Florida - Tampa-St. Petersburg Dining Recommendations?

Heading to St.Petersburg for business in a few weeks and I'm looking for some good places to eat. I'm on the company's dime so don't be shy to suggest the best. Staying at the Marriott St. Petersburg Hotel - Clearwater.

Thanks!!

Are you staying in St petersburg or Clearwater? They are a ways apart.

No matter what, Berns is considered a great steak house http://www.bernssteakhouse.com/

The Columbia is another favorite http://www.columbiarestaurant.com/

In Clearwater Beach I like Cooters for a local joint. Great Bloody Mary's and fish spread http://www.cooters.com/ it's not expensive and is a beach bar/restaurant

If you've never done The Melting Pot it's a good night out. There is one in Tampa, St Petersburg and Oldsmar (which is close to Clearwater) http://www.meltingpot.com/locations.aspx?z=33763&n=241178

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I'll second Bern's. They have their own farm where they get a lot of their vegetables. Largest wine listing (6,000 unique wines) in the world. You can also tour the kitchen and the wine cellar. CNN had an article a month ago about how they found a $30,000 bottle recently. Dessert room upstairs is great as well.

If you are interested in some good southern food, you can try Bailey's catering. They are only open 4 days a week (Wed-Sat I believe), and are closed from Thanksgiving to New Years to focus on catering. This is quietly becoming one of the top unique restaurants in the area.

Salt Rock Grill is a pretty good fish place out near the beaches.

La Teresita is a very well known Cuban place in central Tampa (big spot for politicians to stop at). Good, cheap food.

Mazzaro's Italian market in St. Pete is a neat, Italian market where you can get some good food and cannolis.

If price is no object, you must visit Bern's (http://www.bernssteakhouse.com/).

No question, Bern's. Tour the kitchen, tour the largest wine cellar in the world.

After stuffing yourself on great steak and wine, go upstairs to the dessert room (multiple small acloves) and drink more wine and great desserts. Friends of mine will drive the 3 hours there just for dinner every 3-4 months. They always get a hotel near-by because of too much wine.

And yet another recommendation for Bern's. I wish I had reservations for tonight as now I'm in the mood for one of their extra-thick steaks and maybe a bananas foster desert.

a cheap & tasty meal is deviled crab, a dish fairly unique to Tampa and sooooo gooood.

I prefer La Tropicana in Ybor City http://tampabay.citysearch.com/profile/2663693/tampa_fl/la_tropicana.html My pop used to prefer Brocato's or Miranda's

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