Beak's Old Florida

Editor's pick

2451 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL 33713

(727) 321-9100

http://beaksoldflorida.com/

Categories: Bar, Restaurant, Top restaurant

Cuisine: American casual, Pub

Features: Happy hour, Live music, Outdoor seating, Takeout, Top restaurant

Cost range: 10.01-20.0

Payment options: Credit cards accepted

Alcohol: Full bar

More in this neighborhood: Grand Central District

It makes sense in a way. Jamie Farquharson was ready to be out from under his plastic pirates, birdcages imprisoning fake birds and mountains of kitschy Florida memorabilia. He was ready to sell Beak's, one of the stalwart Grand Central District good-time bar/restaurants. And who bought it? Dan Soronen (Old Northeast Tavern, Shackleton's Folly, Brewburgers, all good-time bar/restaurants in St. Petersburg). He brought on Domenica Macchia (a legendary itinerant chef who did stints at Redwoods, MJ's, Diner 437, Shackleton's Folly and, most recently, Three Birds) to reconceive the menu. The one-page menu now includes fried artichokes and other fried nibblies along with booze-inspired cuisine (drunken shrimp, mojito hanger steak, lemon drop salmon). Prices range from $5.95-$14.95.

This is part of Times Food Critic Laura Reiley's 25 Top Affordable Restaurants in Tampa Bay.