Moon Under Water

332 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

(727) 896-6160

http://www.themoonunderwater.com/

Categories: Bar, Restaurant

Cuisine: British, Indian, Pub

Features: Beach/Waterfront, Big-screen TVs, Kid-friendly, Outdoor seating

Cost range: 10.01-20.0

Payment options: Credit cards accepted

Alcohol: Full bar

More in this neighborhood: Downtown St. Petersburg

Since 1996, its calling card has been a loose and ethnically diverse array of pub grub, all able accompaniments to a delicious, foam-capped black and tan. The signature dish is chicken tikka masala (said to be "Britain's true national dish"), and even Moon Under Water's walls are deep red tinged a slight curry color, against which assorted flags and Brit-obilia pop.

The regular chicken curry is something of a party, arriving with a hot metal bowl of saffron-hued basmati, another of dusky curry, a crisp, peppery pappadam, an oblong of warm naan, and if you're in the mood to splurge a few bucks extra, little bowls of mango chutney, onion pickle and cuke-spiked yogurt.

The bar scene: What's not to like about drinking a pint of Harp with a beautiful view of the downtown St. Petersburg waterfront? There is front patio seating available, and the competition for a table can be pretty fierce during prime dining hours, but it thins out late in the evening. If you prefer indoors, you'll love the beery-cozy pub side of the restaurant, with its excellent selection of British beers on tap.