5 Best Places for Barbecue in St. Petersburg, FL 2020

Ribs, wings, sausage, brisket, pulled pork, beans, potato salad and roll at Smoking' J's

Barbecue, especially in the south, is a true art form that many spend years upon years tweaking, adjusting and perfecting. There are four essential classifications of barbecue: Texas, Carolina, Kansas City & Memphis. [Editor's note: There can be a myriad of others, but these are the most well-known.] Each region's style of barbecue varies notably,…

From elementary school to college I celebrated many birthdays of mine and friends at Japanese Steakhouses. It was such a novelty, to watch someone gleefully and impressively cook an entire meal right in front of your eyes, all the while creating onion volcanos and smiley faces out of rice. It’s been many years since I…

Poppo's Taqueria is a popular fast-casual restaurant on Central Ave serving delicious tacos, burritos, bowls and quesadillas with fresh and organic ingredients. There are multiple locations around Florida and aren't we glad they popped up here?! An eye-catcher are their wholesome and delicious menu items from protein to toppings and their homemade tortillas. Poppo's is…

I've always been an adventurous eater ever since I was a kid. If I saw something on a menu that I never had—that's what I would order. Oddly, I never came across any octopus until IL Ritorno opened in early 2014. According to Gordon Food Service Corporate Consulting Chef Gerry Ludwig, 2014 was about the…

Walking into Gratzzi Italian Grille feels like you’ve entered home. Albeit a very upscale and beautifully decorated home, but a location with a familiar sense of place nonetheless, even if one has never visited before. The first aspect of the spacious yet cozy eatery that catches the eye are the high-ceilings, upscale decorations and artwork…

When someone asks me for recommendations on where to eat in St. Pete the list is a mile long with restaurants located Downtown, but there is always one restaurant beyond the Downtown St Pete barriers that makes the list, and that is Noble Crust. Located at the corner of 4th St. North and 83rd Ave…

***PLEASE NOTE THIS LIST IS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER AND IS NOT A RANKING.*** Of our top 10 best Italian restaurants in St. Petersburg, FL, some have been around for many years, some for just a few, and a couple are somewhat new. Another interesting note is that 9 out of 10 provide Southern Italian cuisine,…

I'm not going to lie... it's hard to balance being a food writer and eating healthy. I constantly use my foodie title as an excuse to indulge and say "screw it, I should eat this cookie". If you've read my previous articles, you know I'm completely obsessed with everything sweet and I have a very…

New Additional Location for Grumpy Gringo (Originally published in News on December 3, 2019, we've now updated with a food review.) The good news is that one of our favorite Mexican joints will now be just two blocks away! The bad news is that one of our favorite Mexican joints will now be just two…

The Chicken Sandwich with Grits at The Dewey

When you think of beach dining, a few things probably come to mind: ordinary fried bar bites, cheap beers by the bucket-full, and gaudy Floridian decor. While there is nothing wrong with any of that, as it is often what beach goers are in search of. Therefore, there is certainly something to be said for…

Happy Hour Food & Drink List for Downtown, The Edge District and The Grand Central District *Please note for purposes of this list we consider Downtown up to 22nd Ave N and to 22nd Ave S out to The Edge District at 9th St (MLK Jr. St). The Edge District is also included in this…

Best Romantic Restaurants St Petersburg FL 2020

Best Restaurants for Valentine's Day & Other Romantic Jaunts Whether you're a guy or a gal, it never hurts to have a handy list of romantic restaurants at your fingertips. Valentine's Day is one of the biggies, but there are also anniversaries, birthdays, Mother's Day, and other holidays. In general, it's obviously the overall ambiance.…

I grew up in New Jersey in the 1970s-early 80s. It seems like, back then, that all of my friends were either Jewish, or Italian. Maybe some Irish too. It was old school northeast—New York / New Jersey area. (Cue "The Soparanos" theme music.) I also grew up with an Italian grandmother. It sounds like…

The moment that the famous Dom Pérignon first discovered champagne, he exclaimed, "come quickly, I am tasting the stars!" And Mark Twain bellowed that "too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough." If Dom and Mark were still around today, I'd bet my bottom dollar that they'd both be…

Mio's Grill & Cafe Grilled Meatball Sandwich

This summer Mio's Grill & Cafe quietly opened on 2nd St N and 1st Ave N, where Meze 119 was previously. Mio's is a Turkish/Greek mediterranean inspired restaurant named after the owner's dog aptly named, Mio. To be quite honest, I really wasn't all that excited about it when we first heard about it. And…