Caddy's on the Beach

Editor's pick

9000 W Gulf Blvd., Treasure Island, FL 33706

727-360-4993

http://www.caddysotb.com/

Categories: Bar, Restaurant

Cuisine: American casual, Barbecue, Deli

Features: Beach/Waterfront, Big-screen TVs, Happy hour, Kid-friendly, Live music, Takeout, tbt* Top Bar

Cost range: 1.0-10.0

Payment options: Credit cards accepted

Alcohol: Full bar

More in this neighborhood: South Pinellas beaches

It's got ramshackley charm - sunsets, volleyball, kids building sand castles, all accompanied by a set-list of beachy cover-band greatest hits. The picnic tabletops are sticky, it takes a while for a server to notice you've ambled up, and if you overstay (1 1/2 hours maximum for diners) they suggest you move to the beach chairs down the way. The upside is that eating a chili cheese dog and sipping cold draft beer from a plastic cup is seldom as enjoyable as it is on this stretch of Sunset Beach. The house corned beef and brisket make for laudably tasty sandwich innards; the half-pound burger is juicy and nicely seasoned. The menu leans much more heavily to meaty barbecue than seafood.

The bar scene: If you can find a parking spot, Caddy's has an awesomely spring-break-style carnival atmosphere -- DJs, volleyball, cornhole, an upstairs deck -- and yet, for some reason, it still feels a little hidden. Maybe that's because people spill out from the bar all over the beach.

Until recently, alcohol was allowed on Sunset Beach, but because of bad behavior and the noise level, authorities have instituted a no-alcohol rule on the beach at certain times of the year on the weekends from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. This rule doesn't apply to Caddy's patrons, but check with your server to be sure.