With a restaurant around nearly every corner here in St Pete Beach, sometimes it’s difficult to agree upon a dinner option while vacationing at Gulf Strand Resort. While there are several fantastic breakfast and lunch options throughout our beautiful beach community, we’ve hand-selected three of the best restaurants in St Pete Beach that are perfect for a family dinner. All three of our selections are within walking distance of our charming, gulf-view St Pete Beach vacation rentals! Whether you’re hoping to indulge in fresh-caught seafood, a juicy steak, or authentic Italian cuisine, you’ll find precisely what you’re looking for here in sunny St Pete Beach.
1200° Chophouse
Choosing 1200° Chophouse for this list was a no-brainer, thanks to their delightfully juicy seared steaks and fresh seafood. Not only is 1200° Chophouse considered one of the best restaurants in St Pete Beach, but they’re revered throughout the Tampa Bay Area. The elegant, dimly-lit dining room is perfect for any occasion, from an anniversary to a spur-of-the-moment family dinner. While their fresh-caught fish is undeniably delicious, you cannot visit the Chophouse without devouring one of their juicy steaks. Each in-house aged steak is seared “your way” inside a 1200° broiler – the result is a delicious matrimony of presentation, texture, and flavor. Don’t forget to pair your filet mignon, New York strip, or Angus ribeye with a hand-selected bottle of award-winning vino!
MadFish
Another one of the best restaurants in St Pete Beach also rests on lively Gulf Boulevard: MadFish. Don’t let the silver, retro-style diner fool you – MadFish is serving some of the best high-end locally-caught fish in the Tampa Bay Area. Sit inside the classic diner or enjoy your seafood on the street-front patio. MadFish prepares perhaps the best Chilean sea bass on Florida’s Gulf Coast; it’s served with sides of slow-cooked leeks, housemade sunblush tomatoes, and baby shrimp. The mouthwatering swordfish steak, meanwhile, can be cooked two ways: with lemon caper butter or a soy and wasabi sauce. Locals and tourists alike have also fallen in love with the unique lobster-crusted grouper topped with creamy housemade hollandaise.
Buona Ristorante
While Buona Ristorante cannot compete with Chophouse’s steak or MadFish’s seafood, they provide arguably the best Italian cuisine in St Pete Beach. Buona Ristorante is known for their unique deluxe pizzas and al dente pasta. They have several private seating areas for large groups, including a Boca Ciega Bay-view back patio and a lengthy, elegant private dining room. While there’s no denying that they have a wide variety of delicious pasta options, we recommend sharing several of their inexpensive 12-inch pizza pies. Buona Ristorante has simplistic yet delectable pizzas such as the basil pesto or Margherita, but you’ll regret it if you don’t try the “Aromatica Pizza” made with olive tapenade, fresh mozzarella, asparagus, prosciutto, and pink pepper berries.
Charming St Pete Beach vacation rentals
After each full day of beach activities, exhilarating watersports, and delicious local cuisine, retreat to Gulf Strand Resort for a soak in the on-site hot tub, a glorious Gulf of Mexico sunset, and a bottle of wine on your private gulf-view balcony. We’re conveniently located near all of the top things to do in St Pete Beach, including parasailing, deep-sea fishing, and snorkeling. Dial 1-800-628-0053 or visit us online at GulfStrand.com to book a well-deserved family getaway to sunny St Pete Beach!
