Rusty Bellies Waterfront

Editor's pick

937 Dodecanese Blvd., Tarpon Springs, FL 34689

(727) 934-4047

http://www.tarponseafood.com/

Categories: Restaurant

Cuisine: Greek, Seafood casual

Features: Beach/Waterfront, Outdoor seating

Cost range: 10.01-20.0

Payment options: Credit cards accepted

Alcohol: Beer and wine only

More in this neighborhood: Tarpon Springs

 It's the other of the two downtown restaurants right on the water, making excellent use of it with a brand-new outdoor tiki deck upon which you are guaranteed to hear Jimmy Buffett and his ilk. It's a fun, flip-flops-and-rum-runners place, which in no way takes away from the seriousness with which owners Julie and Jack Russell regard fresh seafood. Their third-generation seafood market, Pelican Point Seafood, is next door, and the family owns and operates a bunch of commercial boats that supply both restaurant and shop.
Dishes are named for local fishermen and their boats, the best of which involve shrimp in one way or another. Grilled, fried or peel-and-eat, these are great-tasting crustaceans, often paired with the day's fresh catch and served with an array of sauces (lemon-dill, cilantro-lime) that are surprisingly sophisticated for such a laid-back place.