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While there are certainly plenty of restaurants to choose from along the coastline, the ones I’ve listed are all, in their own way, family-friendly. All offer a casual atmosphere where you would feel comfortable bringing the kids, a varied menu with at least a handful of choices that would be appropriate for the kids, and a location not too far from the hotels and beaches. So even if you have to drive, it shouldn’t take more than a few minutes.
A Note: Personal experience has taught me that some of the best restaurants are also some of the most unpretentious. It’s the little family-owned diners and small cafes that often have the best food, friendliest service, and most reasonable prices, not to mention the most family-appropriate atmosphere.
Another Note: Many of the casual restaurants along the coast also cater to the young adult crowd with bars, drink specials, and a party atmosphere. For the most part I haven’t listed these since most would be inappropriate for children. This isn’t to say that some of the restaurants listed wouldn’t appeal to the young adult crowd, but rather that the restaurant’s overall atmosphere is geared more to casual dining than to partying.
The Restaurants:
The Friendly Fisherman Seafood Restaurant
***
$-$$
Specialty: Seafood and American (kids’ menu)
Appropriate for families with kids of all ages
Location: 150 John’s Pass Boardwalk, John’s Pass Village
Phone: 727-391-6025
Web site: www.friendlyfishermanrestaurant.com
The Friendly Fisherman serves up breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a casual waterfront setting. Located at John’s Pass Boardwalk, this restaurant gives you a bird’seye view of the marina. Be sure to keep watch as the boats head in and out, and you may even see a dolphin playing about the waters. The main fare, of course, is seafood, but a few landlubber meals (including steak, burgers, and chicken) are available as well.
The kids can choose from a list of favorites, including hot dogs, burgers, spaghetti, grilled cheese, chicken tenders, shrimp, and even shark bites. Catch-of-the-day takes on a whole new meaning at this restaurant. If you’ve been out fishing (but only on one of the charters at the boardwalk), bring your catch along, and they’ll clean it and cook it up to order for just a few dollars.
Hours: Monday through Thursday 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 7:00 a.m.- 11:00 p.m.
Crabby Bills (two locations)
**
$-$$
Specialty: Seafood (kids’ menu)
Appropriate for families with kids of all ages
Location: 37 Causeway Blvd., Clearwater Beach
Phone: 727-442-2163
and
5100 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach
Phone: 727-360-8858
Web site (for both locations): www.crabbybills.com
Crabs are the specialty, of course, but appetizers, salads, sandwiches, pasta, and platters are on the menu too. Kids can choose from burgers, chicken fingers, spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, fish, and shrimp.
The Clearwater location is by far the larger of the two. It is located adjacent to the Clearwater Marina and is just a short walk across the street to the beach and Pier 60.
The St. Pete Beach restaurant is located right on the beach, just down a bit from the TradeWinds Island Grand Resort. The atmosphere in both is very casual with both indoor and outdoor seating available. The Clearwater location offers great views of both the marina and the beach.
Hours: Monday through Thursday: 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Friday and Saturday: 11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.; Sunday: noon to 10:00 p.m.
Sea Critters Cafe
**
Specialty: Seafood and American (kids’ menu)
Appropriate for families with kids over 6
Location: 2007 Pass a Grill Way, St. Pete Beach (just a minute or two below the Don Cesar)
Phone: 727-360-3706
Web site: www.seacritterscafe.com
With Jimmy Buffet and the Beach Boys playing in the background, the atmosphere is definitely causal Key West. You have a choice of eating outside along the waterfront either deckside or dockside, and of course you can eat inside if you prefer. The menu is full of salads, sandwiches, and seafood galore, with a handful of choices for the kids as well. Be sure to arrive in time for the catfish feeding frenzy--the kids will get a big kick out of it. There is even complimentary valet parking.
Hours: Sunday through Thursday: 11:30 a.m.-9:00 p.m.; Friday and Saturday: 11:30 a.m.- 10:00 p.m.
Captain Al’s Waterfront Bar & Grill
**
$-$$
Specialty: Seafood and American (kids’ menu)
Appropriate for families with kids of any age
Location: at the Pier (on the waterfront), St. Petersburg
Phone: 727-898-5800
Web site: www.captainalsresturant.com
This casual restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the water. The colorful décor, casual atmosphere, and views out over the Gulf make this a very appropriate choice with kids along. The menu includes an array of appetizers, soups, salads, specialty sandwiches, and more. Entrées include seafood, pasta, steak and chicken. There is plate sharing for a small charge in addition to a kids’ menu of burgers, spaghetti, fish, and chicken fingers.
GiGi’s Italian Restaurant
**
$-$$
Specialty: Italian (kids menu)
Appropriate for families with kids of all ages
Location: 4399 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach
Phone: 727-363-3344
Website: www.foodplace.net/gigis/
This casual little Italian eatery offers plenty of favorites for everyone in the family. Located just down from the TradeWinds Island Grand Resort, it’s only minutes from almost anywhere in St. Pete Beach. The menu is fairly extensive and offers something for everybody – including the kids.
Frenchy’s Café (the original)
**
$
Specialty: Seafood and American
Appropriate for families with kids of all ages
Location: 41 Baymont St., Clearwater Beach
Phone: 727-446-3607
Web site: www.frenchysonline.com
Dine indoors or on the deck on sandwiches, burgers, and appetizers in a very casual café atmosphere.
Hours: Monday through Thursday 11:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m.; Friday & Saturday 11:30 until midnight; Sunday from noon until 11:00 p.m.
 Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill & Beach Club
**
$
Specialty: Seafood/American
Appropriate for families with kids of all ages
Location: 7 Rockaway St., Clearwater Beach
Phone: 727-446-4844
Web site: www.frenchysonline.com
You can eat your salads, burgers, sandwiches, or seafood right on the sandy beachfront of Clearwater Beach.
Hours: Sunday through Thursday 11:00 a.m.-midnight; Friday and Saturday 11:00 a.m.- 1:00 a.m.
Frenchy’s Saltwater Café
**
$
Specialty: Seafood/American
Appropriate for families with kids of all ages
Location: 419 Poinsettia Ave., Clearwater Beach
Phone: 727-461-6295
Web site: www.frenchy’sonline.com
Indoor and outdoor dining is available, with picnic tables throughout the restaurant adding to the very casual and friendly atmosphere.
Hours: Monday to Saturday: 11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.; Sundays: noon-11.00 p.m.
Frenchy’s Southbeach Cafe (the latest addition)
**
$
Specialty: Seafood/American
Appropriate for families with kids of all ages
Location: 351 S. Gulfview Blvd. Clearwater Beach
Phone: 727-441-9991
With great views of the beach and water, you can enjoy dining on seafood, sandwiches, and specialties.
Hours: Daily 11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.
Starlite Diner
***
$
Specialty: American (kids menu)
Appropriate for families with kids of all ages
Location: 5200 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach
Phone: 727-363-0434
Website: none
The Starlite is a fifties-style diner complete with red vinyl upholstery and vintage signs decorating the walls. Home-style favorites like Salisbury steak, meatloaf, and pork chops are served along with plenty of other family favorites – all served up in a casual friendly atmosphere.
Sculleys on the Boardwalk and the Hut on the Waterfront
**
$-$$
Specialty: Seafood/American (kids menu at the Hut only)
Best for families with kids ages 5 and up though appropriate for kids of all ages
Location: 190 John’s Pass Boardwalk, Madeira Beach
Phone: 727-393-7749
Website: www.sculleys.com
Dining is dockside at Scullys, with seating both inside and out. The atmosphere and menu here are more appropriate for older kids (over 10 or 12 or so) and adults - families with younger kids will likely find the Hut more appropriate for their needs. From seafood to sandwiches and burgers, there's something for everybody. The Hut offers a more tropical setting, with palms, waterfalls, open-air patio-style dining, and daily live entertainment. Keep in mind however that later in the evening the restaurant takes on a more party style atmosphere – I would recommend dining before 8:00 p.m. with younger kids along.
Hours: 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
Woody’s Waterfront Grill
**
Appropriate for families with kids of all ages
Specialty: Seafood/American (kids menu)
Appropriate for families with kids of all ages
Location: 7308 Sunset Way (on the waterfront), St. Pete Beach
Phone: 727-360-9165
Website: none
Open-air along the waterfront with picnic tables and umbrellas filling the deck. Burgers and seafood are the fare.
Hours:
Skidders Restaurant
***
Appropriate for families with kids of all ages
Specialty: Greek/American (kids menu)
Casual
Location: 5799 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach
Phone: 727-360-1029
An extensive menu and Greek specialties are the features at this unassuming casual eatery, not to mention the especially friendly service. No matter which meal they’re serving, the seemingly endless choices are bound to please everyone in the family.
Hours: 7:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. daily
Britt’s Beachside Cafe
**
$-$$
Appropriate for families with kids of all ages
Specialty: Seafood/American (kids’ menu)
Beach casual
Location: 201 S. Gulfview Blvd., Clearwater Beach
Phone: 727-461-5185
The choices are endless for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Just a sampling includes wraps, gourmet pizza, seafood, pasta, and steak, all of which are served up indoors or out in a beach casual atmosphere.
Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. daily
Britt’s Laguna Grill
**
$-$$
Appropriate for families with kids of all ages
Specialty: Seafood/American (kids menu)
Casual
Location: 309 Gulfview Blvd., Clearwater Beach
Phone: 727-445-1755
Located just across from the beach, the view from the deck allows you to soak in all the seaside sunshine. There’s seating both indoors and out, and the menu includes salads, sandwiches, steaks, seafood, appetizers, and pasta.
Hours: 11:00 a.m. to midnight daily
Something Different
If you looking for a more unique dining experience, just a few minutes’ drive from St. Pete Beach (and ever so slightly off the beaten path) in Gulfport is the Habana Café.
Featuring Cuban specialties, some with a bit of a twist, this casual, friendly restaurant is just the place to go for good food and a very casual, relaxing atmosphere. The food is among the most authentic around (and quite tasty I must say) and well worth the few minutes drive.
The Habana Café
***
Specialty: Cuban (kids menu)
Appropriate for families with kids of all ages
Location: 5402 Gulfport Blvd., Gulfport
Phone: 727-321-8855
Web site: www.habanacafe-usa.com
Hours: Monday through Thursday 11:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11:00 a.m.- 10:00 p.m.
Here are a few additional and familiar favorites just off the main beachfront. They’re located only about 10-15 minutes from Clearwater Beach and about a half hour or so from St. Pete Beach.
Tia’s Tex Mex
Location: 2680 Gulf to Bay Blvd., Clearwater (across from the Clearwater Mall)
Phone: 813-797-5523
Joe’s Crabshack
Location: 2730 Gulf to Bay Blvd., Clearwater
Phone: 727-799-8530
Roadhouse Grill
Location: 2630 Gulf to Bay Blvd., Clearwater
Phone: 727-712-3222
Smokey Bones
Location: 2693 Gulf to Bay Blvd., Clearwater
Phone: 727-712-1930
Kobe Japanese Steakhouse
Location: 28775 U.S. Highway 19, Clearwater
Phone: 727-791-1888
Romano’s Macaroni Grill
Location: 28795 U.S. Highway 19, Clearwater
Phone: 727-726-6676
If you’re in search of a familiar favorite, here are just a few that are just 15 minutes or so away from St. Pete Beach and a half hour or so away from Clearwater Beach:
Carabba’s Italian Grill
Location: 3520 Tyrone Blvd., St. Petersburg
Phone: 727-384-1818
Cody’s Roadhouse
Location: 7022 22nd Ave., St. Petersburg
Phone: 727-345-1022
Outback Steakhouse
Location: 4088 Park St., St. Petersburg
Phone: 727-384-4329
Tia’s Tex Mex
Location: 2250 Tyrone Blvd., St. Petersburg
Phone: 727-302-9667
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