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Stop! Don't Pass On These Roadside Eateries

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If you're on the road, be sure to check out these offbeat eateries.

By JEFF HOUCK

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 27, 2008

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If you're in the car this summer and tooling through Flagler Beach, you can't miss digging into the fish Reuben at Snack Jack's.

Go angling in Islamorada and they'll cook up your catch at the Lorelei. Farther west, at the end of the island chain, it would be a crime to miss the Buffalo shrimp made with Florida pinks at Schooners in Key West.

If you're up in Apalachicola, the rolls of paper towels on the picnic tables get a workout at the waterfront Boss Oyster Restaurant, where the eatery's own oyster boat is docked just beyond the screened windows. As they say there, "Shut Up and Shuck."

Florida is a great place to fill the gas tank so you can fill your belly. We asked Tribune employees and some of their well-traveled friends to recommend their favorite road food joints. Here's a starter list - including a few places closer to home where you don't have to empty the tank to enjoy (Click on the map to the right for a larger, detailed map) :

TAMPA BAY

The Fish House - 1505 Shell Point Road W., Ruskin; (813) 641-8372

The Hob Nob - 3355 17th St., Sarasota; (941) 953-4111

Mel's Hot Dogs - 4136 E. Busch Blvd., Tampa; (813) 985-8000

Ted Peters Smoked Fish - 1350 Pasadena Ave. S., St. Petersburg; (727) 381-7931

NORTH FLORIDA

Jerry's Drive-In - 2815 E. Cervantes St., Pensacola; (850) 433-9910

Indian Pass Raw Bar - 8391 County Road C-30A, Port St. Joe; www.indianpassrawbar.com

Eddy Teach's Raw Bar - 240 E. Third St., St. George Island; (850) 927-5050; www.eddyteachs.com

Boss Oyster Restaurant - 123 Water St., Apalachicola; (850) 653-9364. www.apalachicolariverinn.com

The Catfish Pad - 1108 S. Magnolia Drive, Tallahassee; (850) 877-5543

The Burger House - 15 Rodgers Blvd., Chiefland; (352) 493-2687

Cypress Inn Restaurant - U.S. 19 North, Cross City; (352) 498-7211

EAST COAST

Clark's Fish Camp - 12903 Hood Landing Road, Mandarin; (904) 268-3474; www.clarksfishcamp.com

Salt Water Cowboy's - 299 Dondanville Road, St. Augustine; (904) 471-2332; www.saltwatercowboys.com/restaurant.html

Cap's on the Water - 4325 Myrtle St., St. Augustine; (904) 824-8794

High Tides at Snack Jack - 2805 S. Oceanshore Blvd., Flagler Beach; (386) 439-3344; www.snackjacks.com

J.B.'s Fish Camp & Seafood - 859 Pompano Ave., New Smyrna Beach, Sebastian; (386) 427-5747; www.jbsfishcamp.com

Lone Cabbage Fish Camp - 8199 King St., Cocoa; (321) 632-4199

SOUTHWEST COAST

Snook Inn - 1215 Bald Eagle Drive, Marco Island; (239) 394-3313; www.snookinn.com

Little Bar Restaurant - 205 Harbor Drive, Goodland; (239) 394-5663; www.littlebarrestaurant.com

Rusty Duck - 2924 W. Gulf to Lake Highway, Lecanto; (352) 746-6691

SOUTHEAST COAST

Harry & the Natives - 11910 Federal Highway, Hobe Sound; (772) 546-3061; www.harryandthenatives.com

Two Georges Restaurant - 728 Casa Loma Blvd., Boynton Beach; (561) 732-9400; twogeorgesmarina.com/restaurants-hotels.htm

El Pub - 1548 S.W. Eighth St., Miami; (305) 642-9942

FLORIDA KEYS

Lorelei Restaurant & Cabana Bar - 81924 Overseas Highway, Islamorada; (305) 664-4656; www.loreleifloridakeys.com

Schooner Wharf Bar - 202 William St., Key West; (305) 292-3302; www.schoonerwharf.com

Pepe's Cafe & Steakhouse - 806 Caroline St., Key West; (305) 294-7192; www.pepescafe.net

Got a great road food joint to suggest? E-mail jhouck@tampatrib.com, and we'll add it to our map.

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