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Not long ago, I got to thinking about Tarpon Springs. I have a few memories of the city from when my family first moved to Florida. I realized that although I regularly drive past Tarpon Springs in the course of my bar-hopping adventures, I had yet to explore the city as an adult.
As new residents, we were only one step removed from the average tourist, so most of the time I remember spending in Tarpon was at the Sponge Docks, an area of some historical significance — Tarpon Springs is home to the United States' largest Greek-American community, a result of Greek settlers moving into the area to take advantage of the lucrative sponge-diving business. The Sponge Docks today are more of a tourist destination than a thriving port of industry, and they are home to quite a few interesting bars, restaurants and shops. I grabbed a group of friends and headed out.
The first thing I noticed upon arriving is that the area is fairly small, and thus is quite easy to cover on foot. I would recommend grabbing a parking space and leaving your car there all day — rates range from free to $3 in most cases.
Yianni's Greek Cuisine (514 Dodecanese Blvd., (727) 939-1382; yianniscafeandgrill.com) is a small but busy restaurant with an outdoor patio facing the kitschy Sponge-O-Rama gift shop and a tiny bar inside. Like many places in Tarpon Springs, Yianni's has regular specials on margaritas, and theirs were generously poured and came with a rim lined with blue salt. Yianni's also serves Haraki Cretan Tsikoudia, a Greek version of grappa.
Head down a block and you'll run into Dimitri's on the Water (690 Dodecanese Blvd., (727) 945-9400), a nice and relatively new restaurant with subdued lighting in the dining room and a patio on said water. Dimitri's has a well-stocked bar and a few specialty cocktails, which mostly fall into the novelty category, although some pack quite a punch. The Celebration Dimitri's Delight, a mix of various flavored liquors and cola, is deceptively sweet and easy-drinking, despite being absolutely loaded with booze. You might want to grab an appetizer.
Near the Sponge Exchange shopping center, you'll find Hellas Restaurant (785 Dodecanese Blvd., (727) 943-2400; hellas-restaurant.com). This traditional Greek restaurant is well known for its bakery, but it also has a great bar in the back, near a bubbling waterfall, a ceiling painted to give the impression of an open-air café, and plastic grapes that light up. Have an ouzo on the rocks, or consider a Metaxa Grand Fine, a top-quality Greek spirit similar to brandy. Hellas also serves red and white sangria made from Greek wines.
If you head over to the Sponge Exchange, you'll find Mama's Greek Cuisine (735 Dodecanese Blvd. #40, (727) 944-2888; mamasgreekcuisine.net), a popular restaurant and bar that regularly features live music and belly dancers. The outdoor bar and patio is a great way to enjoy the breeze and the laid-back atmosphere of the surrounding neighborhood. Check the cocktail list for a variety of ouzo and Metaxa-based beverages. I liked the Mama's Greek Lemonade, a mix of ouzo and sour with a Metaxa 7 float. You can also order a shot of Plomari ouzo and keep the neat cordial glass that it's served in.
Rusty Bellies (937 Dodecanese Blvd., (727) 934-4047; rustybellies.com) was next, a short walk away from the main thoroughfare, with a scenic waterfont location. A new tiki bar equipped with misters is a great way to cool off before wrapping up the circuit. Frozen margaritas are the name of the game here, a fitting choice for the tropical vibe of the bar.
Across the street are two of the rare Sponge Docks nightlife spots, Zorba's (508 Athens Street, (727) 934-8803) and Saw Grass Tiki Bar (610 Athens Street, (727) 942-4290; sawgrasstikibar.com). The former, which reopened earlier this year after an extended hiatus, is open weekend evenings, where traditional live Greek music is featured. The latter is a small tiki bar known for serving kava, hookahs, and yes, a 100-ounce margarita. The drinks here are wine-based, but don't be fooled — they're potent. Expect to get roped into doing some karaoke if you stop by; just please don't butcher Whiskey in the Jar as badly as I did.
After all this eating and drinking, I say call it a night by heading down to the laid-back Café Greko (35 Dodecanese Blvd., (727) 942-1444), a Euro-style lounge that serves beer, wine and coffee. Grab a Mythos Red and a Greek coffee and kick back for a little while. If you opt for the outdoor patio instead of the comfy sofa seating indoors, you can enjoy the cool early evening weather with your drink.
— jg@saintbeat.com
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