need rec for Englewood & Tampa, FL restaurants

We will be in Englewood and then up to Tampa, FL later this month. Would appreciate any suggestions for restaurants in those areas.

For something a little different, get off the mainland south of Englewood and head west (over a toll causeway) to Gasparilla Island (north of both Sanibel and Captiva Islands) and go to the famous (at least to the snowbird blue-bloods annually flocking to the place each winter) Gasparilla Inn for lunch in the heart of Boca Grande. A great road trip and an even better lunch spot!

I live in Tampa......for breakfast,go to SUBWORLD on N.Dale Mabrey Highway.....great 'trencherman' food,omelets are superb, no atmosphere at all but the friendliest place around......for dinner, go north about 1/2 mile and get yourself to O'Briens Pub, great burgers,fish and chips and lovely draught beers.....stay away from 'shells' sam seltzers and all the others.....if you get drunk, we have wafflehouses and krystalburgers.....for pizza, there is one dynamite place,owned by a guy from brooklyn,no atmosphere but what a pie!(by the slice as well) it is called Alphonso's and is on the corner of Bearrs and Florida avenues

I've been to Tampa once in my life, which of course makes me an expert.

I loved Bern's Steak House. Touristy, perhaps, but really good. It's discussed elsewhere on this site.

You should really go to Bern Steak House for a once in a life time experience .......that is the upper end........and every Cuban restaurant that we have ever been to in that area has those wonderful Cuban sandwiches!

all good advice but I am not a big fan of Berns, good and expensive steaks,the decor resembles a Roman Brothel, I would go to Charlies on westshore drive if money is not a problem or perhaps "Shula's', which has good food all around,not just their steaks, which is the case at Bern's.....as for cuban sandwiches, it is difficult to find a bad one, best to ask a local and you'll be steered to some 'out of the limelight' little joint of their choosing...everyone eats Cuban's down here

My favorite place for Cuban food is La Terrasita, which may be on the Florida restaurant list. It has a counter on one side of the restaurant and sit down tables on the other side. On Columbus Drive, just south of Raymond James stadium and just a few blocks east of Dale Mabry.

Good Chicago style hot dogs with fries at Mel's on Busch Blvd, east of the theme park.

Thanks everyone for your recommendations. Leaving the 26th. A lot of mixed reviews about Bern's.... Maybe we'll check it out. I'll report back when we return.

Even if you don't go to Bern's for dinner - go to the Dessert Room - make sure your VISA card is not full. Everyone has to go to Bern's once. On the weekends, O'Briens pub has the best prime rib! And for less than $15. Practically every gas station deli in town makes a great Cuban sandwich (they have to). The best Cuban restaurants are the ones that "aren't on the maps."

After debarking a cruise ship in Tampa Thanksgiving week we want to have the very best "cuban sandwich" in Tampa. Where should we go?

On Sanibel Island, we encountered a little place in a marina called Gramma Dot's ... awesome fish.

I hope it survived the storm.

http://www.sanibelmarina.com/gramma.htm

Tampa has one of the neatest restaurants, called Skipper's Smoke House. www.skipperssmokehouse.com

Outstanding seafood, ribs, wings, etc. Excellent concerts as well. Outdoor concerts. I saw Hot Tuna back in February there and the place is real funky, downhome, and fun. I highly recommend!!

carl reitz

quote:

Originally posted by carlton pierre

Tampa has one of the neatest restaurants, called Skipper's Smoke House. www.skipperssmokehouse.com

Outstanding seafood, ribs, wings, etc. Excellent concerts as well. Outdoor concerts. I saw Hot Tuna back in February there and the place is real funky, downhome, and fun. I highly recommend!!

carl reitz

Looks like a real fun place but what we really want is a great cuban sandwich for a couple that have never had one ecxept for the ones I have made, which cannot compare because we cannot get the right bread in this area,

Oh! Hmmm! I wish I had been better at jotting down some of the places I've eaten. In Tampa, I stayed at a La Quinta hotel, literally right off I-4 about 2 or 3 exits beyond where I-275 splits & becomes I-4, on the left side if you're heading west. I drove around the block from the hotel, a rather seedy area, and found a real hole in the wall Cuban place that had excellent Cubans.
Another suggestion would be to go to Ybor City, there's bound to be a good Cuban place there.

carl reitz

quote:

Originally posted by chezkatie

After debarking a cruise ship in Tampa Thanksgiving week we want to have the very best "cuban sandwich" in Tampa. Where should we go?

For a Cuban, try Alessi on Cypress, not far from downtown. You'll drool over the beautiful pastries too. Treat yourselves!

quote:

Originally posted by chezkatie

After debarking a cruise ship in Tampa Thanksgiving week we want to have the very best "cuban sandwich" in Tampa. Where should we go?

Deli News Cafe!
Try this one if you can, it's a little above Clearwater I think. We ate there on recommendation. Excellent! Deli News Cafe, 680 Main St., Dunedin, FL 34698
Also, when we were staying at Indian Rocks Beach we had a good Cuban Sammie at the TAcky Turtle. Good sandwich, good soup and a good guy who runs it. The area has the feel of old Florida to it. But the Deli News tasted like a more authentic sandwich, and I would have to rate it better. Then drive on up to Tarpon Springs for some great Greek Food. Opa!

Leslie, I read in another thread that Ybor City claims to have invented the Cuban. No restaurant names mentioned, but you might want to look into that area.

carl reitz

quote:

Originally posted by carlton pierre

Leslie, I read in another thread that Ybor City claims to have invented the Cuban. No restaurant names mentioned, but you might want to look into that area.

carl reitz

Carlton, Thanks. I hope to be back in that area sometime before Xmas.
My sister lives in Cedar Key and the drive down to Tampa and Ybor is not more than a couple hours. We'll check it out.