ice cream), Florida Key lime pie with kiwi sauce and Creme Brulee Cheesecake guarantee happy endings. ($$)

STUMP'S SUPPER CLUB, 615 Channelside Drive, Tampa; (813) 226-2261. Part of this restaurant's draw appears to be its decor: Stump's tacky taste mirrors a 1970s Holiday Inn lounge. The owners share their sense of fun with a classless cornucopia of kitsch from flea markets and novelty shops. Much of the menu, however, tastes purdy darn good, grub that sticks to the gut without denting the wallet. Don't come here expecting haute cuisine. Stump's serves Southern supper, bodacious barbecue, fried (and otherwise) chicken, beef and fish. And, hey, the Southern Caviar is really pimiento cheese dip, so stuff your expectations in the cornbread and wash them down with a cold beer. ($-$$)

WATERCOLOUR STEAKHOUSE AND GRILLE, 1201 Gulf Blvd., Clearwater Beach; (727) 596-1100. This tastefully appointed space on the ground floor of the Marriott Suites on Sand Key focuses on a handful of seafood and beef dishes at the dinner hour, and is a welcome relief to the tourist fare along the beaches. Top choices are the 12-ounce Chilean Sea Bass, certified Black Angus filet mignon (aged 18 to 24 days), Sesame Crusted Tuna, and Cashew Encrusted Grouper. ($$-$$$)

WILD WING CAFE, 9210 Anderson Road, Tampa; (813) 890-9453. Boasting 33 different flavors, this place is almost like an ice cream shop for wing lovers. Indecisive diners can try the 25-piece Wild Wing Sampler Platter, which includes five different flavors in groups of five meaty wings each, or they can stop by during lunch for the all-you-can-eat buffet. Hardcore hotheads will want to go straight for the Braveheart wings - they'll make you glad Wild Wing offers washcloths in place of napkins; you'll need 'em to wipe the sweat off your brow. Ribs, wraps, soups and salads round out the menu. Try the outdoor deck, outfitted with a full bar, when the weather's nice. ($-$$)

WINNERS GRILL, 12060 Anderson Road, Tampa; (813) 963-3200 (check the telephone book for other locations). This casual neighborhood restaurant features nearly 20 TVs, a large bar and walls adorned with vintage sports memorabilia. The hearty burgers are half-pounders and come in several combinations. If you prefer chicken, go for the Buffalo Birdie Sandwich, a fried chicken breast smothered in tangy barbecue sauce and blue cheese. Other favorites are Shepherd's Pie, a crock of seasoned ground beef topped with mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy, and Blackened Chicken Pasta. Rounding out the menu are a half dozen salads, from Chicken Caesar to Cobb and Taco. ($)

YACHT STARSHIP DINING CRUISE, 603 Channelside Drive, Tampa; (813) 223-7999. The StarShip is a good place to celebrate a birthday or anniversary, and the cruise offers waterside views that change by the minute. Diners are served a three-course meal, with an entree choice of chicken, beef, lamb or seafood. Best bets include moist Mediterranean Salmon, accented with basil and garlic and served over wilted spinach; and Seafood Fra Diablo, shrimp, scallops and mussels in a spicy marinara sauce atop fettuccine. ($$$)

Feeder's Digest is a weekly compendium of Bay area restaurants visited anonymously and recommended by Tribune restaurant critics. Prices are per couple for three courses, with a glass of wine each (where applicable) before tip and taxes.

$ means $30 or less

$$ means $30 to $60

$$$ means more than $60

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